Lime Rock
 

Did a time trial yesterday at Lime Rock. Relatively short track, 1.53 miles, but very deceptive. Would have to say that some of the turns are truly evil. But the setting is truly beautiful. Here is a map:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...lade/38886.jpg

Start of my second lap. Coming into Big Bend for the first time at speed. Something north of 100 mph at the end of the main straight. You can't really see the decrease in radius and the required double apex of the turn, until you are well into it. So, first time around, cold tires, cold track, in the turn way too hot. Not thinking track thoughts yet. First impulse, brake. Rear end comes around as fast as a snake. Next thing I know I'm heading across the grass, 70+ mph, sideways, backwards, sideways again. Slide to a stop about 5 ft from the tirewall protecting the scoreboard. Lost my virginity, but no damage except for pride and confidence. Former stayed lost. Latter came back a little bit over the day.

Three views of the Esses. I'm obviously #48 with the taped up lights and no grille:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...lade/38868.jpg

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...lade/38869.jpg

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...lade/38871.jpg

No Name Straight. As you can see, lots of different cars. The Legacy GT wagon was fast. Non-stock exhausts. Maybe some other mods. Event was shared with Northeast Corvair Club, so that why Corvairs:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...lade/38870.jpg

A couple of shots of the West Bend:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...lade/38872.jpg

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...lade/38874.jpg

A couple of really cool things about the day. Met John Fitch and talked to him for a while Really cool guy. 89 years old. Flew Mustangs in WWII. Shot down a Messerschmidt jet. Blue water sailor. Created an extensive set of mods for Corvairs. Very successful race car driver. Comes to the track in his red 1994 SVX LS-i. We talk SVX's. He loves them. I tell him about my mods. He likes it. Tells me he is having a high idle problem. Tell him he needs to log onto the net and get some advice.

Then comes the Time Trial. Confidence is back a little. My best time was 1:15.1, average about 75mph. Not great, but not bad for a noobie. Best time for CART this year at Lime Rock for F/SP (my class) was 1:14.5. Won first in class since I was an only this time. Tricked out Evo had best time of day. Full race cage, extensive engine mods, 400 whp. Racing tires, racing driver. 58+ seconds. Average about 92 mph. You can't touch that. Viper did a header into the tire wall at the start of the straight. Needs a new hood. At $18,500 list, his hood costs $100 more than my entire car with all mods. Bet I'm having more fun.

Amazing write-up and great pics Dan! I wish all of my Monday's were that exciting!!! :D :cool:

Dan,
Okay, now I'm really jealous!!:) :cool:
How'd the brakes hold up?
How much actual track time did you get?
-Bill

glad to hear you popped your cherry. Never know the limits until you have reached them and gone over... Anyway, I am also glad to hear the car is running really well. I cannot wait for next season when I can go with you

Tom

Btw Dan, any overheating issues?

I found out all about this at my last autox event although it was in the wet and at a much lower speed. I did manage to stay on course somehow. :confused:

At my last autoX on a dry, cold slick concrete surface I learned this lesson as well. My Toyo RA-1's love heat, and I just couldn't get them to warm up even after 4 runs on a 60+ second course. Needless to say, the level of grip they offered was much lower than my previous event on them (Subaru Challenge). :(

I still won the D-Stock class and finished 15th out of 60 overall in PAX (27th in raw time). I'm now 10 points (1 event) away from capturing the D-Stock class in my SCCA region for 2006 (need to finish 2nd or higher to take the points lead). :)

Dan,

This is my fav pic of your car at Lime Rock! :cool: Over the winter, check the bimmerforums for a lightly used set of 235/40/17 Toyo RA-1's. They are the absolute best tire available (for the money) for time trial, track and HPDE events. BMW owners swear by them. That size is the most commonly used, and should easily fit on your 17x8" Rota wheels!

Chike

:confused: :confused: :confused: I wouldn't replace my wife's RE-92s with RA-1s. Sure they're cheap but they're the best 20 year old technology can provide. Much better off getting a V700 which is gonna be just as cheap but won't last as long.

How come your lights were taped up?

Answers to questions:

This was a relatively light day. I only got about 60 minutes of seat time. Supposed to be three 20 minute practice sessions and a four lap session with two timed laps in the middle, but one of my sessions was cut short because of coolant on the track.

Just a litle bit of overheating on the second session. Otherwise no.

Lights are taped because CART requires some tape even if the lenses are plastic. Other groups require only glass lenses be taped.

Brakes held up very well. Didn't use them as hard as I could have, since I was feeling my way on the track, without instructor input, and with a big challenge to my confidence. Was more worried about tire grip. I lost it on one of only two places where you can loose it and come out whole.

Don't know what I'm going to do about tires for next season. I think these KDW2's might have 1 or 2 track days left. Would like to have a lot more grip, however, don't want to have to have to own three sets of wheels: dry track, wet track and all weather. Having said that, my goal is to be a better driver. Learning to deal with the grip I have is actually more important than having the most grip I can get. There is so much more lap time reduction I can get by being a better driver than by maximizing my tires. I have to think about this one for a while. Thanks, all for the good advice.

ChiketD:

Congratulations on your AutoX success. you ought to post some pics.

Tom:

Looking forward to doing a track day with you next season. Heard a rumor that the Englishtown road course is finally going to open. But, heard that rumor before.

One final comment. I loved the Esses. Felt like that is the portion of the track I did best. Powering around the corner in a drift. Controlling my slide out with the accelerator. Tires absolutely screaming. Love that feeling

can't wait Dan. Will be a blast but hopefully I can afford to have the car where I want it relatively. As soon as I pay off my tires and wheels from Bill, I will be saving for the suspension.

Tom

Thanks Dan! :)

At my small SCCA club events, the pictures taken are typically of a very low quality and not worth sharing. I'll be at a WDCR event this coming Sunday with my co-driver Shawn Roberts (just back from a 12th place finish at Natl's), who previously co-drove my car at the Subaru Challenge.

I'm shooting for a Top 3 finish, and I think Shawn will be able to win D-Stock on Saturday. James Snyder in an Integra Type R will probably finish between us.

Team WTF?! takes lots of good pics at WDCR events, so I'll post them sometime next week. :)

Chike