Track Day Streets of Willow result
02-22-2004, 09:27 AM
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Track Day Streets of Willow result
Well it was my first track day and a great course it was. I opted to take the racing class and lucky me it was raining! I had one instructor that was good named charles who showed me the basic lines of the course and how to hit the apexes and get the most exit speed I could.
I then went a couple laps and then I came into contact with another instructor named Ray who took a ride along too. He said my technique was good and i was very smoothe ( I was glad to hear that). He then took me on a lap and then I really saw what my cars limits were. The bowl portion done correctly is able to be done at about 85 mph while i was doing it at about 70 lol. He proceeded to show me how to heel toe and how to bring my back end around on the sharp turns.
What he said was true we proceeded to pass the Carerra, supercharged RSX, and a slew of S2000s. I was just amazed, I asked him "god and all this time I thought my car was a sports sedan!?" He just turned to me and said no..... this is an RX8. I dont know how these rumors get started but these cars have been doing extremely well on the course." I kinda felt stupid a little but it was good to hear it.
So after the help I received i proceeded to lap a WRX and a 2nd gen rx7. I also passed a slew of s2k and a brand new M3! Whoever said our car was slow was either a moron or cant drive for crap.
The traction on our cars in the rain so far is just awesome the only reason why I lost my back end on the last small turn before the front straight was because I let go of the gas at the apex lol! I then realized hey im doing something wrong here and put my foot back on the gas in third and it it was back on track. I was amazed at how easy it was to correct. Later after a little coaching by the instructor I realized that at the last corner I need to floor it in third all the way through the corner from the apex on and I was achieving a front straight speed of 95-100 something. Had to keep my eyes on the road since we were going counter clockwise hehe.
I really wish i could have brought my girlfriend with me but she had to work. She would have loved the track day gosh i might have even gotten her to pee her pants. Well maybe next time.
All in all I am hooked! I met another 8 owner and we both had big grins on our faces! The best part is we video taped the event so I am gonna get a dvd burned for me.
Its true what the other 8 owner said once you start doing this everything changes. Everything is about driving everything becomes about driving.
Funny thing is I really think hes right!
I then went a couple laps and then I came into contact with another instructor named Ray who took a ride along too. He said my technique was good and i was very smoothe ( I was glad to hear that). He then took me on a lap and then I really saw what my cars limits were. The bowl portion done correctly is able to be done at about 85 mph while i was doing it at about 70 lol. He proceeded to show me how to heel toe and how to bring my back end around on the sharp turns.
What he said was true we proceeded to pass the Carerra, supercharged RSX, and a slew of S2000s. I was just amazed, I asked him "god and all this time I thought my car was a sports sedan!?" He just turned to me and said no..... this is an RX8. I dont know how these rumors get started but these cars have been doing extremely well on the course." I kinda felt stupid a little but it was good to hear it.
So after the help I received i proceeded to lap a WRX and a 2nd gen rx7. I also passed a slew of s2k and a brand new M3! Whoever said our car was slow was either a moron or cant drive for crap.
The traction on our cars in the rain so far is just awesome the only reason why I lost my back end on the last small turn before the front straight was because I let go of the gas at the apex lol! I then realized hey im doing something wrong here and put my foot back on the gas in third and it it was back on track. I was amazed at how easy it was to correct. Later after a little coaching by the instructor I realized that at the last corner I need to floor it in third all the way through the corner from the apex on and I was achieving a front straight speed of 95-100 something. Had to keep my eyes on the road since we were going counter clockwise hehe.
I really wish i could have brought my girlfriend with me but she had to work. She would have loved the track day gosh i might have even gotten her to pee her pants. Well maybe next time.
All in all I am hooked! I met another 8 owner and we both had big grins on our faces! The best part is we video taped the event so I am gonna get a dvd burned for me.
Its true what the other 8 owner said once you start doing this everything changes. Everything is about driving everything becomes about driving.
Funny thing is I really think hes right!
Last edited by zerohour; 02-22-2004 at 09:33 AM.
02-22-2004, 04:13 PM
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Good review.
I've driven that track many times and it is very challenging. Hard on brakes too.
You freaked me out when you said "came into contact with another instructor".
I thought you physically hit his car on track. Anyway, glad everything went well and it sounds like you learned alot.
Did you have the traction (DSC) control "on" or "off"?
And 85 mph in the 'Bowl' seems a little fast.
Maybe you're thinking about the first part of the chicane?
Drive Safely,
-Michael
I've driven that track many times and it is very challenging. Hard on brakes too.
You freaked me out when you said "came into contact with another instructor".
I thought you physically hit his car on track. Anyway, glad everything went well and it sounds like you learned alot.Did you have the traction (DSC) control "on" or "off"?
And 85 mph in the 'Bowl' seems a little fast.
Maybe you're thinking about the first part of the chicane?Drive Safely,
-Michael
02-22-2004, 05:49 PM
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Nope thats what I thought He was doing about 85 or so I thought we were gonna fly right off lol! We had a dry line when we did this btw. It was pretty scary, in a good way.
At the chichane We would shift to third before the chicane and he would floor it which I would too. Where I would proceed to slow down at the bowl he would simply let off the gas then slowly accelerate being very touchy feely while he was driving (DSC off). I didnt feel any braking at all. Once we got to about the apex he would just dive in and out to the cone and it was done.
It was raining that day so for the first part of the track day I had dsc on then later when I understood more of what to expect from the car DSC came right off.
To be honest i was paranoid to be racing in the rain but after we were done and I understood the weight transfer much better and I was almost fully comfertable with rain or no rain. I still didnt do the bowl that fast though. I need to borrow someone elses courage for that one lol.
I have to practice heel toeing to work for next time.
Now gotta find some excuses to tell my GF for next time hehe.
At the chichane We would shift to third before the chicane and he would floor it which I would too. Where I would proceed to slow down at the bowl he would simply let off the gas then slowly accelerate being very touchy feely while he was driving (DSC off). I didnt feel any braking at all. Once we got to about the apex he would just dive in and out to the cone and it was done.
It was raining that day so for the first part of the track day I had dsc on then later when I understood more of what to expect from the car DSC came right off.
To be honest i was paranoid to be racing in the rain but after we were done and I understood the weight transfer much better and I was almost fully comfertable with rain or no rain. I still didnt do the bowl that fast though. I need to borrow someone elses courage for that one lol.
I have to practice heel toeing to work for next time.
Now gotta find some excuses to tell my GF for next time hehe.
02-23-2004, 10:27 AM
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Tires I was running were stock. If it is very hard to believe about the speed hell maybe he was going slower but Im pretty sure of it. It doesnt really matter to me hehe It wasnt me driving so either way i have a ways to go. If it seems improbable it might just be. I remember what I remember, maybe im having a big fish moment though.
In any case I wont be going to the next one due to money hehe but the next time we should all get a group together to hit the track! For streets of willow it was only 100.00 for the whole day. I wont be able to go for about 1 or 2 mos though lots o bills just smacked me with reality today
.
In any case I wont be going to the next one due to money hehe but the next time we should all get a group together to hit the track! For streets of willow it was only 100.00 for the whole day. I wont be able to go for about 1 or 2 mos though lots o bills just smacked me with reality today
.
02-25-2004, 10:43 PM
#7
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Sweet. Love hearing the track stories. Yep, your hooked! and yes, your friend is right. Nice job. I'll agree, these cars may lack some grunt but it makes up for it big time. My endorphins love it.
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