- Thread starter
- #41
Been a busy week, so, thought I would share thoughts on MY track time, will let Tony, Wayne & Anne add their's.
I decided to drive the car out instead of trailering. Glad I did, 36 mpg is much better than 10mpg in the truck. Arrived in KC around lunch time and had lunch with Wayne & Anne, then headed to the track chasing Wayne with the trailer, Anne and new friend Ty in their GT 350's down the highway, awesome sight btw. Arrived at track in plenty of time to get checked in, registered, and ready for the driver meetings. That's when I learned that I didn't get the memo about registering for the Novice group. So, Wayne, Anne, Tony and the rest of the MACC ran the the Novice group, I ran the Intermediate group. I'm glad I did as I met Quentin and Rudy from Iowa and their modified NB Miata's who had a lot of experience on this track. I struck up a conversation with them and they agreed to let me follow them around
), agree or not, I was gonna anyway). After the first session, it was clear that I need to grow a pair. The Miata handles completely different and Waaaaaayyyyyy better than the Cobra did (at least in my hands). Keep in mind that I am bone stock, except for the sway bars, which means brakes, tires, shocks are from the factory. The Tires, Bridgestone Potenza's (which in my opinion there is no better street tire) were way more grippy than I expected. I wasn't able to keep up with my new Iowa friends, but, I didn't embarrrass myself either with any off course excursions (that came later).
I debriefed with Quentin & Rudy with a track map in hand (which btw, if you go to track days, ALWAYS debrief with fellow drivers, you WILL learn something). I wanted to try a couple of new things, and they agreed. The new things were a different line in turn 3 to 4 and in 12 to 13. Those didn't work very well, so, I went back to just tracing their lines. This session, I was able to keep up somewhat while only pointing by 3 other cars. My pair was getting bigger
Again, I debriefed and learned that the other Miata drivers were carrying 4th gear all the way to turn 3, then shifting to 3rd and carrying that gear to 6 where they were shifting to 2nd. Turn 6 is a tight Left hander tha proceeds to a quick turn 7 up hill. THIS was where I was losing a bunch of time as I was trying to carry 3rd through there and didn't have enough HP to pull me through that corner. So, with my new knowledge in hand and walking around the paddock like a Cowboy on a 5 day ride, I was ready!!
Shifting to 2nd in turn 6, that was a difference maker as I was able to carry much more speed through 7 down to 8 (the bus stop), which, got me in trouble the last lap of the session. They had also suggested I shift to 2nd in turn 12 approaching 13 so I could pull on the straight going up hill to the start finish line. That worked wonders as well. Now, don't get me wrong, I was no where near a 2:00 flat lap, but, I do believe I was in the 2:18 range as I was able to pass cars this session and was able to pass my new Iowa buddies and stay ahead of them (they had slicks, coil over shocks, and other mods) so, I was pretty happy with all that.
Back to the trouble I had. Turn 8 and 9 were my nemesis all day. I couldn't slow enough (due to brakes) entering 8, so, I had to turn in early or late at times depending on how the car reacted. On the last lap, I had a Porsche on my a$$ and I waved him by, he waved it off and I shifted to what I thought was 3rd, but, was 5th. Realizing this, I shifted to 3rd ENTERING turn 8, then overaccelerated and around I went. I just did a 360 on the course, so, no grass was damaged As I approached the next corner, the checkered flag was waving, so, I guess while I was looking at the Porsche to wave him by, I missed the previous flag. Could have save myself some embarrassment had I seen it.
SCCA runs a very tight schedule. I was really impressed by this and that the entire track was staffed. Was an awesome event, and, I would go back. Link to some pictures from the track photog HERE.
All in all, very, very impressed with the handling of the Miata. Could I keep up with you guys on a track, probably not, but, I would have fun being on your back bumper throughout the turns!!! Any questions, let me know.
I decided to drive the car out instead of trailering. Glad I did, 36 mpg is much better than 10mpg in the truck. Arrived in KC around lunch time and had lunch with Wayne & Anne, then headed to the track chasing Wayne with the trailer, Anne and new friend Ty in their GT 350's down the highway, awesome sight btw. Arrived at track in plenty of time to get checked in, registered, and ready for the driver meetings. That's when I learned that I didn't get the memo about registering for the Novice group. So, Wayne, Anne, Tony and the rest of the MACC ran the the Novice group, I ran the Intermediate group. I'm glad I did as I met Quentin and Rudy from Iowa and their modified NB Miata's who had a lot of experience on this track. I struck up a conversation with them and they agreed to let me follow them around
), agree or not, I was gonna anyway). After the first session, it was clear that I need to grow a pair. The Miata handles completely different and Waaaaaayyyyyy better than the Cobra did (at least in my hands). Keep in mind that I am bone stock, except for the sway bars, which means brakes, tires, shocks are from the factory. The Tires, Bridgestone Potenza's (which in my opinion there is no better street tire) were way more grippy than I expected. I wasn't able to keep up with my new Iowa friends, but, I didn't embarrrass myself either with any off course excursions (that came later). I debriefed with Quentin & Rudy with a track map in hand (which btw, if you go to track days, ALWAYS debrief with fellow drivers, you WILL learn something). I wanted to try a couple of new things, and they agreed. The new things were a different line in turn 3 to 4 and in 12 to 13. Those didn't work very well, so, I went back to just tracing their lines. This session, I was able to keep up somewhat while only pointing by 3 other cars. My pair was getting bigger
Again, I debriefed and learned that the other Miata drivers were carrying 4th gear all the way to turn 3, then shifting to 3rd and carrying that gear to 6 where they were shifting to 2nd. Turn 6 is a tight Left hander tha proceeds to a quick turn 7 up hill. THIS was where I was losing a bunch of time as I was trying to carry 3rd through there and didn't have enough HP to pull me through that corner. So, with my new knowledge in hand and walking around the paddock like a Cowboy on a 5 day ride, I was ready!!
Shifting to 2nd in turn 6, that was a difference maker as I was able to carry much more speed through 7 down to 8 (the bus stop), which, got me in trouble the last lap of the session. They had also suggested I shift to 2nd in turn 12 approaching 13 so I could pull on the straight going up hill to the start finish line. That worked wonders as well. Now, don't get me wrong, I was no where near a 2:00 flat lap, but, I do believe I was in the 2:18 range as I was able to pass cars this session and was able to pass my new Iowa buddies and stay ahead of them (they had slicks, coil over shocks, and other mods) so, I was pretty happy with all that.
Back to the trouble I had. Turn 8 and 9 were my nemesis all day. I couldn't slow enough (due to brakes) entering 8, so, I had to turn in early or late at times depending on how the car reacted. On the last lap, I had a Porsche on my a$$ and I waved him by, he waved it off and I shifted to what I thought was 3rd, but, was 5th. Realizing this, I shifted to 3rd ENTERING turn 8, then overaccelerated and around I went. I just did a 360 on the course, so, no grass was damaged
As I approached the next corner, the checkered flag was waving, so, I guess while I was looking at the Porsche to wave him by, I missed the previous flag. Could have save myself some embarrassment had I seen it.SCCA runs a very tight schedule. I was really impressed by this and that the entire track was staffed. Was an awesome event, and, I would go back. Link to some pictures from the track photog HERE.
All in all, very, very impressed with the handling of the Miata. Could I keep up with you guys on a track, probably not, but, I would have fun being on your back bumper throughout the turns!!! Any questions, let me know.
