This was a fun event - one of the best I've been to in a long time.

Everybody from Austin who went learned a lot, & drove very fast and well. I had three students over the weekend; it was my pleasure to instruct Jose - who is a hellvua natural driver and will be in Yellow in the next event.

I also got to drive several other S2Ks at the event... demonstrating how far my own shocks have aged! I will say that Randy's and Tim's cars were great, each in their own way. Jose's header and CAI really work well, the car has noticeably more top-end power than my stock engine does. Tim's 2002-MY springs and shocks demonstrated a noticeable benefit over my 2000-MY parts (less brake dive, and therefore less weight transfer and oversteer). The combination of the best parts on each of their three cars would be tremendous...

John Eagle Honda and The Driver's Edge did a great job! Unlike some others I've seen, this event was run very well, safely, and to the great advantage of the students. As is typical of most "schools", instructors who only have experience driving a single type of car - and try to impose that car's ideal lines on their students, actually do a disservice to their students and the event as a whole. I was distressed to find two of my own students had been indoctrinated in the godawful "911" line around the track. Once fixed up, most students can recover and go on to much faster and safer driving while more fully understanding *real* handling dynamics.

And, I'll thank, again, our gracious leader for the use of her facilities to install parts on my car and check things over, as well as all the installers who helped get them on and adjusted... give me a call to reciprocate anytime.

These types of events are always best when a large group participates together. Fast or not, experienced or not, everyone benefits from the participation of a diverse but like-minded group of friends...

 

Hey Jeff, can you elaborate a bit on the 911 line vs. the more natual line?

If it's too hard to get into over this board, then over a beer. My treat!

Jeff

 

I'd also be interested in the difference. My instructor, James Dyer, drives a race prepared BMW M coupe. I thought he did a great job teaching me the "right" line. I was turning 2:11 laps by yesterday afternoon in my year 2000 completely stock with S-02s.

Jack

 

2.11's on street shoes is great! You should be happy.

 

This weekend was great, and after spending excessive time getting the big brake kit installed, I'd say.. it was well worth it. I only wish I had some better pads for the track - well.. next time. They stopped and stopped and stopped. Only two instructors got to take the car for a spin around the track and they loved it. You can definately late brake with them without worrying if you will stop or not.

I had a blast meeting more Houston, Dallas and Arkansas folk. JEH did a much better job on this event, and they constantly improve how they organize their events. The best part was the second day in the last two sessions. For the most part, Tim and I spent those sessions chasing each other around the track while passing up nearly everyone (we never came up to the 360 or 348 so dunno about those cars), except for the SSB Miata, which passed us both, and two laps later, nailed the inside of the track just past turn 7, which caused our track runs to end for the day - slightly short.

Thinking of the weekend, the gorgeous weather, and how the cars out there did just makes me smile. But when I think of how Jose's car responds under throttle, I can only get slightly depressed... damn, its responsive! Mine feels just bogs down! =/

Also, I am getting faster, and the esses are too much fun. I know I'm getting faster in some parts, but turn one.. well, I'm improving. The start finish line, last time out in September, I was hitting 115 (w/instructor in the car) with street tires, DC header, FPR, STB, XBrace (no front bar). This time, with front bar, big brakes (not used of course on this portion of the track) and R-compound tires, I was hitting 117 with a passenger, an occassional 118. But without a passenger, running solo, I was hitting 118 and one time I hit 119! So.. 130 down the front straight is not a problem, especially when I shift into fifth gear well before the start finish line.

Man, I had a blast! =D Can't wait to see the pictures everyone took. I didn't take many, but I'll soon post up what I have.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by frayed
[B]Hey Jeff, can you elaborate a bit on the 911 line vs. the more natural line?

If it's too hard to get into over this board, then over a beer.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Schatten
[B]after spending excessive time getting the big brake kit installed, I'd say.. it was well worth it.

 

It was indeed a great weekend. First time out on the track with the honda. I must have filled out the questionairre wrong as I was placed in green for the first run group and was then upgraded to yellow solo by Saturday afternoon. I enjoyed having an instructor in the car more than the solo time so will definitely try and get downgraded next time out. Man what a difference in lines on turns 1, 10 and 13 between all the cars and instructors! My biggest gripe with the car is brakes. I ran stock pads, fluid, rotors and lines. By Sunday afternoon, the brakes were history and very unpredictable. I ran kumho's with 265s in the rears as I didn't upgrade the front sway bar. I will be upgrading the sway bar and going back to 245s in the rears next time. The car definitely needs some negative camber.

I would like to hear everyone's gripes/grins with their cars on setup and suggestions for next time.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Silver S2000
[B]I'd also be interested in the difference.

 

Just curious, where does the Yellow group fit in with the others? I didn't attend this time, but I did go to the last JEH event where the run groups were Green, Blue, White, and Red. (I was a green n00b).