VIR Event

[HippoSleek]

This weekend, I was reminded again of why I own a car (since I don't drive to work and could walk or take a bus or train to enough stores to get by). This weekend, uuninja and myself went for a driving school at Virginia International Raceway - a 3.3 mi. circuit that must be one of the best tracks in the country! OMG it was perfect (www.virclub.com for pictures of the track).

First off, I wanted to say thank you to 240S15DETR6K - my instructor for the event. Not only is he a member of this forum, an owner of an s15 SR swapped s14, an owner of a frighteningly fast ITS RX-7, an amazing driver, but he's also a great instructor and great guy. Thanks Brad. I found this on another forum:
http://community.webshots.com/storage/1/v5/9/48/47/31994847GroDcEVVIw_ph

Thanks to great instruction, I was able to fling the 240 around the track pretty #### fast! Cars that were passed (keep in mind, this is not a race, but passing is allowed in straights): 911, NSX, 540i, c5 Corvettes, hybrid Civic hatchbacks, and - of course - ITRs. Of course, I was also rolled by a c5, an M5 (badged as a 540td (the exact opposite of rice)), hybrids, a pair of fast h22 Accords, and ITRs. In any event, the most important thing was that by the end of the weekend, I was able to consistantly run the line and had a blast doing it! (no spins, no offs!) :biggrin:
http://community.webshots.com/storage/1/v5/9/44/88/31994488kBqOVeUvOU_ph

After this weekend, I can say that I think I am ready for a suspension. IMHO, there is no reason to upgrade until you hit the limit of the stock system... I've felt the bottom and it wasn't pretty :shocked: The RE71's I just put on were great, except for needing high pressure in the front due to the bottoming in a certain turn. The Carbotech Panther+ pads held up flawlessly (again) and the ATE fluid didn't fade like the Wilwood I bought before it.

More pictures will follow as they come back from the event. Sorry for the long post but, as usual after these things, I'm a bit excited!

(Edited by HippoSleek at 6:44 am on Feb. 25, 2002)

[LanceS13]

That looks like a blast.  I wish it were closer to here...it's just too far to make a weekend trip of it.  I'll just have to  settle  for NoProblem Raceway for now...maybe I'll try Memphis.

[HippoSleek]

Come on - one of these weekends... it is WORTH the trip!

I'm hoping that when the rest of the pics come back, there will be some good shots of the up-hill esses - which are taken flat out at the top of fourth (about 100ish mph for me this weekend)!

[LanceS13]

Sweet!
Did you catch any grief from your governor?

[uuninja]

I second HippoSleek! That was an amazing weekend, and my first real on track experience. There simply no substitute for track time. Events like this are the best value going. I was amazed how far I came in the 2 days. By the end of Sunday I was driving my car like it had never been driven. Best of all, feeling confident doing it. Especially if anyone knew how nervous I was Saturday morning.

Now I really understand what Hippo was talking about the first time he had his car on track! I was amazed how well my Bone Stock s13 coupe did with M+S tires no less. Through the whole track I only really pushed my sustention to the limit on one corner. The fact that the car kept it's composure at 100+ miles per hour in the up hill esses is just awesome!

Bottom line is you won't know unless you do it at least once. I am seriously in love with my car today <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

edit: typo's

(Edited by uuninja at 7<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>7 am on Feb. 26, 2002)

[BlankFlip]

how often is this stuff held? how much? i'd love to be able to head up there for a weekend in va this summer for this.

[uuninja]

The event we took part in was put on by Speed Trial USA. www.speedtrialusa.com

NASA also has similar HPDE schools. http://www.nasaracing.net/ is the web site for the Midatlantic region.

[S13Grl]

I want to go! Where is this? How much do they charge? Is there a date limit?

[HippoSleek]

Lance - unfortunately, I didn't run into the governor. &nbsp;I think I topped out at about 110ish is fourth (it wasn't worth shifting up for the odd 500 feet just to shift back down... afterall, it's all about the turns!). &nbsp;BTW: You can tell I'm workin' her - that's a stock suspension (that's missing its gap b/n tire &amp; fender! :biggrin:).

Blank - check out the sites uu posted. &nbsp;I know there is a school for South Course coming up and maybe for North too. &nbsp;I think the next full course is a ways off <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('>

s13girl - Track events like this are put on through organizing bodies. &nbsp;I think MWSCC is the most active body in your region, but I don't know what tracks are near-by for you. &nbsp;You might shoot and email to tnord (I know he's involved w/ that group. &nbsp;As for price - it varies. &nbsp;This one was a STEAL at $239 for two days (8 track sessions, 6 classroom). &nbsp;I know another group running at this track is getting $450 for the same deal - so you might want to look around if there is more than one group. &nbsp;Timing - whenever the group can rent the track - you have to check their event calendar.

[yenpit]

S13grl.....Road America in Milwaukee area, Blackhawk in Rockford IL, Gingerman in South Haven MI, and Mid-Ohio in Lexington OH are prob your closest tracks. check their websites and the racing groups websites like HippoSleek said ie SpeedTrials etc.

[Drifting Ricer]

MAn still in the off season here in N.E. You southern people make me sick! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[HippoSleek]

Southern!? &nbsp;I drove 5 hours to get there and others came from FL, TN, MD, PA, NY, CT, and even Brockton, MA!! &nbsp;You're just lazy... lazy and jealous :biggrin:

BTW: here's some more:
Matt (uuninja) and I in the paddock-
http://community.webshots.com/storage/1/v5/3/17/9/32131709wpdnoBvJyF_ph
http://community.webshots.com/storage/1/v5/3/18/84/32131884LlvNmqHpPo_ph

Here's me getting walked on by a Prelude motor swapped Accord (dynoed 170 whp and is a ####-uv-a sleeper!)
http://community.webshots.com/storage/1/v5/3/13/52/32131352tczQcqqXqD_ph

[tnord]

yes i am involved with MCSCC, and we have events similar, but only once a year, and only for one day. &nbsp;our autox school unfortunately isn't until around august 2nd this year, and is always held at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in South Beloit Illinois. We also hold high speed autox's 5 times a year i believe. 3 at blackhawk, one at gingerman, and one at grattan. both gingerman and grattan are in michigan i think, and are too far for me to drive from MN. &nbsp;Cost for the autox school is iirc $135 for one full day. &nbsp;this includes a brief classroom session at about 8am, and the rest of the day on the track. &nbsp;instructors will ride along with you for as long as you like. &nbsp;i did it last year and probably got in 35-40 laps. for the high speed autox, entry fee is $80, and consists of 2-3 practice sessions in the morning of about 5 laps each, then 3-5 timed runs in the afternoon. &nbsp;if anyone has any questions about joining our orginization, feel free to ask me. &nbsp;if i can't answer you're question, i can definitely put you in contact with someone who can.

[240 2NR]

Tnord- is the driving school in April W2W? &nbsp;I was under the impression it was an auto-x school. &nbsp;I know its a W2W weekend. &nbsp;You think I can still go?

S13Grl- Blackhawk farms is about an hour and a half drive from you in chicago and there's no reason the rest of you shouldn't be able to make it. &nbsp;I drive past there almost every other weekend. &nbsp;It's EASY.

[S13Grl]

Wow! Thank you all for the information. I think me and my S13 will be going sometime this summer. What all is recommended as far as suspension set-ups go?

[uuninja]

S13grl, If this is you first real track event, &nbsp;I might suggest you leave you suspension bone stock. The learning curve is much greater with a stock car. And the suspension will be much more forgiving to an unexperienced driver. You will also be amazed how much your car can do in stock trim. Plus you will also get a better idea of what kind of suspension you will want / need after really driving the car. Trust me, I opted to go with my stock car for my first track event and I am really glad I did.

[tnord]

240 2nr.........unfortunately yes, i do believe the april school is a W2W school. &nbsp;W2W school is always at the beginning of the year because novice's must safely complete 6 events in 2 years time after they pass the school. &nbsp;no need to worry though, you don't need to participate in the autox school before you can compete in the autox series. &nbsp;i'm sure arrangements can be made for instruction during practice sessions if you wish.

s13grl........ninja is right. you don't need to modify you're suspension before you set foot on the track. &nbsp;i ran 3 autox's on stock suspension with my former Z32 and current S14 with no prob. &nbsp;although i would recommend you have some decent tires.

here is a link to the 2002 schedule of events for MCSCC: &nbsp;http://www.execpc.com/~mcscc/races.html

here is a link to the MCSCC home page: <a href="http://www.execpc.com/~mcscc/

as" target="_blank">http://www.execpc.com/~mcscc/

as</a> the season draws near i will be posting more about the series encouraging all to come, so long as you aren't faster than me.

[tnord]

bump

[HippoSleek]

Yeah - for s13grl or anyone thinking about going to a track school, I strongly recommend a stock suspension for your first time (actually, I'd recommend adding a rear sway if you have a base model and maybe a FSTB). &nbsp;For your first time, the last thing you want is a car that holds on right until it goes &quot;off.&quot; &nbsp;Predictability is cool (and safe)! &nbsp;Your shopping list should include: 1) SA95 or SA 2000 helmet (req'd); 2) Good brake pads (CarboTech, Hawk, Porterfield) and high temp fluid (Motul 600, ATE Super Blue); and 3) &nbsp;Good street tires (like uu, I did my first event on all seasons - they held enough for the first 15 of a 20 min. session).

This event was the first time I *needed* more suspension (I had to back off in a couple sections b/c my susp. was at its limits and the tires were starting to roll over). &nbsp;It took me 2+ years of autox and a few days at the track to get here, though.

For anybody else, if you are interested let me or Matt (uuninja) or Travis (tnord) or Lance know. &nbsp;Unless you're on the west coast, one of us is regionally near by and can help get you started. &nbsp;Believe me - there is nothing like getting a fellow enthusiast off the streets and into an event the first time! &nbsp;You have no idea how cool it was for me to see Matt understand why we own these cars! &nbsp;If this post gets just one person out to an autox or track day for the first time, it's done its job :biggrin:

Mark
-who thinks that a few more 240's would have nicely balanced the 21 ITRs and 10ish Civic hybrids last weekend <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

[uuninja]

HAHA! I finally found an on track shot of my car!

Matt is easily ammused <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid3/p2fe3c7936d738ad0d675e0d981800afd/fde61e6e.jpg.orig.jpg

EDIT: grrrrrrrrr #### you image station!!!

(Edited by uuninja at 12<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>1 pm on Mar. 1, 2002)

[HippoSleek]

Pics thanks to Papa Z... (who has way more still unloaded!)

Here you go cowboy:
http://community.webshots.com/storage/1/v5/8/47/42/32284742ktBMJg_ph

I think I win the battle of the overstressed suspension:
http://community.webshots.com/storage/1/v5/8/47/14/32284714RejuWh_ph

Got bump stops? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>
http://community.webshots.com/storage/1/v5/8/48/63/32284863jbJPou_ph

Guess who rolled an NSX in the turns?
http://community.webshots.com/storage/1/v5/8/49/3/32284903oEtSXu_ph
(He rolled me first session, but by the end of the first day, I was the cat and he was the mouse :biggrin:

(Edited by HippoSleek at 3:52 pm on Mar. 1, 2002)

[tnord]

you look a little early in that second part of the esses hippo, gotta compromise that first corner more <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[HippoSleek]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from tnord on 4<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>5 pm on Mar. 1, 2002
you look a little early in that second part of the esses hippo, gotta compromise that first corner more <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
DOH! &nbsp;
Actually - my instructor had me taking a really straight line through there instead of steering in and back like the guys ahead of me in that pic. &nbsp;Very little steering until just beyond the end of those frames where the drop flattened out, the suspension loaded up and the tires stuck like glue. &nbsp;

I would make so much ground through there I'd have to get out of the throttle in a dangerous place to do so (the next turn) when I'd run up on people w/o even pushing. &nbsp;You're right though... it does look a bit ugly compared to the other cars' line and what you would think should be the apex <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[tnord]

no worries........armchair racing is easy. &nbsp;actually getting on the track and doing it is a much different story. &nbsp;

my advice would be as follows (why you'd listen to me i don't know):
take a very late apex in that first corner as it appears the other cars in the picture are. &nbsp;this allows you to get to your proper turn in point before the second corner. &nbsp;if there is a long straight after that little complex i would focus on improving in this section. &nbsp;(when starting out, always try and improve in corners before the longest straight and work back). &nbsp;when you get to the track out point, check your tach each time, if you've gained RPM you know you've gained speed.

hope this helps some.

[HippoSleek]

un huh... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

Trust me on this one - my line was way faster. While they were breaking and trying to make two traditional apexes, I was flooring it and going straight over the gators. Honestly, maybe one or two cars in my group (that I came across all weekend) were faster than me through there (one ITR, one c5 - and they both used the same line as me <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>). Basically, this section runs like esses - the straighter the line the better.

The other thing is that this turn led to a quick braking zone for an even steeper, way more trecherous section. In other words, carrying speed in was more important than gaining it coming out. If it weren't for the braking zone at the end, I would agree w/ you, but if you saw the actual section, you'd understand. :cool:

I'm a big fan of judging my relative speed by my shift points (I never seem to get a chance to look down until I &quot;feel&quot; it's time to check in on my shifts). There was an uphill esses section where speeds reach the size of your nads! Usually I would shift into fourth about 100-200 feet outside of of an intermediate section of esses connected to a straight that ended in the uphill esses. The one time I found myself shifting before I got out of the first set I knew a) I had done something VERY right and b) that I was scared as #### going into the uphills at 110ish!!

*edit* - Of course the other very real possibility is that the pic w/ me catching the NSX was a bit early and not representative of the line I was normally taking (I don't remember that turn on that particular lap). &nbsp;I can't say from the pic, since I never saw my line from that angle. &nbsp;But generally, I did as I said above and did turn in earlier than most on that section.

(Edited by HippoSleek at 1:50 pm on Mar. 2, 2002)