What? Why? How?

 

Alton, VA, July 2, 2113 – There is no easy way to say this – The Oak Tree is down. The iconic landmark that has come to symbolize VIRginia International Raceway has fallen, broken at the base.

“We are in shock and mourning,” said track owner Connie Nyholm. “We’re too busy right now trying to get the racetrack cleared of debris. We are grateful no one was at the corner station or on track when she fell and that there is no damage to the track surface. Tomorrow we’ll begin to get our arms around what this really means, but I can tell you that it means more than any of us want to think about today.”

The massive oak stood sentinel at the south end of the racetrack, looking out from the highest point on the property at the sprawling facility and its 3.27 miles of serpentine asphalt that has come to be regarded as the most challenging in North America, if not the world.

Its branches shaded the apex of the legendary Oak Tree Turn, looking down on the likes of Roger Penske, Walt Hansgen, Tom Kristensen and Richard Petty as well as a host of race drivers from the brilliant to the not so.

“I can tell you this,” Nyholm said, “The Oak Tree will live on in our minds and hearts, and we will give it an appropriate send-off. Please email your thoughts and suggestions to oaktree@VIRnow.com for proper ways to honor this old friend.”

 

Plant a new one.

 

Rob, I have been running street tires for a season or so. I get about 3 times the rotor and pad life compared to r-comps, seriously a tremendous difference. Current street tires are very good, not r-comps but good enough to be fun. I was able to match Matt last year on my street tires so lap times might only be a second or so off an NT01 or 888 type tire.

 

I just caught up on this thread and sorry to hear about all the damage a few of you have. Was that Michael's yellow S2000 that was totaled at Hyperfest? JFO, Matt and Rob (and Michael if hat was his) I hope you all get your cars fixed soon. I was looking forward to VIR in October again this year and hope all of you will be ready by then.

 

Rob, it was Mike's H1 car. Yellow. Its done. Fortunately he has a H2 S2000 as well and is racing that one now.

I am hoping to be fixed in time for an Aug race so Oct should be ok.

Matt

 

Good weekend out at Summit Main..was my first Trackdaze event in blue. It was quite intense in the heat, and must have been punishing on the cars. I wonder if I need to get an oil cooler, because another S2000 guy who copied Matt's oil cooler setup was still seeing his temps get up to ~ 230 degrees, I think.

My instructor okayed me for solo after my first session, so for most of the time on track I was by myself. We only got to do three sessions today though because a huge storm came out of nowhere and they canceled the rest due to lightning. There were 3 S2000s in blue for this event, and we were pretty even. My instructor said it looked like a spec series LOL.

Also, one of the S2000s was behind us two and said all three of us were blowing smoke out our exhausts through some turns. So maybe I need to add a catch can too?

 

I bet you were burning oil in turn 9?

Soft suspension and body roll can cause that, My AP1 never burned oil until I tried running a OEM front sway bar and no rear bar.

So I made one up with a water bottle and some fuel line,

I have a new in the box Greddy Catch can I bought for the vette and didn't use (bought a vette specific one) I will sell it for $ 100.00

 

You can also just clamp the PCV valve hose shut or remove it and cap the manifold and PCV for track days. For the track the front valve cover vent hose is plenty good and very little oil is sucked through that line. For daily driving unclamp the line or reinstall the line.

[EDIT: this may or may not work for you. Sometimes the front large hose will suck a lot of oil too but you won't get the big blue oil cloud that happens when you close the throttle for a shift--it's a more gradual, high rpm burning of the oil]

 

Or the easy way via Rob.