Whos ur dadd
05-06-2006, 10:00 PM
Attended my first track day last week. I think some members here may have attended one today.
Wow, lotsa fun! If you think you\'re a good sporty driver, you really don\'t know anything until you take it to the track. You really get to test out your limits and the limits of your car. More times though the driver is a bigger factor than a car.
My BMW 330 has 225 hp (automatic tranny admittedly) and I could barely keep up with a totally stock Mazda Miata (140 hp - manual tranny). Here I am with the Ulimate Driving Machine, shod with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 rubber (probably near the top of all performance street tires) and an aftermarket sway bar and all I could do was follow the Miata (stock, stock, stock! Even with stock all season tires!). I wouldn\'t say I couldn\'t pass it, but it was hard enough just to keep up with it; I had fun chasing him down for 3 or 4 laps. And then there was an RX8, which many make fun of because of their Civic-like torque numbers, but which handed me my ass on a platter. Total respect for the drivers of these cars.
And for those who haven\'t gone on these track days, don\'t worry. Most events are just \"lapping days\", not really a racing day. The only time you\'re allowed to pass is on the back straight (at least at the Shannonville Fabi track I was on) and then only with the consent of the driver who you want to pass. If you pick the events where the organizers are very strict about the passing rules, you\'ll be fine!
Wow, lotsa fun! If you think you\'re a good sporty driver, you really don\'t know anything until you take it to the track. You really get to test out your limits and the limits of your car. More times though the driver is a bigger factor than a car.
My BMW 330 has 225 hp (automatic tranny admittedly) and I could barely keep up with a totally stock Mazda Miata (140 hp - manual tranny). Here I am with the Ulimate Driving Machine, shod with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 rubber (probably near the top of all performance street tires) and an aftermarket sway bar and all I could do was follow the Miata (stock, stock, stock! Even with stock all season tires!). I wouldn\'t say I couldn\'t pass it, but it was hard enough just to keep up with it; I had fun chasing him down for 3 or 4 laps. And then there was an RX8, which many make fun of because of their Civic-like torque numbers, but which handed me my ass on a platter. Total respect for the drivers of these cars.
And for those who haven\'t gone on these track days, don\'t worry. Most events are just \"lapping days\", not really a racing day. The only time you\'re allowed to pass is on the back straight (at least at the Shannonville Fabi track I was on) and then only with the consent of the driver who you want to pass. If you pick the events where the organizers are very strict about the passing rules, you\'ll be fine!