[Teutonic Speedra...]

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

[Jon A]

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.

Ah, the good old days. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/thumbup.gif) Enjoy it while you can--the faster you get, the harder it becomes to get faster. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) Probably an exponential thing--in both difficulty and money required. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

[PF Flyer]

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

[NataSS Inc]

My season ended 2 weeks ago. Motor is broke AGAIN! So I am going to start the winter mods a little early this year.

[DanKeen]

Mine's almost done. Should be done, but I want to get the stupid season trophy this year, and to guarantee that I need to do well at one more event - so I have another weekend 9/4-5.

Why should it be done? let's see... interior is starting to come apart (window switch holder is stripped), power steering pump has died again, tires are near bare, rear-end is leaking fluid, and, my favorite now: oil analysis shows severe bearing wear, and the engine is lugging under 1800 rpm with high load (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Yay for my first rebuild ever this winter! *cries*

[rmackintosh]

Mine's almost done. Should be done, but I want to get the stupid season trophy this year, and to guarantee that I need to do well at one more event - so I have another weekend 9/4-5.

Why should it be done? let's see... interior is starting to come apart (window switch holder is stripped), power steering pump has died again, tires are near bare, rear-end is leaking fluid, and, my favorite now: oil analysis shows severe bearing wear, and the engine is lugging under 1800 rpm with high load (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Yay for my first rebuild ever this winter! *cries*

...time to STRIP it and get over the whole "double duty" thing...

MAKE IT A RACE CAR!

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

[Teutonic Speedra...]

Mike--

Yes it is amazing the progression. Last year, beginner, this year, intermediate for 3 days, and advanced since then. Maybe I'll try some NASA events next year. I've been sticking to NJ and DelVal BMW events b/c they are run really well and have had no reason to stray.

Randy--

I hear you on the double duty thing. I think mine is going to be a track only car shortly after the winter....when it is lowered, interior is gutted, and lexan goes on. I'd still like to drive it occasionally on the street though. I am unsure of taking the insurance completely off the car because what happens if I get in accident while towing?

What do you guys do as far as uninusured cars and towing?

-Dennis

[DanKeen]

...time to STRIP it and get over the whole "double duty" thing...

MAKE IT A RACE CAR!

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

Hahah! Yes, that's very tempting... but I don't have, nor can afford both a tow vehicle and a daily driver, and just a tow vehicle doesn't make sense (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

So I'm still looking at getting a daily driver (leased Civic Hybrid, probably), but I have to leave the Camaro street legal to get to/from events (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Stripping coming soon, though (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[94bird]

What do you guys do as far as uninusured cars and towing?

My Firebird is uninsured as of late last year. I called my insurance agent and told them it was now a race car and would like to know if I could have it insured just while it is on the trailer going to and from events. They said if it's not street legal they couldn't insure it. Possibly if you keep it street legal and registered you could work out a deal with your insurance company.

If not, there are race car insurance companies, but the research I did about a year ago showed the rates were about as much as if it was a daily driver. That didn't seem worth it to me. A search on Corner Carvers will turn up the posts I was using as a reference.

[ESPCamaro]

So what is planned for everyone this winter????

Maybe I should start a thread for it.....

[Lucas Black]

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.

just curious....how is your suspension killing your tires? curious because maybe it's something i could look out for in the future when i begin modding my own suspension.... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Teutonic Speedra...]

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.

just curious....how is your suspension killing your tires? curious because maybe it's something i could look out for in the future when i begin modding my own suspension.... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

From the lack of negative camber, lack of roll stiffness, undersprung springs, etc. Lots of body roll and tires that aren't really planted well at the right angles.

[Lucas Black]

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.

just curious....how is your suspension killing your tires? curious because maybe it's something i could look out for in the future when i begin modding my own suspension.... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

From the lack of negative camber, lack of roll stiffness, undersprung springs, etc. Lots of body roll and tires that aren't really planted well at the right angles.

mmkay, so relatively basic stuff....not some strange unforseen setup problem that is causing bad tire wear....
(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)