Under the Lights at Daytona

Just arrived for the weekend, blue and red run groups are out under the lights, but we got a decent rain just before dusk.

I’m ready for two action packed days tomorrow and Sunday.

Only bummer is I’m running Kumhos as I couldn’t get Cup2s for the 458 in time. It would be a blast to open it on the long sweeping banks. We’ll see how the grip and weather are……


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Yes……I ran Pocono in June, and Homestead in February, so I’ve been on ovals before, but Daytona is a bit larger.

Thirty second and thirty third track days of 2022 in the 458, might be an Fchat record!

I have one more event at Road Atlanta in late November, then taking a well-deserved break.

 

After I toasted the original ceramic rotors, due to heavy-duty use and running out of pad at The Glen, I switched to steel (iron) Girodiscs and though heavier than ceramic. It's a good setup for the amount of tracking I've been doing, even with the additional weight penalty.

I heard Corvette C7 ceramics work in the front, but in no hurry to swap. I see almost exclusively steel rotors on tracks anyway.

Today I'm having new pads installed, lines bled, and new tires for Road Atlanta (and then Sebring).

Lack of availability of Cup 2s's is forcing me back to road tires (trying Falkens this time around 'cause I could get them faster). The Kumho Exstas come highly recommended for anyone that is considering a good multi-purpose tire.

In December the car will go in to troubleshoot an occasional lean right bank fuel code on WOT. Overall it's been bullet proof and has really impressed me with its driving dynamics - a rock star!

 

Yes. I got close to 170mph before hard brake. That’s pretty much wringing out the 458 sustained, and 10/10 braking coming into the infield, I did it just once as was running street tires and didn’t want to press my luck any further.

I presume you had to deal with the bus stop on the oval.

Last weekend - mid 150s on Ullmann straight at Sebring. Again it’s how late you’re willing to brake coming into Turn 17, and how well you do coming out of Bishop’s and T16.

FWIW, the 458’s brakes aren’t as good as your Evo.

 

The 458 actually has good top end, it just takes a while to get there. The big muscle cars that pass me coming out of corners, I can eventually hunt them down.

FWIW, that was my 5th Sebring trip this year, 8 track days total there. Only now am I feeling somewhat comfortable about the line, braking zones, etc., and can I put the entire loop together in my head. But, I’m a relative novice, and I had to learn a bunch of other stuff simultaneously. It’s been rewarding!

The bumpiness throughout is unsettling to say the least. Turns 1 and 17, and coming into and out of Bishops, the car feels a bit loose.

Kudos for tracking your Ferrari, I rarely see them on track anywhere. The 488 Evo is certainly a handful!

 

Great decision, a street car on track will always be a street car.

I’ve seen many 488s EVOs on track. Always with a team. That’s too much for me, who just wants to have fun, albeit at a good clip.

430 Challenge is an excellent choice! I may follow the same path as you.

 

Nice find! I’ve seen that car if it was up at Watkins Glen earlier this year (and met the Fchatter).

Have Blackstone do an oil analysis to check the health of the motor.

 

No, sorry I didn't mean to frighten you. I don't know anything about the car, other than it looked and ran great when I saw it! I couldn't run with it!

I'm sure an Fchatter is probably taking great care of it.

It's always a good idea to get your oil analyzed - it'll tell you a lot about the motor. I have mine checked, and it is consistent (so far), for $40 it's worth it.

The 430 Challenge is a lot of car on track, beauty by the way![/QUOTE]

 

Well intended sound advice. 170 is ******* fast, and Daytona is a lot faster than Pocono or Homestead.

I was thinking (but trying not to obsess) about the tires, and checked them carefully after each session. I was out there a long time (30 minute sessions) but didn’t push that hard on the oval each time.

Bucket list item, fun while it lasted, but little desire to repeat in a street car. There are more ‘fun’ tracks with much less risk.

I did follow the advice of @mdrums on tire pressures and ran a psi higher on the right side of the car.