I met up with Steve and Erin today at the track for a little racing fun. It was hot and humid as hell, but we still had a great time.

Steve was fighting the usual gremlins, trying to figure out his launch control and tire pressure. When his car wasn't going into limp mode it was stalling. He still managed a 11.92 @ 122 against a 20 second car. As Steve says, he's got a 10 second car with a 11 second driver. I'm looking forward to his car running the way it should, as it will be more fun for us both. It's not very fun watching your buddy struggle, knowing he's frustrated. I've been there, and it's not a fun place to be.

My wife only recorded Erin's slow run (12.8), but I believe he pulled off a 12.5 before we left. The DA was pretty high today.

As for me, it was two 11.5's. I think I was running slower due to narrowing the plug gap for a 100 shot, but I only ran a 75. I'm going to open the plug gap tomorrow, and forget the 100 or 125 shot until fall.

Anyway, here's some photos and videos of today's fun. Maybe next time more of the local guys can make it.


Photos:

IMG_7652_zpsa523b393.jpg



IMG_7644_zps90964251.jpg

IMG_7646_zpsce21a747.jpg

Here's the wifes new VW TT

IMG_7654_zpsee74341c.jpg


Videos:


My first run against Steve:



My second run against Steve:



Steve's 11.9:

http://s599.photobucket.com/user/whe...37ff5.mp4.html

Erin's 12.8:

http://s599.photobucket.com/user/whe...3d971.mp4.html

 

Solid runs for both of you!! Talked to Steve tonight, he told me all about it.

I'm like you, I'm looking forward to seeing the 996 run as it should. I think the 1/2-mile is going to be its strength.

Biggest thing I was confused about from the photos above, is why Steve's Go-Pro was pointed backwards? If he wants to film a Crossfire, the camera needs to be pointed forward

J/K Steve, glad you guys had a good time tonight. Y'all stayed safe and didn't break anything... that's a win

 

to say frustrated is a major understatement! truth is i have had my hat handed to me by grip more than once. im struggling with the launch on this car more than any other car i have ever owned. on the 1 pass were grip and i were even close i did something and the car went into limp mode from 2 to 3. just cant catch a break against the mighty GRIP!

as for the camera john i dont think i even turned it on! had it on the side at first but i have to view it in fast forward cause it looks like im in slo mo!!
gotto figure this out. 510 rwhp and 561 ft/lbs torque and runs 12 sec. somebody get me a driver!!!!!

btw grip is saying he was running slow? heres the d/a for his last 11.5 run!! add closed gap on the plugs and he isnt slo at all!
Density Altitude: 2220 feet
Relative Density: 93.66 %

 

I need to run with Grip to learn a few things for sure. Steve, drop dead beautiful 996. I don't know about Porsches or I'd try and give advice. Clutch maybe? A guy here has a 997 turbo and he has to baby it off the line (says for the clutch to live) but he's around 133mph at 11.4. You'll get it figured out.

Les

 

Come on truck driver. Drop the hammer on that banana. Practice practice practice. lol. You will get there Steve.

 

dropping the hammer at 4500 rpm doc! beech bend is a major badass track. they had so much prep down the first run i had dropped tire pressure to 30 psi and the r888 tire hooked SO HARD i actually stalled the car! the forward motion with the key on restarted the car and it lurched forward again. a whopping 2.9 60 ft time!
last run with grip i had a better launch airing the tires up to 33 psi but car went into limp mode down the track. i think i hit a torque limiter.

its a work in progress but man its tough!

stage 2.5 sachs clutch les. good for 700 hp. the 997 have a completely different setup with variable turbos and launch easier. the pdk 997 turbos are in another class again and can run 10.7 with street tires bone stock! slipping the clutch off the line makes for a slow 60 ft. need the boost up and launch it hard to get the needed 1.8 and better 60 ft times

 

Sweet vids.

 

Enjoyed watching that guys. Hang in there Steve your car is absolutly beautiful and when you get it sorted out has great potential. Solid runs Grip, I know it is a work in progress for you and there in lies the fun.

Maybe this foot will be healed by fall and I would love to come out and join in the fun.

 

When that day comes Jim...let me know, so I can come join the fun....

 

Sounds like a good plan Doc. Lets go hang out with the boys from the Boro.

 

Let me know, and I'm in!

 

Nice runs! I wish had that much air up here in the highlands to run that fast.

 

I'm glad you guys liked the videos and photos. Hopefully more of us can meet up at Beech Bend in early Fall. For those that don't know, there's a water / amusement park onsite also in case the wife and kids don't care for racing. Just food for thought for the out-of-towners.

 

PRIVATE TRACK DAY!!! lets get 25 to 50 cars and rent the track for a saturday in the fall!

 

I agree, this would be a hoot. Maybe I could convince Kim to start a wet T-shirt contest...

 

Looks like a good time at the track. Makes me wish the NA was fast enough to bother showing up at 1/4 mile . Really like the new wheels Steve (or at least new to me) might just be your track setup but I like them better than the 10 / 20 spoke ones I seen at the dragon last fall. Nice and flush and stuffed the wells full, probably just the camera angle but makes it look shorter somehow.

 

It not about the speed at the private days...it's about the fun, and chance to try out your car...fast or not as fast as others...but it is fast for the equipment it has....some of us are just speed junkies and this is our fix....we still have just as much fun watching 14 second cars run.....no excuses. A private day would be a blast....

 

thanx. new wheels. forgestar cf5 in 18x8.5 and 18x 12! dropped down from 19's and went wider. 315 /30-18 in the rear. going to try to make the dragon again this fall. wheels tons lighter than the old 3 piece hre wheels

fir the n/a guys ask jhm2k he ran his white n/a and had a blast racing cars that were close to his hp

 

A private day would be cool (although I'm still pretty far away ) I would actually be able to race something similar. There are a couple tracks north of here but it's a big old + new American muscle crowd, good for car watching not so much for a good race . there is a new track being built about 15 miles from me(circle, 1/4 and road course) I might get into it a lot more with a road track, turns help us NAs out a bit.

Great choice, really ties in with the whole ride. 18x12 though !? just wow, I knew they were wider but that's wiiiiiiide lol. Now I understand how those 510 ponies could stall out off the line. Hoping to make the fall dragon again this year, will spend some more time drooling on your wheels in the parking lot if I do

 

I went to an Open House at HRE Saturday. They can make you a custom set of super lite weight wheels for $30,000. I saw a set of wheels for $16,000 for my $12,000 04 NA coupe.