Highway8

iTrader: (11)

For the last 2 years I have been going to the Thunderhill, a 3 mile track in Willows Ca. I started out on Tokico Shocks and struts, racing beat sway bars and street tires. My track times were around 2:35-2:40. I added 245/40 nitto nto1's and with more seet time I got down to 2:20's. With even more seet time, progress tech sway bars, KW Vatiant 3 coilovers (corner balanced) and a MS Body Kit I finaly settled in at 2:14's.

When I put 275/35/18 hoosier koni race tires on 18X9.5 enkei rpf1 wheels I start seeing 2:10-2:11's immediately.

This video is my 3rd track day on the used set of Hoosiers and once I got my tire pressure dialed in I was clicking off 2:08's to 2:10's all day long, even with some traffic.

This is my first youtube post, not sure why it didnt post in wide screen.
In my experiance at thunderhill, only a handfull of cars/drivers run under 2:10 laps and they are usually higher horsepower cars with r comps.

And the lotus I was catching is an Exige S on r-comps.

Anyone with thunderhill experiance feel free to post.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi03sW-N9DY


A new video. The track configuration is a little different (1 second faster) but its also a much cooler day and I could never get my tires hot enough. Plus they are heat cycled out. Even with that, I picked up 2 seconds. Mostly due to a custom front splitter and some suspension adjustments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBfS_eCeeoM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GP6J9RgLYs

And a link to the track map
http://thunderhill.com/html/trackmap.html

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

Awesome - can tell it was fast without knowing the track

AJ's Shinka

Very nice you should passed up that over priced toyota. Anyhow, you all NA now? You used to be supacharged no?

Highway8

iTrader: (11)

I got passed the exige, it took another half lap. He pulled me too much on the straights, I get them in the turns.

I had a supercharger for about a month. Blew the motor because I didnt spend enough time making sure the MAF set up was correct and the tunning was dialed in. I plan on putting the supercharger back over the summer. I hope to take 3-4 seconds off my lap times.

yomomspimp06

nice...I like the exhaust note.

Highway8

iTrader: (11)

Full 3" turbo XS exhuast with race pipe and I have a ceramic coated header. Its great at the track (shoots flames) but I cant stand it on the street. I have a second turbo XS mid pipe with a cat welded in.

Ross_Dawg

iTrader: (2)

Wow... just wow. I've only done TH once but it was a blast. I think I got a 2:20 that was with 275's. Awesome drive man and keep up the great work!

yomomspimp06

how is it tracking your daily? I would be scared to.

Highway8

iTrader: (11)

My RX8 is not really a daily driver. I make several small trips around town when the weather is good but my 07 silverado is more of a daily driver. I like to save the 8 for fun drives and track days.

Friendlydacat

I did Thunderhill back in August 2009

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...d&id=670082752

Are you going to Buttonwillow on June?

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

That's about where I left it last time I was there and I was struggling for those times.

<2:10 is a real accomplishment for a street car.

Some of us do it all the time - It just takes work.
As long as you don't stuff it (which is actually difficult to do a many road courses), it really isn't that big of a deal.
I DD my car (130k miles) and I do 1 or 2 track events every month (until it gets too hot).

Spin9k

Great story Highway8. It's pretty amazing what a tricked out 8 with a good driver can do against all odds!


Being a tiny bit scared is good....and natural...beforehand. I've seen people stuff their BMWs, their Audis, and their Porsche's. Not pretty. So yea you do consider the possibilities.......then when it's your turn... you put that **** in the back of your mind and drive it like it wants to be driven

In the zone, there is no fear... just your car and your abilities.

kster

Highway8, it was nice meeting you at Thunderhill. Always good to see another rx8 out there.

elysium19

iTrader: (1)

Congrats, really nice story of progress, both with the car and driver.

what I love the most - probably only ~200rwhp and he is FLYING. People are so stuck on horsepower figures but that means so much less on a road course.... I like how you'd expect to get 3-4 seconds with an Fing supercharger, when you pick up that same amount just with Rcomp tires. And clearly lots of practice and experience is the biggest factor above all. Very nice....

blamerobb

Nice man. I want to track sooo bad

Highway8

iTrader: (11)

200HP in a 3K LB car gets the job done but horsepower helps a alot.

Taking off 3-4 second shouldnt be that hard with an extra 50-60% increase in power. There are miata's that have taken 10+ seconds off with FI. In my experiance the exige is 2-3+ seconds faster then the elise and it has may 20% more power.

Obviously more power will help on the straights, but even in the twisties, extra power helps between the turns. However, the extra power will change my driving style. I might actualy have to ease into the throttle, select different gears and obviously the brakes will take more abuse.

Yes practice practice practice. I found lots of time by braking later when entering the turns. Its amazing how much time you can pick up when you stay on the gas a half second longer. To do it takes practice, good equipment and trusting the equipment.

Highway8

iTrader: (11)

Forsure. BTW for a stock power car on street tires you seem to get around pretty quick. Im sure I can find some video of me passing you and post it if you want.

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

Can see that by the way you were outbraking that silver car but then he had you on the straights . Less power makes it really hard to get past someone in a slower (lap time wise) but more powerful car . How did you do it ?

Highway8

iTrader: (11)

I make 90% of my passed in the turns. I can stay wide in turn 2 which keeps my speed up and then shoot passed them on the outside going into turn 3. Which is how I got passed the silver exige.

I can get passed in turn 5A, its a long negitive camber turn. Again I stay outside but I make the pass on the inside coming up to turn 6. It kills my speed in the turn but I can still get out ok. Thats basicly how I got passed the blk/ylw M3. He pointed me by but I would have made it around him anyways.

kster

That's alright, the video isn't necessary. It was a good day with lots of track time so I got some a lot of miles to test out the new coilovers. I'm getting a little more corner entry understeer than I'd like (compared to my old Miata). Hopefully I can cure most of this with another alignment.

Highway8

iTrader: (11)

Try steering with the throttle. If you are deceleraing while entering the turn it usually pushes. Get neutral or slight acceleration and you can maximize your corner speed. Its the slow in fast out approach.

Or my approach is go in neutral but a little too fast. I let it push a little and once it stops pushing I get on the gas and aim for the apex and track out.

kster

Yeah, it's just the initial turn-in, I'm just not getting as much bite with the fronts as I'd like. Going a little slower or lifting off the throttle a little longer would both help. I'm also use to the Miata which is fast in and fast out since it doesn't accelerate on its own.

Galen Darkmoon

Saweet

yomomspimp06

post it...battle of the 8's lol

Highway8

iTrader: (11)

Here you go. When the video starts I am about 7 seconds behind the blue rx8 R3 (KSTER). Forgive my comments to my passenger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYWm1GgSTwI