Weekend at the track
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 10:16 pm
WOW, i cannot express in words how much fun i had this weekend. I went up to Putnam park for the mustang club of indianapolis' weekend. The event was nice and small, less than 30 cars over all. Here is a breif summary of my weekend:
Day 1:
I woke up ass early to get there for the 8:00am drivers meeting, and during i proclaimed myself a beginner and got an "extra" session. We were only allowed to pass on the front stright and by wave-by only. There were two instructors which were really cool. After the meeting i went outside and a real shelby gt350 in track trim caught my eyes. I talked to the guy and he offered for me to ride along.... I didnt say no. OMG! you need to be a haus to drive a car like that!! Either way, after that i sprinted back to my car to get to the grid. The first 2 sessions were me learning the car and the track, and by the time i learned how to conrtol the gas i wanted an instructor to come with me. The Frist few laps were great, and then on coner 9, my front tires lost traction, i corrected, the rears lost it, the front came back and off i went into the grass sideways. When i looked up i noticed another stang lose it behind me. Coolant is a slippery liquid!!! Later i rode with the a red vett (c4) and the guy had raced that car on this track for 13 years!!! so he knew the fastest line, hopping curbs, braking late, and getting me a little sick. Anyone 6'2" with a helmet CANNOT fit in that car, i think i left a mark on his roof! The end of day one i figured out the gas part of the track, lapping the beginners like it was my job.
Day 2:
PICTURES
So today i decided i had an ok line and i wanted to work on the braking becuase everytime i went in hot the day before there was a lot the brembos still had. So first round of the day it was still damp, and the potenzas sucked. After lunch it was sunny and the track was dry, prefect weather. I rode with the guy in the focus and noticed that he braking SO late. I asked and he had raced years ago, and eas getting back into it. He was good, he kept the focus from understeering. After that was my breaking session. Braking at 120 (turn 1) is a little hairy!! But every turn the brembos did their jobs, without hesitation or fade (go SS brake lines!). The last run of the day i was hauling!! i was taking good lines, using the curbs and working the gas and brakes well. I was even denided passing a track preped stang (in pictures, the none GT350H). I decided to get on him (probably not the smartest thing) but going into turn 4 i was at a safe distance and he lost it!!! Too much speed and its a slight uphill. Later comming out of turn 7 i lost my header head sheild, which scared the shit out of me! After i pitted, and it was retreived i went back out. 2 laps later i was hitting the fuel cut on the stright (in 5th 120~ is about it) so i decided i was tired and called it a day.
Over all, I'm addicted, the STi while blindingly fast in a stright line was NEVER ment to go strignt!! The AWD destroys the turns (and bridgestones) and its VERY forgiving!. The potenzans are all balled up and the left front looks like shit! Either way, come summer (If I'm in DC) I'll be doing FATT's and spending as much time on the track as i can.
PS: If anyone can get those pictures I'd be greatful
Day 1:
I woke up ass early to get there for the 8:00am drivers meeting, and during i proclaimed myself a beginner and got an "extra" session. We were only allowed to pass on the front stright and by wave-by only. There were two instructors which were really cool. After the meeting i went outside and a real shelby gt350 in track trim caught my eyes. I talked to the guy and he offered for me to ride along.... I didnt say no. OMG! you need to be a haus to drive a car like that!! Either way, after that i sprinted back to my car to get to the grid. The first 2 sessions were me learning the car and the track, and by the time i learned how to conrtol the gas i wanted an instructor to come with me. The Frist few laps were great, and then on coner 9, my front tires lost traction, i corrected, the rears lost it, the front came back and off i went into the grass sideways. When i looked up i noticed another stang lose it behind me. Coolant is a slippery liquid!!! Later i rode with the a red vett (c4) and the guy had raced that car on this track for 13 years!!! so he knew the fastest line, hopping curbs, braking late, and getting me a little sick. Anyone 6'2" with a helmet CANNOT fit in that car, i think i left a mark on his roof! The end of day one i figured out the gas part of the track, lapping the beginners like it was my job.
Day 2:
PICTURES
So today i decided i had an ok line and i wanted to work on the braking becuase everytime i went in hot the day before there was a lot the brembos still had. So first round of the day it was still damp, and the potenzas sucked. After lunch it was sunny and the track was dry, prefect weather. I rode with the guy in the focus and noticed that he braking SO late. I asked and he had raced years ago, and eas getting back into it. He was good, he kept the focus from understeering. After that was my breaking session. Braking at 120 (turn 1) is a little hairy!! But every turn the brembos did their jobs, without hesitation or fade (go SS brake lines!). The last run of the day i was hauling!! i was taking good lines, using the curbs and working the gas and brakes well. I was even denided passing a track preped stang (in pictures, the none GT350H). I decided to get on him (probably not the smartest thing) but going into turn 4 i was at a safe distance and he lost it!!! Too much speed and its a slight uphill. Later comming out of turn 7 i lost my header head sheild, which scared the shit out of me! After i pitted, and it was retreived i went back out. 2 laps later i was hitting the fuel cut on the stright (in 5th 120~ is about it) so i decided i was tired and called it a day.
Over all, I'm addicted, the STi while blindingly fast in a stright line was NEVER ment to go strignt!! The AWD destroys the turns (and bridgestones) and its VERY forgiving!. The potenzans are all balled up and the left front looks like shit! Either way, come summer (If I'm in DC) I'll be doing FATT's and spending as much time on the track as i can.
PS: If anyone can get those pictures I'd be greatful
Hopefully in the spring my car and I will be ready 
