Shannonville track days... anyone interested?
 

Hey all,

I'm looking to get out on a track this summer for my first time. Its been a year and a half since buying my baby :blush: so i'd like to try my hand on the track now.
I've been doing some reading on here and it seems that Shannonville is the best starting track in my area

First of all, I need to call Shannonville to see if they will allow a convertible onto the track, and to see if I will need anything else. If i need a harness and roll bar this thread is useless :lol: cuz aint no way in hell I'll be cutting up that mint interior just yet.
The first track day at Shannonville, May 24 weekend, isn't an option for me because of the meet in west Toronto, but is anyone interested in any track days after that? June 14 is when I'm planning to go first.

Can anyone confirm if/where convertibles are allowed on an open track day? Most of the threads say it depends on who is organizing the event but open days aren't run by an Assoc. are they?

Convertibles are allowed but if you have one, helmet is mandatory (should be worn regardless).

kplayground.ca is hosting a lapping day April 11th from 1-5 .
Touge.ca also does Shannonville lapping days but they don't have their datesposted.
imagemotorsport.ca usually does the long weekend monday full day lapping days at Shannonville as well but they haven't updated their site either.

You might want to look into Cayuga (TMP), its a little closer then Shannonville and is an ok learner track. Shannonville is definitely a better track though and I personally dislike Cayuga. Mosport DDT is probably the best learners track and is pretty fun to push your limits there as the track is more about the corners, then about speed. Here's an OLD video of when I went on the DDT to give you an idea of what its like... This was CW direction using only the outside part of the track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqqol4X_fr8

It's still pretty early in the season so not a lot of info out yet for who is doing what when.

thewird

I will be doing my second annual lapping information sticky in the next month. It will list the dates, tracks, costs, and contacts.

Need any help with it? I have a list of most of the groups and keep a record. :)

thewird

Subscribed...

Hopeing to make it out more this year. But some things have changed. Will see....
Made it out three times at the end of the year last year. To much fun...

Thewird, I've seen the Cayuga track before when I'm there for drag, but all 5 times I've been they've been running bikes lol. I won't have any time in April because of my finals, so anytime after April 29. I have a Shark helmet that's rated for motorcycles but I read your post on another thread saying M rated helmets aren't recommended for use in cars. I would wear a helmet regardless of whether or not they are mandatory.

RacerJason would you mind posting in here when you get that sticky up?

so how did the lapping go CS13b ?

Count me in for a few lapping days & Wednesday evenings @ TMP but not until late May, probably no cash after DGRR. BMW always has some good training weekend as well if you become a member. (No Bimmer required)

We also can rent Shannonville as a group, I organized one last year with the RX8club, even JDK made a appearance.

I am down for some lapping action this summer.

We will be renting Shannonville in late April or early May to test the race car and we always welcome 8-10 others to help reduce the cost. We usually go on a weeknight and get the track for 2 hours...5-7pm and will run protrack. If we get 10 people the cost will be about $80.00 per person, its run what ya brung, safety equipment is up to you and you can use the track as long as like during the 2 hours, no run groups etc.

I'll like to be there, if you can give us a few weeks head to shift around the work schedule.

if you could do this for 2011 that would be great.

I never actually did it :lol:.. my car is not set-up for the track nor will it be anytime in the near future. A lack a funds is the main reason for now.. and probably will be until im done school.

I'd like to be there for photos! Can you let me know the dates when the time comes?:icon_tup:

Count me in Al. If I can dig up another trailer I will bring both cars. We need to get Mark some track time with the RX7 and I need to shake out the Cougar after we get it all put back together with the dogbox and new clutch and brakes.

Eric

I would suggest either get involved in autoslalom to start with if you're concerned about your car not being 'set up' for racing. There are classes for stock vehicles and street tires, so you can still be competitive and have fun. I learned a lot in 2 years of autoslalom, and it saved my bacon when i lost control at the DDT. There's lots of run-off, but it was still a pucker moment.

When i was at Mosport DDT last, I was one of 2 FD's there, but there were a few FC's that were tearing it up and were running stock dampers and street tires. It takes a lot less money than you think to have fun. Just remember to slap on a new set of brake pads, bleed em, check fluids, and keep an eye on the gauges. Oh, and tires ARE consumeables ;)

Matt

Exactly, and this is what i'm afraid of. I have Pirelli P6's on as a summer tire which have notoriously poor wear. I can only imagine what a few laps would do to them, not to mention continuous racing. Until I can get my suspension re-done with new bushings and some cheap r-compounds, I probably won't be taking my car out on a track. Besides, it's a convertible which I've come to realize isnt the fastest car meant for the track (cough* heavy *cough)... it's more of a cruiser and I'm cool with that till I'm done school lol. :icon_tup:

R-comps not necessary...
 

true, although I would say you'd want to get some seat time on street tires before you jump in to r-comps though. Use up the Pirellis and just replace with something cheap and decent like a sumitomo for the street. You can't drive like an asshat on the street anymore anyway, and you can put the money you saved not buying nice tires towards a set of Toyo R888's which are a nice entry-level r compound tire. There's lots of competition rebates through CASC events, and the Team Toyo discount program.

R-comps raise the limit of what your car can do, but jumping to a stickier tire right away can actually stunt your progress. I was way better off learning when the limits of grip were lower. You get faster because you have to focus on technique. The oldest member of the TLMC is in his 70s, and autoslaloms on a totally stock corolla on street tires. He spanks members with 'better' setups.

Since your dampers were designed around the grip levels of a street tire, unless they're pooched, you're probably better with street tires anyway. I have an R1, and even with the stiffer dampers, I was getting huge dive when i stomped on the brakes. I've since upgraded to a stiffer spring and adjustable damper. The R-comps just overwhelmed the stock suspension. Stock ride height and dampers unless they're done in, will give you lots of movement and lots of feedback. The tighter/stiffer things get, the faster things happen, and you won't know what the car's trying to tell you until after you've spun.

I'd say just get out and try it. You'll have a ton of fun, and autoslalom is super easy on the car compared to a track day, and it's cheap. Come to Barrie, and play all day for $25! M-rated helmets are minimum and mandatory, but the club has loaners.

Matt

Interested :)

I agree, CS13B, your worrying about it too much. A day on street tires, will not do anything to your tires. It's also best to learn on street tires. You only progress to R compounds when you want to get serious.

thewird

Fair points guys and good advice squeely, thanks.

So should I consider taking it out even on (I think) soggy dampers and springs - they're still stockers from when the car was new... they now have 135k on them. Maybe I'll try to pick up a set of used tires from my old employer since they keep tons of them.
They sell Vee Rubber now, and I'm pretty sure for my size they're close to 40 bucks a tire :lol: so maybe just a set of those. We'll see what my priorities are come race season because I'm trying to get a racing photography dealy-type-thing going.. that (and equipment) may become more important.

Just go...See if you like it, make adjustments as required if the addiction kicks in :nod:

^^ totally true. When i started autoslalom, I was clearly the slowest in my class, because my club rules have the FD rx7 in the same class as much newer AWD beasts and allows R-comps and any suspension / brake upgrades as long as they use stock mounting points... which means i was just about the slowest thing in my class for 2 seasons. I had a crapload of fun, and even if you're the slowest, it'll be fast enough to be fun and exciting. Soft suspension is fine, it's easier to drive it hard.

As an added bonus, the more club and regional events you attend, the more photos you can take for your photography studio. I had one of my students come to events, snap photos, and was printing and selling them on the tailgate of his truck.

bahaha:lol:...
should totally do that... imagine how much better they would look out of the back of an FC that was just racing lol

I'd be interested due to the little traffic and rotary type event. But any chance of increasing the time? Or is 2 hours all you guys need.

thewird