Weekend at Willow Springs

Your wise commentary makes me want to go on the next outing.

When is the next outing anyways?

Either way, I will be there at the end of the month.

 

Looks like a great time...glad you guys had fun...love the spoiler

 

Looks fun Plugz!..........but let's get to it , who kicked who's butt between you and Fatbilly? Lap times, etc. C'mon "When the green flag drops the B.S, stops.
Sounds great, glad all you guys had a fast, fun & safe time.

 

OH Yeah! We had some fun! Dropped at least 15 seconds off my previous trackday lap times with the supercharger and the new suspension work, moved up to yellow run group on day 2. The Ol' 308 is a fricken rocket on the track now (ask CMJames about that ride along). So, I thought it needed a little "blue flame" track tape dressing. Pic per Plugz request.
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BTW, theres a whole list of war stories from on and off the track, what a weekend !!! I'll leave it up to "others" to tell tales, or ask me when you see me.......

Plugzit, FatBillyBob, CMJames, Ed,...good times, boys, can't wait till the next one. I NEED TRACK TIRES !!!!

Neat pic below of the QV "throttle steering" through the top of turn 4 (instructor Marshall Buck on board) Amazing what a difference an extra 125hp and some good suspension mods will do !!

I've got on board video to follow shortly (no Jimi Hendrix soundtrack, I promise)
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It was good to see you guys, I would have been there sooner but I was driving from Nevada (SEMA Vegas and Pahrump)
a la GPS.

 

I have some day 2 yellow run group on board video from the Willow weekend up on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HzHvqOrneQ

Whaddaya think, the QV moves pretty good now, eh ? ('sep for those pesky 4-500 horsepower AC Cobras and Z-06's).
Hey, Ed, is that you in the black NSX kicking my a$$ ??

I definatley see some R compound tires in my not too distant future.

 

OK, ok,

I lied (sue me, I was excited) after reveiwing video/times... I only cut maybe 10-12 seconds off ......best case.

-still pretty effen quick in comparison, no?

-L

 

Nice Vid ... smooth driving too!

 

The video doesnt do it justice! Lou does one hell of a job getting that car around the track! I was in awe! (I gotta get some race tires and wheels.......... mumble......mumble........)



Thanks again for the ride Lou!

CMJ

 

Thanks for the good word...

and, your welcome, shotgun's available anytime.

(PS: quit mumbling, get some blue tape, and come on out !!! Actually, your nero 348 is one JEWEL of a car, maybe LOTS-O-TAPE !)

 

Hey luigi,

Bring your tape nextime we are at the track I'll show you at least 5+ seconds with almost no change in what you are doing...more if you let me drive your car...well maybe that's not a good idea...for you!

 

You mean the blue flame tape ?? !! 5 seconds + with just tape and scissors ?? !!(JK)





I assume you mean the video tape, and yeah, your input on my line and technique is certainly welcome! Might even let you drive it if you promise not to spin it and get my flame job all dusty !! What does not show on that video is that in a couple areas on the track, I am driving to the limit of my tires, and in another couple areas I am driving to the limit of my "cojones". Both tire and "cojone" upgrades are in order, I think !!!

 

Blue tape just adds weight! I do mean the video and you have not optimized your tire use yet guaranteed. I know this because you have never put a pyrometer to them after a hot lap and those readings change as you optimize grip. So you kinda chase the optimum point as you run, as you get more comforatble on the track, and as you learn the track.

 

I did have a infrared thermometer with me at Willow. Of course I'm no expert on tire grip optimization, but heres what I found.
Tire temps in the center third were a little higher than the average of the inner and outer third on all 4 tires, so I can probably drop the pressure down a pound or 2. Left tires were 145 deg + on the outer third & 130+/- inner and of course the pressures on those were 2-3 psi higher than the righthand tires. The "tread" on the outside 1/3 of both lefthand tires is scalloped and melted, even with the additional negative camber lowering the car threw in. Long story short, I just think the street sp5000's have a little too much open tread area and are a little too hard to expect much more out of them on the track. You can school me in the finer points of tire grip optimization over a plate of manicotti at Barone's in Dec.
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I would take 3 lbs out to start. You may find it faster then the tires would heat up more again and you may take even more out! IR is ok but does not do carcass temp. You need probe pyrometer. You should be pretty even inner and outer then lower on the outside due to basic cooling unless you get hotpit temps then they should be even. If this data is correct I think you still have more to go with these tires and you will be surprised at how much better it will feel. I'll make my prediction closer to 10 seconds more speed to be had! Cost = zero!

 

Okee dokee,

I'll leave em on for the Alfa TT, drop the pressure, and we shall see.

I still need those "cajone" upgrades though. I'll have to check with Plugzit to see if the Miata guys have sourced him on that. ;-)

 

Hey Lou,

Keep getting faster and you'll be getting a phone call from Risi

You and your 308 are looking "smokin!".

Cheers, Hank (court found in my favor)

 

We'll run temps in the hotpits next outing and you will see the changes.

 

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?p=137216103#post137216103


Guys our next outing is 1/12 and 1/13/08 You better be ready Bruce! I want to win my dinner.

 

I'm there, FatBilly. I registered on the Alfa site, but saw no hook up for the Jan event sign up, so far. Keep me in the loop please. I'm gonna get a new 4wheel alignment @ Glenn's and max the negative camber.

Bruce has 3 unsafe wheels and one busted one, so whats up with THAT !!!