Here are some pics from my day at Phoenix International Raceway today...

 

This was my first post with pictures. It worked really well!

This was my baby's first trip to the track. I have really fallen in love with her today! She reeled in and passed a 5.0L mustang. She stuck to the back end of a Corvette. She made mincemeat of a 944 Turbo. She passed an M3 (of the 240 HP variety).

If anyone knows PIR (Phoenix International Raceway), you may appreciate some of my statistics. I was exiting NASCAR 4 onto the main (front) straight at 96 MPH. I topped out at 110 MPH, before braking hard before turn one of the road course.

I got a bunch of stares and many questions about my RX-8. Mine was the only one out there. It was really awesome!

I am tired and a bit sunburned from the day.

My wife tried to do some video, and a little bit turned out, but it is not great due to zoom and the location. I will try to edit it and upload it some other time. I will be travelling for the next couple of days, so I don't think I can do it this weekend. Anyone know of some good freeware video editing software?

 

looks like fun!!!

 

Cool

 

looks like fun, cool

 

Is it not required to have a #? What group were you running with?

 

Looks like you were turning really hard in that pic with your Front Right Tire almost off the ground...

I never turn that hard...

 

looks like fun, i need to get out to the track sometime....

 

hell yeah! can't wait to get mine on the track!

 

Actually the number (150-F) was soap-painted on the back window on the left, and on the back seat (left) window. It is very difficult to see from the pictures, but it's there.

 

Yeah, I love that pic. There were BMWs in the race group that had that wheel off the ground every time. The best I have seen is 5 inches, albeit with broken suspension. I think the best I have seen under normal circumstances is 2 inches or so.

 

Cool pics! I think the 8 is a really great "every-day-car", but behind the surface it´s an awsome track-car capable of causing some serious damage to other sportcars. It may not be the fastest car on the track, but the balance and handling of it makes it a perfect fit for the racetracks. I´m going to Nurnburgring in Germany this summer myself to see what it´s capable of there... Can´t wait! Rock on man!

 

Very nice pictures...maybe one day I'll have the money or courage to take, when I get it...LOL, RX8 to a track. I'd bet it was a WHOLE LOT OF FUN!!!

Tell me if I'm wrong, but with the RX8's rev happy engine you probably had to shift more than a normal piston engine...with alot of torque...right? I found a video online of a guy racing the RX8 and it looked sooooo fun!!!

 

I spent the whole time in 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears. It was definitely a lot of fun. This was my third time at the track, and my friend who was my initial instructor is very agressive. So I learned early to push hard. I did eat a Honda S2000's lunch, and I know that an S2000 should be able to beat (barely) an RX-8 on the track. So I was just outdriving him.

I'll tell you, though, there was one corner that when I was coming out of it I was at redline in 2nd. I figured out how to hit third before the actual exit, but it was difficult because I was nailed to the door due to the cornering force! :D

Anyone in Arizona who is interested in driving on the track check out azsportsracing.org. That is the group to which I belong, and the rates are reasonable. This event was priced $129 for four twenty-minute sessions throughout the day. They usually open up the oval on Sunday events in addition to the other events for no more money.

 

I forgot to mention that it would depend on the car as to how much you shift. I rode along with a guy in a 2003 Mustang Cobra when he was still sort of learning to "drive the line." He kept it in 3rd gear the whole time. That was between 40 and 105 MPH. He should have gone to 4th so that he could hit 120, but he didn't seem like he wanted to shift. I think I would have used 2nd, 3rd and 4th in that car also at PIR.

My car had more torque than a Honda Civic. But the main thing to note is that it is horsepower that gets you around the track quickly (and great handling, of course). I just kept those revs between about 6,000 and 8,500 RPM, and everything was pretty easy, acceleration-wise.

Learning in a car like the RX-8 is a beautiful thing! It has excellent balance, wonderful brakes, a short shifter, great tires--it just does what you tell it without any complaint.

Understeer? What's that?

 

there will be 2 of us this weekend doing solo2 @ PIR. different experience. also check out the rotary car club of az (www.RCCAZ.com) to meet other enthuisists.