blue tuesday: OTR 9nov04

[nostatic]

Well, only Jack and I were representing the Pelican contingent, and in fact there were more 928s there than 911s (and the 928s were damn fast). For those of you that bailed, you missed one of the most perfect days around. Sun, blue sky, temps around 68, and zero wind for the entire day.



I ran the blue group today, and I was definitely the slow poke. In my defense I was easily the lowest hp car out there, with a bunch of vettes, the occasional viper, modded supra or two, and various race prepped things including an rx-7. First session out I had Jack instructing me which helped alot since the mind and body (at least mine) takes awhile to get back into the groove (especially when the groove maybe wasn't all quite right in the first place). Lines were pretty good, but at "safe" speed. Our session was cut short when one of the other instructors stuffed his 928 pretty hard into the berm off 3. Out came the red, then black flag. Turns out he was ok other than a stiff back, but he was pretty shook up (we came upon the site right after the off).

Then I rode shotgun while Jack drove my car for the lead and follow for the yellow group. That was instructive as I could see Jack's line, which varied from mine in a few places. That led to some trouble though. Turns out Jack goes a lot deeper into turn 3 than I had been, so in my second session I decided to push that a little. One time too many, as I was too deep, too hot, leaned a little too much on the brakes, locked them and spun entering into 3. BUT, I did both feet in, and kept it on the track, albeit pointed in the wrong direction . I rolled a bit away from the line, and waited for the corner worker to wave me to do my u-turn. I came in the hot pits, got the car checked out, then went out to finish the run. None of my lines were quite right for the rest of that session though...funny how it takes some time for the brain to recover from a spin.

3rd and 4th sessions were uneventful, but I kept going a little harder, getting top speed up going into 1, and finally was keeping my foot mostly in it during turn 8. The 4-5-6 is pretty smooth now, but now I need to push it. 9 is erratic, some times I hit it, sometimes I don't. What is weird is that the faster I go in 8 the easier 9 is since my "braking" for 9 actually has meaning when I'm carrying more speed. Still lots of point-bys though, as everybody was damn fast. I'm still working up to the edge of my comfort zone.

5th session was great. Most everyone had gone home, and there were only a handful of us on the track. I got to just put my head down and drive, with the only bummer being the dropping sun making for a blind entry to turn 2. After about 40 mintues of straight lapping and pretty consistently running a bit faster each one, I pulled in to pack up and head back to LA.

So....California Speedway on Dec 17th?

[OZCarrera3]

Great stuff, well written.

You guys in the States are amazing. I don't think I've ever heard of, let alone seen anyone get seriously into track work with a 928 here in Australia. The ones in your pics look like very, very serious stuff. What sort of power are they putting out and what weight do they get them down too? Also, how do there times compare to a quick 911 (ok, Jack's car)?

[nostatic]

Jack was in the same run group with some of the 928s so he could tell you. I know that a few of them are WAAY fast. In fact Jack got a wistful look in his eye when he was talking about how quick they are. I think he needs a 928 to replace the Jag as daily driver I know if I had the spare cash I'd do it...hell, its a hatchback!

The white one has been featured in Excellence and is Mark Anderson's (http://www.928intl.com/about/about.html).

[Fishcop]

300+hp of V8 perfectly (50/50) weighted, stripped out, electrics free 928... Yeah, the thought works for me! They're even cheap enough over here to build a dedicated track car, especially the LHD imports.

[DByers]

Thanks for the write up Todd. As I was slaving away today I caught myself looking at the time and thinking " I would be doing my second session right about now". As it turns out my car has a little farther to go then I thought. Dec 17 sounds like fun but I may be saving my $ for the POC class in January. That is a must for me.
I am sure your times were more then respectable. Last time out you were driving very smoothly. I know its hard to give the point by rather then get them but you will be there in no time. Just wish I could say the same for me. Yellow group forever baby!
I thought Brad was going for sure? Wonder what happened.

[nostatic]

After I saw the valuation thread from Brad, I figured he wouldn't make it to the track...not the activity if you're thinking of selling.

The Dec 17th date is expensive ($310). I'm not sure it's in my budget...things are up in the air right now. I want to try and do most of the STS series next year though.

Not sure what my time was. I was still pretty smooth, I just need to slowly edge out my comfort zone. The point-bys didn't bug me too much. Not much I can say when a Viper or Vette is crawling up the SC's tailpipe. The only downside is having to back off out of 6 to let them pass on the back straight...although it helped me stick my foot in it going into 8 once they were by. Not sure how many more DEs the tires have left in them...they were looking at little gummy today.

Oh, and you guys missed hanging out with Jen. She was in the yellow group driving a BMW, and was totally cool. Knew her stuff, and likes both BMWs and Porsches. Jack did some instucting with her. I'm going to email her some photos I took of her car, and Jack's going to send her links to in-car camera footage. We'll get her on Pelican yet

[Porschekid962]

Must have been lots of fun! Is that a new Vette (yellow) in the third pic? What is the Dec 17th event at Fontana, I dig that track. Glad to see your enjoying the time on track, definately need to get back out there soon, maybe I can convince dad to spring for an early Xmas present! Keep on flogging it, I have yet to lap the big track in a car but I bet it would be fun!!

[Jack Olsen]

It was a really great day. I set a personal best time (1:30.27), and got to drive Nostatic's 911 SC, as well as a supercharged Mini Cooper, a Subaru WRX and (for comparison) a Subaru WRX STI. I also got to ride passenger in an E30 M3. The weather was the best I've ever seen at Willow.

It was a very fast day. The blue group was as fast as OTR's red group is normally, and the red group (packed with race-prepped 928's, Erik Messley's Viper, and a handful of other fast local cars) was very fast.

Here's a video of my quickest lap. There isn't much drama in it, unfortunately.

Fast Lap (7 megs, Quicktime)

But if you're looking for drama (and you've got a fast internet connection), here's a highlight clip of my passes.

Jack's Passes Clip (33 megs, Quicktime)

[Stanley]

Jack- what times were you getting in the WRX and STI? Since the WRX/STI topic has been pretty hot on the BBS lately, what did you think of them?

[Porschekid962]

Nice vids Jack!! The second took a while but was worth it, looks like you had a ton of fun!! How is the second version of the front air dam working? Congrats on the faster time as well.

[Jim Richards]

Great reading. Thanks Todd!

[Jack Olsen]

Originally posted by Stanley
Jack- what times were you getting in the WRX and STI? Since the WRX/STI topic has been pretty hot on the BBS lately, what did you think of them?

I wasn't pushing the Subarus, since they were students' cars. The STI seemed to have a lower final ratio and twitchier turbo response. The base model WRX was easier to drive smoothly. The STI kept coming on/off boost (that tabacco-spitting sound they make), which made it harder to throttle steer. The STI had better tires on it than the all-weather replacements the WRX guy had put on. I could take the STI through turn 8 at about 110 without any drama. But it's on/off spooling slowed it down through turn 2.

Both cars were very predictable and stable. They push, but they're easy to save. The characteristics of the little turbo motor are a little annoying, though. It's a little like driving with a toggle switch instead of a pedal. They're too heavy, too. The modified 996 Turbo I drove a few months ago had significantly smoother power delivery. (Then again, it was way too heavy, too.)

I'm more familiar with 911's, so maybe it's no surprise that nostatic's SC felt more planted and agile on the track. If I were pushing the cars more, I think the SC would eat the STI up in most of the corners. But the STI would make some of it back on the straights. Like most street turbos, it's at its best in a straight line.

[Jack Olsen]

Originally posted by Porschekid962
How is the second version of the front air dam working?

My data logger was out of commission, so I didn't go for an A/B test. But the good news was that the new front didn't get torn off, because I kept the car on the track all day.

[}{arlequin]

Great story guys. Todd, I guess you're enjoying your new seats and belts, huh? Is that the first time you have used them on the track since the install? That could also account for you being smoother around the corners...

[nostatic]

No, this is the fourth event with the seats and harness. They do make a huge difference, but as for being smooth, that is a combination of POC driving school (especially the skip pad exercises), and then seat time with liberal doses of Tyson and Jack instructing.

[OZCarrera3]

Awesome video Jack!

Looks like a very fast (and fun) track. No wonder you're concerned about underbody aerodynamics considering the speeds you are hitting through those sweepers!

[TMH]

Originally posted by nostatic
None of my lines were quite right for the rest of that session though...funny how it takes some time for the brain to recover from a spin.

Quite true! I don't think that I have the seat time that you do, but after my first spin (at turn 9, Laguna Seca) in late June of this year, I have never pushed my car as hard since. Only now, after about 6 additional DE days since the spin, am I really starting to push again.

I guess that the spin just occurred so quickly and unexpectedly (I don't remember lifting...) that it has just spooked me. No damage to the car in mine either: I remembered both feet in, only spun 180, and slowly backed off the opposite side of the track. I do remember how slo-mo it felt while spinning, with me trying to remember how close the wall was to the track there.

Actually, the biggest dissapointment about my spin was that my video camera was not working for that run! But it sure has taken some time for my brain to get back into pushing the car since that incident.

Tom

Sounds like you guys had a great time. Mine was spent in bed with a cold! Great video Jack.

[emcon5]

Is this Paul Mumford's Speed GT car?



Tom

[Vipergrün]

Originally posted by nostatic
After I saw the valuation thread from Brad, I figured he wouldn't make it to the track...not the activity if you're thinking of selling.

Man, glad you guys had fun. I was bummed all day cuz I aready had the day scheduled to take off. I decided that I did not want to chance anything happening to the car in case I do sell. Does not look like I'll have to, but we all know how ol' Murphy works....

-B