04Green

iTrader: (1)

For the most part, unless he is a good one, they will not maximize corner speed in a 911. Almost all I have seen are worried about CPS (Chicken Porsche Syndrome), they are afraid to lift in a corner. The good ones know where the limits are, usually. If it is an older one, you will be surprised how little, if any, power advantage they have.

Spin9k

Yea that would be enough to really get most anyone mad at the moment, since you paid $$ for nothin that day. But in a calmer mindset....

...usually when pads wear down towards the end, the wear is not even accross the face, some places may have been 3/16" but others less or under their limit, only you would know I guess. I would have to agree with those that say with only 3/16" left, thats not really enought to go at heavy braking all day on track, esp if you're NOT a novice just tooling around for fun. I'd also have to believe the inspectors were only trying to save you, your car, or others on track from possible harm.

With minor exception, the PCA chapters here in the NE are some of my favorite groups to track with. They are straight up, professional, and when you're out on track, you know you're up against certified performance car icons, which makes you feel good when you do the passing, and not so bad when you're the one being passed lol!

Bl1nD_RX

I agree that my brakes should be as good as possible before hitting the track, what I'm pissed about is that on my tech inspection sheet it says brakes must be at least 1/8th inch and I was in the clear. I was disrespected because of the car I drive. **** the 2 techs that actually worked at the garage came over and told the inspectors, who were in the club and were not actual mechanics, that the brakes were more than fine

Bl1nD_RX

You got it I'm pretty stoked about it regardless of the
situation. You should hit me up if you plan to go down there and we can do some laps together lol

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

Maybe it was because of you and not the car?

You@re not exactly setting the respect standard yourself ...

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Can't believe they would allow 1/8th in of pad.....seems way to little for a track session...I wouldn't even drive them like that on the street

MagnusRacing

iTrader: (2)

They wanted you out of there so they could hit on your girlfriend.... duh!

OceanStateTuning

I agree

But sounds like you did need pads.

viprez586

iTrader: (5)

We recommend pads being replaced at 2mm, for everyday soccer mom travel.

They're recommending pads at least be approximately 3.175mm
And you supposedly had approximately 4.762mm

Depending on the course and driver skill I wouldn't start with 4mm on my pads. Like someone mentioned they probably didn't know you - the car - and it's ability with you behind the wheel, so they failed you for the greater interest of keeping everyone (including yourself) safe for that track event.
And they were probably jealous of your date.

MagnusRacing

iTrader: (2)

FWIW I've had a great time doing events with the San Diego Chapter of the PCA. However, I do remember them being worried about the rear pads on my RX-7 one time and they were BRAND NEW - guess those Porsche guys must be used to some really fat pads or something.

Bl1nD_RX

Man I walked in there and bit my tung. These are my ladies friends and colleagues and the last thing I planned to do was start trouble. if the guys would have told me they were within limits but new pads were still a good idea I would have been more than happy to do it but they chose to fail me. That doesn't make sense. Anyways I'm done venting. I'm sorry if I have come off as a douche, I am still very excited to drive with the club and learn from these talented drivers but I just thought this was a story worth telling

40w8

After a week of batting this thread around the real reason is still on the fringes.

I mean they took your battery out? WTF? It's either loose or not!

Those guys busted your ***** because they're jealous of your girlfriend.

Get em where their goat is tied; squirt some oil under the inspectors porche everytime you see it.

It'll drive him crazy looking for the leak.

Speaking of Porche drvers; at a HPDE last month in drizzle this POrche guy would not speed up after exiting a curve at 30mph so I counted down a few seconds and was going anyway, then he rolls the window down and the hand comes out finally.

Then, near the end of the day he comes over to a G37 driver on the same intermiediate run, and bitches him out saying, "For your info, that wasn't a wave by"! ? WtHell? Oh, I get it now that guy thinks that he has POWER in NOT waving a faster car by.

If I'm being held up by obviously faster car with crap driver, I'm passing on a straight, wave by or not!

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

I didn't mean that at all, just didn't understand what any of this had to do with being "disrespected", which you used several times is all

Spin9k

You sound like the type of HPDE participant who should be sent home. If you have problems with other drivers, talk to the track chair, don't start making your own track rules and pass other idiots that are there with you... with or without a point by. Dumb and dangerous. You're just adding to the chaos. And if you seriously would put oil under someones car to get "even", you shouldn't even be let on track property. Very juvenile reaction IMO.

04Green

iTrader: (1)

^+1

Bl1nD_RX

its hard to explain man. the atmosphere there was light and fun, people were drinking and having a good time. then i pull my 8 in and the place goes silent. the mood changes and my baby was torn apart by someone who had no business being an inspector. like i said the guy has no mechanical experience. he has never worked on his own car and my girl has fixed this guys car countless times at the track and off it when he drives like an idiot. they made us feel like real outsiders and that sucked.

04Green

iTrader: (1)

Find a different PCA Club man. From what I can tell, you either found a bad one or got them when they were really stupid. Maybe the last event had an 8 driven by an *** (or one that embarrassed them). Check the track schedule and just go when a different group goes.

Hi Flying 8

iTrader: (2)

Yea, i have done some open lapping says with them at HPR as well. They are very slow, and drive around the track nose to tail. You have to be careful of them-I think they forgot to put rear view mirrors in their cars and look at you shocked and scared when you pass them. Be wise when you go to pass them because they are unpredictable!

Have fun, the course is great.

40w8

Ha! I've been around enough dicks that try to get your goat, that I'd not even run with those (tear your car apart guys).

I've run with Lambos on my *** every 30 seconds, and had no trouble pointing them by.

Some of those Porche and BMW clubs can have a holier than thou attitude, with some fascist rules nonsense going on.

I look up HPDE's on the net, and I've run with the S2000club, some other Civic groups, and had a lot of fun, but actually my 8 is too slow to catch anybody, so it's always the BMW's that are pushing on me for the point by.

My best track encounter was a Mini JCW that could pull away, but I could catch at the corner by braking later.

Bottom line; the tracks are independent of car makes.

Find a club that uses that track on other days that have a real personality; If I'm treated like dirt, I'm not coming back!

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

not only can you say the same thing about any other club/group, there are people who say it every day, that's just the way it is and as often as not it has as much to do with the person saying it as the people they're talking about the same as any social group/experience in life ...

Striker-7

iTrader: (3)

I've only run with three groups, but I'd have to throw in with the observation that PCA chapters have an elitist attitude. The incidents in "tech line" at Watkins Glen with the NNJPCA aren't enough to drive me away from 3 days of fun, but it does sour the experience. It's not all the members, I've had good times at both August events, but the "brand ******" can and do ruin it for those non-marque attendees.

Find the "brand agnostic" HPDE folks like TrackDaze, who started out as a VW R32 group and expanded out, they are a joy to run with. NASA Mid-Atlantic is where I started, and after my two years of DEs with them, TrackDaze and NNJPCA, I will gladly point friends and acquaintances to their NASA regionals. TrackDaze is run and owned by a group of NASA-MA alumni (Jon Felton is NASA's Time Trial director), they run a tight, fast, fun experience not unlike a NASA race weekend.

Quick plug: log onto MotorsportReg.com, click on Event Calendar, drop in your zipcode and see how many groups / organizations are in your area.

Spin9k

^Strange what you say striker as the NNJPCA is my fav group in the NE to run with as they always are welcoming to me, have never been elitist in my experience, but more important they run great track days.

What is so great about their DEs compared to others, even other PCA groups? Very professionally run, on time, and they practice and enforce good driving rules fairly. Typically they have many solo-only DEs where you can virtually have all the track time you can eat, up to 4 hrs per day, and their prices are typically 1/2 the cost of what competing groups offer with only half the track time. What's not to like

I've never ever had any issues in tech line... hell even their one-size-fits-all Porsche torque wrenches they want to use don't fit my no-you-aren't-going-to-steal-these lugnuts I have and I get passed right through every time. Of course I do keep a spotlessly clean and well maintained car at all times - even if it is 8 yrs old - maybe that helps?

If you want to talk elitist their are others more deserving.....

Striker-7

iTrader: (3)

Spin, I'll agree with you on the tight ship, I love the run times. My car may not be showroom spotless, but it is tidy. When you drive 7 hours in the rain to get there, the car is not going to pass for a trailer queen.

Still, all it takes is one elitist jerk tossing his torque wrench to the table and telling me, "Eh, do your own...", like he couldn't bear to touch it. Despite the MD State shop inspection (not a "recognized PCA station"), wanting me to pull a wheel and show them the pads (new HP Ceramics, you could still see the gloss backer paint!), because "we can't see them like (model name)"... I did it in good grace, but tell me why I tossed away $50 for your mandated inspection, just to do it again?

This posting was a direct result of that experience. Here, this is how you can tell what's left.

"One Bad Apple" syndrome. It'll color your experience almost as bad as kissing a guardrail.

Last year (2010), I breezed through tech, had a blast even in the monsoon on Sunday, pointed by so many GT3 Cup wannabees in Black Group my arm, and the flagman's at the bottom of the Boot, were worn out, didn't want to go to the hotel in the evening. This is the same bunch? Why am I smiling then? Because with one notable exception, no one had pulled the "Marque Card" on me, and the exception I was ready for.