THSCC Forums

While you guys were at Roebling, a few other Tarheels were at VIR with the Mazda Drivers. Ryan, Tom Freeman, Rob Lupella, Graham, Mark Mason, and myself were the folks I knew.

Overall it was a good weekend with good friends. The weather was hot, but thanks to the EZ-UP it was bearable. I wasn't going to complain as long as it was a dry weekend, and it was.

The accommodations at VIR rock. The new track side suites are the shiznit. As long as I can afford it, I won't be staying anywhere else. It really is worth the convenience. With the number of trips we made to the bathroom that was well worth the price alone. Oh yeah, the A/C was cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!

This was my first solo event in Group A, and let me tell you those people have some serious hardware. Vipers, Z06s, M3s, Cobras, you name it. My Z-24 was just a little bit outclassed. I spent lots of time with my hand out the window pointing them by.

The good thing was everyone in the A group knew what they were doing. We didn't have to cover flags in the classroom, or any of the noob-type stuff. We also had two added passing zones the other groups didn't have. We never had a problem because of the experience level in our group. Good communication on the track was the norm. Heck, our group never even had a yellow flag...the entire weekend! It was like I was the amateur driving with the professionals...very cool.

This was the first test of the new coil-overs and Sumitomos on track. I'm happy to report that both did quite well. I spent most of the first session getting used to how the new setup was working. I now can get rotation much easier (with trail braking) in the tight corners. The tires are pretty good considering they cost me $80 total. They are pretty damn good laterally, but do adversely affect my braking. I was in the ABS quite a bit. My first ABS experience was at the top of the Spiral and I had to drive 4-wheels straight off. No harm, no foul...it was the right thing to do. On;y my second off ever in 15 events...not too bad.

There was only one incident of damage the entire weekend that I know of. An instructor put his Z06 in the Armco between turns 3 & 4. Sheet metal damage mostly, but one of the rear linkages was fubared since the tire was pointing outward.

During my last session I thought I “felt” something, and most of you know what that means on my car…another wheel bearing. Well I checked when I was changing back to my street pads and both fronts seemed fine. As we left the track I noticed a vibration in the left REAR. Yep, another wheel bearing. I can’t complain about this one though. It’s the stocker with 183K miles on it. Zero rear camber in the rear apparently saves those bearings.

Overall I'd say that VIR-GE is "OK". I'd hate to be a noob with that many turns to remember, but having run all the other configurations I didn't have any trouble. I think VIR-F is better, and I'm getting to love VIR-N the most.

When can I go back? VIR-N next month with NASA....woot! I think I’m hooked.

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Vincent Keene
'06 Ford Mustang GT (track rat)
'15 Dodge Charger R/T (yeah, it's got a HEMI!)
'07 Ford Fusion SE (205,000 miles and counting)
'98 Chevy Z-24 (retired)
'93 Acura Integra (Team SWB 24HOL Car)

Sadly I had to miss this, really wanted to try the VIR-G course and don't know when another chance will come up. Cancelled out early in order to attend the Instructor Clinic at RR, felt I owed my allegiance to THSSC. Dave Nugent the head guy with Mazda Drivers was very understanding and said he'd let me back on the island next time. Would go to their thing at Summit Point, but don't have any way to get spares up there.


If they're not filled up in the Intermiate or Advanced groups you might be able to get in on Chin Motorsports event coming up in ten days on July 3-4 (Mon.-Tues.). If they don't have both days open they might have one of the days open. LOTS of track time, three hours a day. Looks expensive, but works out to the same cost per hour as other events.

You can check out their VIR-F event at:

http://chinmotorsports.com/events/descr ... ?listid=14

If I'm reading the rosters correctly it looks like there's one guy on the wait list for a 'solo' position for both days. Doesn't look like there's any one waiting for either of the one day deals. You would most likely have to be a Provisional Solo, which means you miss one 30 min. session before they can get to your Provisional Solo Check-out ride with the Master Instructor (see the schedule).

Steve

I have to agree with Vincent that VIRGE was a bunch of fun. I was at the other end of the scale in D group. This was my first time at VIR. I had a lot of clear track, I think I got boxed in once on the first day and was able to get some space. It is really nice not being in the midst of a train. We did pretty well on the flags without too many yellows (uh.....one was me being stupid and deciding to try the tire wall ) but no damage other than it took me the rest of the session to get my brain back and then some time obsessing during the quiet time. At the end with C & D running together it got a bit crowded, especially with some that got signed off for solo holding up traffic (I think instructors who are only in it for the free track time signed off some that may have benefitted from more instruction) And some others in silver vettes harrassing us noobs and semi-noobs

The course is fun, a bit long and I know that going back I will want to do full or north, but not Patriot or South.

BTW Vincent, we were in class day two and I overheard someone saying something about a fast Cavalier with big ass brakes - "running in A group" implying that you were outclassed. The next thing they said was how fast it was.

I love hanging around VK's car in the pits...whenever someone walks up to it (and he's not around), I'll start bragging on his brakes. Most are suitably impressed.

I definitely like the VIR-G config, but I still stick to VIR-F as my favorite. The well over 3 min laps at VIR-G are fine in and of themselves, but getting 5-6 laps a session is kind of disappointing. Will I run VIR-G again? You betcha.

Small lesson learned...an RX-8 will do 120 on the front straight with the AC on. I ran an entire session on Sunday with it running. Duh.

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Tom Freeman
'98 M3/4/5 | '93 Spec3 325i | '12 TSX sport wagon | '03 Tahoe
Team Silver Bullets '91 240SX

I'd be surprised if having the AC on hurt you, since most modern vehicles cut it off completely at WOT.


--Donnie

Hell, I usually forget to turn mine off at least half the time, and you can imagine what that does to an already wimpy Miata. Actually it's so wimpy you can't tell the differnece so I usually don't notice until returing to the pits and reach to turn it on for my 'cool down'..... duh! I don't think it shuts off at WOT, but I guess I oughta check. I usually ask my rider to remind me, but they tend to forget also, anxiety I guess. ;)

However, for the last session at RR, after the two previous sessions being the hardest working stints I'd done since coming out of retirement, I deliberately turned it on as I knew I was in for a real workout with the 'wicked pushy loose' condition I had then on completely wo out tires. It was the first time I actually ever noticed it in the car at speed, I guess cause I knew it was on. And boy it really did help. With my open face helmet I could feel that cool air on my face and it was nice.

Steve

To be honest, the only times I noticed "something wrong" were the front and back straights as the car got to about 105-108mph and really felt sluggish. At the time, I chalked it up to high ambient air temps and being a 2 driver car. I just figured the car was really hot and was retarding spark a bit.

The next session with the AC off, the car was back to normal in those sections. Oddly enough, both of those sessions were great for me - passed a lot of expensive and quick machinery and was not passed myself.

Back on topic , MazdaDrivers runs events VERY similar to Tarheel, they just don't have the afternoon time trials. Good group to run with.

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Tom Freeman
'98 M3/4/5 | '93 Spec3 325i | '12 TSX sport wagon | '03 Tahoe
Team Silver Bullets '91 240SX

Grand East was a blast but did miss the competitive portion with the THSCC Time Trials. Ohhh well Mackey will just have to wait until Rockingham for me to beat up on him

As for the Grand East config? It wasnt "that bad" there was only one session that was a "train" in C group. The crossover from South to North wasnt that fun. The first curb seemed to always jerk my car further right than I wanted.

My instructor was right up my alley. He normally does classroom instruction at Summit Point and is VERY vocal, which works well with me. He showed me some new lines that seemed to work pretty well (Bitch and Rollercoaster).

Of course it could be a weekend at the track for me if SOMETHING didnt go wrong. Last session out, they announce the combination of C and D. So I get ready early and sit right by the pit out so I can be first as to not get caught up in slow D traffic. I do indeed go out first and am really scooting around the track. About 3 laps in there is noone if front of me or behind me, Im heading down the front straight, brake at the 3, heel/toe to 3rd gear and as soon as I get the clutch out WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH my exhaust is now 100 times louder than the most annoying Spec Miata. So I limp it back around the track and pit in. I broke my Jackson Racing header off at the 2 to 1 junction. There was no real parking lot fix for it so I had to limp it 3 hours home. God did that suck! All in all, it was a good weekend at the track.

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

Definetely an excellent weekend. I'd have to agree on a couple of comments already made.

It was hot and having a canopy with a little breeze made it bearable. That and hanging out in the main building from time to time in the AC.

You don't get around Grand East too many times in 25mins so it doesn't do much for getting into a rythm. I can't wait to do Full Course in another week.

Grand East is a lot of fun. The Patriot section isn't bad but I would never go to run just Patriot Course. After Bitch the first section going into the blind turn for the small Esses is fun. But like Ryan the car wants to push right too much after the first left. It is interesting coming back into North Course doing a hard left instead of the hard uphill right you would do on North Course only.

My favorite part is from T5-T11. 2 sets of Esses. 1 flat and 1 uphill linked by a small straight. Man can you get cooking through that section! Only real unplanned excitement for the weekend was at the top of the esses at South Bend. Came into T10, did a brake tap for the turn in, got too much grip in the front and not enough in the back. Made T10 in a slide and was able to save it as I was sliding down the hill peddling like a mofo. Way too exciting a moment. Didn't catch my breath until I got onto the back straight. Quick check; seat dry, good, reshuffle seating position to get the seat foam out of my butt; check, all systems are go. Let's not do that again

I have to agree with Rob on the last session when group C & D ran together. It wasn't a bad session. Most that were signed off for solo were doing just fine. Some instructors signed off some novices that was a really bad idea. I feel bad for those students. They were driving either the middle of the course or everywhere but the line. Braking in areas that you should not be touching the brakes. I'm sure they had little to no experience and picked a really large course to learn on. It just wasn't so smart letting them loose.

Mazda drivers does run a good event. Kept things going on time and adjusted quickly from on track incidents and delays. 4 x 25min sessions each day. All in all a good weekend.

I was very thankful that Robs' little excursion didn't turn out so bad.

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http://www.greywinds.com

Could somebody please explain the 'East' part of the name. I've asked a couple folks and never gotten a reply. Is there a Grand 'West'.

I thought it was just VIR Grand.


Ryan, I wouldn't bet the farm on that if it were me. Ya might wanna ask some ah the folks what got they fannies waxed at RR by Brad.... ;)

OCTJMO, ICBW,

Steve

Officially there is an east and a west but I hear they almost NEVER run the west.

East: Pit out from the Main straight, and drive just like you are on full. On the back straight, instead of heading straight into Rollercoaster, hang a right onto the South course. Go down the hill but keep straight in Fishook, that's the Patriot crossover, it takes you to basically to the Stevie Wonders.

West: Pit out from the Main straight, and drive just like you are on North. Take right for the north course but at the top of the hill hang a left onto the Patriot course crossover and that takes you to south, go thru all that and finish the lap like full.

It makes for REALLY long laps.



Im not scared of that old man and his little girly car

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

Well, I never could find any of the 'Grand' courses shown on VIR's track layout.


Guess I'll study their layout map and try to cypher all that out, prolly make me po ol head ache. ;) Ok, I've used your description looking at the overall layout and I think I got it now. Don't see any connection to the East vs the West terminology unless it's for the way ya head when ya leave the main course. ;)

Personally I think I'd like the East version as it retains the Uphill Esses, one of my all time favorite sections, combined with T10, in all the stuff I've run.

I think that was the idea.... ;)


Yet! You weren't at RR..... ;)

Perhaps at The Rock, if you're driving a real honker and got the cojones to keep yer foot in it through NASCAR 2 & 3 you might hold him off..... ;)


Boy, I'd hate ta haveta eat them words.... ;)

OCTJMO, ICBW,

Steve

One other note on hardware. I needed brake pads and tires. The stock Z06 pads and tires do work well. But the pads fade after about 10-15mins. The GY SC are darned good for something rated UTG 220.

So I got some Nitto R2s (couldn't get RA1s in time). Pretty much same as RA1 but with 6/32 tread front and 5/32 tread rear. Same UTG 100 rating. I was able to get a half-hearted heat cycle on the R2s before the weekend. But I was running full tread. They do make noise and give feedback at full tread. There was some tread squirm. They will let you slide and rotate the rear when you want (and sometime when you don't). They are by no means on par with a Hoosier R6 or Kumho V710. I've ridden in Z06s with the V710 and they grip like stink. But don't last long. I'm hoping the R2 lasts much longer than a V710. They make an excellent go-between tire from street to real race tires. They did get a little greasy towards the end of the session. Given the track temps and the course I expected that.

For pads I got some Carbotech XP8 for all 4 corners. Again another go-between from my Z06 pads to full race pads. The Z06 pads are similar to Hawk HP+. I can still drive the XP8 on the street. They are definetely an improvement over my stock pads. I had no pedal fade all weekend. The DRM brake ducts do help with cooling but the pads hold up well. And they got a good workout on Grand East. I'm going to pull them tomorrow and see how much I used for the weekend.

Good combination. They work well together. I wasn't into ABS much and the pads weren't overwhelming the tires.

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http://www.greywinds.com

Here ya go old timer. We don't want you getting headaches and popping any blood vessels

The map is on the Mazda Drivers website since they are the ones that seem to like it so much. Now you can just follow the dark green line.

Grand East

Graham

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http://www.greywinds.com

I have drove flat thru Nascar 2 and 3 and plan to be there again this year with THSCC.

I may eat my words but Mackey knows Im just mesin' with an old man.

Ohhh and Steve, look at my signature line. I drive a girly car just like his

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9