I finally figured out how to get my Video VBox files into iMovie so I can edit (shorten) and post to YouTube and/or the web. The quality of the YouTube upload is significantly degraded so I am going to try and load it onto my Photobucket account as well to see if image quality is closer to what comes off the Video VBox.

The video was made at the NOR PCA October HPDE. This is the first weekend we drove the latest set up for the turbo flange/exhaust manifold union in which the gaskets have chronically failed; we welded it together

The car holds boost consistently now, so much so that we had to re-calibrate the tune. The car is set at 0.8 bar to protect the stock internals so it is a little down on power v. our previous set up but it is very consistent and linear in throttle response once we get over 3000 rpm or so. That is clear from the fact that I now hit the rev limiter in 5th gear in the back straight ~100 meters before entering the braking zone for Turn 7! I have never achieved this in the R32 before. On the car's speedometer it reads ~148 mph but the video confirms that the my speed is closer to 142-145 at most. If I can get Tym to bump the rev limiter up 200-300 rpm the car is geared to achieve 150+ mph at this point on the track. I can't wait to get to Sebring in January 2010 for some runs on those long straights.

The track conditions were cold but clear. It rained quite a bit Friday and Saturday morning so not a lot of rubber on the track hence not the most grip I have experience at Mid Ohio. But once the track and the tires came up to temp I was able to run consistently in the mid 1:40s with traffic. Not great but I am satisfied for the first track weekend re-learning the car.

The video is a segment of a 30 minute session. It starts on the pit straight (entering Turn 1) to give those unfamiliar with Mid Ohio proper orientation. Here is a map for reference. The little red arrow shows approximately where the video begins (track runs clockwise).We run the chicane before the Keyhole. Turn 7 is at the end of the back straight.



The red car at the beginning is my friend John's supercharged and stroked C5 Z06 (~600 rwhp/580 rwtq). We were having fun until I got caught behind the black Cayman and John gapped me. Next week we are going down to Barber Motorsports Park outside Birmingham, Alabama to run with the PBOC. Never been there and hope to have some good video of that upon my return. I also hope to figure out how to get the track map, rpm and gear onto my data display. Consider this a work in progress

 

Car sounds awesome....any plans for MidOhio this year.
I'm planning on going up there sometime in the summer.

 

Thanks; later this week I will be posting new video from a Novemeber 2009 PBOC event at Barber Motorsports Park and the 2010 PBOC Winterfest at Sebring last week.

Depending on the weather our first 2010 event at Mid Ohio will be either April or May. Northern Ohio BMW CCA and NOR PCA have events there that we usually attend. Check their websites for exact dates.

 

Awesome track vid~

 

mxk116 -- I saw this video and signed up an account just so I could try to PM you, but apparently I can't PM until I hit 15 posts (stupid anti-spammer stuff).

That is one hell of a fast R. I've got a 2008 myself and would like to turbo it once it is out of warranty; who did the work on yours or is it all self-built? I ask because I'm over in Mayfield Heights (I see you are in Gates Mills) and there aren't a lot of reputable tuners (that I'm aware of) around NE Ohio.

I have to keep my eyes on NOR PCA and BMW sites, I've been wanting to try MidOhio for a while now. So far I've only been at Nelson Ledges and autocrossing with NORA/ASCC.

Have you ever driven Deal's Gap? There is a big R32-specific trip taking place in mid-April, people would definitely love to see a 450+ HP Mk4 R32 down there. More details can be found in the R32 forums on vwvortex...

 

Switzer Performance Innovation has been managing the car for the past couple of years. The original FI package was from Streetwerke in Palo Alto, Ca., but it could not hold up to the rigors of road racing. Tym re-engineered the basic components and added a few of his own. Now the package is very reliable and delivers a level of performance that I am now fully appreciating.

Tym Switzer and his team in Oberlin, Ohio, are a pleasure to work with and IMO Tym is a genius when it comes to FI applications. Do a search on 6speedonline of "Switzer" or "SPI" to see some of his prodigious work on Porsches. I would be glad to discuss it with you. Us Buckeyes have to stick together.

As far Deal's Gap is concerned I am not familiar with it. My R32 is kinda, sorta, street legal so I am not certain that I could drive to it but I could trailer down. I have posted quite abit about the car on the Vortex and I have some new video taken at the Jan 2010 PBOC Winterfest at Sebring to post. Look for it soon and stay in touch.

 

Great info on Switzer. Didn't know about them, Oberlin is a bit of a hike in my book but if I ever put FI on this car I do want to do it right.

Deal's Gap is AKA "Tail of the Dragon." If you enjoy cars as much as you appear to from your lovely stable in your signature, you owe it to yourself to make the trip at some point. Many of the R32s that show up are of questionable level of street-legality. Reliability is much more important.

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/
http://www.dealsgap.com

It's a bit of a hike from NE Ohio, but there are guys coming from New York and PA, last year we actually had an R32 owner from Mexico (the country, not New Mexico) who holds the record for longest travel to attend. No rule saying you have to drive an R either, a bunch of people bring friends with STIs, last year we had a Saleen Mustang, this year I know a guy from Mansfield who is coming in his Evo X. Your GT3 would probably get as much attention as an R32-T.

That GT3 RS is a wonderful car. Best factory gear lever I've ever used. I got to drive one at Nelson Ledges, but I didn't really have the skill level, as evidenced by the fact that I spun about 400 degrees in it when I forgot about weight transfer and rear-engined-ness just after coming through The Kink. Thankfully no damage to the car, I got it stopped in the grass before I touched any tires. If you happened to get yours from Marshall-Goldman, it may have been the actual one that I spun (it was black and orange, 997, I don't know if it was a 2007 or 2008 though).

 

My GT3RS came from North Carolina via Fred Baker Porsche. I purchased it in January and I can't wait for the Spring to come so I can put some miles on it.

 

OK, if it came directly from Fred Baker you're safe.

The guy who previously had the GT3 RS and allowed me to spin it traded it back to Marshall-Goldman for one of the newest revision GT3s (2009 or 2010 I guess?).

Can't wait for the day I'm making enough to afford a Porsche... I've borrowed my boss's Targa4S for the occasional weekend and while not as sweet as the GT3, it's still a fantastic car... I'd be happy with a Cayman, even though the 911 is the dream car.

Take a look at the Dragon trip, regardless of what car you might drive. It is a hike, but last year was my first year and I'm doing it again this year as I had a great time. All of the R32 guys are very friendly and it is a good time with like-minded car people, plus the roads are beautiful and amazing to drive.

 

Awesome vid, I like the multiple angles!