Let me preface this by thanking the three guys in the title and many more including Erik@cargraphic for all their help while I prepared for this as it was a long process.

The Event was a two day school that was done by Chin Motorsports who has recently purchased the east coast operations of Tracquest. It was held at the recently re-surfaced Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexinton Ohio just outside columbus by 45 minutes.

All I can say is...I'm HOOKED! This was one of the best things I have ever done in my life. I loved everything about it. I'm not used to getting up at 5:30am but it was so worth it. I loved just sitting in the paddock and talking to other car guys about the Turbo and other cars. The event was run very well and you could easily get 3-4 hours of track time a day without even trying. There were some nice cars there such as: C5 ZO6s, E60 M5, F355, 996s, 996 GT3Rs, 996 Cup car, and the Playboy/Palms Casino Rolex Prototype.

Since this was my first event I started in the Novice group with an instructor. My instructor was about 60 and had been racing porsche for something like 40 years so he was very old school. I learned a lot about driving the car from the back and accelerating very early in turns. Other then that we just worked on smoothness with respect to steering and throttle inputs. My Instructor was a pretty nice guy and went on track with me a lot. He was also pretty funny, on the yellow flag warm up session which there was strictly no passing, he told me to pass the car in front of me before turn 1 because "we don't follow corvettes" a phrase that would define my experience.

Without even attempting to take any credit for this, I had an amazing car, I passed/lapped everyone in my run group during the first session. The only car that even remotely kept up with me was a E46 M3 with a track setup, and the new M5. Don't worry though, I passed both! This sort of defined my first day, all I did was pass people over and over and then I began lapping them. The end of the day we had open track time in which I baffled my instructor by not having anyone pass me (not that I held anyone up) except for race spec vipers and the Porsche Race teams attending the event.

Day two was pretty interesting because the organizers allowed us to run with up one group i.e. novice with intermediate, intermediate with advanced. Immediatly I began running with the intermediate group and continued my passing spree. I have to say other then a little push because I never got to adjusting the rear PSS9s the car was phenomenal. It was just so fast, I would consistantly hit 145-148 on the back straight which is apparently is pretty fast. I think what you all will be most proud of is the amount of cars I passed in the turns. The back thrid of mid-ohio is a pretty intense series of turns and this is where I would make up tons of ground. I really can't believe the speed of this car on a track, I was passing SCCA M3 race cars, Spec Miatas, a SC'd NSX setup for the track, pretty much everyone I saw.

By the afternoon I started getting some chatter in the wheel while braking on the back straight and I didn't know why so I went in. Here I met Todd Serota who is the founder of Tracquest and a pretty good driver as he later showed me. Since he owns a GT2 I had wondered if he knew what the problem was. To make a long story short it was a build of pad compound on the rotors which came off after some heavy braking. So after Todd cleared my car he asked to ride with me for a few laps. People at the event made him seem like some God of instructors so I happily agreed. I got in and we did about 8 hot laps and went in. He was pretty impressed by my performance and went in to solo me and move me up in groups. All in All Todd is a pretty nice guy and if you see him at an event definitly ride with him.

So for the rest of the afternoon I was solo'd and ran with the advanced group where I got passed sadly consistantly by the racing viper and the porsche race cars. I still was passing some of the advanced people in regular cars though so it was pretty cool.

As far as recomendations for equipment:
-Pagid orange--Awsome. Even after two days of the track being 110 degrees they never faded. The end of the second day they were smoking but still no fade.
-ATE Super Blue--Never had any spongy feel or brake fade after two hard track days with about 7.5-8 hours of hard track time. I'm sure SRF and Motul are better but maybe not necessary unless you are insane
-Driving Gloves I got Sparco the best ones I forget what they are called but they were amazing. If you have a CF or Wood wheel like me they are required basically

I have a CD coming with about 150 pictures which I will post later when I get it. Here are some teaser pics from Chinmotorsports website that they recently posted from the event.


Pics:

Me waiting to pass the M5

Me chilling out while the M5 body rolls (this guy was a really good driver, he used to race his old E46 M3)

Me after passing one of the Chin Instructors in a modded miata, and another instructor in a Evo 8 with Corsas and some other mods I dont remember, also I passed the NSX about 2 yards down the track in the braking zone

Me passing an M3 while exiting Keyhole (go ahead make fun of the tape, but I love my car, even more now!)

 

Sounds like you had alot of fun!! What tire combo did you run?? Also, did you try different tire pressures?? Thanks for the info...

 

What mods do u have ???

 

Man awesome post!!!! Soooooo glad you did it and had a GREAT time. Your first experience seemed perfect. the best part is it keeps getting better! I do a lot of Chin events in the SE glad to see they are at your track now also. Very well run event and almost more track time than you can use.
Sounds like you are certainly a better than average beginner. many of my friends have done multiple events and still were not signed off as solo so congrates!
There is no passing any were near or in corners in any of our events however so that surprised me.
I'm not surprised about your novice experience. the drivers are all new and many with much inferior cars and are very scared. Chin is fun because of all types of cars show up.
Also great about Chin is you can ride shot gun. You can really learn alot doing that. Also if you bring friends or family they can ride with you all day now that you are solo.
Remember to pay attention to your lines and the track and dont worry about passing or being passed just enjoy the car. The experienced drivers even in miatas will still be passing you all day long, dont worry about that it is all about experience the car potential comes into play later.
Glad your brakes held out that's saying alot. But remember as you get faster and brake harder and deeper this will change and that super blue stuff may not hold out. I would definately upgrade that before your next event!!
Not to get mushy but I truely believe my first track day changed my life!!!! It was such an experience I had a different perspective on many things about cars and driving after it. And was addicted immediately also.
Again, my main point was for everyone with a TT, hell with any sports car to have an experience like you did. They will never forget it.
Wait till you get the CD of your pics they will be awesome and they usually include a bunch of pics of all the turns on the track as well>
Keep us posted!!! One of the most exciting things about track driving still is sharing the experience with new people who are still the most blown away by everything. Heck, just sitting in the paddock at Sebring where I just watched the 12 hour race gives me goose bumps!!!!

 

Bill, it was great to read about your first track experience and sense the excitement in your written words...you are owned...it sounds like regular visits to the track will be a part of your life from now on and that is terrific...you will meet so many great people that share your passion and have no ego's, although they will eat your shorts on the track...I'm very happy that your first experience was so great and hope all your future track days go as well....

 

Very good report and glad that you enjoyed it. That first track day experience is what will make you either an addict or someone who just hates it.

 

Thanks for the post Bill. It brought back memories of my first track event. Your reaction was just like mine (and a bunch of others!), so I will warn you, this is an addiction that cuts deep and the track mods are going to really start to flow! I agree with the recommendation to upgrade your fluid. I would also change out your brake lines to stainless steel. There are other mods to you will want to look into as you progress.

Also, while it is great that you were signed off to solo so quickly, I would recommend that still have a good instructor ride with you on a regular basis. This will help you build a more solid knowledge base and allow you to get better (read, go faster) more quickly than you could otherwise do on your own. At some point, you will start to push the limits with the PSM turned off, and at some point ... you WILL turn it off, if you haven't done so already. Since the limits and speeds/force associated with them are so high in a TT, it is important that you know how to react to changing car dynamics to avoid hurting yourself, most importantly and the car, secondarily. Lots of seat time and good instructing will go far to insure this happens. After your first "agricultural experience", you will know what I mean

Okay off my high horse/soap box. I hope that you continue to have a good time on the track. Sounds like you are well on your way in that department -- good for you!! I'll look forward to seeing more pictures too! BTW, your choice in TT color is right on -- great looking car!

 

Nice one Bill , loved the pics and the detailed write-up. I have not been to a track meet like this, the closet one to me is about 400KM in Mission BC. Some of the guys I have to chatting here in the North West go to the Pacific Raceway or down to Oregon Speedway I believe.

I will have to make time to go to one of these events, not only for the fun of it but to learn as well

Congrats on your great two day event....Good Job

 

Amazing man, glad you got out there finally, with your brakes setup (btw which im doing as well thanks to everyone you mentioned and their advice ) .. I also went about a month ago with the Viper/Aston martin club and im hooked as well, its a new experience that you wish you can do every week, i wondered why i havent gone sooner

Looked like alot of fun, congrats again!

Martin

 

Just one thing to remember... Passing cars is fun, but the most fun thing is bringing your car home in one piece.

Your car can easily exceed your experience, so I recommend taking it slower, gradually build up your speed. Understand and get a better feeling of your car. I'd hate to see anyone drive beyond their limit and smack into a wall because the car got "loose" and they freaked out while going 125+...

 

Alexander: I started 34R 36F Cold tire pressures but when I got off the track the tires were hot in the middle when we checked the temps so I lowered them down to 41PSI Hot (they were about 44). 41 hot was perfect and the temps were within 3 degrees across the tires. I was running the stock P-Zero Assymetricos that came with my stock wheels

Markski: I have PSS9s, ECU, and I was useing stock 18s with P-Zero Assymetricos. For the event I used Pagid Orange pads and ATE SUperblue fluid. Other then that the car is stock.

Bob: I agree with everything you said, and I did take PSM off at the end based on my Instructor's and Todd's advice, but I didn't drive ten tenths because I was getting tired and it was the end of the day. As for using an instructor, I mentioned that to Todd when he signed me off to solo, I didn't understand why anyone wouldn't want an instructor for $65. I used my instructor until he left. In all honesty I feel like you can always do better having someone watch you because they can correct the little things while you are focused on keeping the car on track. One of my biggest worries was doing the event in such a high powered car, but it turned out well and I think I pushed the car pretty good while still being safe. I know they are a couple of turns where I could have pushed more, but I wasn't ready to go off on my first event, but I do realize it's inevitable. I will continue to get instructors for a while if for nothing else to work on my line.

Fourtyounce: I agree with everything you said. Todd Serota basically said just that when I got off the track with him. He mentioned that someone with my level of experience (NONE) doesn't go around the track as fast as I was regardless of car. I don't know how much of it was talent or just my drive to push it farther and farther combined with immaturity but I was really moving. Todd was like "you don't have enough exerperience to drive this fast, and the only way to get it is seat time and actually going off" and he said that when he gets someone like this he doesn't know what to say because you can't tell how the person will react until it's too late. We talked about what he calls "early crisis recognition" which he defined as noticing a potential crisis in the early stages .02 seconds into it and correcting it before you have a problem. One example is say you are in a turn and the car is getting ready to slide and realizing this correcting it versus freezing or lifting off the throttle. If you can recognize the potential situation and react appropriatly you can minimize or avoid many bad situations. The problem is usually this skill of recognizing these things is the result of making bad decisions in the past, which is where the element of experience comes into play. My gift and my curse is that I have a car made to be tracked, but the car is expensive which will make me conservative about pushing the limits. So I think in the future I am going to stay with instructors, maybe work up to the limit slowly, and try to get as much experience in a safe manner as possible. I take the sport very seriously and I do see the danger in it. With that being said, I can't wait to get out there and run a better lap time. As for passing the other cars I never pushed the car around another vehicle. In fact the first day I running in between a GT3R and E36 M3 race cars and behind me were a couple modded vipers with advanced drivers. Everytime we came to a braking zone I would be right on the M3s bumpers and the the Vipers would be 7 feet of mine and I just told my instructor it was too much and we pitted. I really wanted to push myself, but rest assured, the car comes first and I am going to everything I can to keep it accident free!

Thanks to everyone for their encouragement and support!

 

I'm glad to hear that. Now start looking for the next event. http://www.trackschedule.com/sched.html is usually a good place to start..

I'm bit of a track *****, I have two back-to-back weekends coming up. I can't wait...

 

Sounds like you are well thought out on this one and have it together, Bill. As Fourtyounce said, "now start looking for your next event." Be safe, have fun, and keep us posted!!

 

Bill...good to read the whole report....145 on the back straight...YIKES...10mph more than the M3.

June 30 @ Nelson is the next Funay that I plan to attend. You should def. come....I'll show you how to get around there in a heavy, slow E46 M3. Yasmin will be out in the 996 again too.

I'm also planning on either PCA or BMW CCA DE at Mid ohio in October. I'll let you know which one and when.

My phone went through the wash last week...call me so I can get your number again.

Andy