You're completely right. I think however that the local governments would be willing to sell the Ring to an investor, but that green environmental mafia is the biggest problem, like they are in almost every european country.
In Holland where I lived untill a few years ago, they have managed to shut down the building of a complete industrial area, because someone thought he had seen a very rare wild hamster, living in that area! That was in an area of Holland where there was much need of employement and now that area is still superviced by nature conservation (for more than 10 years now) and no one ever saw that animal in person.... Meanwhile unemployement is rising and rising....

Same thing is happening with Spa-Francorchamps. There are several plans to make a themepark near the track to attract tourists and make the track profitable, as far as I know, the government is willing to sell, but the left parties are trying to stop it, because it's so bad for the environment.

 

This one:



or this one:



??

Totally agree on green mafia BTW. Same everywhere. So politically correct to be an environmentalist nowadays, especially when you do not have any other 'scientific' background than watching Al Gore's movie

 

Hahahaha!! I think it was the first one, but it could have been RH though! I think they said it was recognizable on its very white teeth!

 

I just spent the last 4-5 days reading this thread. How have I missed it before? I saw it last week and it showed 100+ pages and I'm like, what the heck could they be talking about in here for that long? Now I'm so glad I clicked. Thanks a lot. I really enjoyed all the pictures and videos.

 

LOL!!!!!! Best laugh I have had in days! Thanks. As for being "green", I just tell people that I am "brown." When they ask if I want to leave a better world for my kids, I reply that I don't like them much anyway. And when the subject of Al Gore comes up, I remind them that when he gives a speech, he helicopters is, drinks water from a plastic bottle, and drives SUVs. When he starts living the life he preaches, have him give me a call!

 

PP = Porsche ****

 

Love the new wheels, Serge!I have the same in matte titanium. Classic look, great price.

 

Wonderful documentation of your build, Serge! Honestly I didn't read the whole thing as that would take days, but did catch up on the latest happenings. Wheels look great and glad the car's treating you well at RA...that was some nice driving in a LOT of traffic! See you soon!

-Geordie

 

Thanks Geordie! Nice work by Butler on the wheels as usual

 

Nice wheels Serge.

 

Track Day at Atlanta Motorsports Park

I joined Hooked on Driving last Friday for a DE at Atlanta Motorsports Park. I liked the fact that they would allow my 17 year old son to run with the novice group. I had already taken him to Little Tally, but this was his first real track day.

It was a great day and I have only very minor incidents to report:

1/The loss of a tailpipe:


...that we found back at turn 1 (yes, look well, there in the middle of the sand)
.
It looks like the welding suddenly broke. Fortunately the centrifugal force ejected it from the track without hitting another car.

2/A bit of road rash on the drivers side header. Probably bottomed out at 'Eau rouge'. Lots of compression + curb + going WOT. Nothing to worry about.


My bigger surprise came this afternoon while taking a quick break on Jalopnik where I came across an article titled: "Watch A Tesla Model S Overtake A Corvette On A Race Track". Maybe I lost my sense of humor but I am still not convinced that the author was actually joking, and you can read this:

"Now, we all know that the Tesla Model S is stylish. And quick. And luxurious. And safe. But the electric sedan has no business being at a race track, right? You should ask this Corvette owner that same question. P

This video comes to us from a recent Hooked on Driving track day at Atlanta Motorsports Park, and it shows a 85kWh Model S taking down some of the typical track day suspects with relative ease. P

First to go is that blue R32. Then there's the white C6 Corvette, whose driver dutifully waves the Model S forward. Then there's the Cobra, and then another Cobra. He even runs pretty close to that yellow race-prepped Corvette for a bit.P

All in all, it's a pretty fantastic showing for Elon Musk's baby. Is there anything this car can't do?"

This totally killed me. I saw the Tesla on the track and it was running with a VERY slow group and now you find a video bragging about the fantastic performance of the car of the future that overtakes 'Vettes

You can check the link here: http://jalopnik.com/watch-a-tesla-mo...455?autoplay=1

I could not resist and did a quick video edition of one of the laps I recorded and the lap where the ultra fast Tesla S flies around the track and blows the Corvette away.


In fact the Tesla did not go around the track faster than my son driving his stock 1995 140kmiles M3 in the novice group. Is there really anything this car can't do?

I also did some research and found out that the Tesla S 85kwh roughly had the same performance numbers as an Audi S4. At a similar equipment level, the Tesla costs $40k more than the Audi ($95k vs $55k) but to make it easier on your wallet, the Federal Government gives you a minimum of $7,500 tax credit

So the government used our money a first time to subsidize Tesla and now gives incentives to bozo's who are ready to pay almost $100k to look environmentally friendly. I'd like Mr Obama to explain me why he needs my tax money to reward a nerd who can afford a $100k car. not to mention that, on top of it, further State incentives will follow. And Tesla to proudly say that they are profitable and reimbursing their debt... without mentioning of course that it is again with taxpayer's money

Sorry if I went off on a rant. I know that, one day, common sense will prevail.
I am back at Road Atlanta for the week end and will enjoy every drop of gas that my 991 will burn at a rate of 8 mpg. Mr Nerd will have to drive his Tesla a few weeks to offset my emissions

 

Serge,
Dear G-d, don't hold your breath waiting for common sense, particularly from the government (and I hold both parties in equally low esteem)!

I was just talking about the Tesla with a coworker over dinner. Even if I buy that the cost of generating the electricity on the environment is lower (yet to be proven) and that the cost to the environment of construction of the battery including all of the mined metals is justified (also not established) and even if I ignore the fearful environmental consequences and cost of disposal of the dead batteries (I'm not even sure that we know what to do with these little toxic time bombs, let alone what it will cost in dollars), how are you ever going to resell it and make anything on it?

Like other top end cars, it depreciates Immediatly after driving off of the lot. After three years, it would easily lose 40% of its value. And, after three years, and at least 500 charge cycles, a battery replacement will be looming and that has got to cost plenty ($10-20,000). Ad that and the car, after three years is likely worth a third of what you paid. And the next time you have to change the batteries, the cost will be more than the car is worth! what am I missing?

 

That Tesla video was painful to watch. The person driving the Tesla actually seemed to be a pretty good driver. The two cars he “blew” by… not so much. I don’t think either one of them every actually saw an apex let alone come close to it. There are always way too many factors involved in a track day. I love taking cars that should not be on a race track, on to a race track (i.e. a Saturn, Porsche Panamara loaner, BMW X5M, a 16 passenger van and numerous rental cars)

I will say that the Tesla intrigues me. Well not so much the car as Elon’s disruptive model. I always like it when someone tries to turn the establishment upside down.

Serge,
After you are done tearing around getting 8 mpg at RA, you should use a couple of gallons of gas to burn a tire and then send the picture to Gore.

It is starting to get cold here already. I think I will leave my car running all night so it will be warm in the morning.

Cheers.

Marc

 

I do not think you are missing anything and you are well too informed and educated to drink the environmentalist Kool aid

 

That is the (potential) brilliance part of Elon's plan. If you finance through Tesla, they guarantee the buyback price upfront. Very interesting.

If he makes a Tesla RSR version with 1,000 of torque (starting at zero RPM), I may have to try it. Or instead of Audi R8 deisel race car, Tesla gets Mark Webber to pilot an electric powered LMP1 car! The possibilities are endless. Well, until the batteries run out.

Marc