Who has been to the track?
#1
Certified track junky!!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Lebanon, NH
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Who has been to the track?
Over Labor Day weekend I drove down to Pocono Raceway to participate in a NASA HPDE. The car was extremely well balanced when running full tilt. If you are smooth with the controls the car rewards you by carving beautifully through the turns. If you happen to push a little too hard it breaks free in a predictable and easily recoverable manor. I've never driven a car that is this easy to drive fast. Sure I've driven cars that are faster but they have all been fast in a white-knuckled kind of way. After spending two hours on the track with the RX-8 I was left grinning from ear to ear and was begging for more! :D
So let's hear it folks, if you are a proud owner of an RX-8 and you have made it to the track post some pictures and tell us about it!
So let's hear it folks, if you are a proud owner of an RX-8 and you have made it to the track post some pictures and tell us about it!
#3
Certified track junky!!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Lebanon, NH
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was able to get around the red mustang but the blue one with the white hood smoked me on the Super Speedway. That didn't surprise me when I found out that it was supercharged and cranking out almost 500 Hp! The funny thing is that he ran out of gas towards the end of the day and was trying to bum a ride so that he could fill up a gas can! :p
I guess I shouldn't laugh too hard, I only got 7.8 MPG when I was zipping around the track and at the end of the day I left with the low fuel light on.
I guess I shouldn't laugh too hard, I only got 7.8 MPG when I was zipping around the track and at the end of the day I left with the low fuel light on.
#5
Prodigal Wankler
Originally posted by Speed Racer
Hey Eccles, do you have any photos from your last auto-x?
Hey Eccles, do you have any photos from your last auto-x?
I'll have pics from Nationals next Sunday though. :D
#8
Certified track junky!!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Lebanon, NH
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by eccles
I'll have pics from Nationals next Sunday though. :D
I'll have pics from Nationals next Sunday though. :D
Regardless, have fun and tell us about it on Monday!
#9
Certified track junky!!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Lebanon, NH
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Good Duck
Very cool Speed Racer. So how did the tires held up? I assumed you ran on the stock RE040s.
I'll be taking my out to Sebring Raceway this weekend.
Very cool Speed Racer. So how did the tires held up? I assumed you ran on the stock RE040s.
I'll be taking my out to Sebring Raceway this weekend.
I was just looking at the track layout for Sebring. It looks like it will be a wild ride. Have a blast and post some pictures when your done.
#10
Prodigal Wankler
Originally posted by Speed Racer
I'm curious if you have done any special to get ready for the Nationals? Alignment, tires, exhaust...
Regardless, have fun and tell us about it on Monday!
I'm curious if you have done any special to get ready for the Nationals? Alignment, tires, exhaust...
Regardless, have fun and tell us about it on Monday!
I'll be in Topeka all next week - my class actually competes on Thursday and Friday - so look for a report sometime after the 13th.
#11
Originally posted by eccles
I was hoping that Borla would have their system available by now.
I was hoping that Borla would have their system available by now.
#12
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Augusta, GA
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Borla Exhaust
Hi David!
Glad to hear the Borla exhaust is in the works. When it's available, how can I get details about performance and where can we purchase? Will the system be dynoed?
Thanks!
Glad to hear the Borla exhaust is in the works. When it's available, how can I get details about performance and where can we purchase? Will the system be dynoed?
Thanks!
#14
Re: Borla Exhaust
Originally posted by Kurt Bob
Hi David!
Glad to hear the Borla exhaust is in the works. When it's available, how can I get details about performance and where can we purchase? Will the system be dynoed?
Thanks!
Hi David!
Glad to hear the Borla exhaust is in the works. When it's available, how can I get details about performance and where can we purchase? Will the system be dynoed?
Thanks!
#15
Certified track junky!!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Lebanon, NH
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Good Duck
Very cool Speed Racer. So how did the tires held up? I assumed you ran on the stock RE040s.
I'll be taking my out to Sebring Raceway this weekend.
Very cool Speed Racer. So how did the tires held up? I assumed you ran on the stock RE040s.
I'll be taking my out to Sebring Raceway this weekend.
So what did you think of Sebring? Do you have any photos that you can post?
#16
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Who has been to the track?
Originally posted by Speed Racer
The car was extremely well balanced when running full tilt. If you are smooth with the controls the car rewards you by carving beautifully through the turns. If you happen to push a little too hard it breaks free in a predictable and easily recoverable manor. I've never driven a car that is this easy to drive fast. Sure I've driven cars that are faster but they have all been fast in a white-knuckled kind of way.
The car was extremely well balanced when running full tilt. If you are smooth with the controls the car rewards you by carving beautifully through the turns. If you happen to push a little too hard it breaks free in a predictable and easily recoverable manor. I've never driven a car that is this easy to drive fast. Sure I've driven cars that are faster but they have all been fast in a white-knuckled kind of way.
#17
Certified track junky!!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Lebanon, NH
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Re: Who has been to the track?
Originally posted by M-ster
Sounds kind of fun! Was that with the DSC On or Off?
Sounds kind of fun! Was that with the DSC On or Off?
#18
Certified track junky!!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Lebanon, NH
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Watkins Glen
I just had my first Watkins Glen experience. Wow, that track is awesome! The corners all flow nicely from one to the next and allow you to carry a lot of speed around the track. If you get the chance to make a few laps I would highly recommend it.
More photos
More photos
Last edited by Speed Racer; 09-26-2003 at 01:38 PM.
#19
8 the HARD way.
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dang dude, that is tight!
Do you have to go to some sort of school to drive it? I would have no clue on how to drive that track correctly. Or race my car for that matter..
Sweeeet.
Do you have to go to some sort of school to drive it? I would have no clue on how to drive that track correctly. Or race my car for that matter..
Sweeeet.
#20
Certified track junky!!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Lebanon, NH
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RX-Nut,
You should definitely check into NASA or one of the other driving clubs. They schedule the track time, provide driving instructors, and in general make sure that you have a good time. All you need to bring is a car that is in decent shape, a helmet (Snell 95 or better), open mind, and about $150-$200 for a one day event. You'll spend about 1/3 of the day in class discussing everything from flags to the best line around the track. Another 1/3 of your day will be spent on track (normally four 25 minute sessions) and the rest of the time you get to hang out with a garage full of car buffs. It is a lot of fun and you'll be surprised at how much you will learn about driving a car fast.
You should definitely check into NASA or one of the other driving clubs. They schedule the track time, provide driving instructors, and in general make sure that you have a good time. All you need to bring is a car that is in decent shape, a helmet (Snell 95 or better), open mind, and about $150-$200 for a one day event. You'll spend about 1/3 of the day in class discussing everything from flags to the best line around the track. Another 1/3 of your day will be spent on track (normally four 25 minute sessions) and the rest of the time you get to hang out with a garage full of car buffs. It is a lot of fun and you'll be surprised at how much you will learn about driving a car fast.
#21
8 the HARD way.
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Awesome!!
I need to see if Hawaii got any of these... I'd just like to try for the fun of it. I know I'm not going to compete or win anything.. just mainly to see what this car o mine can do.. hehe
I need to see if Hawaii got any of these... I'd just like to try for the fun of it. I know I'm not going to compete or win anything.. just mainly to see what this car o mine can do.. hehe
#22
Certified track junky!!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Lebanon, NH
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by RX-Nut
Awesome!!
I'd just like to try for the fun of it. I know I'm not going to compete or win anything.. just mainly to see what this car o mine can do.. hehe
Awesome!!
I'd just like to try for the fun of it. I know I'm not going to compete or win anything.. just mainly to see what this car o mine can do.. hehe
#24
Certified track junky!!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Lebanon, NH
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Good Duck
hey Speed Racer,
Did you all ran in one group? Or was there separate groups for different level of experience? ie, Novice, Intermediate, and such.
hey Speed Racer,
Did you all ran in one group? Or was there separate groups for different level of experience? ie, Novice, Intermediate, and such.
There were three groups running: Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced/Instructor. With only 15-20 cars per group it left plenty of space on the track for you to stretch your legs!
#25
This looks awsome!!
Man, maybe I will not wait until next year to buy one. I would race with my current car, but I am sure it would blow up (it is an '87 with over 90,000 miles).
Man, maybe I will not wait until next year to buy one. I would race with my current car, but I am sure it would blow up (it is an '87 with over 90,000 miles).