Track day summary, Apr 12 at The Ridge
 

Hey guys, I wanted to do a quick write-up from my first track day in the RX-8. It was April 12, 2003, at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, WA.

I’m really pleased with how she held up! No significant issues to report, but I did have my OEM oil pressure sensor freak out when coming into the paddock of my last run. It threw the oil pressure dummy light, but my aftermarket oil pressure gauge showed no problems at idle or with some RPMs. I also checked the oil level and it was nearly full. After starting up again to leave, the light was gone and hasn’t returned since. Must have been some sensor overheat issue or something; anyone see this before? The other thing I’ve noticed is that the brakes don’t feel quite as good after the track day. Either I have a little air in the lines or I glazed my rotors. Either way, should be an easy fix. I’ll replace the pads soon and bleed the brakes regardless, but may also replace the rotors and lines to be complete. Other than these two minor things, though, no problems. Oil never broke 210 deg-F, water never broke 200 deg-F.

About halfway through the day, it started to rain really hard. A bunch of people took off because of it. It got so sparse that the event coordinators changed it to open track just when my group was about to run again. Everyone could be on the track with Group A passing rules in effect. My last run was 45 minutes before I cut out, packed up, and left. In that time, I was able to get by two GTIs, an E36 M3, a mi-generation Miata, and a 911 Turbo (that last guy must have been running R-compounds in the rain or just a terrible driver). I was in a freakin’ zone at the end there, it felt amazing. I also was tagging behind a Viper on the front straight when he went off track at like 100 MPH closing in on Turn 1. He must have put too much power down for his tires and speed; he flew off the left hand of the track and spun a bunch of times before I got passed him. I didn’t see the extent of the damage, nor did I see him on the track again. Not surprising… even with my street tires, anything over 100 MPH started to get really dicey. There were also parts of the track with huge puddles that made for some real ass-puckering moments. At the apex of turn 1, a small-ish puddle made that high speed gentle left turn pretty scary. But the one that surprised me the most was on turn 9. It’s a high speed right hand turn at the bottom of a hill. Huge puddle at the apex. I hit that turn at maximum speed on my first lap after the rain started and hydroplaned 5-10 feet to the left before grabbing traction again. Every lap after that I gingerly drove around that puddle. :)

All said and done, it was amazing. Can't wait for my next track day. It'll likely be Pacific Raceways or Ridge again. Anyone doing track days in the coming months? I would love to meet some other RX-8 owners who track their cars.

I'm glad you had a great time. I'm going to try and hit the ridge this summer. I'll be hitting PR several times this summer, and possibly ORP. I run with ProFormance and I'll pm you before I sign up.

http://www.proformanceracingschool.com/

As far as your brakes go, I would put a big bet that you boiled the fluid. I would suggest upgrading when you flush, or it'll probably happen again. I use GS610 and I'm sure there will be plenty of other suggestions ;) Cantrell Motorsports in Kirkland sells it if that is close to you.

Glad you had a great time and that the rain didn't scare you off. I have learned more on a rainy day than on several dry days!

Cool, I'll check out ProFormance.

As for the brakes, I bled them today and they felt the same on a test drive... until they warmed up. Then they were back to ripping my face off on a hard stop :) Guess they need that, even with OEM rotors and pads. I think the fluid was OK, I just got spoiled by the feel of them when warm at the track. I used ATE Super Blue before track day and in the bleed today.

yep super blue should be plenty, glad you had fun and learned alot!

Will be good to see some more RX-8's out there....check out the Turn2 Lapping days...they are a great event......

Yep, Tom/Turn2 put on the April 12th event. It was great, can't wait to go again!

I was supposed to be at that one..but I was sicker thn a dog :( Was going to ORP on Sat but I am still sick...this one is hard to shake :(

Hope to be at the May4th Event...but it is getting very full...

I looked up Turn 2 lapping and WOW do they run some long hours at the ridge :) I will try and run with them this year!

Is there fuel on site or are there gas stations close by?

Gas is close.....3 minutes or so. Just have to remember too slow down going by the State Patrol Academy on the way there ;)

:lol2:

It's wierd, for me, track days are the days the speed limit is perfect.

After 100+ mph...the 30mph speed limit on the State Patrol road feels like you are crawling :)