End of my season too! - F-Body Road Racing and Autocross Forums

QUOTE

And man, is it ever depressing! Especially with the situation I’m in right now—it’s exactly the same one I was in at this point last year. Exactly! I had run the same number of events, my Nittos were hashed--I had just flipped them on the rims and rotated them front to rear with really lousy results (damn near killed myself).... I just wasn’t getting any faster.

So far I’ve knocked nearly 5.5 seconds off my times from this point last year which I think is a fair comparison. I guess if nothing else I can hang my hat on that as a pretty decent accomplishment.

But there was one more event to go to last year. I bought a brand new set of tires just for it...and they were so much stickier. The weather was perfect...the track started out damp but dried out quickly, it was cloudy and cool. The God of Lapping Day Traffic looked upon me with favor and gave me numerous clear laps in a row so I could get into a rhythm and do some really good driving. I knocked 3.4 seconds off my time that day. It was a very good day.

I know I could do the same thing this year if given the chance—probably not a full 3.4 seconds but at least a couple. The cost is just too high. Bad timing/tire management. Even if I did spring for the tires, there's no guarantee the weather and traffic would cooperate. Wouldn't I feel stupid spending that much money for two events just to have it rain.... Oh well, I guess that’ll just give me an easier mark to break next year.... Using good judgement sucks sometimes....

Hey, maybe one of the esteemed mods could split this hijack into another thread so as not to annoy those interested in oil coolers?

-Jon A

I'm not a mod...but I'll start the new thread.

I'm in the same boat....season is over for me, an event or two short of last year. My suspension is killing my tires, and the two right sides have cuts in them in the same spot, from some debris earlier in the year. These cuts finally chunked and tore showing some cords on the Victoracers (would've lasted a few more days if not for the cuts). I ended up doing the 2nd day of my last event on my street tires (rain tires for track) which are Goodyear Eagle F1's. I personally thought they sucked probably because I was overdriving them.

I too shaved many seconds off of my lap times from last year....what a good feeling, but I'm only on my 2nd season. It's amazing that my first time at Summit Point last year I was doing laps in the 1:50 range, and now this year, I am in the 1:30 range.....who would have thought you could shave 20 seconds off in a year. The last few times it's been 2-3 seconds an event. I timed some guys in the beginner group a few weeks ago....E46 M3's doing 2:10's!!

So I spent last night washing the car, and tonight I spent using cleaner wax getting the hundreds of rubber marks off of the WHITE body....not fun (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

So an early start to the winter projects (even though it's still summer here in NJ). First off, weigh the car on scales and get baseline corner weights. Then bring on the modding month by month. I have a lot of fun working on the car, but not as much as taking it to the track. The basement already has the following parts awaiting:

LG G2 Springs
LG Upper Control Arms
HS Rocker Arms
Severn spindle mounted brake ducts
VFN Fiberglass hood on order
Many more to follow....

Sorry for the long post

Teutonic Speedra... Teutonic Speedracer View Member Profile	Aug 26 2004, 01:26 AM Post #1
LS1 Inside! / Toolbox / Mechanical Engineer Group: Advanced Members Posts: 2,215 Joined: 5-February 04 From: NJ Member No.: 179	QUOTE And man, is it ever depressing! Especially with the situation I’m in right now—it’s exactly the same one I was in at this point last year. Exactly! I had run the same number of events, my Nittos were hashed--I had just flipped them on the rims and rotated them front to rear with really lousy results (damn near killed myself).... I just wasn’t getting any faster. So far I’ve knocked nearly 5.5 seconds off my times from this point last year which I think is a fair comparison. I guess if nothing else I can hang my hat on that as a pretty decent accomplishment. But there was one more event to go to last year. I bought a brand new set of tires just for it...and they were so much stickier. The weather was perfect...the track started out damp but dried out quickly, it was cloudy and cool. The God of Lapping Day Traffic looked upon me with favor and gave me numerous clear laps in a row so I could get into a rhythm and do some really good driving. I knocked 3.4 seconds off my time that day. It was a very good day. I know I could do the same thing this year if given the chance—probably not a full 3.4 seconds but at least a couple. The cost is just too high. Bad timing/tire management. Even if I did spring for the tires, there's no guarantee the weather and traffic would cooperate. Wouldn't I feel stupid spending that much money for two events just to have it rain.... Oh well, I guess that’ll just give me an easier mark to break next year.... Using good judgement sucks sometimes.... Hey, maybe one of the esteemed mods could split this hijack into another thread so as not to annoy those interested in oil coolers? -Jon A I'm not a mod...but I'll start the new thread. I'm in the same boat....season is over for me, an event or two short of last year. My suspension is killing my tires, and the two right sides have cuts in them in the same spot, from some debris earlier in the year. These cuts finally chunked and tore showing some cords on the Victoracers (would've lasted a few more days if not for the cuts). I ended up doing the 2nd day of my last event on my street tires (rain tires for track) which are Goodyear Eagle F1's. I personally thought they sucked probably because I was overdriving them. I too shaved many seconds off of my lap times from last year....what a good feeling, but I'm only on my 2nd season. It's amazing that my first time at Summit Point last year I was doing laps in the 1:50 range, and now this year, I am in the 1:30 range.....who would have thought you could shave 20 seconds off in a year. The last few times it's been 2-3 seconds an event. I timed some guys in the beginner group a few weeks ago....E46 M3's doing 2:10's!! So I spent last night washing the car, and tonight I spent using cleaner wax getting the hundreds of rubber marks off of the WHITE body....not fun (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) So an early start to the winter projects (even though it's still summer here in NJ). First off, weigh the car on scales and get baseline corner weights. Then bring on the modding month by month. I have a lot of fun working on the car, but not as much as taking it to the track. The basement already has the following parts awaiting: LG G2 Springs LG Upper Control Arms HS Rocker Arms Severn spindle mounted brake ducts VFN Fiberglass hood on order Many more to follow.... Sorry for the long post

PF Flyer View Member Profile	Aug 26 2004, 05:29 PM Post #2
Advanced Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 545 Joined: 6-January 04 From: Germantown, MD USA Member No.: 99	QUOTE I timed some guys in the beginner group a few weeks ago....E46 M3's doing 2:10's That's how it all starts. Some drivers are good and they advance. Some just don't get the dynamics of handeling a car a high speeds. Travelling at 150 feet per second, thru a corner, can be a little intimidating to some. I've had students that lasted one event in Novice and got signed off to the next group for the next event (I had a second instructor ride along during his last seesion to validate). Some have shown their ability to advance after several events, and tracks. And some that come out every once in a while just to drive around. Some are 'Professional Students' that run in group4 (NASA) just cause they can. Hope to see ya at Summit, if not this season (there are still 3 events left with NASA), then next. My season still has 5 events left. Summit Pt 9/17 & 18 Watkins Glen 9/27 & 28 Summit Pt 10/23 & 24 Lime Rock 11/8 Summit Pt 11/13 & 14