Get Brent to make a page for my car... you can drive it if it gets in.

 

You say that Pete like I'm not on the forum checking this thread Send me some pictures of your car and I'll throw you a page up as well if you want to do the UTCC. If you just want to come and drive, you can still do Friday open tracking through NASA. Normal event Saturday and Sunday.

 

...........now that's what I'm talk N bout 3 FDs going to the show

Here's another vid from last weekend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLbWEBAsDLE

This was from the last session on Saturday when it was like 90 out. Slip sliding away and rocking the D JR

 

After blowing up 3rd gear at the UTCC I'm back in the GT3.

Here's the write up:
The track time will be soon forgotten but the event will forever linger in my memory as cursed

Just could not get out of town. Starts with one of those chaotic busy headache variety work days and I finally leave and as soon as I step out of the truck in my driveway I realize my tow straps are back on my other trailer at work holding down my FD so back to work I go. Now back at home with straps in hand I find the car is a PIA to load on the open trailer and I'm about to have a tantrum and just say eff it but after tall drink a water I'm refreshed and get it loaded without too much trouble. I finally leave at 5:30 (no possible chance of dropping the car early and going to tech) and there's a serious accident on 81 (40 minute delay).

Finally arrive at the hotel and the poo is still raining down, the computer doesn't show my reservation but thankfully it's there but under Friday/Sat not Th,fri,Sat so no fist pounding required. Go up to the room and you guessed it, my key code doesn't work.........MAN!!! SOME DAYS!!!

Arrive at the track and don't have time to get the car through inspection and because I don't drive often w/ PCA I don't even realize instructors have other instructors tech or PEER TECH so tech wasn't even an issue. NOW is where I really step in the DOODIE. SOOO I go to the chief tech inspector and he notices my harness are out of date (1/2 the people at the event probably had harnesses out of date) so I spend the morning buying and trying two different harness from OG (on site track store) but both will be a major PIA to install so end up borrowing some from "Bret" RP Performance (track side race shop) who's been doing me all kinds of favors for 10 plus years (great friend to have).

Harness fiasco and ball busting HPDE tech insp behind me along with the morning track sessions I'm finally able to exercise Fiona but it's my 1st time at SPR, I'm on old 888s and the track isn't in the best shape so I'm not feeling too groovy, it's basically a blown day at the track but hey my student was good so I'm feeling thankful for that

The next day I get some driving instruction from Rmag and things start coming together so I decide to throw the HOOS on and WOW the car jumps off the mat and starts kicking some *** but it doesn't last too long because I have a very fast leak in the R rear tire combined with RAIN so I pack it in and call it busted weekend.

Here's a vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT4c1KKTNuI

 

Dude, that's some BS about the harness. Sounds like that PCA chapter is just as bad as the peachstate one down here. Harnesses shouldn't matter unless you are racing. Don't worry about those stock seat belts that are 30 years old in the 944... let's worry about the harness's in the GT3.

On a positive note, video looks awesome! Glad you got some decent seat time. I'm sure you and Ryan had fun as always.

 

I think I remember that one. Something about cracks in the rotors. It's a track car you f.... idiot

With fresh hoos this thing is wicked fun and it should be because it's some top drawer dope

 

That's a good memory! It did involve my porsche big reds and their rotors. That being said, thanks for getting me out to the FSR PCA a couple of years ago because they are one of my favorite groups to run with! I don't know what's up with these other chapters.

 

YEP!

The FSR club is SUPER COOL!

Things I liked about the Potomac club. Hot pulls, 5 minute session warning, free water, free drinks/beer, lunch ticket, free shirt, low #s in the run groups and 1 student. If these clubs would hold the ending session on grid and start releasing the next groups just after the checker combined w/ the hot pulls and warnings that would be AWESOME!

The BAD; tech inspection ball buster, instructors pay a high fee (285 I think).

 

Great weekend driving with THSCC (tarheel sports car club) and for those who don't know about the THSCC I highly recommend driving with them any chance you get. TONS of track time at very good rate. This event was about 400 for 3 days on track and the amount of track time was more than anyone could handle. I drove over 400 miles on track and didn't run my last 2 sessions on Sunday.

Had a blast BUT was sleep deprived in a major way. As always "Almost racing" team was behind the 8 ball in every way. Had to install a brake kit the night before leaving etc.... arrived at 12.30am the 1st night and hit the hey at about 1:30 to wake at 6:30. The next night there was a wedding party in the room next to me so i didn't go down until 1:30 again to wake at 6:30 again etc...... However the Sleep Inn in Danville did comp me a night

Neil Villacorta (sp?) came all the way from FL to drive VIR and he picked a VERY VERY good weekend. AGAIN TONS of track time and a time trial to boot

It was great meeting Neil and introducing him to the best track on the east coast He may feel differently but I think he had a great time.

Here's a vid from the time trial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpD5pnQYvVE

My lap time was slower than my previous best but good enough for 1st and FTD 2.06.6

We got so much lap time on Friday my tires were not fresh and I was afraid to turn the boost up after popping the trans at the UTCC.

I was trying a new tighter drift style line in turn one and it's probably not the way to go. I should brake deeper/later and use the whole track, oh well live and learn. This is a line the P car naturally likes but I don't think FD has the boogie (rear weight and tire) to take advantage of it so I think that cost me some time.

PS If you have the patience to watch the vid all the way through you'll notice a song kicks in that I think is appropriate for our troops (9/11 anniversary). Lots of love for our boys trying to prevent another 9.11

PSS Me and Neil went out to eat at my friends restaurant (Hoi an FD enthusiast and track rat when he can squeeze it in between family and restaurant obligations) and had a super tasty meal. Restaurant is called the Tokyo Grill so give it try the next time you're at VIR.

 

Hey fritz stupid question. why do you keep moving the steering where left to right so much on some of the turns? is the front of the car sliding? do u have a manual rack or P/S?

 

Looks like oversteer, not understeer if anything.

Fritz, looks like an amazing track. What brake kit did you install?

 

If I'm in a corner there's good chance I'm sliding and trying to balance the car.

 

My rotors on the GT Brembo kit were hurting and I was lucky enough to buy Kai's old FD that had a ST kit that arrived just in time. THANKS Kai!

VIR is AWESOME! I'm SOOOO thankful to have it close by.

Yep the FD isn't short on turn in

 

Riding with "professor" Fritz, was a jaw-dropping experience.

Having VIR as his home-track, truly is a blessing.

The closest competitor for him was 4+ seconds SLOWER!

I have to admit, VIR, is definitely a TOP road-course on the East coast!

Hope to see you again, and I HATE you for showing my how good a single 13B can be . . .

:-) neil

 

Yeeeeeeeeaaaaahhhhh buddy! Congrats dude! Ain't no almost about a 2:06 in the September heat. Sucks about the sleep depreviation... it's the only way we know how to do it apparently Glad you had a trouble free weekend in the car though. Wish I could of made it.

x1000 on the Tokyo Grill. Awesome awesome place to eat!

 

Out of curiosity why do you think you were sliding so much? Tires? What do you think you would need to change to balance the car? Nice run though, it looks like a lot of fun.

 

Driver style. Opposed to some people who under drive their car, Fritz pushes his car past the limit and pulls it back in. That's one way to verify you are getting 98% out of your car. Their ain't nobody running those kinds of time in a rotary FD with a TTS/ST2 power to weight at VIR.

 

Gas first as long as possible (one move to the floor)

Brakes last and short as possible (one move smoothly in and DIG HARD nice gentle release)

Turn the wheel as little as possible (rotate the car). Once a car is really setup and the driver is exceptionally smooth you'll rarely see a correction but that's not typical. Example of a car at speed driven by one of the best. Notice the steering movement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bN5Rq1siFk

If I was not opening the wheel the car would be spinning like a top. If you have the track you stay on the gas (preferably full gas) all the way to track out dealing with whatever slip may come.

The object is to get the car turned in asap and apply the gas which is usually accomplished with some rotation instigated by trail braking and entry speed and slip throughout the corner. Once pointed in the right direction you smoothly floor it (no in and out business) all the way down and deal with it.

Could I get more grip with better tires, alignment and susp sure but I'd drive the car the same way only going faster.

Speaking of alignment Neil road with me my 1st time out and lets just say my guess on where the alignment should be after the bolt slipped at the UTCC wasn't exactly accurate so I spent a few sessions Friday dialing in better rear alignment and fortunately was able to find the sweet spot.

 

Yep that's how we do at "Almost Racing"

 

Hey Neil,
Peter Hahn still has twins and his car is a seriously fast and well setup. He's had some trans and susp issues but I don't recall him ever having engine or turbo problems in all the years I've run with him (HUGE knock on wood)

In other words the twins can be set up really well you just have to have a v-mount type setup to keep charge temps down along with good coolers and duct work, you know the usual FD track prescription.

How did things go Sunday Afternoon?

 

The only other FD I know of running those times period is your car

We'll have to wait and see what Kyle does who's a good driver so I'm sure he'll give us a run.

The good news is my car is barely setup so I have some more room to play with aero etc....

 

Good to know Fritz! Is Peter on this forum ? If so, do you know his screen-name ?

BTW: I noticed that I was only boosting at 10-psi, and that my stock driver's side oil-duct was ripped, so I only had about 280-rwhp on the stock-twins.

Sunday time-trial went well, but I don't the know results as everything was packed-up by the time I got done with my extended cool-down drive (thanks for the tip).

Here's my last session during Friday's practice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIBD_b9BrME

:-) neil

 

Fritz,

Maybe I missed it, but it would be nice to hear some opinions going back and forth between your RX-7 and the GT3. Not that I want to stir up the old debates, but just hear (read) some first hand opinions of someone who owns both and tracks both. You are definitely living the dream of a lot of track junkies but I know you work your tail off to be in the position you are today.

 

The GT3 if set up would be incredible. Basically bone stock it's equal to my very well prepped FD. However one cost 3 X as much before the mods begin.

The GT3 is SOOOO much easier to drive even in stock form.

The FD is more fun in it's current form but bone stock it would be a bore compared to a bone stock GT3. I'd imagine a cup car would be out of this world to drive.

 

Wow man that guy looks like he is drifting that thing, i would be paranoid....LoL