Yeah, he beat me by .054 to win TTU today. I didnt get a grip on the car untill our third session. First session the track was cold and had no grip. I was taking it easy as well because it was my first session. There were some pro drivers in some older M3 race cars blazing on the first few laps. Guy ran a 1:36.5 or something. My best was a 1:39.9 that session, going about 8/10ths because of braking and traction issues. I was in 6th at this point behind a Raced out Mustang (3400 lbs w/ driver/ 550 rwhp) the Z06, a 996 GT3 cup car, a GT Camaro tube chassis and two others I cant remember.

Second session, we started off on a gentlemans agreed warmup lap for the first lap. However the guy in the cup car didnt want to wait (which he didnt have to because they did wave the green flag) and took off and left everybody who were warming the tires up weaving back and forth. We get to the start line and take off, I'm in 4th at this point, when I pass turn 5 I notice something out of the corner of my eye, the Cup car buried in the tire wall on the left hand wall. Well once we get to turn 10 they are waving the red flag (stop where you are) so we stop, several cars came flying around turn 9 well over 100 mph the corner and couldnt see us till the last second, they were pulling evasive manuevers trying to avoid contact. We sat for a few minutes and then got a black flag (pit immediately) and that was the end of the session not to be made up either (session lost) laps completed 0.

Third session, we have one less car but somehow I'm still gridded in 6th but the only cars in front are one of those M3's, the Z06 and the Mustang. On the warmup lap the M3 took off like the cup car did earlier and left everyone else warming up. Once we got to start finish it was the Z06, the stang and then me. Probably one of the most evenly matched groups I have been in. The three of us were never more than 10 carlengths between the whole session (which lasted 3 laps BTW because we were behind schedule) I didnt manage to pass anyone but bested the stangs best lap time by 2.5 seconds and was behind the Vette by .054 which turned out to be the fastest lap of the day in TT.

Last session, I'm gridded behind the vette this time and determined to get him. I think he knows it too because he comes out blazing. He gains a bit on the first lap because I was still feeling out the tires. However after that I started reeling him in. Getting closer and closer each half lap. Finally I am on his bumper and ready to make an attempt to pass, but I get stuck behind him and have to lift going into turn 6, messing up my time (I'm fairly sure I got the fastest time of this session, but it wasnt the fastest of the day). So I am riding his tail for another lap, I try to get a run on him going into turn 5 and my ABS kicks in hard core and I cant stop, I have to evade off line to keep from rear ending him. and lose a lot of ground, by this time the camaro GT car has caught up to me but I manage to keep him at bay and get catch back up to the vette only for him to pit half a lap later, my traqmate magnetic sensor flew off and a car stalled on line at 10b so I did a cool down lap and took to the pits dissapointed, but still excited from having a great time. Our cars we nearly dead even on the straights, I may have pulled a bit and could have more but he exited off camber turn 7 MUCH better than I could so I couldnt get by him by turn 10a at the end of the straight.


After the session had a brief conversation with the Z06 owner. Very cool guy (older guy too, very good driver). We talked for a little while about the cars at which point he asked me how much power I had on the car to which I responded (439 at the wheels ) (I guess surprise he couldnt pull me on the back straight, but his car turned better than mine in the off camber turns and sweepers) we swapped info on the cars and turns out his car weighs 3210bs with himself and full roll cage in it (he didnt tell me how much power it made but it was no where near stock, easy to hear that, but neither is mine) All carpet removed, one racing seat, new hoosier, gigantic wing, front lip spoiler (end excuses). My car weighed 3590 with me in it, weighed 150 lbs more without me in it. After hearing that I wasnt so dissapointed. My car with 300 less lbs (winter mods a coming), some good downforce in front and back and some fresh R6's would be MEAN AND NASTY.


so there is my spillon today, tommorrow we do it all again. Hopefully I can best the fastest time from today.

 

I have one other question. After today my Hoosier R3S03's have 24 heat cycles on them, I have brand new MPSC's in my truck, do you think they will be better.

 

Nice post, Dez. Which even was it? Wonder what Americanlemans has to say about this.

 

Oh, and i think you got a 1:37 in ya Dez

 

That was a great write up! I can't wait to read tomorrow's! Good luck. Find out how much power he's putting down for us just to keep it in perspective.

 

Dude, sounds like a good time despite some of the drama you reported. It sounds to me like it's only a matter of time regardless of any future modifications. Nothing beats seat time.

 

Did I forget to post I ran a 1:35.642?
He ran 1:35.588


I'll find out what he's pushing tommorrow. With a 360 lbs weight advantage you would think he'd have pulled me anyways but it definitely wasnt the case, wish I had in car vid.

With some fresh R6's and brake fluid ( I assuming was the problem because my brakes had firm pedal but no stop in them for some reason) I can run 34's and possibly 33's. I dont know if the MPSC's will get me there, I hear good things about them. but not sure how they would compare to my old oudated hoosiers.

 

Oops, not sure if i missed it or not. Thats flying Dez, you need to get in a real racecar now

 

HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!

I just looked at my traqmate sessions. I hit 171.11 MPH on the back straight. with 439.6 rwhp HAHAHAHAHA.


For all the RWD groupies I hit 165 max in RWD. BWAHAHAHAHAAH

 

Good luck tomorrow - get that Z.

 

24 heat cycles out of an RS303 means you are not driving hard enough!

Seriously, the R6's have alot more stick and perhaps 20-30% more heat tolerance before they get greasy. You will pick up at least 1 second on the R6's.

 

Look out for his flying roof or oil


God, I don't think I will ever quit.

Screw GM.

Next time, pics please.

 

you will do better with the new cups.
my car was just corner balanced with quarter tank of gas and was 3300 on the nose!
put your car on a diet. Glad to see you running so well!!! Sounds like my weekends, well until I blew my engine!!!!

 

I was hoping to get this last day out of the Hoosiers, but you are one person I'd surely trust to make that assessment.

Probably gonna get the MPSC put on tommorrow.

 

LOL, and people talk about the MPSC's taking a lap through hell to get hot, these things defy imagination. Of course the person I boue ght them from had them for years just chillin at his house so I think the compound got hard over time making them hard to get warm and hard period.

I dont know how long it'll take to get the tires swapped but I'll try between sessions 1 and 2 (out of 4). I'll probably run the 2nd and third session then call it quits for the weekend.