SPICcnmGT

I've been wondering how these things would do on a track since I picked one up back in Feb. for a daily driver. That's basically the impressions I get from driving on the street. It pushes like crazy, especially under throttle, it has some turbo lag but not to bad from other cars I've driven probably even better than my 7 depending on what rpm range you are in, but it does fall completely flat on it's face in the upper rpm range. Makes a nice daily though just not near the same class performace wise as an EVO or Sti.

Can't wait for Barbers, will be my first TT's, I'm kinda excited about getting some real times on my car instead of just stop watches from the side lines.

dbright007

I asked if I could pay extra for touring laps.....

OnRails

Well I had a lot of fun at Roebling. I spent yesterday recovering from the three day adrenaline rush. It was awesome to have so many guys there this time. You know that's really what makes it fun - Hanging with friends. The only downside was the split down the middle. It would be a dang Crossfire too! Oh well, we did good to get as many spaces together as we did. Next time we'll do the yellow tape and chalk outline of a body trick.

I did the Seat-Time event on Friday. It was a pretty cool setup. They had 4 run groups and just kept rotating through them until there was no time left. I think I got 6 sessions on Friday. Run groups were small too. I think there were only 12 - 15 cars in our group so you got plenty of open track. I have to admit I kind of like the atmosphere at the NASA events better. Just seems like there is more going on and I actually missed seeing some racing.

Saturday was a lot of fun. I got to chase OSCD and L8 around some. I have some good video of our first session on Sat. That supercharger is really awesome. This was my first time seeing it. On the front straight (and elsewhere) I got dusted more than once and I don't think he was even pushing it hard.

Congrats to the winners on Sat night. I discovered Sat why they give the winners mugs instead of trophies. Swoope brought a keg of some awesome micro-brew. Now there is a guy that knows how to make friends! )

Sunday was even better for me. First session I got TA to ride with me and he helped me out in turns 1-2 and 5-6. That was a big help. Next session I had my TT check ride with Rob Whitener. Man what an experience! He got a good evaluation out of me. We had a little bit of everything that you could possibly see. Cars were passing on the left and right through every single turn. I was passing through every turn. There was a guy that went off in front of me in 8 and rode the grass almost down to the tower and re-entered the track at speed still in front of me. I have the whole session on video and I'll post it up. It was actually a really entertaining session. Even better I got the thumbs up for TT so next time out I'll be in TTC! Now I'll be able to get some official lap times.

My unofficial best lap time this weekend was a 1:24+. That’s about 6 seconds quicker than my last trip to Roebling. Last time I was on the Falken RT-615. I'm sure moving to the Nitto R-Compounds accounted for some of that and the rest was just more seat time.

I felt like a real track-ho as I was the last one to leave Sunday evening. The advantage to being last is you get to collect all of the stuff that others left behind. I have a pull over hooded sweatshirt that I think belongs to John in the MS Miata and a pair of black sunglasses that I don't know who they belong to.

Upon further review, I don't think I'm going to make Barber after all. When I got back home I found my computer LCD monitor got toasted in a storm over the weekend. I'll need to replace that ASAP. I'm also going on vacation in June and will be spending money for that. I just need to take a rest and stop the bleeding for a month. This $4 gas is a killer. I'm going to make CMP in July my fist event in TT.

I'll post up some videos later this evening.

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

Great On Rails it wasnt the tires or seat time it was my midpipe! Jk of course.
I cant do a nother session until fall or winter--i learned my lesson about the heat last july at RA. Not again
Love your wheels/tires man--wicked cool.
1:24 + at Roebling is a very good time. Fun track isnt it.
Cant wait to see the vids!
OD

dbright007

Look forward to the vids OnRails -
If Julie approves my request, I am going to take my credit from RR and drive CMP in July. She wanted to know this week what event I would use it - and I can't get any conf about time off for R-Ham - so looks like CMP.

Phlash

LOL...I remember doing this last year and all you guys shaking your heads at me stating the 100+ speeds I was carrying out of that turn....."I'll never see those speeds there......" yeah, right........what a hoot!!! No harm no foul....good thinking silver...there is a ton of room there and from reading the NASA forums, quite a few folks took that ride this past weekend.

SilverEIGHT

Just finished editing the vid. Will post soon.

SPICcnmGT

Yep, I could get it in TTB by running RA-1s and removing the side skirts or the diffuser. But the Nitto's are brand new and I'm not in the points competition anyway starting this late in the year.

OnRails

I'm thinking maybe a sway bar for the front. I'm still running the stock sway bars. I just afraid I'm going to increase understeer more making it stiffer up front. Guess I can always add one in the back as well.

I signed up for the Mazda Motorsports site. Maybe I'll get the Mazdaspeed one.

Charles R. Hill

iTrader: (7)

John, don't forget that new friend ya made last weekend. He might be able to help with a few things.

SilverEIGHT

I just checked my times on my vids and I don't think I broke 1:30. That's not that great compared to most of you but I was very pleased with it.

SilverEIGHT

Here are my vids. Not as impressive as you hot shots but in my little helmet, it was a blast. The first one is my off in T9. Nothing exciting (thank goodness) but I was very happy with it and I consider it an invaluable experience of the good kind.

Offer on track out at 9

Last session

These vids are pretty boring I'm sure but I would appreciated a little feedback from some of you guys. You can PM me if you like.

OnRails

Absolutely! If you have suggestions I'm all ears.

1:30 is good. The way to win at HPDE is to leave the track with less pea gravel than you arrived with. Sounds like you achieved that goal. )

TrackAddict

OnRails - 1:24+ is excellent! Nice job. I could not get into the 24s this weekend. I think the GAC Hoosiers have had a few too many heat cycles. It was a bit hairy in turn 9 with the car wanting to slide wide. I could modulate the throttle to adjust my trajectory but ultimately it was not ideal. My top speed on the front straight was also not what it was last time. The speedo read 130 before going to the brakes. With my 17" wheels, that is closer to 124 real speed. Last year I was at the rev limiter in 4th knocking on the door of a real 131.

SilverEIGHT

My favorite car of the event!

Charles R. Hill

iTrader: (7)

YESSIREE!! That LS engine stole my heart and really makes me solidify my LS-7 plans.

Kurt Bob

I'm just now catching my breath after getting home. Great to see everyone and meet my new friends. A good time was had by most.

Highlights for me this weekend were:
- Having the large corral of Mazda owners
- Swoope's beer keg with the great micro brew
- Seeing Levent go all weekend without dropping parts from his car
- Having help reinstalling the parts that fell off my car
- Not having to clean my passenger seat after I spun with John in the car
- The better than usual eye candy on display (I'm still seeing white)

After getting passed by so many folks this weekend, I realize that the taller final gear ratio I went with was a mistake. It's frustrating, because I know my car can be a lot faster. I still had lots of fun, and I'm glad to see everyone have a great time.

Keep it between the ditches until next time!

OnRails

Here are some videos from Roebling.

The first video is our (DE3/4) first session on Saturday. It's the only one where I got good video of L8Apex and OldDragger. It also illustrates the trains that kept forming on Saturday in DE3/4.

The second video is my TT checkride with Rob. Sorry for the file size but I thought it was pretty entertaining.

The third video demonstrates why I like to run the last session of the weekend. Lot's of open track and I have a chance to push the limits without getting in anybody else's way. I get a little sideways a couple of times in 4 and 5. You can't see them until they pass me on about the 3rd or 4th lap but the Roar car was reeling me in the whole time. They catch and pass me between 2 and 3. I couldn't touch them after that. This last session resulted in my best laps of the weekend. This is where I did my 1:24 laps.

Enjoy!

WMV Format, Right-Click and download to watch:

Saturday_Session1 - 63MB

OnRails_TT_Checkride - 100MB

Best_Laps - 71MB

TrackAddict

This had to be the highlight of my on track activities! If you watch Onrails's TT Check Ride video, about 7:40 into it, I pass him on the front straight straight. There is a hint of lockup going into turn 1. The car was just dazzling in horsepower, torque, and balance. I didn't look down but Russ told me I was hitting 155 going into the braking zone for turn 1.

Onrails - very good driving! You are going to do really well in TTC. The people to watch out for are Everette in his 5 series as well as that S2000. Itr was fun to watch your vids man and again congrats.

OnRails

If I'm going to beat Everette at CMP I'll need to find a couple of seconds somewhere.

dbright007

Nice Vids OnRails!
You haven't been in a TT field yet and already looking for the win. Good!
You will be able to find the couple seconds at CMP. Watch your Sat vid again, and then watch you Sun TT check ride vid.
Sunday is noticeably cleaner. And then for the fast laps vid, you stayed clean, but were leaning a bit more on the edge. You just have to watch you vids and duplicate that progression. You will be right there.

My car has been diagnosed and pieces parts are on the way. I must have picked up some debris, or it was caused by debris on the way down to Savannah. Cut wiring to sensors (crank position). I had gotten it home, and hadn't cranked it up since Sun night. Did so today to get it to the shop and it felt like I was driving a diesel tractor...

L8APEX

now I know why I could not keep up with you OnRails, damn. Congrats, you will be giving Francois hell in TTC...

L8APEX

maybe just stiffer springs.

Phlash

That's what a lost rotor feels like too......

SPICcnmGT

I've got a quick TT question since everyone is getting into it. Where do y'all mount your tansponders??