Performance car progress

I was just up at Limerock, CT last Friday doing a track day with SCDA (Great group by the way www.scda1.com) when it hit me in the face how far street cars have come in the last few decades. I was driving my '99 Modena. It's box stock except for Michelin Pilot Sport Cup DOT legal tires, Better pads and brake fluid (Ferrodo DS2500's & Castrol SRF), and a Tubi exhaust (which basically just makes it sound better). I drove it to the track, ran it hard all day and drove it home. What really struck me is that they have this plaque with all the absolute track records since the track was founded. I was lapping in the 1:01's and I realized that according to the plaque they didn't break the 1:01's until 1966 during the Can Am era.

I can imagine the look on the Top Can Am driver of the times face if he were told that "That was pretty good just now but in 38 years Joe Schmoe will be doing that in a street car." The last record was in the 0:42's, any guesses where Joe Schmoe will be in his street car in 2042?

 

thats too deep for me to think about, my head is going to hurt for the next 38 years trying to figure this out

 

That really is remarkable, isn't it. BTW, what Pilot Sport Cup sizes are you using? Stock wheels?

Thanks,

Gary

 

Regarding Pilot Sport Cups - I was using a brand new set of Pilot Sport Cups 235/40 ZR18 f 285/30 ZR18 r mounted on Challenge rims.

- HERE IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY A SET OF PILOT SPORT CUPS -

I just found out that although they are marketed as asymetric they are in fact ALL right side tires. The tires are designed with a semi-slick outside half and groved inside half. The groves will chanel water to the inside of the right tires but to the center, and towards the semi-slick portion of the left tires. I initially thought the shop that ordered and installed them screwed up. I called Michelin first just to confirm that in fact do make specific right and left side tires. To my utter amazement I found out they do not. The first guy was trying to tell me it didn't matter, that you needed to look at the car as a whole unit, not each tire. I replied that when I looked at the car as a unit I see the right side functioning properly, chaneling water away from the center of the tire. And I see the left side improperly chaneling water towards the center (and semi-slick side of the tire). I said it was obvious from the pattern that they were designed to be truely asymetric, meaning left and right are different tires. He then put me on to his boss who confirmed that Michelin somewhere along the line decided to only make the right side pattern to simplify the manufacturing process and save cost. This way there would not need to be so many tires kept in inventory. They feel that most people only use them in the dry anyways. I was furious. They are jepordizing my safety and others to save a buck. I did use the tires in the wet and had a few instances of hydroplaning - mostly in right turns where the weight of the car is on the left by the way. I'm pluuing the tires off the car immediately and demanding a full refund.

Sorry for venting but I find this apalling and think it should be brought to light.
I will post this under a seperate post.

 

I have driven on MPSC's on the 5 Fwy from Buttonwillow through the grapevine back to LA area in a fierce rainstorm and had no problem..The tires had about 1-2/32 left and there was a lot of water on the freeway. Granted this wasn't on the track they did perform fine. I wouldn't race in the rain on them anyway..