I'm game - sometime in 2017?

So apparently it's been almost a year since I updated the original post. It should be all caught up now. In some cases I just replaced some peoples older times with their new best (blu3dragon), especially when there were no major changes in the car configuration. Please review, if you feel something's out of place, let me know.

Also, I don't know all the tracks (like is Road Atlanta = Atlanta Motorsport Park?), so if a track or configuration is mislabeled, do let me know.

Man, I have to come visit to all these west coast tracks. Winter sucks lol.

Since racing season is over, I thought maybe folks would appreciate watching an RX-8 chasing a Ferrari. :Peace:

Streets of Willow CCW 1.28.4
Big Willow/WillowSprings 1:37.3
Chuckwalla 2:09
Buttonwillow 2:07.3

2005 Stock Engine, NT01 235/40/17, RacingBeat V2 tune, BHR Midpipe, RB Exhaust, JIC suspension, Hawks HP+.

went back to BW this weekend and posted a personal best of 2:07.23 - beating my previous time of 2:07.30 set in R-compounds... but without R-Comps!

Buttonwillow #13CW 2:07.23 - R3, stock suspension, intake, DR midpipe & catback, hawk HP+, 255/40/17 Maxxis VR1

VIR Full: 2:11.068 - EP car, stock motor, 245/40-17 Hoosiers

This thread is doing a better job of keeping my lap times than my own logs (I'm barely starting to log my data, haha).

Went back this weekend, no other changes, did a 2:06.45

Oooo...haven't posted any of my recent track times on here

02/04/17 Thunderhill Raceway East Bypass - 2:09.6
04/01/17 Buttonwillow Raceway CW13 - 2:06.43



2009 Mazda RX-8 R3
Ohlins Road and Track Coilovers
Hotchkis Front and Rear Sway Bar
Racing Beat Dual Resonated Midpipe
Racing Beat Catback Exhaust
Mazdaspeed Cold Air Intake
ACT Streetlite Flywheel
ACT Street Clutch
17x9 +45 Enkei RPF1
Maaxis VR-1 255/40/17
Cobalt Friction XR2/XR3
Custom Hood Vents

Summit Point Main 1:25.8
Pittsburgh Full 2:00.2

Car - 2004 Rx8 SCCA T4. Full cage, Mazdaspeed springs, Non adjustable Bilstein Shocks, Hoosier R7 tires, Mazdaspeed sway bar. Open exhaust, stock airbox with K&N filter.

Summit Point Main Circuit
Best lap 1:26:37.

My lap timer is within a hundredth of my NASA transponder. Mods and data acquisition setup in my video description. Basically full interior street car.

Nicely done! Have you modified your gears? Looks like you are in 3rd and 4th, never 2nd, even in T5. You are shifting to fourth way before I do in T8.

My gears are stock. The pineapple racing engine is strong; i have a lot of torque (for an RX8!). I don't feel like i need 2nd gear in T5 because i can powerslide the rear in 3rd- so i have enough power. Coming out of T1-2, i think any more power would either push me wide or cause power oversteer; i'm at the grip limit and barely able to keep it on track. For T3 and T10, i'm focusing on carrying enough speed that a downshift into 3rd isn't required.

My shift in T8? I'm short shifting a little bit (probably right at the buzzer, about 8500 rpms). I'm trying to get that shift done when the load on the car is minimum (transition between T8 and T9) to not upset the car. If i hold 3rd through T9, i'm coming out screaming over 9000 rpms and risk hitting my limiter. A raised rev limit and holding 3rd through T9 could be faster though, although i'm running out of track at the exit of T9 (at the grip limit...)

I think with a spring rate change from 8k front 6k rear to 10k front 7k rear and an optimized alignment, 1:25s should be easily achievable on my 235 R888. It was also very hot that weekend.

After years of driving the course in racing games, I was able to finally make my way down to Laguna and have a go at it. I was aiming for a sub 1:50, but was just short with a 1:50.1.

I'm sure I'll reach that goal my next time I am out there




2009 Mazda RX-8 R3
Ohlins Road and Track Coilovers
Hotchkis Front and Rear Sway Bar
Racing Beat Dual Resonated Midpipe
Racing Beat Catback Exhaust
Mazdaspeed Cold Air Intake
ACT Streetlite Flywheel
ACT Street Clutch
17x9 +45 Enkei RPF1
Maaxis VR-1 255/40/17
Cobalt Friction XR2/XR3
Custom Hood Vents

GridLife Time Attack
Gingerman Raceway Ambient Temp 82F
1:53.886

2004 Mazda RX8 68k Miles
Black Halo Racing Ignition Coil Kit
245/40/18 Riken Raptor Tires on OEM Wheels ($240/set)

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...ccc6780f4b.png

Nice driving. That's a good time with 200TW tires.
I'm hoping to be back there next month...

^that should be 1:49.49. Anything I did within the 1:46 range will have been on NT-01.

Gingerman Raceway, South Haven, MI -2.21 mile track
2:02.45 - 2004 6 Speed Manual Rx8
Hawk HP Plus on the front.
Rest stock.
Kumho Ecsta 4x II's, all season tires

Reviewing my 1:28 with a dead engine on street tires and 3.7k/2.6k springs, I agree with you on most of those points. Stickies vs street may explain the other points. I am actually in third through T1/2 and T5. I find 3rd in T3 helps climb that little hill, maybe because of the tired engine (or maybe because a goddamn Corvette made me over-brake! :mad:). Again maybe again because of the lack of torque, 3rd in T10 helps me get full-throttle early, tuck the nose in, hit that apex, and carry the speed out.

The one point where I have a different opinion is T8. You can hear your RPM doesn't change from basically your shift point at the entry until the exit of T8. I think you could be accelerating from the apex if you stay in third. Shifting after the T8 apex doesn't upset the car. I think you are running out of track on exit because you are early-apexing that turn just a bit. It's a later apex than you think. I'm pretty sure you have 1:25's in that car as it sits, and getting up that hill a bit quicker could help you get there. I'm going to try it your way next time I'm there (FATT) because I could be wrong, but I don't think it will be faster for me.

It's funny, you can always tell the guys who know how to drive, i.e. use momentum instead of relying on horsepower: The guys doing it right always run over the access road border line between T1 and T2 and nearly drop a wheel in the dirt. :smoker:

Thank you! I was actually comparing my videos to yours to see where I could improve. I'm hoping to be out there again next month as well. I will probably be going on the 31st with NCRC.

That's a start, maybe one of these times we can meet up at an event and see where we can gain you some time. When were you out at Gingerman last?

Hey thats not a bad idea, I was at gingerman April 14-15 this year. I'll be at Grattan on July 8th this year. Bought some new dedicated track wheels, 17" Enkeis with Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 R's on em, so hopefully that'll be a nice edge over the stock wheels with all seasons.

Yeah, I have been wondering what a better wheel and tire setup would do on my stock RX8. Right now I am running the factory 18s with some 245/40/18 Riken Raptor tires. Still managed to clock a 1:53 at Gingerman.

10 seconds slower than my Honda Challenge Race Car, but still fun.

Yeah, I will be home later tonight and would be happy to send you pics of my 8's and the wheels/tires I have for the track if you'd likd. Have done some minor weight reduction on the track one along with the new wheel setup.

Jake, What are you running for your line? You must be running a great line to turn 1:53 on a stock RX8 at Gingerman.

I average 1:53/1:54 on NT01s, Ohlin coilovers, and Hawk StreetRace pads; ...and I carried passengers all weekend. Personal best is 1:50, but not consistently (traffic during HPDEs plays a factor, lol). I should be able to dip into the 1:4x territory but you must be killing the line!