Track Report-Indianapolis Raceway Park & Rotary Revolution
 

Note: Original Title of this was "Bad MPG one thing, but 8 MPG????"

Yea, we all know that milage is "less than stellar" on our beloved Eights. But this afternoon I only go 8.2 MPG!

What the F?

I mean, just because I was on a closed course (Indianapolis Raceway Park), and "cruising" at 80 MPH while in 3rd gear, with much higher bursts.

A typical lap: (Click for Track Map )

Scream down the drag strip, upshifting to 4th and maxing at about 110mph. Hard on the brakes to about 90, downshift to 3rd, enter turn 1 at about 75, hold till the apex, put the foot back into it briefly, get up to about 85, tap the brakes very briefly, into turn 2.

Turn 2 is criticle because it sets you up for turns 3, 4 and 5 also. Blow 2, and you've blown 4 turns.

Blow thru 2,3,4 & 5 using the throttle almost as much as the steering wheel to make the car go where you want!

Exit Turn 5 still in 3rd doing about 80 on to the short back staight , upshift to 4th for a second or 2, then downshift back to 3rd and stand on the breaks, turn in just past the large black patch (my 8 didnt like the patch), hug the apex and sacrifice a bit of speed. Taking this turn a little slow sets you up very good for turn 7 and 8 which actualy become a straightaway! Keep the foot into it the entire time, around 8, at first "crosswalk", stand on the brakes (doing about 90mph right now) down to about 50, 2nd cone past the 2nd crosswalk (50 feet later?) is the turnin point for turn 9...take this clean as it sets you up for 10 & 11.

Quick slalom thru 10 & 11, foot in it all the way, a brief upshift to 4th for those much better than me on the straight, then back down to 3rd and stand on the brakes down to about 50. At the driveway turn hard right to enter into turn 12 and HANG ON! Hug the apex in the last 3rd of the turn (which we shortened by being patient on the turnin!) and accelerating but not "hard".

As you drift out of 12, start getting on the gas hard thru 13 and 14 with a brief lift going into 14, heavy accelerate out of 14 up to about 80, stand on the brakes again, enjoy the smell of fresh bruning brake pads <g>), down to about 45 (still in 3rd) in an incredibly short distance. I activated the ABS more times than not entering turn 15!. But aim the eight at the first cone...right before hitting it, turn left into the sweeping turn between the grandstands and back on the gas into turn 15a on onto the drag strip! Down the drag strip and runout area with the pedal to the metal, up to 4th gear and about 110 or 111mph. This is the ONLY place that the souped up Gen 3 RX7's beat me....Horse power counts on this long straightaway.

So, back to my Beef! ONLY 8mph! But, about a zillion smiles per mile on this tight and technical course...priceless!

The Revolution was well worth it! This is the FIRST time I've been on a track and folks, it has ruined me for street racing! There is just NO way you could come close to this on the streets. I'm not talking about the law or safety, you just cant do it!

And oh yea, repeat the above for about 25 minutes and you will have to stop and rest! I can run a marathon, but couldnt stay out much longer than 30 minutes at a time.

I'm HOOKED! I WILL be doing this again! The Sooner the better!

Oh yea, Saturday there was an Auto Cross....that was a blast also...but NOTHING compared with the IRP Road Course.

What an awsome weekend and thanks to Mike & Arron for bring us the Rotary Revolution! Worth every penny it cost me.

Bob in Indy and ALL smiles today!

Thanks Bob.

WOW that sounds awesome. I've always been too chicken to take my car to a track like that. What kind of mileage did those 3rd gens get? Probably no better than you.

jds

jds,

The only reason I know what kind of Milage I got was because I almost ran out of gas! When you are only getting 8 mpg and are averaging probably 75-80 mph, it doesnt take long to burn thru 12.9 gallons!

And I'd say it was much safer than "playing" on the roads.

I had an instructor in the passenger seat for the first 5 20 minute sesions.

Of course, no pedestrians, grandmas/grandpas or other citizens pulling out in front of me.

Passing is STRICTLY forbiden except on one of the 3 straigth sections and even then only if the slower car lets you (sticks his arm straigth out the window "pointing" you thru).

There are run off zones. For most of the corners, if you take it to hot or otherwise screw up, there is grass and not much to hit that will damage anything but your pride.

And yes, I did take advantage of a run off one time about 1/3rd thru turn 6. Have you been gone 80mph on grass? That will cause some serious pucker!

Contrast this with what you have on the road. Serious turns tend to be in the hills and moutains or by rivers. And they have tree's! And large deep gully's! Mountian side clifs, grandma is going to the store, mom is taking the kids to socer, etc etc.

Which do you think is "safer" for your sheet metal? I think the Track.

Bob in Indy

First time on a track, huh? Sounds like this is something we've all gotta try...

i got 23.5 mpg on sunday doing 80. of course i was in 6th. for 318 miles and 13.5 gallons.

Well now that we have a lot more folks running around with lapping certification, we are ready to plan some lapping events. As i mentioned in the drivers meetings, there are several folks in the area the routinely run weekend lapping events. You sould be able to drive up and run now just like the end of the day at the Revolution.

Some guys post in this section.

Here for example: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...threadid=18720

But, it is tough to find inexpensve drivers schools. If you are interested in attending lapping event or interested in attending a similar drivers school, please send me an email as we are working on a school later in the summer. I routinely get email from most clubs running at local tracks and will attempt to let you know where you can feed your new addiction.

I think the Revo attendees will back me up..the 8 is a fantastic track car in its stock form! Although my modified seven will take you on the straights, Im gonna have a tough time in the corners.

keynote22@yahoo.com

I posted to the original but I guess that was deleted. I am glad to hear about more people getting their car on the track. I find my RX8 to be the best daily driver/track car multi use vehicle I could hope for.

I too averaged 8mpg my last time on the track. I now have the L flash but I doubt that will make a difference considering it is all wot and high revs. I am hoping for worse mpg this month when I go to Reno as that will make me feel like I am going faster. :D

Did your temp gage move at all? How about brake feel, any fade?

For me, brakes were solid with no fade. Temp gauge is solid. I did burn a quart of oil by the end of the day so I would check that often. I checked throughout the day and kept it topped up.

Temp gauge didnt move a bit. I also went thru oil, about 1/2 quart for the day.

Brakes never faded at all. And I was on them HARD. There where 2 spots on the track (turn 6 and 9) where the ABS kicked in on almost every lap.

Judging by the amount of brake dust on my wheels, I did shorten my pad life by quite a bit!

And Aron, I'd be VERY interested in future laping events!

The RX8 is an awsome lap car. Remember that modified 7 with gull wing doors? I couldnt keep up with him on the straights, but in the corners I was all over him!


kbull, yes, this was my first time on a track and I agree that EVERYBODY should try this!

Bob in Indy

Aron, we need to get you out there. Did you run in your own event at the Revo?

MDC is accepting participants for the June 25 IRP Road Course event. It's a Friday from 1 pm to 5 pm. 20 cars is the limit. No run groups, open lapping. I will have one instructor on-hand if you need one.

Manny, found your website (http://www.motorsportsdrivingclub.com/ ) last night and I'm working on my wife as we speak!

Bob in Indy

Bob,

Hope to see you June 25 :)

Thanks for the plug, Aron! Hope you can make it to the June 25 MDC IRP Road Course event!

Wow, is there anything like this near Akron, OH...I think I would join today!

It is only 309 miles from Aron, OH to Clermont IN (Where IRP is). Shouldnt take you more than 3 hours (Mapblast says 4.75) !

Even at the legal 5 hours, driving your 8 for ten hours so you can have 4 hours of total bliss and bonding with your favorite mistress would be WELL worth it!

How far is Mid-Ohio from you? Theve got a road course and might run lapping events.

Bob in Indy

Mid-Ohio...prolly only about an hour and a half from me I think, if that.

Yeah, Mid Ohio would be your best bet if you're coming from Akron OH. I instruct for TracQuest. They're having an event this Memorial Day and June 1.

http://www.tracquest.com/Events/MI200405.asp

Todd Serota runs absolutely first class open track and drivers ed events, and Todd staffs his DEs with only the finest instructors.

Here's their website. They might have spots open still?

Of course you're welcome to join me @ IRP Road Course for the June 25 MDC 1 pm to 5 pm lapping event?! :)