I took my RX-8 at Infineon Raceway and ran in Group 1 with NASA. I had gone through Skip Barber's 2 day High Performance class which came in extremely handy for this first track day.

My RX-8 feels like it has understeering bias on the street but at racetrack speeds.. the car was extremely neutral that it surprised my instructor and I. I only experienced understeer at Turn 11 and that was because I was coming on the throttle a bit too early. The RX-8 is a very fast car, because it gives you so much confidence that you can control it even at very high speeds. I am scared to do any suspension/chassi modifications for the fear of messing that amazing balance.

My only preparation for the track (apart from all the tools I had to bring), was to change the brake fluid. The brake pads held really well but I only started really pushing them during my last session with no brake fade. My tires Hankook Evo V12 held their own really well, and were very grippy.

During my last session, I was able to go with no traffic and full of confidence in the car and myself which led me to run "out of talent" twice during the S's. right around turn 8-9. Since I had no traffic I was really pushing the car going, according to my instructor, about 5 mph too fast. The car felt balanced before turn 8.. I turned in, the car tracked in the corner and I must have applied a bit of throttle to settle the car, and the rear tires broke lose. Had to go opposite lock three different times before stopping on the leftmost side of the track but still on the pavement. I was disappointed that my eyes were only looking a few feet ahead of me when I stopped, and not doing what I had been taught by Skip Barber which is to look where you want to go. But I was glad I stopped safely.
Told the pit lady what happened and off I went on the track again. First lap I had traffic, but I broke through on the second lap... and I was carrying too much speed again at the same spot. Realized my mistake a bit too late, and did not proceed to turn but instead went straight through a bit of sand and back on the track.

My next track day, I have to learn how to approach the limit much more safely. Smaller increments in speed changes. Without all my skip barber knowledge I would have never been able to go so fast or find the line through the track so fast. Maybe I should do a car control clinic so that I can recover better from an oversteer.. but I was going a good 85+mph...

I found that the autocross I did at Skip Barber (and I am sure you can learn just fine by going to autocrosses), really taught me how to balance the car which helped me a lot in finding the line through the racetrack, and know when to lift from the throttle for a split second and when to actually brake.

Moral of the story, the RX-8 is very fast and an absolute beat even with stock suspension, chassis, brakes. (I just had an exhaust but that does nothing but extra noise).

PS. For my little off road excursion, I got a rock stuck in the rear brake heat shield that only got stuck when I was leaving for the day. 6 instructor/officials came over. I had no idea where the sound was coming from. Good thing they knew. Great people all over!

 

I think you are talking about 8 and 8a, the double S turn, the first S turn is a small S turn that you could full throttle going through, but before the next S turn you need to apply a little brake or left foot brake before you turn in, because before the second S turn you will be on the red line and that is 85+ or maybe 90mph, at that speed it is too fast. luck the flatten the hill over there if not you will roll your car. when you are on the track always slow in and fast out......

 

Winning 8 you are very right. It was at that exact spot. I will make sure to apply some brakes in that section at all times from now on. I was not used to braking there, because of all the traffic and my inexperience at driving on the track. I really thought I could carry it through.

My next track day no matter the racetrack, will definitely be a more deliberate slow increase of speed after every lap and be more safe in general especially now that I know the limits of my talent/car as well as try to refine my line for less tire squeal and more smoothness.

And like you said slow in, fast out. I am here to have fun and not wreck my car or spoil people's days.

 

stock cars at the track are perfectly capabale, have fun

 

don't worry about the increase of speed, just be smooth and get to know the track, that's mean the line, where to brake turn in point etc, after a few track days on the same track you will find yourself going faster already. Also remember to use your first lap to warm up the tires and brakes ( may be after group 2 ) I never use hankook tires, so I don't know how they act at the limit, but next set of tires I would recommend a set of toyo RA1 or 888, they are very easy to drive at the limit, they don't brake lose without warning. You could ask any driver down the track and every one will say toyo is the best tire for beginner.

 

R888 are complete garbage

 

don't just say they are garbage, why??? do you have enough camber to run toyo, what temp are you running through out the tires, how many psi when hot. give details...