We could not have asked for better weather. Perfect conditions; and ... of course the event had its interesting moments.

Oil accident
I just finished watching my in-car videos and I realized that I was damn lucky on Turn 9 when a Camaro'e engine blew and oil went all over. An ITR and a Subaru got caught in the crash and I was the next one, and lucky enough to have escaped the crash. No one was hurt, and I believe the Subaru was the only one with dented back and side. The Camaro was towed and I believe the ITR was driveable, did not see any body damage on it.

No rear brakes!
On my last run, I started to hear squeaking on my brakes towards the end of the run. Sure enough at the end of the run my rear brakes made the most horrendous noise. I am off to the shop tomorrow, hopefully I did not mess up my rotors

Signed off - solo Group 2
Well, my instructor was so happy I spared us being involved in the crash he signed me off on the spot.

mstw: His second time around, he is getting hooked!

Gregg, gregg ...
Let's let him tell the story ... Let's just say he ended up doing his last run on Kumo track tires ...

NJTom: Great to have you at Summit man, long drive for you, but hopefully you had a great time!

Photos: Click here for photos ; thank god the photo man was there; mstw and I just stink at taking pictures

Pro Pictures Here

QuickTime Movie (4.5MB) of a lucky escape from a crash here.

 

Yes indeed

I had 3 different instructors through out the day, the first 2 gave me a earful because I was "trying too hard" to go fast. 70mph for turn 1 is definitely a bit too fast Last instructor rode with me the first time on the last session. He is a quiet one, didn't talk much at all. Let me concentrate on my driving instead of listening and thinking while aiming the apex and the exit marks. It really helped letting all the information sink in, and I got singed off to solo 1!!

It was quite a scene looking at the subaru hanging its tail on the tire-wall, and the ambulence, firetrucks rushing down the hill tore rescue. NJTom and I were standing outside turn 6 and saw the crash from some distance.

Tom and I also watched a white Porches 911 losing control coming out of turn 10 into the straight away, and spun into the dirt, and lost his front tag in the woods.

The best of the day was watching Gregg and restonS2000 taking on the Z06 and 2 C5s for a couple hot laps. Gregg was in a dog fight with a black Z06 for about 3-4 laps, and when we saw Gregg's car coming out turn 10 before the Z06, it was victory dance time. I bet those Kumho slicks helped a lot, resonS2000 was right behind dog fighting the C5, too bad the checker flag came out, you were definitely getting closer. And it looked like a real race too, because all these guys were running solo in group 2. Great driving guys

Alberto, sorry man, I suck big time in taking pictures. How do you like the BestMotoring video.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mstw
[B] I bet those Kumho slicks helped a lot, resonS2000 was right behind dog fighting the C5, too bad the checker flag came out, you were definitely getting closer.

 

I hear ya. I guess no exhaust or intake for me, limited fund ....

A set or factory rims (anyone selling?)
A set of road racing slicks.
A set of performance pads (any suggestions?)
A set of rotors .... maybe
A set of all season tires with higher tread wear ..... going to work on 270 is a waste of S02.

Can't wait for the next season to come.

Glad to hear your rotors are fine man, I am wondering why the left rear was not making as much noise, was there any difference with the brake pressure?

 

Get ready. This is a long one, but a few here wanted me to tell.

Do I have to tell a story. You guys can do it sooo much better since you all saw me do it.

First, I want to thank NJTom2000 for coming down, spending a couple of days at my place, and showing me why I still need to practice, practice, practice. Even though this guy hasn't been on a road course in over a year, his Auto-X experience shined through and he was tearing up the track like he had been here many times before.... He did so well in fact that his last instructor gave him a perfect score (now if he would only have turned in the report card).

As for my day, it was filled with both triumph as well as dissappointment. Having put on my new Carbotech Panther+ pads in front and bleeding the brakes (my Porterfields in the rear was still fine) in record time, I headed in for our group's 10am drivers' meeting. Affable lead instructor, knowing that the advanced group has a tendency to get a little over-anxious, and little too serious, and a little too careless asked us the following questions after reviewing the flags with us:

• Who here came to have a good time? (everyone raises their hand)
  
• Who here came to drive fast? (ditto)
  
• Who here has spun their car here? (a large number raises hands)
  
• Who here came to damage their car?

To add a bit of levity I raised my hand and interjected that I wreck badly once a year, usually in November. Everyone got a chuckle. Me and my big mouth.......

Anyway, I have never seen it so crowded. As the others have mentioned, the weather was beautiful and I suppose it brought out all those who would never dream of running their cars on the cold November pavement. Whereas our group usually has between 15 and 20 cars we were running a group of 35 cars. This was way too crowded. In fact, Reston S2000 and I had to pit to give ourselves more space at least two times during the first session. By the time we got to Turn 1 we had already caught up. Add a bunch of horrible, inconsiderate drivers (who tried too many dangerous passes and alternately failed to use their mirrors) and it was maddening.

So write off the first session.

Now to session #2....oh boy. After having become more and more frustrated by my midpack position and inability to pass due to crowding during the first session, I never took the car back to the paddock and proceeded to grid #1. Reston S2000, another S2000, and a yellow ITR followed suit. Didn't matter any. As we came around turn 10 and onto the straight after our warm-up lap we noticed that they were still sending cars out on to the track. BACK IN TRAFFIC AGAIN!

So after a few laps we get red flagged (everyone come to a complete stop). I notice the silver Imprezza (that had temp tags) was ass-up on top of the tirewall. If you haven't seen Reston S2000's video (listed above), do so.

So once the car is pulled off and the track is cleaned up after the oil spill we go back out (I'm first car out again). We do three or four laps under a full-course yellow and then we're off. So, I'm riding my too-narrow, nearly to the wear bars S03's harder than I ever have and take a good line into 10 (top left of course map)



but enter waaaaay to fast for my own good. The rear steps out and I think I have it saved with a LOT of opposite lock. Just then, much as last time I was out and gained the nickname "Pigped" I forgot to pause and did a 360 in the opposite direction, going off into the gravel (not sand) trap.

So, not having stalled the car, and having enough momentum to keep the car rolling in the trap rather than getting bogged down, I make it back onto the track. I figure I'll finish the lap and pit in.

I hear large amouts of gravel coming off of the car and I see the Viper behind me staying waaaaaay off my line. Having done a slightly more conservative lap I pit in. Thankfully there is no body damage, although my drivers' door mirror is cracked in two places. I then look at the tires and notice that the two drivers' side rims have many of these huge pebbles/stones wedged between the rubber and the lip of the rim. Good thing I didn't blow a tire on that last lap!

My friend Howard's beautiful chaperone (don't ask, I won't tell) and I got to work cleaning the debris from the car as well as chiseling out the stones from the rims to no avail. So I thought my day was done! As we labored, the aforementioned Viper owner came over and says, "I want you to see what you've done." He puts me into what can only be termed the grey-haired, mid-life crisis guy's version of the Vulcan death pinch and drags me over to the Viper. He points out all the chips on his hood and windshield, laughing at how he just couldn't steer clear of all the crap that was being ejected from my car. I apologized profusely, knowing it's a risk we all take.

We worked thru my third of four sessions cleaning and chiseling and came to the realization that I would probably need to borrow NJTom's spare tire in order to make it home.

Not so fast.....

Tom reminds me that he is currently running on his Kumho's (he brought them down from NJ. I now know you can fit an extra set of rims and a duffel bag in an S2000) and that I can use them to drive home on. Well, Tom finished his last session at 4pm and mine didn't start until 4:30 soooooooo.....

With the help of my wonderful pit crew (Tom & Reston -- YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!!! ), we got the Kumho's switched onto my car in record time. Before heading out Tom reminded me that I had never driven R-compound tires before and that the Kumhos' characteristics were far different from my S03's. No s-. So, thankfully about 15 of the cars had headed home between the third and fourth sessions so we might have a chance to spread out a little and practice.

I head out and proceed to have perhaps my best session ever. Whereas I'm always feathering the throttle trying to keep my too-narrow (225/50) S03's in line, the grippy Kumho's allowed me to exploit the car's powerband a bit more. I found myself exiting some turns up to 10mph faster than I ever have before.

I was very cognizant of the breakaway characteristics of the tires but always felt like I was driving well within the the car's, the tires' and, more importantly, my limits. As MSTW mentioned, Reston and I had a little fun w/ two C5's. Just so happens that I was playing cat & mouse w/ a 2002 Z06 (405hp boys & girls). Now I know that the driver wasn't driving to the cars ability and it was obvious that he was scared to stomp on the pedal down the straight but I braked far later than he and was right on his tail during every turn. It was only after turns 1/2, 9, and 10 that he usually picked up a little distance. After about 10 laps I guess he was tired of trying pushing his abilities and he let me by going up the hill between 9 and 10.

I can still remember going past the pits and seeing Tom and Mike (mstw) jumping around wildly. I just nodded and kept going. Next lap there was a yellow at turn 10 and the checkered comes out. Looks like the guy in the white 993 Carrera (that I was passing constantly during the morning sessions) wiped out on Turn 10 and took his car thru the gravel pit and into a burm. As I saw the damage I could only be grateful that I controlled my car so well earlier in the day. It was a far cry frm last year. So it's time for the cool down and into the pits where I receive the adulation of my adoring fans.

We all share some stories, as I hear more about Alberto and the blue C5 he was running with, and then pack up for home.

Tom and I go over and have a beer with some of the instructors where I am again told I should take the instructor school in February. Modest me continues to say I'm not ready. Who knows!

Anyway, NJTom and I head back to my pad and then celebrate the day's events with a nice steak dinner and some libations.

The next morning Tom and I head to a local shop to get the tires remounted and balanced and that goes as planned.

So, anyway, today I gave the car a thorough washing and to my dismay there are billions of chips in the paint from the doors forward on both sides. Looks like its time for another respray. I'm starting to come to the realization that I might just be better off building up my '88 CRX Si as a track car rather than continuing to exact damage on the S2000.

I would like to personally thank NJTom2000 (as well as Reston S2000 and MSTW) for going above and beyond the call in order to get me back out on the track and, more importantly, home at the end of the day. YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!!

 

It should also be said that this was my first time running Carbotech Panther+'s and am far more impressed w/ these pads in combination w/ ATE Superblue fluid than the Porterfields I've been running since August. I had absolutely no fade and my braking was far more confidence inspiring. Although I obviously did not check stopping distances I was able to brake FAR later than with the R4S's.

Thanks for the help on the phone last week, Andie!

Without the S2000's great brakes and nimble handling there's no way I would have been able to keep close to some of the more powerful cars.

 

DAMM!!! Maybe its better I am going on the 30th! I can spin and cry myself to sleep knowing that no one else will be there (?). Sorry I missed it, I would have learned a lot just by watching....

 

Hey restonS2000, unfortunately I was in the yellow ITR. Crazy stuff huh? I was wondering if there is anyway you could post the whole lap leading up to that incident. I am so glad that you posted this clip because until now I didn't even really understand what happened. Did it look like the Subaru followed me? All I am sure of is that I was building up for a pass and the camero's engine blew. I then slid on his oil slick off the track. When I hit the grass I regained traction and came to a stop, then POW the subie hit me.
I know he didn't want to hit me but slamming on the brakes probably wasn't the best idea. Anyway if you could post the whole lap I would really appreciate it.

 

Counter steer...PAUSE...reverse counter steer. I think it is the most important lesson I've learned about dealing with a tail-happy car. So simple but not obvious. Everyone listen to Gregg on this.

BTW, just a reminder that this is what the track is for. We've all probably proven that it is not the fastest place to drive. It is the place to drive quickest and closest to "the edge" (on either side.) And the place to be able to wreck in greatest safety.

Wear those chips proudly guy! Anyone can drive well slowly. And each dent is a moment.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by KLR_GSR
[B]Hey restonS2000, unfortunately I was in the yellow ITR.