John Magnuson

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

DamonB

Damian has run out there. Check with him?

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

RETed

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

John Magnuson

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!

gfelber

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

gfelber

That's a good lap time.

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

Gene

John Magnuson

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.

rynberg

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...

RETed

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

artowar

iTrader: (1)

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).

Valkyrie

1:38.559

...in Gran Turismo 3...

Hehehehe

(with a stock 99-spec Type RS)

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

Mr. Stock

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?

John Magnuson

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

John Magnuson

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

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

John Magnuson

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!

rynberg

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!

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....

concept-R

...me too.

Mr. Stock

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.

John Magnuson

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!

artowar

iTrader: (1)

Here you go:

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

maxpesce

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.

Mr. Stock

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 *** and get it running, I will definitely be up at Laguna Seca.

Bern

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

RETed

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

John Magnuson

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.