Here is a little RX-8 Laguna Seca lap battle from a coupe years ago from my in car footage archives:

Thunderhill West

1:29.56 w/passenger -- blu3dragon RX-8 S2 sport, estimated at 200rwhp and 3065lbs w/driver. Stock interior & body, fatcat coilovers, Nitto NT01 255/40/17 tires.

First time doing the west course, limited driving time and a passenger next to me, so there is more time to be had...

But what a fun track. Feels like this car is made for it too, we were flying past all kinds of machinery out there :)

we ran a 148.459 at road atlanta with 108 cars on track so traffic was crazy

#38 rotary racing 269 laps 01:48.459 45 84.308 mi/h 9th EC class

No new lap records last weekend, but a couple of data points for the books. I also figured out that my car works much better in the wet with the rear sway bar disconnected. (Did not do that for the wet lap below). First time running RA1s as well. Full tread they were good in the wet. They could drive through some standing water, but did start to aqua plane at about 80mph when there was a lot of standing water. No problems on the drive to/from the track. In the dry they felt very similar to NT01s with a little less grip (I'd guess due to the tread).

Thunderhill East
2:44.17 Very Wet -- blu3dragon RX-8 S2 sport, estimated at 200rwhp and 3065lbs w/driver. Stock interior & body, fatcat coilovers, Full tread Toyo RA1 255/40/17 tires.
2:10.08 Dry with damp paint -- blu3dragon RX-8 S2 sport, estimated at 200rwhp and 3065lbs w/driver. Stock interior & body, fatcat coilovers, Full tread Toyo RA1 255/40/17 tires.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...59d084058e.jpg

Thunderhill East. Very wet.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...be09743f35.jpg

Thunderhill East. Dry with damp paint.

Road Atlanta, dry, 225/40-18 BFG Rivals on OEM wheels, Bilstein B12, hotchkis sways, NO power mods, 6MT base model, 1'49".

Guess I should have put it here:

Road Atlanta: 1:39.527. 245/40-17 Hoosier R7, 2600lbs, 183whp.

That is hauling ass. :icon_tup: That matches the best I've done on the Shen with street tires and Konis. Though I did have a passenger. ;)
Years ago I was doing clockwork 1:44's but I think that was on Hoosier R-comps.

Who's already had an event on the Shen? I'm clearly not hooked-up with the right groups!

Trackdaze is doing Shenandoah in May that I'm going to. Perhaps SCCA PDX had one already? My 1:45 was from last season, the weekend I gave you a ride.

First time in clear conditions with NT01 at LS. Finally beat my 2013 time set on Direzza Z2. Removed my rear seats for this one. Car was slightly loose all day :) Didn't get the video for my fastest session, but added a lap recorded later in the day here: https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-racing-...3/#post4755420

Laguna Seca
1:45.749 -- blu3dragon RX-8 S2 sport, estimated at 200rwhp and 3030lbs w/driver. Removed rear seats, fatcat coilovers, NT01 255/40/17 tires.

That's a really good time for Laguna Seca on NT01 tires for a mostly stock car!!! Congrats.

Thanks!

Damn!!

I want ridealongs and tips next time we're out there!!! :icon_tup::icon_tup::icon_tup:

I'd be happy to share any knowledge I can... I think all that practice in the wet last time helped a lot. After catching the rear so many times on that day I was much more comfortable driving on the edge in the dry ;-)

Spring Mountain - Mansell/3.4mi config (with bus stop) - 2:53.20 - R3, stock suspension, intake, midpipe & catback, HP+ & heat cycled RE71R

Buttonwillow #13CW - 2:07.30 R3, stock suspension, intake, midpipe & catback, DTC-60 + Kumho V710

Buttonwillow #13CW - 2:10.03 R3, stock suspension, intake, midpipe & catback, HP+ & Dunlop ZII (not star specs)

Virginia International Raceway (VIR) full course - 2:19:5 (2:19:0 theoretical without traffic)


2005 Base 6MT, Hotchkis Sways, Bilstein B12, Hypertech, HKS Hi-Power, Rota RT5 17x10, 255 Hankook RS3V2 (not very grippy...). 3070 pounds with 185 pound driver. low compression. video in youtube link in sig.

dude, traffic is at least 2 seconds =P hahaha or at least that's what I tell myself, lol

I was back at Laguna Seca last weekend, but unable to improve on my previous time. Actually set my best time (1:46.86) in the first session and just got slower from there as the temps rose, my tires wore out and my brain was less focused. Still had a blast though and got some good experience.

I should be back at TH next month with a fresh set of tires. I'm expecting it will be hot, so I'll take it as an improvement if I can match my best time set there last year.

Pittsburgh International Racing Complex (Pitt Race) HPDE trackday. driving on the track for the first time, car is stock with -1.3 camber front, -1 rear and .35 toe rear. Hawk HPS pads, 245/40 18 PSS tires. 1:15:41

^Nice, looks really good for your first time out. Great to see another RX-8 on track :-)

thanks for sharing, i'll be there this weekend.

Mid-Ohio Club Course (longer 2.4 mile configuration)
Best time (traffic) - 1:47:15
Device: Android, Racechrono, internal GPS


My phone's internal GPS was looking iffy, so I would say these times are a bit garbage. i'll use an external GPS at the next event. I hear the normal course (pro course) at mid ohio is 1-2 seconds faster without the chicane this configuration adds.

Thunderhill 3 mile: 2:17.0 in a 2004 GT on stock suspension and tires (RE970as).

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-racing-...3/#post4780452

I think I have somewhat competitive times now to post!

rocketboi336: R3, Ohlins DFV, RB dual resonated midpipe and catback, Hotchkis front and rear sway bars, ACT streetlite flywheel and street clutch, BHR ignition kit, 245/40/18 Hankook RS3's

March 27th, 2016: Buttonwillow 13CW: 2:08.6 with Ongrid.

rocketboi336: R3 Ohlins DFV, RB dual resonated midpipe and catback, Hotchkis front and rear sway bars, ACT streetlite flywheel and street clutch, BHR ignition kit, Mazdaspeed CAI, 245/40/18 Hankook RS3's, Cobalt Friction XR2 F/ XR3 R.

September 10th, 2016: Thunderhill East (Bypass): 2:11.3 with NCRC.

What's interesting was that my lap at buttonwillow I was fighting understeer but when I was at Thill I was mostly fighting oversteer. Maybe a change in driving style or inconsistent tire pressures. Will have to take note next time.

Dominion Raceway (late 2016 updates). This is now the closest track to Washington, DC.
Best time - 1:36:78
Device: Android, Racechrono, external Garmin GLO GPS

Car mods in video description. I was only a few tenths off the TTD track record, set on slicks.