I read somewhere a Z3 was doing very well compared to S2000s.

 

Sears was an absolute blast. Thanks to Speed Ventures (Aaron, John and co.) for putting it together on short notice.

Don't remember any Z3s, but there were a couple M coupes, and no fewer than 4 Ferraris: 355 Spider, 355 F1 Berlinetta, 360 Modena, and 550 Maranello. That doesn't count a 348 Challenge and Doug's 355 F1 GTS, neither of which ran on the track. Perhaps I'll post pictures when I get home. The 360 spun in front of me and hit a wall. Fortunately, the damage appeared to be cosmetic only, and after being towed out he was able to return for later sessions. Erik (cthree) got to ride in it as an instructor and described it as unbelievably, scarily fast.

Sears is a fabulous track -- extremely technical, and very fun to drive. It's not too hard on brakes -- most of your time is spent turning. So, it rewards patience, precision, and above all *grip*. (Marek, one of our Miata-driving friends on R-compund tires, was matching my best times despite 100 fewer hp!) This was my first (non-virtual) time driving the track, so I spent Saturday learning the line and developing a rhythm. Over the course of the day I knocked 13 seconds off my lap times; I was only able to trim 2 more off that on Sunday.

Aaron and Doug were doing 1:57s I believe in stock S2Ks with race tires; cthree managed 2:03 I think in a nearly-stock S2K with stock S02s; I managed a few 2:07s with the stock S02s.

 

Yeah, Marek is fast! I got a 2:15 on one lap according to my onboard video. That was on the 3rd session then I ran out of tape. I'm still working on my confidence. Next time I need to brake less on turns 2, 3, and 10. I also need accelerate more through the esses and from turn 11 to 1.

Thanks to Aaron and John for putting on a great event!

 

John and Aaron put on GREAT events! Tons of track time, and lots of cool cars! Check out www.speedventures.net if you are not familiar with these guys. Sears Point is a great track, lots of fast stuff with enough slow corners that help my Miata catch you faster cars All of the corners are real close to walls, which can be a little disconcerting at times (take a ride, (just on lap) with C3 in turn 10 and you will know the meaning of 'pucker'!). I was lucky enough to take a ride in that red 550 Marinello - man was that fast. He short shifted, never above 5000, 2nd to 4th shifts, and was still fast - very cool. Must be nice to have a 200k car and then put hoosiers on it!

The only downside to the weekend was cording my V700's. 8000 miles on the car, and this will be the third set of meats! Time for a more mileage friendly tire. I am real jealous of you guys with the same set of SO2's that I have seen event after event.

Thanks for all the fun, see you nex time.

Marek

 

Sears was a blast in the S2000!

Wild Man Bob dialed in a 1:56.xx on Saturday after just a couple of sessions in a stock S2000 with brake pads and Khumos before mechanical gremlins did him in. Aaron rode with Bob, and dropped two seconds. I screwed up and didn't have Bob ride me with, I probably could have used some tips. I ran I think 1:58.xx, and Bitterman got me by at least 3/10ths of a second.

-Doug
p.s. On another note, rumor has it that the S2000 beat 30+ Corvette drivers at Sears!

 

If you want to gain speed at Sears don't do it in 10. Just a dangerous place to lose it.

For those that have ran Sears before, was turn 6 any different? I heard that there was less of a depression at the bottom of the hill. True? It also sounds like T1 is even faster with some more camber. Are there any subtle differences vs. the old track?

I used to have a video of a session at Sears. I think I was running under 2:15's but can't quite recall. It was over a year ago though and I would like to think I could get under 2:10's. Sub 2:00's are good times at Sears. That is some good driving. My heavy car is a very big disadvantage at Sears because you are always turning. I still love the track though.

Are there still walls up for construction or do they seem like they are going to be permanent?

 

Turn 10 is different now. You can carry lots of speed into it. The chicane is gone! Turn 6 feels the same. Turn 1 feels different too. But I can't remember exactly what it was like before the construction started. If I can figure out how to upload the video to Josh, you can see for yourself

 

E34M5,

Not sure about any changes to T6, but I don't remember any new pavement there. As for the rest of the track, visually, it's quite different. T9 (the curved straightaway) is much narrower and T10 seems different as well. No apex berm at T10 (yet). Not sure though whether the changes in T9 and T10 are affecting speeds or lines though. One change that was affecting driving was the difference in pavement/traction between the new and old sections of track. From 9 to the exit of 10 is all new pavement and it's slicker than the old surface. An M3 lost it into the wall when its tail got happy making the transition from old to new.

The straightaway from T12 to T1 is now somewhat intimidating with walls close on both sides. I hope some of those walls go away but am not optimistic as the wall on the right separates the track from the new drag strip.

By the way, I flogged a Pontiac Sunfire (the red Pontiac I think someone in another thread mistook for a Grand Am) at Sears. I was a speed bump with times in the 2:24s (officially, my best was a 2:23.8), but the thing was scooting along pretty well for something that's about twice as slow as a S2K. 0-60 of 11.6s. Quarter-mile in about 19s. It was, of course, on street treads (Goodyear Conquests). Just about corded two of them. Can't wait to get my bimmer back.

By the way, I THINK the new track is faster than the old, but I'm not sure. Can anyone compare lap times pre-construction and post-construction?

 

By the way, it was Kevin B. in his silver M Coupe that was very fast through the corners. He was on street treads (Ecsta 712s) and running 2:03s. I think he'd be around 1:58 on Hoosiers. My 330i in its stock incarnation was about a couple of seconds slower on A032Rs than Kevin's M Coupe on his street treads at Thunderhill, but with the recent power and suspension mods I think I'd make up that time and be right around 2:02 or 2:03 on A032Rs at Sears Point. Maybe around 2:00 on Hoosiers.

 

330i welcome. Any new news about your car?


Erik(C3) was insane on his street tires, absolute MANIAC! He finally beat me the last session on Sunday (I should have run). My best was 2:01.64 and Erik eeked out a 2:01.60 in the very last session. LOL, yeah he's a bastard.

Oh yeah, I was on hooisers (not driving the tires nearly hard enuf) and he was on street tires. Tho he does have more suspension mods than me.

This was my first time on Hooiser and Sears is tight, so my brain wasn't letting me go as fast as the tires are capable of.

Oh yeah 225's in the Front 275's in the Rear on STOCK rims