| Author |
Message |
Jim E (Jimpo1)
Member
Username: Jimpo1
Post Number: 543
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 3:47 pm: | |
I watched about 10 mins of video, only saw the 355, the Z06 and red M3. The M3 moved aside to let the 355 and the Z06 pass. My friend said the 355 driver was taking it easy, which made me wonder why he wouldn't move over. I did see the 355 miss a turn and go off the course! |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator
Username: Rob328gts
Post Number: 1825
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 2:35 pm: | |
The 355 was driven by a really good driver, but he was taking it easy and using hard street tires. The Z06 is a much faster and better handling car anyway. I was in that group too. You see me in the ugly yellow RX7? |
Jim E (Jimpo1)
Member
Username: Jimpo1
Post Number: 542
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 2:06 pm: | |
I had a friend there with his new Z06. He was in the 'some experience' group and he has video of him on the track chasing a black 355. The 355 should have moved over for him. I could tell the vette was the faster car by the video alone. It looked like a good time, and my friend actually told me about 'some guy in a GT-350 that looked like he blew his engine". |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator
Username: Rob328gts
Post Number: 1818
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Saturday, July 06, 2002 - 4:51 pm: | |
It was a good day for me. I put 130 miles in on the race car and it's running great. I didn't have a single off and held my own with cars bulging twice the horsepower. No spins or offs either.
It wasn't as good of a day for Sean and Greg. Sean was stopped by the pickey tech inspector when he claimed Sean's pads were too thin. He tried to find a set, but no one had them in stock.
Greg had his GT-350 since the race car wasn't working great. Well, he was having several problems with cooling, gaskets, and the sort. I think he only got about 40 minutes total on the track. At least that will be enough to familarize himself for next weekend's races.
Only bad thing was we didn't get any personal instruction. There were only 3-4 Panoz guys there and they were busy just keeping things going. It's also too expensive, $225 for one day, when NASA or Driver's Edge gives you two full days for the same amount. |
Sean Ruckel (Sruckel)
New member
Username: Sruckel
Post Number: 47
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 05, 2002 - 10:52 am: | |
I'll remember that with the brakes. I just picked up my car from getting a complete check over / service and have a spare set of tires in case. I'll be interested to see if there is a chicane.
BTW, I had to go to Houston to pick up my car and I stopped by Gallery Furniture. I knew Mac (the owner) was a Ferrari fan, but I couldn't believe he had his F40 on the floor and people had their kids crawling all over it and such. I just about fainted. |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator
Username: Rob328gts
Post Number: 1804
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 10:23 am: | |
For the Grand Prix of Texas next weekend they will have two chicanes on the oval, I can't imagine they would have no chicanes Saturday. That would mean a full 1.5 mile lap of the oval! Even with the 1 chicane, I heard a 360 hits 160-180 by the braking point to the infield portion.
TMS is famous for eating cars, so be careful. That 120 mph+ braking point has a barrier if you miss the braking point! Fun fun fun.
I've already used my quota of loosing one race car this year, I can't do it to another.
Also, watch your brakes very closely. I've heard street cars going through pads in one weekend, rotors cracking, and even rotors warping.
A hint when you're done with your session is not to use the brakes heavily when going back to the paddock. The rotors cool quickly, but the pads stay very hot and when you use the brakes the hot pads on the cool rotors will crack them. |
Sean Ruckel (Sruckel)
New member
Username: Sruckel
Post Number: 46
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 10:15 am: | |
I heard we will be running the full 3.x mile ALMS course. Do you know anything about that? The guy I talked to when I signed up said they have people hit top speed around the oval. Hmmmm.... always wondered what 180 mph would feel like....
The only time I have been to TMS was on the small road course, in a Shelby Series 1 with Bob Bondurant driving and a 289 FIA Cobra. I hope this Saturday can be as fun as that was. |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator
Username: Rob328gts
Post Number: 1802
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 9:44 pm: | |
I don't know if I can help much with a 110 hp RX7.
Only time I've run TMS is a few laps in the 328 for parade laps. I'm looking forward to professional instructors. Greg and I may get in trouble because we'll be in race cars and are use to racing, but they're just doing this as a "track" day. It will be fun no matter what. |
Sean Ruckel (Sruckel)
New member
Username: Sruckel
Post Number: 45
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 5:27 pm: | |
Cool. Maybe we can set up together somewhere and share some notes. I don't have a lot of track time, and none in this particular car, so feel free to give some pointers. |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator
Username: Rob328gts
Post Number: 1801
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 5:22 pm: | |
I'll be there in the Spec. 7, Greg will either be in his Spec. 7 or Mustang. |
Sean Ruckel (Sruckel)
New member
Username: Sruckel
Post Number: 44
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 4:47 pm: | |
Anyone on this board going to be participating in the track day with the Panoz Racing School this coming Saturday, July 6th at TMS? I'll be there in the Esprit, just trying to find anyone else going. |