Midwest Onions, anyone want some Track time at Road America?
 

Club has the track rented out for the entire weekend.

If anyone wants a chance to either test their metal on the track, or put around in a touring session c'mon and join us. :)

For those of you not close. You can watch us on live streaming video. :)
http://www.roadamerica.com/TowerCameraLiveatRA.asp

More info is below, its the official forum flyer the club put out.

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I had a blast at this event last year, first time I went though I didn't bring my car. I only ran 1 hot session, but did touring both days. Had a blast, didn't think about work or anything else for the entire weekend. I don't know which car I'll have this year, but likely it'll be the G6 again, the GTA just isn't ready for the kind of power its getting to haul itself down from 150+ I think I'll evaporate the pads on the first full brake.

http://roadamerica.mfba.org/images/mfba-trackdays.jpg

The MFBA Road America Event is fast approaching!

http://roadamerica.mfba.org/images/splash-6.jpg

Spring is here and I hope you're ready to hit the track! Our spring
rental of Road America is the weekend of April 30'th and May 1'st.

We have a few announcements in regards to this springs rental.

First, we've updated our website!
http://roadamerica.mfba.org/
Registration for the event has never been easier!

Secondly, as indicated by the front page of our website, group
C-Intermediate is almost full. If you wish to run in group C please
get your registrations in ASAP! Late group C registrations may be
bumped up to group B or down to group D.

Along with that though, and unlike our previous events, this event we
will limit the amount of registrations allowed. We are capping
registrants at 30 cars per group. We may move late registrants around
as groups become filled.

What does this mean? It means get your registrations in before the
event is sold out!!

Lastly, we need to thank all of you for helping make our previous
events a success. We're here again asking you to help spread the word. Please
help us make it a great success!!

Thanks and we hope to see you in a few weeks!

- MFBA

May be short notice for them? http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/wink1.gif

Which car are you going to be using? Top up the fluids*, fresh brake fluid and playtime http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...s/excited1.gif



*Remember the old GTO slogan - Gas, Tyres, Oil http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/cool1.gif

I'll be flyin like a G6. I'm still yet to tear the GTA apart.

Basically, I got the flow #'s back and did some calculations based on that. Instead of making about 360-380 to the wheels like I thought. Its very possible to make 410-420rwhp. Which puts it at the extreme limit of my current fuel pump. I don't want to risk blowing the engine because of a lean condition. So i'm gathering a few more things.

Running 46#/hr injectors, and will be installing a 255LPH fuel pump to cover the flow.

46#/hr x 8 = 61.8GPH, converted to liters thats 232LPH. So I'll have some breathing room so the pump doesn't have to work at full capacity. Fuel system should be good to 600hp or so.

Just got back from the first day which is Tech and setup.

Tech'd the following cars in for our rent. DROOOOOOOOOOOOLLLL. I didn't snap pics hands were really dirty from the brake dust and such.

So I'm just snagging some pics off the net.

http://autosportmanual.com/wp-conten...ria-Track.jpeg

http://www.sriweblogics.com/wp-conte...rleggera-2.jpg

http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-20...p-1024x768.jpg

http://www.vivagoal.com/images/wallp...san-gtr-12.jpg

http://www.worldtopcars.org/wp-conte...2_GT-R_001.jpg

Yes, i'm not joking.

Looks like a blast, and it's only an hour away. Unfortunately all of my racing experience is on ovals, so in this case I'm better off in the stands than in the driver's seat.

We are live and on camera. :)

Keith, one of our drivers posted up his laps from last weekends event.

2:26. Thats an average speed of 101mph over a 4.1 mile circuit. :)

Check out the video.

http://vimeo.com/23188537

And here's his table he posted of his entry, and apex speeds.

Here are the speeds I'm hitting before the braking zone, and at the apex:
Turn, Before Braking, At Apex
1 154 75
3 118 63
5 155 47
6 93 59
7 88 80
8 117 57
9 85 87
11 127 106
12 149 62
13a 100 90
14 105 64 http://sportsnickel.com/wp-content/u...ad-America.gif

That sounds so fun, and you seem to do it every year, maybe next year my car and I will be able to make it out if you have the same "deal" going on.

Nice pics too

Its a fun event, risky though as its about $40,000 to rent the the track for the weekend. I know, but thats why its about $400 a car. because at 100 cars it evens up, and its an attainable number of cars. Thats alot of money, so we also do Single Sessions. Which means you can tech in, and run just 1 25 minute session, which is MUCH cheaper.

We will be doing it again next year. We are currently in the "debriefing" portion of the event. We get together several times and discuss as a group what worked and what didn't so we can make it better the next time. Lots of ideas being tossed around.

Pics from the event our here: http://photobyedmund.smugmug.com/MFBA/Road-America-2011

We are currently working on a Time Lapse video we took. We started recording about 6AM Saturday, and finished recording Sunday at about 6PM. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/cool1.gif

If you do feel like coming out let me know next year. If you don't have any track experience I can set you up with an instructor who specializes in your type of car. While all of our instructors have wheel to wheel experience, some specialize more in certain types of cars. "Turtle" one of our instructors specializes in Rally and FWD race cars, Jeff another of our Instructors has a C6 Z06 and the car has more track driven miles than street miles.

C6Z's bone stock reach 160mph+ at RA's front straights. [surrender]

If you see iND M3, ESS M3, EAS M3 or a black GTR with bright green stickers with wings on the hood, tell them KGB said hi from M3 forums.




http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...hicsPress2.jpg

If anyone is interested, this is golden for people wanting track time.

http://roadamerica.mfba.org/

I don't know what the heck i'm going to be driving. But I'm going to be driving something! Even if I have to get out the Big Wheels. [rofl]

I should bring my Fusion and watch everyone laugh at me :P

Heck, if you drive it well (hard) and don't get in anyone's way*, I'd expect a lot of drivers commenting on how well you're doing in it. Perhaps there'll be some quiet times you can go out on your own, or with some other 'slower' cars if you're worried about the speed and skill difference?

However, to get the full enjoyment out of any track/play day I'd strongly recommend giving the car a good going over, perhaps slightly overfilling the oil if there's a long sweeper (one of our local tracks is notorious for oil surge and resulting bearing failure in some models of vehicles).
Flush the brake fluid with some good racing fluid and fit upgraded pads - you don't need race pads, just a good upgrade - may be marketed as 'fast road' or 'track day' pads.

*Check your mirror OFTEN, and remember that just because one car has passed you, there may be another car, or two, following close behind!

This sounds like a lot of fun. I want to bring my G, but as I need it as a daily driver I'd be almost terrified of effing it up.

I had my G6 GTP, which is a similar level car. Mid size sedan/coupe, not alot of HP. If its not too much of a drive i suggest coming out and doing the Touring class with us around noon. I lead the Touring laps last year.

Touring is $60, but its also a 60 minute session, you can burn up to a half tank of gas and you do get to go really hard in corners. Because it doens't have the unrestricted top speeds of the hot session's you won't burn up your brakes so good fluid and track day pads aren't required as you don't really use the brakes much.

Yes, definitely add 1qt of oil if anyone intends on pushing corning limits in the Carousel. Its a HUGE long corner @ 60-70mph for most cars. You'll be at max handling grip for more than 10 seconds which is long enough to cause oiling issues if a car has problems with that.

Touring class won't require track pads or special fluid. But it will require a brake system in good shape, I have seen people overheat older/worn brakes in this class.

A, B, C, D classes, most definitely MUST have a good semi-metallic pad and good fluid. Anything less and you'll ruin your day.

We have 4 classes based on driver skill and car ability.

• D Class - Novice drivers, slower cars like fusions, civics and G6's. Aka the daily drivers. (All D class drivers must have an instructor in the car). You'd find cars like the Solstice, Miata, and other low power roadsters in this class. D Class has Passing Zone restrictions, and never in corners.
• C Class - Novice drivers with moderate cars, and instructors usually ride along. Any D driver who get signed off for solo goes to C class immediately. Same types of cars as D class, but more experienced drivers who can push the lower cars to their limits. Less Passing zone restrictions, but there is more "open" track for passing.
• B Class - Faster cars, more experienced drivers. Usually only drivers with several track days under their belt and performance oriented cars. This will be experienced drivers in cars like M3's, Porsche boxster, Audi S4, Corvettes.....etc. Even less passing zone restrictions, usually only restricted to no passing on corners.
• A Class - A class stands for "Aggressive". These drivers are highly experienced, and drive some very fast cars. Examples of cars in this class would be Nissan GTR's, Exotics, Corvettes. Cars in this class usually reach speeds in excess of 150mph on the straights, some of them near the high 170's. Pretty much no restrictions whatsoever on passing.

As a note, my first time out on Road America I had my G6 and went out with the A Class group (I had an instructor). This is mostly because I'm a long standing club member and I know all of the drivers and instructors on the class. While I did fine, my G6 GTP got lapped by the same GTR nearly 4 times in a 20 minute session. Might have been 2 or 3 times if I had brakes that could hold up to the track instead of melting. I was reaching speeds of 120mph on the front straights and still holding back for fear of having no brakes when I reached the braking zones.


All passes in lower classes require a wave by or point to indicate which side the overtaking car should pass on.

Do Touring class. Speed limit is 70mph or so. Touring starts off slow as cars are bunched up. But as the session goes on, I've been able to take corners at the limits of traction for the slower ones. The only corner on the track where you wouldn't push the handling limit is in the Kink. Most cars will enter that corner at 70mph and not come near stressing the tires out. My G6 was hitting 80mph in near end of life OEM tires while it was damp. On good tires I'd probably near 85-90mph through the kink.

Its a great way to learn the track and practice lines without any real risk. Think of how may times you reach 70mph on the highways.

This car isn't the fastest in the world, but boy does it ever corner like a champ. I think it's due to the love affair with the Mazda 6.

Interesting. 60 Bucks for 60 minutes on the track sounds like fun. Wheres the touring class sign ups and other information? I'm not sure I'd have the time because of work/school stuff going on, but I would definitely like to learn more. it would be awesome to get a basic idea of how capable my G37x actually is...

I am going to hopefully catch this next year. I have my car back, but the frame is ever-so-slightly bent.

I have to find a new shell to put my motor in, get it all in order, suspension/brakes, etc, hopefully...next year.

The G37x should do well on the track. Touring shouldn't stress anything but the brakes, and even then not that much. You may smell them cooking if they've never been hit hard enough and long enough to produce some real heat.

There isn't really a sign up to the track, you basically just show up around lunch time before touring begins, buy a touring pass at the front gate and then get in line at the staging area when Touring is called. I don't have the exact schedule but Touring is usually between 12-1pm, aka lunch time. The instructors go to lunch and chow down, having a break while the club runs touring.

Touring doesn't allow passing at all. Also, helmets are not required and passengers are allowed. So its all pretty good. We've had 4 people in a car before on touring.

Better luck next year. I know how it goes I've been trying to get the TransAm ready, but with the event being so early in the year I almost need to do all of the things I need in Fall of the prev. year so I don't have to rush for spring time.

Here's a stop motion video we put together from a GoPro camera set to take pics every 5 seconds. Weather was pretty crappy that weekend, but dried up later in the day both Saturday and Sunday.

5 days to go!

And the TransAm is READY!!!!http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...s/excited1.gif

Stoked about this year.