Yep, I can hardly believe I'm typing this - but the 'Ring wasn't just open this weekend. Nope, on Sunday it was actually 'quick'. Completely dry and heat-hazy tarmac, bitterly cold air temperature (MORE POWAAAAH!) and barely any traffic.

My RX8 is still stock, well, not 'even' stock. Brake discs are shot and the chinese summer tyres are almost comedy, but I still squeezed in an 8m46s lap. That would have been closer to 8m30s BTG if it wasn't for the roadworks. Enough jibberjabber... on with the video...

ROLL TAPE >>


What's great is that this gives me a baseline for all my planned mods as it's not just video, but datalogs too. I can see what each mod gets me over 'stock'. New fluids will be first, as well as other 'service' items like brake discs, pads and tyres. Stuff to change includes struts and springs and (eventually) exhaust, air intake and mapping.

If you want to see more photos and stuff from the ring today (think like a 'cruise-in' combined with a trackday) then clickety-click me.

 

how does it show all the data? what are you using to collect the data? That's cool

 

one day...ill will drive that track. nice vid I like that data log display

 

So excited to watch the progress -- sub'd on youtube as well.

 

Awesome video!

 

I'm so jealous, what I would give to do that in my 8.

 

Nice video I cant wait to drive there one day, but I do find it amazing that they allow you to drive there with no helmet. Pretty stupid IMO.

 

Well, it's a public road on days like yesterday. You can drive onto it with any vehicle capable of driving the minimum speed (about 45mph) - so motorbikes, busses, campers et al are all allowed. Would you enforce a helmet rule in the Winniebagos? Or on the Autobahn?

 

Cool Vid! Thanks for sharing

 

Very cool

 

Wow, I'd love to drive the ring! Thanks for the video. I need to get my 8 to a track this coming summer.

 

very cool but omg those tires were screaming

 

you're crazy Dale. That time in january is awesome.

 

Great driving you have got some ***** going that fast on those tires good effort.

 

It's too bad that the video cuts off just as you are getting onto the looooong straight. I would have liked to see what your top speed would have been.

 

Very cool! I would love to drive my 8 on the 'ring.

 

Jealous!!!

 

Yes, me too! But unfortunately on the straight is the entrance/exit to the ticket gates. So you can't buzz through it, you have speed limits leading up to it and eventually have to stop to use the barrier.

On trackdays we go straight through, of course! (And I wear a helmet then too )

 

If the SCCA requires you to wear a helmet while driving around some cones in a parking lot...Then Yes I think it is very necessary to wear one while driving 100+ through a very dangerous road course which claims many accidents each year.

 

Nice time, did you see the ring thread for rx8 , check out many other pics from germany on the ring

https://www.rx8club.com/europe-forum-36/ringers-green-hell-204917/

 

Dude, I've seen them cones. They're vicious. Consider some form of rudimentary body armour next.

Seriously, I do normally wear a lid when on track, but I also enjoy having the freedom to make dumb choices. :D My rule-of-thumb for public sessions is; no cage+front+side airbags = no helmet. Add a cage, or take away the bags and I'm back in my lid, lickety-split.

 

I wish i'm the driver...lol

 

I shot two more videos this very wet Sunday in my new RX8.

1) Is a fun lap, with me driving with my boss on the seat, deliberately scaring him


2) This is a serious guide on how to drive the 'ring in the wet safely, and still have fun.


I love the balance of the RX8, it feels like I can put the car into any attitude I want at any speed. Soooo glad I didn't get an E46 now.