THSCC Forums

So. . . yeah. Roebling is starting to look like it's going to work out for me.
I have a few questions:

What's the schedule? Most importantly, what time do I have to get there Friday. I'll be flying or driving back to Raleigh that morning and just looking for an idea of what the schedule is going to be like down there.

I'll be having the tech inspection handled by Carl at S&C in the next week or so after I get the brake fluid flushed. I think that's all it'll need. Hopefully I can figure out the seat thing to get below the bar. Still riding the harness fence.

I think the current pads are good enough for inspection and auto-x, but I'd probably put a set of "track" pads on for the weekend. Something I could put in on Friday before I leave. I think Jake recommended the C'tech's Panther Plus? Any other thoughts?

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Not spectacular just decent.
I'm not sure what I'm driving.
Maybe an ITR in DS.
Or half-assed STX prepped 330.

Super - look forward to seeing you there. RRR is not bad on brakes, but can run through tires pretty quickly. If this is your first time on track, and you've got brake pads that are good enough for autox and have at least 1/2 their original thickness, you probably don't "need" track pads. (I wouldn't say that about CMP.) If you go the stock route, it does make sense to have a spare set of pads there, just in case. If you definately want street/track pads, I've had good experiences with the Carbotech Panther Plus. Hawk HP+ is another reasonable alternative. I have no experience with PFC or Cobalt. Remember, Carbotech gives a THSCC discount, and they carry both their own (Carbotech) brand as well as Hawks and a few others. If Matt Nicholson is coming to RRR, he might even be talked into bringing them with him, and save you the shipping cost.

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Marvin McBride
Spec Miata #62

Hey David,

We will be running check in Friday until about 8:00 or 9:00 PM. After that you will need to check in at the track. Be at the track by 8:00 AM Saturday for that check in. Be sure to have all of your paperwork and helmet with you for a quicker check in.

Once you have registered, you should get a confirmation email and a schedule. I would highly recommend getting registered by this Friday, and get your hotel reservations taken care of. For your first HPDE, I would hold off on the Harnesses unless it’s something you just want to do.

One of the nice things about RR is its not hard on Brakes, but if the pad is low you may want to have an extra set with you.

Of all the track events we have, I believe RR is the best one to start out on. Big sweepers, some technical but not too difficult turns, and an overall blast to drive.

Let me or anyone else know if there are any more questions.
-Marty

Thanks Marty. Exactly what I needed to know.

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Not spectacular just decent.
I'm not sure what I'm driving.
Maybe an ITR in DS.
Or half-assed STX prepped 330.

I have had poor results on track with the HP+'s, turn one at VIR-S resulted in a scary amount of fade in the Focus. Put the P+'s on for Sunday and an all together different story. I know RRR is not as tough on brakes, but just the same, I like to have the padding (pun not completely intentional) of knowing the pads can get a little bit warmer. As a nice added bonus, it is nice to be able to support a local company that also supports the club.

I actually had Hawk HPS pads on my Mustang at VIR-F and they didn't give me any problems at all. I did have a set of HP+'s waiting to go on just in case the HPS burned away. Last year I tried the stock pads and they were literally *gone* after 5 sessions. It sucks trying to drive home on 1/16 of front pad and 0/16 of rear pad. I have the pads to prove it.

Lesson learned: take an extra set of pads to the track with you!!!!

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Todd Breakey
STS 42 - 1992 Sunburst Miata
Dammit!
"You souldn't play leap frog with a porcupine. You might get hurt." - Eliza

I agree with Todd about a spare set of pads. I usually remove my first set of the year after the first or second event and keep them as a spare. This way they've already had the new pad "green fade" removed. Bedding pads at the track is a bit of a pain.

Hawk HP+ pads worked well on the Miata last year. No problems at VIR F,S,N or Roebling or CMP. Switched to Panther Plus this year, no problems at all and they seem to have better "feel" than the Hawk pads. I like the P+ especially if you use them for occasional street duty. Carbotech claims the P+ are more rotor friendly too, although I can't say that I've had much rotor rear with either pad. I'd guess the Miata is pretty easy on brakes ...

Frank

Stop thinking, just do it!

If you KNOW you'll be doing more events just get the P+ now and get it over with. If you have some reservations whatever you have now will probably get you through the weekend.


AAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.... Only 2 days till my visit to Roebling!

Ughh. . . I might have to wait until October and go to CMP instead. Too much to go into: work, freelance, selling a house, buying a house (hopefully in that order) but June is suddenly looking too tight.

As a novice, am I losing anything (besides a chance to do more events this year) by going to CMP for my first event. I've heard a lot of good things about Roebling. Haven't seem to have heard quite as much about CMP.

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Not spectacular just decent.
I'm not sure what I'm driving.
Maybe an ITR in DS.
Or half-assed STX prepped 330.

My take:

Last year was my first HPDE season.
I started at Roebling and it is a good place to start with nice sweeping turns. It's also a relatively easy track to learn and great for lower horsepower cars.
CMP is sorta bi-polar in that the first half is fairly fast and the second half is much slower. It's a little tougher to learn and harder on brakes but a stock Miata will do fine with a pad upgrade and fresh fluid. The second half of CMP is tight ("technical") but much like a higher speed Autox.
IMHO it's not enough of a difference to worry about. Especially with a group like Tarheel that really takes care of Novice folks. Mark V. and the rest of the staff really deserve credit for putting together a solid program.
I would advise that you do some "homework". Watch track videos, learn the flags, passing rules, etc *before* you show up. A *lot* is going on in the beginning and more things you can learn before you show up the better.

Just do it ...

Frank Catena

David:

Sorry, the RR schedule was to have been posted by now. I will
get with Stacy and John King to get it posted asap.


Should follow last years format:
- Registration 6pm to 10pm Friday (or when people stop showing up)
at Ramada Inn, Pooler Ga. (same exit as track)
- Late registration 6:45am to 8am Sat at track.
- Drivers meeting 8am instructors on track 8:30am.

RR is easy on brakes but hard on the LF tire.
It is important to keep rotating tires throught the event or at
minimum swap RF/LF on a regular basis.

Summer starts early in Savannah. Best to get
there sufficiantly early Fri to pick out a nice shady spot in the
paddock.

Camping is available. The gate closes to vehicle traffic early evening but
there is walk in access 24hrs. IF you camp and go out Sat night
try and carpool and be prepaired to park vehicles by the yellow
registration buildings outside the gate until morning. I will make
sure the house rules are posted so I don't have to re-live the frat
party sceen in Animal House again this year.

Plan to go downtown Sat night and bring friends,family and/or significant
others. This is one of main reasons we go to Roebling:Downtown
Historical Savvanah and theWater Front.

Driving Savannah is like being on a very big skid pad, you will pull
some serious g's even on street tiresn which is why I LOVE THIS TRACK.

There is a $6 per car gate fee. The facility is owned by the local
SCCA region and this help pays the bills and keep rental cost down

More details to be posted on the web site.

_________________
Mark Vitacco
THSCC TT Chairman
mvitacco@bellsouth.net

"CMP is sort of bi-polar"

Love that quote! Can I use it Frank??

MV

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Mark Vitacco
THSCC TT Chairman
mvitacco@bellsouth.net

Absolutely. Just don't quote me ....

Frank