BIR September 5th.....

[john]

I think a camera guy said sometime in October... We will have to look for it. Nice vid.

[mlomker]

I had a blast. I paid $800 for my own car and 2 sessions in the spec car for myself. I also paid for 4 spec-car sessions for my brother...I originally thought about letting him drive my car but realized that I'd be *way* too mad if he binned my car so I'd rather pay $1k.

One downside of only doing Spec cars is that they are single seat, so my brother really didn't have a clue about the line. I did a couple sessions in my car with Gary W(?) next to me (all of the instructors are awesome) and he had me hitting the line and the cones properly, so by the time I did the two Spec sessions in the afternoon I totally smoked the other Spec cars. They had my brother and I go together so that my sister-in-law could get some pictures of us but on the second lap I took him on the straight and never saw him again.

I disagree that using your own car is less expensive. The wear-and-tear on a personal vehicle (tires and much worse if you leave the track) is such that it's a false economy to think that Spec cars are more expensive. The stock tires on an Evo X are $880/set! The outside edges have lost half of their rubber in just two sessions. These tires would be smoked after a full day (the factory alignment is probably not so great for track days, either).

It was great to meet the Mitsustyle guys that were at the event. Glad to hear that John got his car patched up for the drive home.

[slowbubblecar]

I had a blast. I paid $800 for my own car and 2 sessions in the spec car for myself. I also paid for 4 spec-car sessions for my brother...I originally thought about letting him drive my car but realized that I'd be *way* too mad if he binned my car so I'd rather pay $1k.

One downside of only doing Spec cars is that they are single seat, so my brother really didn't have a clue about the line. I did a couple sessions in my car with Gary W(?) next to me (all of the instructors are awesome) and he had me hitting the line and the cones properly, so by the time I did the two Spec sessions in the afternoon I totally smoked the other Spec cars. They had my brother and I go together so that my sister-in-law could get some pictures of us but on the second lap I took him on the straight and never saw him again.

I disagree that using your own car is less expensive. The wear-and-tear on a personal vehicle (tires and much worse if you leave the track) is such that it's a false economy to think that Spec cars are more expensive. The stock tires on an Evo X are $880/set! The outside edges have lost half of their rubber in just two sessions. These tires would be smoked after a full day (the factory alignment is probably not so great for track days, either).

It was great to meet the Mitsustyle guys that were at the event. Glad to hear that John got his car patched up for the drive home.

Gald to see you had fun. I was suprised there were so many people there. What did you think about the spec cars? Everyone there seemed to enjoy them. They seemed to get in the way a little bit though. Kind of like the old mustang that was on the track. I lapped that car after passing it just 5 laps before. Hope to see you there again sometime.

[john]

My hard pipe radiator hose was waiting at my house when I arrived.

It is definitly cheaper if your car can handle the abuse (yours can). Tires are not cheap (mine are more) but it is best to have a set of race tires/wheels so you don't have to ruin your good street tires. I didn't have enough planning to get my setup right but I was not driving on a single tire I drive on the street. I used some "race" tires on the rear and James fronts which we used prior. Thought we destroyed them last time but still great for street and track.

I think I would want more power, that is why I probably wouldn't like a spec car.

[mlomker]

What did you think about the spec cars? Everyone there seemed to enjoy them. They seemed to get in the way a little bit though.

I supposedly got one of the faster Spec cars (#84) but I think they mostly got in the way because they don't know the racing line.

I can imagine that someone with a bit of track experience might find them underpowered but as a 1st timer, I thought they were perfect. The suspensions are great and the power is modest enough that you can really mash on the throttle. There's something satisfying about driving a vehicle at 9/10ths.

The Evo was too much power (for a novice) and too little suspension in stock form...I unintentionally drifted out of one of the turns and it scared the crap out of me. lol.

[slowbubblecar]

The Evo was too much power (for a novice) and too little suspension in stock form...I unintentionally drifted out of one of the turns and it scared the crap out of me. lol.

I am sure you would get the hang of the car after a few times of going. I was only there one time before going the last time and was much more comfortable with how the car handles this time. My brother's car seemed to handle a little different, but was pretty close for the most part. Just look at how fast the instructors were taking the SUVs around the course. I bet the Lemans driver and the Indy car drivers could be at least as fast as either one of use driving those SUVs around the track if we were driving our own cars. Would be nice to see what one of them could do with my car but I am not sure I would want to ride along with. Would be one hell of a ride.

The nice thing about the course is the walls aren't close in many areas so there is minimal risk if you push it a little far.

Hope to see you there again sometime.

[white_4gGT]

I supposedly got one of the faster Spec cars (#84) but I think they mostly got in the way because they don't know the racing line.
....
The Evo was too much power (for a novice) and too little suspension in stock form...I unintentionally drifted out of one of the turns and it scared the crap out of me. lol.

What was the specs of their spec cars? I heard they could top out at 130 from what I remember. Don't know the whp and stuff.

I wish I could say something about too much power for my car. LOL. My car did pretty well considering it is a FWD and very heavy. I did have a lowered suspension set up and that helped in keeping me in without really having any scary events.

I know I saw the following get off the track... a porsche (couple of times - don't remember the turns), the indy grand prix car (turn 12 - 90deg left), and that lotus elise (turn 2-3). :-)

I was just happy that I stayed in the car. I would like to start tracking my lap times next time though and try and see if it improves along with the improvement with my driving.

I wish I could do it again this Monday but have other things going on.

[slowbubblecar]

I don't remember the hp on the spec cars, but they weigh around 1300lbs and max out at 135mph. I think the have 1.9 liter ford escort motors in them. I asked one of the instructors a few questions about them and it sounds like they are primarily made of off the shelf ford parts.

This monday the corvette club will be going there. I know a few viper guys that will be going and have the day off but I am not sure if I will go or not. My car won't be able to go, but I could take the blue one I suppose. I will be at another track (MAM) the weekend before the event on the 21st so will possibly only be able to go Oct 5th if I can get the day off work.

That was funny about the lotus guy saying his bald tire caused him to go off. His car had tires meant for the track and more tread than my tires. He was also saying he was going 100 in that turn which was BS. He lost it after the turn.

[john]

Only cars I saw go off the track were a spec car at turn 12, and the lotus between turns 3 and 4. The lotus definitly made turn 3, not sure what he did to send it out of control before turn 4. Definitly weren't the workings of the tires.

The first time I went out, I left the track on turn 9 (clover leaf turn) and around turn 8. Between 7 and 8 look so dam strait that I didn't slow for either and my tires gave out on the back of the turn. On turn 9, I did a full 360 on the asphalt and slid off to the inside. The second time around turn 8 I slid sideways off the track with the rear leading and did 2 full spins throught the grass before coming to rest.

[mlomker]

I wouldn't know about the top end on the Spec cars since I didn't bother with 5th gear (on their car or mine). I was only doing 80-90 on the straight since I let people pass me there. The Spec car was as fast as I was interested in driving...my brother and I both stayed on the track that day.