What's a good lap time for an FD at Laguna Seca?
 

I've done about three track days at Laguna Seca so far with my FD. I'm just curious how many other people have run there with an FD and what kind of times you've gotten?

-John

Damian has run out there. Check with him?

I would love to run Laguna Seca sometime but Monterey is a long ways from Dallas...

About 2:10 is normal for rookies.
Under 2:00 is quick for veterans.
A long time ago, I was able to clock Brian Richards (Mike Johnson?) of M2 clocking 1:40's in Shiv's old Sport Compact Car project FD.
This is the old track - I think they redesigned T2 now?


-Ted

Interesting. My last track day there was a 1:47 so I guess that's pretty good for a mostly stock FD!

Laguna Seca is a beautiful track! It's fairly straightforward to drive... pretty much just follow the line in most parts... but I really enjoy it. You all need to make the drive out to it!

Yeah, actually it was Mike's black car- basically set up identical to Shivs, but with Toyo RA-1s. He was around 1:40 flat. Not sure about Turn 2.

Gene

That's a good lap time.

Freakin' Spec Miatas are doing 1:49s now? Wow.

Gene

1:49 in a spec Miata? Geeze. That's crazy. But I did follow a good spec miata driver around for a lap the time before last and he was pretty darn fast.

1:40 flat is a really good time for a street car based vehicle.

Nice times John. :)

I've only ran there once, back in August, and was getting consistent high 1:50s on street tires. I was leaving a lot out there though, as I always play it pretty cool the first time at a track. Sounds like you've found a bit more out of the car than me...:)

I'm looking forward to running there again, but Speedventures doesn't go there again this year and I don't care to run with NASA...

1:47 is fricken fast.
I bet you're not a rookie. :)

Those times were way back from WWW2 or WWW3 - I forget which one, but it's been a WHILE ago.

The FD guys who claimed to be running up to 400hp were running in the 2:00 to 2:10's.
And those were drivers who claimed they can drive. :)

The experienced FD drivers will diving under 2:00 flat.

We were driving behind a spec-Miata at a HPDE one time, and it was FAST.
We found out it was capable of low 1:50's out there, so a 1:49 is pretty damn quick.


-Ted

Foko (Damian bought his old FD) was fast, and he drove at LS a lot. If he's still monitoring this board, maybe he'll chime in. Or maybe Damian has some of his times...

Edit: I dug up an old post of his (July '03) where he said his best time at LS was 1:45, and at Thunderhill was 2:05 (I don't know the configuration).

1:38.559

...in Gran Turismo 3...

Hehehehe :D

(with a stock 99-spec Type RS)

10 more laps and I could probably cut another second off...

John,

How was your lap time measured? And what tires?
If Foko's best was 1:45, your 1:47 in a mostly stock FD indicates that you may have a future in F1?

I had 225/50/R16 Toyo RA1 tires. I just started doing track days about a year and a half ago and have done about 12 track days total. I did some autocross in my Miata beforet hat. Lap time was measured very accurately with a transponder type system. By best time was a 1:47 but I rarely had a lap that I didn't get held up by traffic since they put me in the novice group for some reason. Looking at my times when I didn't have traffic I was usually in the 1:47 to 1:49 range. One lap I even had an EVO lose it and hit the wall right after the corkscrew right in front of me. Looked pretty crazy. Wish I had video. Driver was ok fortunately.

My car does have some mods: ASP Large Intercooler, M2 intake, downpipe, catback, stock main cat. Stock boost - 10 psi. Upgraded brakes. Adjustable Koni Shocks (stock springs)

I think that stock FD is pretty great at the track. Just do some cooling mods and your set... at least until my stock turbo melts my coolant seals.

Rynberg:

I think they bay area shelby club has an open track day on a Sunday and Monday later this month. If you want more info e-mail me at rx73rdgen@aol.com

Rynberg: Here is the link to the Laguna Track day on Feb 13-14:

http://www.norcal-saac.org/

Just for fun I looked up the Laguna Seca track record... 58 seconds by Mario Andretti (in a formula 1 car I assume) Hmmm... guess I won't be racing formula one anytime soon!

Thanks for the info John, but I won't be able to go for a couple of reasons -- one, it's Valentine's Day action...:), and two, the car ain't running super hot right now and I'm leary about beating on it all day. I haven't been to the track since October 2! :eek: :)

I've had a few other financial priorities lately but pretty soon she's going in for a COMPLETE rebuild -- new motor, injectors, flywheel, clutch, etc....

:hahaha:

...me too.

I looked up some lap times for Laguna Seca also - on Speed Ventures website.
As it turns out, you had participated in their HPDE event.

Your best lap time of 1:47, as measured with AMB transponder, is very respectable. As a matter of fact I think your lap time is pretty damn quick!
And if I had to take a guess, I think you started this thread to underhandedly boast your achievement. Actually, I would have also if I was able to achieve that. Unfortunately, I have never had the pleasure of lapping Laguna Seca in an FD(Although I have had done many laps in a Skp Barber Formula Dodge racer)

So, I salute your accomplishment. You must be a skilled driver.

Lastly, I wouldn't discount the idea that you couldn't beat M Andretti; you may be just as fast in a Formula One car. Besides, his lap time was set when the track was shorter by 0.3 miles.

How was Skip Barber? Do you recommend it? Well... bring your FD on out to the next Laguna Seca event. As you know it's a fun track.

Given that there were Honda S2000s and Mitsubishi EVOs that got faster times than me I wouldn't say that my lap time was super duper spiffy... both those cars should have slightly worse power to weight ratios. Plus as has been stated a spec miata can post a 1:49.

This was my third track day at Laguna but the first in which I was timed so I really had no idea how my time compared to other FDs. My only reference was the one other FD there driven by a college kid. He managed to post a 1:50 and then his FD overheated after a few laps and his FD would not restart. It was his second track day with his FD but he seemed very knowledable about racing. He had to be towed back to Los Angeles... I hope his car is ok.

I really just wanted to know if it seemed like I was driving the track well and what times I could shoot for when I go again. Maybe if I improve my skills and drive a little more agressively I may be able to approach the 1:45 by Foko. I know I could never get a 1:40 flat like Brian from M2.

I'm going to try some stiffer springs but I don't have any other mods planned. I figure if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Thanks for the input everyone!

Here you go:

http://www.laguna-seca.com/GeneralIn...ction=TrackMap

All the track records listed (on the Laguna Seca site posted above by artowar) were set in CART Indy Cars. Modern F-1 cars have never run at Laguna, except in the Historic Races (mostly driven by guys w/ much more money than driving ability). At last year's Historic races the guy that crashed the 2002 Ferrari F-1 car and tore it in half was suposedly going to try to set a new absolute lap record.

Skip Barber Racing School is loads of fun and educational. It is well organized and taught by "professionals", either former or current race drivers who are very well spoken and courteous.

I have taken their 2 day Advanced Driving School(about 10 years ago), and 3 day Racing School. I am signed up for the 2 day Advanced Racing School this month at Laguna Seca.

Their school prices are high but I highly recommend Skip Barber if you can afford it. However, you can usually get a discount of $500 if you sign up during a race, such as the Monterey Historics or Long Beach CART race. Also, "off season" (read colder months) school days are less expensive by about another $300-500.

As far as my FD is concerned, when I get off my lazy ass and get it running, I will definitely be up at Laguna Seca.

At one of the WWW events, Lou Young ran the following:

Lou in his modified FD with stock wheels and street tires.

FASTEST LAP
1:43.16
AVERAGE SPEED:
78.10 mph

If you want to see great in car video of this run, you can order his awesome video at: http://www.louyoung.com/

I think Ted was present also.

Brian Goodwin, Spec Miata racer, in his RX-8, ran several 1:49s thanks to coilovers, a good corner balance, sway bars, half inch more rim and half inch more tire, and a proper alignment. This was at the "ALL MAZDA TRACK DAY" in August. And he thinks there is another second or two in the 8, with a slightly different set-up. Now add a turbo, and watch out.

-Bern

Nah, that was actually the year after... :(

I remember Lou posting this on the "big list" the year after.

Side note, I always thought it was Castroneves in an Indy car that has the record at 57.xx?


-Ted

Wow... a 1:43 with street tires... that FD must have had a lot of power!

I was at the all Mazda Track day that Brian Goodwin was at. I used to buy Miata parts from him. I guess he must have had a hot lap timer or something since no timing was set up at that event. He could also probably get a better lap time with less traffic... there were a lot of less than fast Miata drivers there holding up traffic.

Very nice times, but those "less than fast" cars are what it is all about. For clear flying laps, you really need to look at time trialers, not wheel to wheel events. If you are looking for times to compare to look at the S2000s at LS for Speed Ventures. Those guys(DRtone, and David Kennedy are in the 1:42-1:43 range. John Dearing is fastest in his Viper at 1:38. That car runs DOT-R compounds, and probably has a similar power to weight ratio, same with the S2000s. Granted these guys are the cream of the crop as far as open track events go, but even they are not that fastest open trackers to run there. Anyone know offhand what the fastest OTC guys ran last year? Regards, and see you at the track, Carl Byck

I think Castroneves' 57.xx lap was done in a private practice session therefor it is not counted as an offical record.

Not really.. if you watch Lou's video, you'll understand why! He's a hell of a driver. I remember him and Larry (white FD) were really tearing up the track.

John, I met you at the AMTD. I do remember you running strong. And yes unfortunately there were a few in the advanced groups that shouldn't have been there. I'd really love to put on another WWW event.

Ted, I thought that you were at both WWW events? How time flies eh?

-Bern

At the WWW time trial events, a few years back, Brian (M2) ran in the 1:40's with a nice FD and Lou was down there in the 1:43s with a mild FD. There were a few other 1:40 FD there also. It'd be cool to get all of these top guys together again. The FD is a very capable weapon in the right hands! :)

Cheers,

-Bern

man thats a good time, you got there

What ever happened to thw winter wankel wonderland events? I always loved how it just rolled off the tounge.

Flakey Wankerlers is what happened! This coming from the guy who helped put WWw- 2 and WWW-3 on, me! Great events though. Shiv gets credit for the original idea though!

I'd really like to do another. I have recently hooked-up with Mazda and did the All Mazda Track Day which was pretty cool. I'm hoping to get another date this year at Laguna for part 2.

In the mean time, look soon for details on the latest event I'm involved with, MazFest 2005, a track festival at Buttonwillow on May 7th this year. Should be fun. I'll let you all know as soon as I have the details up. Track spots will be limited, so you are going to have to act fast when announced.

Cheers,

-Bern

What car were you driving? I'm horrible with names but I'm sure I'll remember your face.

I probably shouldn't have been in the advanced group either... but it was the only group still open when I registered.

I really enjoy the All Mazda Track Day and the price was great. Thanks for organizing it! It sold out fast! My pic in my avator is from that track day.

The car was acting kinda squirley at the event and I found out later that it was because the left rear sway bar endlink had become totally detached. Oops!

Please keep me posted about the Buttonwillow or any future Laguna Seca AMTD events so I can be sure to sign up before they sell out!

I ran in a few cars, but I was the guys at the registration tent making you all sign the waiver, and handing out donuts, in the morning. I was also handing out the wrist-bands.

-Bern

just trolling and saw this thread.....

i couldn't remember the context that the 1:45 lap time came from. i seem to recall having done better than that at some point but just couldn't remember.....so i dug up some of my old setup notes on the old yellow beast and found that about a month before damian bought the car i was messing with camber settings/tire temps and getting some one-on-one coaching from a friend of mine..... we recorded a single 1:43.9, several 1:44's and a lot of 1:45's. (was using a hot lap timer back then, with the fancy pencil and paper downloading system:)

when i originally put the car up for sale, i was still in the 1:45's. goes to show what some good instruction can do......still the most important part of car prep!!

regardless, if you're doing 1:47's, you're doing great!!! congrats!!!

fabian