I'll start with the bad. I still don't know if my transponder was working or my times recorded. I hit the supercharger overheat threshold. I boiled my H/E fluid. I boiled my Motul RBF 600 brake fluid. I only got the first heat on video.
Needless to say it was a hot, hot day. I'm working on the one video I have and will edit this thread and add it later so keep checking back. More bad. I ran the first heat with traction control on and the transmission in auto. I never forget to put the trans in manual and turn off traction control, must have been the heat. Anyway, you can hear the traction control cutting power from time to time, for those that don't know what it's like. The last 2 laps I was fairly comfortable and doing a better job of driving the line I wanted instead of where I ended up. As you can see from all the concrete, a misstep results in a totaled car at this track so caution comes first for me. (3 cars had contact with concrete during the event, one totaled, 2 sheet metal/door damage.) We don't get a full cool down lap and I pulled straight into the paddock to take tire temps and when I finished decided to go to the parking lot to drive in circles to cool the brakes. Normal for me is to find a spot to drive in circles to cool things off. Since I didn't when I got back in the car I had no brakes. Boiled the fluid. Had some seeping out of the brake fluid reservoir. I drove in circles anyway and the brakes came back. The second heat came too soon. Poor attendance as this was a raincheck event. For the second heat my camera was FUBAR, not to be confused with FUBU. But I passed the fastest car in my group as I went out first and he went out last. Then I pointed him by to see what I could learn. I learned when I have a carrot to chase, or when he's being chased, I'm just as quick. He's on race tires and weights 2000 lbs. so naturally his braking distance is shorter. I could hang in the corners, surprised, and faster in the straights. Don't get heady guys, Hustler will tell you how much more important braking and corner speed is than straight line muscle. That Suby I passed was faster in a straight line. I'm sure I was much much faster in the second heat. My goal was to get the tires to sing in all phases of the corners, which I accomplished. The last 2 laps of the first heat you can hear them fairly consistently. I sat out the 3rd. heat. Mushy brakes can't be ignored. Safety first. I left early thinking I'd just lost the season because my transponder wasn't being detected. Since I didn't stay for the awards ceremony I'm not 100% sure. Rumor has it I was called to the podium. I hope to know soon but these people are slow to post results to mylaps. Stay tuned for the video!

https://vimeo.com/49205533

Les

 

Man, that is NASCAR heat if you cooked the motul..... nice story Les... stay out of the wall.....

 

I had a hard day before and at the event. I'd replaced my H/E with the stocker and added a reservoir and during my pre race inspection I discovered something was leaking. Lots of taking apart and putting together the day before. Brakes bled (best sweetie in the world) suspension cleaned and inspected etc. Got to the track and hear a leak on the drivers side. Pull the dual intakes, silicone Y and associated parts to be able to get a socket on all the clamps etc. Sweating like a pig and the **** is still hissing like a pissed off rattler. The car ran good, still hissing though. It sucks getting older, you may identify. The video is still uploading, I forgot to compress it. OLDER ISN'T WHAT YOUR LED TO BELIEVE. Knowing better and remembering ....... what was I saying? Anyway, it looks like the video won't be processed until tomorrow. Get up early.

Les

 

Video's up. Check out the first post.

Les

 

Nice video Les! That track is just plain old scary, man those walls are scary close. Part of the reasons you cooked the brakes is you were in automatic mode, the other reason is you brake really late and hard. Try to brake sooner and be smoother it unsettles the car way less and allows you to carry more speed into the corner and should allow you to have a little more exit speed. Overall really nice driving, you need to invest in a cool shirt it'll be the best mod you ever put in your car!

 

Damn your good,,, great video,, show us more.. jim

 

I knew you'd appreciate the video Hustler. No driving 10/10's at this venue. The track doesn't get used much and gains grip as the day goes on. I've tried early braking during practice and I just can't get it right. When I brake earlier I brake softer and end up with too much speed entering anyway. Or I way over brake. The way my car is set up it loves rather aggressive trail braking. The transition from braking to acceleration has to be gradual or one end or the other will start sliding. It's an art, as you know and my brush is from Home Depot but I hope to move up to an artist's sable brush one day.

Les

 

Les, take baby steps and pick one corner and master the braking zone on just that one. You'll never get to the sable brush, if you only paint with a 6 inch home depot brush.

 

Thanks for sharing. That looked fun if a bit scary.

I got in a few "touring" laps at Road America this weekend. Toured the back straight at 95 and got the tires to sing a couple of times. Really appreciate a big track after your video. One would really have to work to get a wall there.