I had fun---I'm tired and I'll post later
olddragger

 

Pics are up on one photographer's site. I talked to him for a while on Sunday. He's new to shooting autos. He used to ride rodeo and got hurt so he started shooting rodeos and dirt bikes and other stuff. Nice guy.

Sanford Tullis: sanfordtullis.smugmug.com

If you see something you like, let Sanford know. It's hard work taking those good pics.

I love this shot. The second session on Sunday had just ended. This was the cool down and I was really happy with my driving. I was chasing down a good many cars and passing them. I had the black corvette in front of me but my sites were really on the cobra and that is almost the precise point at which I turned and looked at TA and said, "I wanted the Cobra" and TA said "Yea, me too". I love it!

 

I think I was just as disappointed to see the checkered flag each session as you and Asmoran!
I constantly 2nd guess myself on whether I should encourage you and my other students to go faster. I do have a strong sense of self preservation so I am not going to get you to drive at the limits of the car, only at your limits while pushing them forward.

 

Yay, the forums are back up.

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for convincing me to come out - I had a blast. I'll definitely be out again when I can afford it (we need to remodel the kitchen sometime soon - the floor is sinking).

It was nice meeting everyone (Lego, Phlash, MD, OD, TA, TA2, MStyles & posse, and everyone else I've forgotten). I wish I had been able to stay longer on Saturday and meet the rest of you - I'll definitely have to camp out next time. Maybe I can bring some snore-eez or something (or just let TA drown me out).

Silver - Glad I could get that MAF working for ya. I know I would have been upset at missing a session (not to mention how would you get it home?). But it was OD who put the intake back together. I wasn't able to do that part - I've never even had my MAF off. Changing the oil myself was a big step for me - changing the pads was even bigger. Fooling with the intake is probably my next step - doing the TB and oil breather mods.

TA - Thanks for awesome instruction. I had a blast, and never would have tried half the stuff I was doing out there if you hadn't been right there edging me on. I would have been braking for 10A at like 600ft (and lifting at the top of 9), and doing about 30 around it. Riding with you was great, even if you did think I was gonna hurl all over your nice leather interior. Riding with you without being able to hang onto the door was even better (though it did leave me a bit sore, lol)!

MD - I think I have your foldy chair. Or someone's chair that says something about Mars on the back of it. Let me know when I can get it back to you.

Now I need to get someone to show me how to bleed the brakes - Either I got too used to stabbing them hard or my stock fluid is shot (or both) because they sure seem squishy out on the streets.

 

probably your pads man. You can maybe salvage them with a good cleaning and brakefluid change--maybe. Go ahead and invest in some bleeders like summit carries---about 20 bucks for the set and swap them out. that way you can bleed them by yourself. Go ahead and change to the super blue fluid also.
Glad to have you aboard--you are now addicted. Just wait til you do Roebling(in Savannah) --it is way more fun than Road Atlanta. RA is more challenging--Roebling is more fun.
olddragger

 

What - Roebling more fun than Road Atlanta? You have got to be smoking something? Well I guess for you guys with no torque, Roebling would be more fun.

What am I saying - I have absoultely no torque with a blown motor.

 

Pads are (were?) brand new Hawk HPS - installed Thursday (the 15th).

 

I've recouperated and can now take a little time to write. I had a hell of a time at RoadA!!! The glee I experienced taking turn 1 faster in the RX-7 than I have in the RX-8 made up for the blown rear end. I still had a busy as hell day on Sunday WITHOUT driving! My students were great and learned very well. I've already signed up to instruct at Roebling.

Here's the rear end ready to go in. I'll swap out the full axle since it'll have disc brakes. It was all set and I guess I waited too long before installing it. When I dropped the oil out of rear on the car, it looked like crap and was gritty, so I'm glad I didn't take it back out on the track. I had just changed it before CMP, so it must have been very tired. Mike, how about we trade help working on the car for more dinner??? You in?


Gordon, thank you so much for being so hospitable. You're the man. The breakfast was wonderful, the accomidations were fantastic, and I was so tired, I didn't even hear the snoring symphony (almost). I don't care what the rest of the guys say about you, you're a top notch guy.

I loved playing Texas Hold-em with the GARX-8 crew. I can't wait to hang out again hopefully at Roebling. I should be less itchy by then. I'm glad we have one more RX-8 with a track addiction to add to our list. The more the merrier.

 

Vid from Sunday: Session 2

 

Anyone interested in joining me at Roebling for some "Seat-Time" April 7th?
https://www.rx8club.com/se-rx-8-forum-30/seat-time-roebling-april-6-7-a-112187/

 

I might just do that. Can't make it on the 14th with NASA and I have been itching to go to Roebling for a long time.

 

cant make seat time but who is going to roebling with nasa?
OD

 

Me...me!

 

me...to both events

 

You Drivin' Phlash?? Cool !

I am in touch with Jon to see If I can swing an instructor deal.

I'll see how that flys with the better half, it may interfere with spring break and that happens to be Friday and Saturday of the Easter weekend..

My chances look a bit slim at this point but since I am skipping NASA there and the Rock both for family time I might be able to parlay that into some Seat-Time @ Roebling with you guys.

 

Just registered. Registration for Roebling is open.

 

I'm already registered...only events I'm working are the RA events.....driving all the rest...

 

some pics up...


http://www.geralds.net/Gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=5446

 

cool pics G, I am dissapointed in myself, I had the camera there all weekend, and did not take it out once. I am sorry I don't have any to add.

 

I enjoyed watching your video Silver.
G - the pics from the tower are cool. Thanks for posting. Anyone see any pics or vid of the viper?

 

Thanks TA!

Photos by Wes Duenkel are up: http://wesduenkel.com/Events/070317_NASA_Atlanta.htm

 

Nice
OD

 

My turn.......got home a little after 10 Sunday evening. Spent the better part of Monday cleaning the lodge up and fixing some stuff I found not working on it when we were there. All is good and ready to go for the next go-around.

DAMN IT WAS COLD!!!! Thank God for the big *** grill.......what a huge help that turned out to be. Not only for the cooking but for the grill fire stories and tales. We killed all 40lbs of propane that Silver brought......

First off, the soap box......I'm disappointed as hell that S3mag stood us up.....after prepping the NASA folks, staying in contact with Brady the whole time, have people show Saturday night expecting their goods to be photograhed and writing stories on the club and the events happening that weekend, not to show, or at least call, is lame as hell. WTF??

k....I'm done....................

To all the instructors in our group; TA, TG, and Lego....you all make us proud. Over the past three years with folks like you as part of our club, the respect for our group, our cars, and our abilities has grown through the NASA ranks and will reach well beyond as the years go by and more and more students are touched and molded through our antics, guidance, and very presence. From the tower I watched as day one students progressed to some tank slapping saviors the next day.......thanks, in large part to you guys.....lego, sorry you were unable to finish with your ride......

OD, man......not one complaint from sleeping in chateau OD...even turning down free room with MD...you da man...cause it was COLD AS HELL!!!! You are consistently quick and it was a pleasure watching you beat on the others in your group. Hope the coat hanger fix on your brakes got you home with no drama. Can't wait to drive with you again at RR.......but this time we have Silver to push around......P.S. - The compressor hose has been replaced, no harm no foul.

MD......soooooooooooooo sorry about the car.......(although from the tower, it was an awesome smoke cloud you put out down the front straight, wish I had video on it)can't wait to see the better, faster, stronger, bionic version. Thanks for the company on the way down, thanks for the lunch, thanks for the gobs of candy, thanks for just accepting us slow *** 8's for who we are. Glad to have an S.O.B. such as yourself as part of the group.

Asmoran.......well you butched up, pulled out the tampon (thanks lego), and had a great weekend. Watching you from control on the first day verses the second was quite the show and exactly what we expect out of one of TA's students. Glad to have you as part of the group and hope that you can continue with us.

L8, soooooooooo sad you won't be making it to RR....who's car we gonna work on now???? You got to work with the legend herself this weekend, that is so cool. She is a hoot, but knows her stuff. And you know damn well she can probably hear everything and anything going on at the back of the track (not that I've ever been there...). You are getting to learn and do stuff the rest of us only hear about over big *** grills with large stogies.....we salute you worker man!!!!

Silver, CONGRATS!!! Welcome to DE 3!! When I think back to TGPR, you have come a long way my friend. Hell, after a zillion runs on RA, you better have learned a thing or two (and yes I do miss it). I can't wait to drive with you at RR, CMP, and Barber this year. So glad you have not let this cult thing go to your head......

To everyone that came out to join us (well except for the lame *** S3..............no, not gonna do it) it was great to have you all come by and say hi so that we can put a face with the forum name. Hell we even had folks so we didn't know......We went through 10lbs of BBQ, half gallon of tator salad and slaw, 54 brats and knock worst, 1 gallon of baked beans (ah, so that's what smelled like *** in the lodge....) and god knows how much beer and the likes. To all of you that came bearing gifts...thanks, every little bit helps. To those of you that beer'd, scotch'd, burbon'd, and tequila'd the cook, THANKS...I think the spins stopped about 2:00 am Sunday morning. To whoever stuck the big *** monkey in porta-john #1, YOU SUCK!!!! We have old people to tend after...what were you thinking????

I am truly blessed to be a part of this group. I continue to be impressed by the stand up folks we have and how the friendships continue to grow. Thanks all, for everything...."sniff"

 

Great write up man--I would like to add that your support has contributed greatly to the legend. You da man!
Ok--one question and not that it really matters but what is a good lap time for us 8 guys at RA? I dont want to start any competition here and no bragging etc etc--we are bigger than that and I will work to keep it that way. I just want a baseline so i can maybe have a target to shoot for on a personnel note. Think we can get to sub 1:50?
It seems driving on hoosiers IS a little differant compared to the ra1's. They have monster grip,BUT if not watched they will scrub off a LOT of speed. Playing with them in turn 7 -i remember one time i purposefully turned late(and it took 2 hands with a strong grip to steer the car in!) and the car went where I pointed it but it scrubbed speed down to 52mph.
Noticed same thing in turn one and 10 A. So --lesson--just because you have "grip" doesnt mean you can go faster. Still have to follow the "line" (when possible). The hoosiers do not tell you (like the ra1's) that you are doing something wrong, they will keep you going without noise--but--if you notice--- you are loosing speed.
They are smoother and I noticed more of a glide/quite type ride. Cant tell about braking because of all the shutter judders i was getting from the front discs. That was causing me to have to brake early and MUCH softer.
Temps were great --oil over 200 only one time and coolant never over 195. rp 10/40 felt good. Pre mix felt good on the track(none for street)
Track was faster-- i was hitting 130-132 a few feet after creasting the hill on the back straight but i had to start braking a little after that due to my problem. I was hitting approx 118-120 on the front straight. Increased straight speeds causes a complete readjustment in what you have to do.
Turn 12 is no longer a bottleneck for me! Finally! Especially after that mustang spung in front of me on the approach to 12. THAT was interesting and brake shutter or not I USED the 8's brakes on that one!
Great time, busy time, hard times (MD and Lego), scrapping ice off the inside of my windshield in the mornings, the monkey, the food, the dirty longjohns, the hand warmers, the growth, playing the ps3 in the hummer (GOD what a vechicle), the friends---what memories. For those of us who could not be there--we remembered ya and the next time hope you can make it.
Pox on S3 mag. That was low man.
All looked great on track--TA, Lego--great instructors. TA I wish I could have pushed it the way I wanted when you rode with me--but since that was my 1st time back(from oct) new surface, new type of tire and brake problems, sorry i couldnt give you the OD ride that I wanted too and can do. Sunday was a little better but understandably you were super busy--so next time!
To Roebling!
olddragger

 

During the time attack, TA and I were playing around pretty good and we had several consistent laps. Our times were 1:50 - 1:51 consistently on several laps after warming up the tires/brakes. I hit a 1:49.XX once. Mine being stock, you should be able to go a faster. Plus I had TG's "skinny featherweight" *** in the passenger seat. The V710's were also VERY grippy. With your suspension/tires, bolt ons, and driving ability, you should be below 1:50 consistently.