I will be there, but not as a NASA driver/instructor this year

 

Signed up! Last event of the season for me.

 

Signed up as well.. Looks like we'll have a few s2k's out there..

 

So it looks like Dominion might actually be happening:

 

Yes, they are full steam ahead.



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snuck a spot in for the fall finale. will be seeing you guys this weekend.

 

Any track map drawing yet?

Ahh nice Ed! Se yya there

 

Well, a great track year has come to a close. I had a great time and attended many events this year between NASA, Trackdaze, FATT, and Mercedes Club, for a total of 16 days on track (I originally estimated 20): 8 on Summit Main, 5 on Shenandoah, 2 on NJMP Lightning, and one on Jefferson. Back in April I started in HPDE1 and my goal for the year was just to get promoted to HPDE2 (or Blue). I was soloed many of the events and by the end of the year I was in Yellow in Trackdaze, and today did HPDE2 with a recommendation from my instructor that I'd be ready for 3 soon (but I'm comfortable in 2). Along the way I had a great time in particular at the Jefferson and Trackdaze Shenandoah events because there are so many familiar faces, and at the Hyperfest event chasing Jason in the RX7, today's event chasing Mike, and Oct Shenandoah trying to run from David (which failed ). I even worked on my heel-toe the last couple events and am getting slightly more comfortable with that. The weather has been adequate or gorgeous almost every time as well. I only spun twice this year (once in dry, once in wet), although I feel I am pushing it a good deal harder now toward the end of the year. However, I can still see lots of room for improvement with the requisite track time. Already looking forward to next year!

 

Its nice to have some S2000 track regulars, hopefully you and Mike keep it up next year. I should be at the track more next year after I finish my winter project. I'm planning to do VIR in the spring next year, hopefully some other S2000s can come along.

 

Definitely a great year. From a "learning the car perspective," I'm sure glad I ran the Sumitomo Z3's for 5 track days. It taught me a lot as a driver. For the Fall Finale at Summit Main I had a new set of Dunlop Z2's, and honestly the car acts COMPLETELY differently with just the tires. I'm nothing short of amazed honestly. Perhaps the old Sumitomos were heat cycled (or something else?), but changing to 225/255 Z2's the car is incredibly stable. With the Z3's I had to be real careful trail braking and it required a lot more countersteering whereas with the Z2's they seem very forgiving at the limit, and their slip angle is much greater. The car tends to just stick relative to the old tires, and I can get on the throttle much earlier and harder.

First time on Summit Main and it's a fun track. I think I've about pushed the HP+'s how far I care to so I'll try a different set of pads next year. I think I was getting fade at my last event on Shenandoah but didn't fully realize it. I think I'm overall pretty easy on the brakes (coasted most of the time going into turn 1 on Main), but it's something I'd certainly prefer being on the safe side on. I felt the pedal sink a couple times at this last event, which I was told could be the fluid (possibly boiling?). Maybe I need to bleed them better but it only happened when I was pushing it more into turn 1 and then consecutively 5.

My instructor said he'd recommend me for group 3, but I'm happy in group 2 for at least a couple more events. I think I've got heel-toeing mostly down now as it's pretty much second nature. It certainly makes a big difference in terms of not unsettling the car during braking and not having to wait for the car to settle before adding steering.

Another thing that Kevin and Ed mentioned is that apparently my car is laying down a smoke screen coming out of turn 10.. I remember reading about this some time ago, but I guess it's common for s2k's? I guess it's due to the oil out the crankcase and into the intake? I guess I'll just run a catch can vented to atmosphere. If anyone has input I'm all ears.

All in all my first year tracking the car and it was a blast. Met a lot of cool folks and hope to see you guys out next year!