^what the heck does that mean?

2/23/2010 3:19:19 PM

H8r, fill these boys in

2/23/2010 3:38:19 PM

VIR next mon/tue. Will be in the lowest HP car there

2/24/2010 7:13:59 PM

can't do VIR...no roll bar.

I can do it on the bike if anyone wants to do a bike track day there.

2/24/2010 7:56:59 PM

Another mechanic at that shop worked on it for an hour and finally got those rear calipers fixed. Putting fronts on tomorrow

2/26/2010 5:06:15 PM

Geez, I really need to get back on a road course sometime soon. I was driving down Davis drive a few minutes ago and one of the lanes is blocked off with evenly spaced cones for some minor road work. I had to fight the urge to slalom the cones


Anyways, Carolinas PCA is hosting an event at the NCCAR over near Roanoke Rapids June 12-13th (and another one in April, but I can't make that one). Brand new 4.6 mile road course sounds like fun. I think the entry fee will be around $280. Any potential takers??

3/25/2010 12:59:37 PM

/\ They cool with your windshield?

CMP with NASA-SE in May for me. Hoping to debut lil red (E30 M42). If it holds, RA in June.

3/25/2010 8:55:21 PM

RA is an awesome track however it will be a bit painful w/a 318 with a long uphill straight.

As for the new "track", I haven't been there (though been invited) -it's a manufacturers test track with no facilities, no "proven" run off, no paddock, etc. Students beware.

I'm going to VIR with Tarheel April 2-3rd, again in May with Alfa Club, and VIR Grand with Mazda Drivers in June, I recommend that config. highly if you're familiar with VIR. It's the 2nd longest road course in North America in that configuration and this will likely be the last time it's open to public!

3/25/2010 10:02:54 PM

Why won't it be open to the public anymore?

3/25/2010 10:49:35 PM

It's the grand configuration that won't be open to the public anymore.

Possible reasons for that (my guesses):
It's not beginner friendly at such a long configuration, I suspect a beginner student won't even know which direction every turn will be before the weekend is over. It's like driving a fourth of the Nurburgring, LOTS of track to cover.
It's more expensive to run, due to all the corner workers/staging/logistic involved, AND the fact that track rental is far more expensive since they can't run anything else at any other part of VIR.

Also, I'll be instructing there, you're welcome to hitch a ride. I have a communicator wired in (in helmet to helmet communication) so we can chat about the track, or lap traffic or what have you while we're out there.

3/25/2010 10:56:32 PM

Can't do it this time, unfortunately. Taking my daughter back to her mother on the 3rd, and I'm flying to Qatar on the 5th, so I have to get things together for that.

3/25/2010 11:25:45 PM

That's too bad, as usual.

3/25/2010 11:38:14 PM

Quote :

"/\ They cool with your windshield?"

Thanks for reminding me. I just shot Brian an email so I guess I'll find out.

I'm also concerned about my tires at this point, sigh. The fronts are almost slick on the inside edge. Otherwise they're fine front and rear but I wonder if that's something that I shouldn't take to the track...

3/26/2010 10:11:49 AM

Id love to do Grand East at VIR. Sucks that might be that last run; I might not be able to do June since it is the w/e before RA.

Id worry more about the uphill climb coming out of oak tree with the 4pot. If I wasnt driving a GTO last time I was there that would have gotten boring. However I want to do VIR at least once with the RX8 before I decide what to do with it.

3/26/2010 10:57:46 AM

Well FML

Just heard back from Brian. A treated crack in the windshield is no problem, good news! However, he said its policy for any non Porsche soft tops running at a Carolinas PCA event to have an aftermarket SCCA approved rollbar. And I'm not cutting up my interior for that, nor can I sacrifice the leg room I'd lose.

You learn something new every day. Today I learned I'll never run a Carolinas PCA event in the S2K

3/26/2010 11:12:00 AM

How is this news to you? its like the biggest problem w/ S2000s on track evar.

3/26/2010 5:58:05 PM

Ya rly. If you're interested in driving your car on track, either go ahead and do the roll bar, or get a different car...

3/26/2010 6:08:06 PM

hah yeah.

ive never seen an s2k at VIR... ever!

3/26/2010 6:08:45 PM

How is this news to me? Maybe b/c, while its widely known you can't track a stock S2000 at VIR, its not widely known that you can't run a stock S2000 at any event held by a club.

I am not getting a roll bar for the S2000. I'd prefer not hurting my car's resale value by 4 figures, nor do I have any spare leg room to give up.

I'll probably just sell it in 2 years or so for something fixed top. Convertibles are fun, but I bought the S2K b/c its basically your only choice for an affordable lightweight sports car.

[Edited on March 26, 2010 at 9:45 PM. Reason : i]

3/26/2010 9:45:16 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbz4U5FkPZU

a couple laps at NCCAR

4/2/2010 8:00:46 PM

Nice find. That's just the 2.02 mile track though, not the full 4.6 mile course. I'm guessing the full course is gonna be open to DE's (haven't seen anything that says otherwise).

4/3/2010 12:25:02 AM

There's a DE there in two weeks, I've been asked to attend. We shall see how tomorrow and Sunday goes @VIR w/the new 996...

4/3/2010 12:35:00 AM

It's with Carolinas PCA right? Let us know how that goes, as I can't run with them

4/3/2010 12:40:23 AM

just signed up for alfa club at VIR may 15-16! first event, very excite!

4/29/2010 11:05:38 PM

shmorri2 mentioned a DE event with Hurricane Region PCA at CMP August 14-15th. Which region, exactly, is Hurricane PCA? I'm gonna need new tires before then, am thinking about the Dunlop Dierazza Star Specs...


Ahmet, did you end up going to the DE event at NCCAR?

4/30/2010 8:48:35 AM

NCCAR was cancelled, which I think is best for everyone considering lack of run off/and barriers keeping from an out of control car crossing the track at different points through the track...

I'm signed up to the Alfa Club event as well, that should be a good time @VIR North, yay.

CMP is another awesome track, though I'm not sure I understand your question about Hurricane Region? Both Carolinas and Hurricane Regions are active around here.

4/30/2010 11:17:59 AM

I've been to CMP twice (and chatted with you the last time I was there, last August if you recall) though I've never run on it.

My question is that if there already exists a Carolina Region PCA what region does Hurricane PCA encompass? Is it like Carolinas Part II, with another name?

4/30/2010 1:48:06 PM

will be at alfa club, woot

5/1/2010 5:22:33 PM

At CMP now. E30 is trucking if the rear calipers hold in there.

5/1/2010 10:15:54 PM

pads replaced, brake fluid changed with super blue, pre-event inspection completed, hotel booked, rental helmet in hand, and gas tank filled. shout outs to the bros that will be in attendance this weekend.

5/13/2010 9:12:28 PM

Wait, that's THIS weekend??!1

-posted from the drivers meeting. :p

5/15/2010 8:04:16 AM

Yes
-posted from the villas

5/15/2010 10:46:20 PM

Good time indeed...

- Posted from the North Paddock.

5/15/2010 10:55:31 PM

so driving on track is a lot of fun...
-posted from home

5/16/2010 11:05:54 PM

It really is!
-from work

5/17/2010 9:57:30 AM

^^
- ^

5/17/2010 12:17:08 PM

yay R brakes!

5/17/2010 6:38:16 PM

I am impressed beyond words w/the brakes on that car dude, seriously. I mean, I still think throttle precision is very important, and there Volvo S60Rs seem to suck but so does basically every Japanese/Sweedish turbo car I've ever driven... I wish I got to ride w/you a session and I'm glad Sport helped w/that. I'm going to have to think about a V70R, for realz.

And Tyler, very nice driving dear sir. Car seems to be doing well also, good for you.

Fun times all around.

Did either of you try signing up for Mazda? I also want to go to CMP soon...

5/18/2010 12:41:58 PM

i found out yesterday that my car actually weighs 3717 lbs

i also found out today that when i got my tune, they changed the throttle mapping as well.

comfort was changed to original sport
sport was changed to original advanced
advanced was changed to some retarded overly aggressive setting

the tuner was like "yeah i prefer the stock throttle mapping myself, would you liked me to change it back"

/facepalm

i have not signed up for mazda drivers but very much want to. hopefully i can scrounge up some money.

5/18/2010 5:22:59 PM

Even the Sport setting seemed stupid to me. Tuners often do this to make the car seem faster after the 'upgrade', but it's not even touchy, it's just less linear, and feels as though the maps are lacking in resolution, and the data points aren't even interpolated.

I've actually only driven Evos and custom Japanese stuff, so I drove the Saab pretty hard today, and it's actually pretty good (aftermarket tune with agressive maps), which would suggest that a decent tune can make your car much more precise.

Btw, where'd you get the weight from?

5/18/2010 11:29:36 PM

car and driver review:
http://www.fordforums.com/f667/u-s-volvo-s60r-awd-44274/

5/19/2010 7:59:24 AM

Mazda Drivers roll call...

Present!

5/20/2010 8:22:04 AM

i too, will be attending mazda drivers.

Quinn, you should come!

[Edited on May 20, 2010 at 9:26 AM. Reason : ]

5/20/2010 9:23:21 AM

Well, just spoke to Dave. They're not only full for instructors, but have several on waiting list. I love this configuration, but I probably wouldn't attend if I'm not instructing. He did tell me that if I brought 2 students, he could let me instruct. Funny thing, b/c I feel like I'm bringing four already, Rich/Rex, and Tyler/Stephen, though I presume Rich/Rex would've come to it anyway. I guess I should see if Dave wants to come...

5/20/2010 9:31:51 PM

Looking forward to laguna seca with a new whip

5/27/2010 9:24:31 PM

Yay!

5/28/2010 3:13:37 AM

You're going to have to re-learn some aspects of driving, like the cumbersome aspect of having a fixed caliper with multiple pistons per rotor... I mean, it will probably be hard to adjust to using brakes that don't fade and have good modulation coming from BMWs and all.

5/28/2010 3:29:11 AM

VIR grand configuration was dope...

6/14/2010 8:17:27 AM

twas, but it would've been an incredibly overwhelming first event.

6/14/2010 8:48:06 AM

Cdubya, nice car man! Give us some details! Looks like an S; Basalt black paint?

6/15/2010 1:16:00 PM