combustor
Well-Known Member
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Did my first track event at Barber (near Birmingham) this weekend. Five 30 minute sessions per day, (10 total 30 minute sessions, or about 450 miles on the track).
This was through an outfit called "JustTrackIt" and if you're in the southeast and haven't heard of them I can't recommend them highly enough. Very well organized, safe, fun event, complete with classroom and in car instruction for novices (me).
I had the only GT350 there, and it generated a lot of interest from all corners! There were a great variety of cars there, from a 1979 RX-7 that was bought new 38 years ago, 1 owner, to plenty of Vettes (including Z06s and ZR1), many Porsches new and old, lots of heavily modified 3 series BMWs, and a handful of exotic track-only machines. There were a few mustangs there, including a late 90's one with a built engine (equal acceleration to the GT350), an S197, and a Roush S550.
I had an instructor with me on every session, and by day 2 the organizers and instructor wanted to move me up to the "intermediate" run group from the novice group, so I could worry less about passing all the time. Once in that group I was able to get many consecutive clean laps without being held up or having to let anyone pass. Temperature during the day was around 60F; had a wet track on the morning of day two but it dried out later.
Some things I learned about the car:
Fuel: you burn a lot. I was barely able to finish 2 sessions on a FULL tank. Toward the end of the second session I was getting the "25 miles to empty" alerts. Bring some jerry cans in the trunk and plan on topping off after every session. My Avg MPG showed 6 mpg and I'm just a beginner!
Coolers: I think in higher ambient temps even with the track package we'll be seeing some worrying temps. Engine oil and axle oil both topped 250F with OAT of 60. Trans stayed cooler than that but it has that big radiator out front and isn't working as hard as the engine oil cooler. Now I see why the 5w50 and I might even use 10w60 if its going to be hot.
Tires: The MPSS are still looking good and they performed well in the wet and the dry. Airing down helped I think.
Brakes: great! never got soft and of course they got used a lot.
Seats: Even in the Recaros I had to brace myself some, but they really hold you well. I can't imagine having less bolstering though, I'd be exhausted from bracing myself after 1 session probably.
Engine: Instructor sometimes stopped instructing so he could hear the "best soundtrack out here"
This was through an outfit called "JustTrackIt" and if you're in the southeast and haven't heard of them I can't recommend them highly enough. Very well organized, safe, fun event, complete with classroom and in car instruction for novices (me).
I had the only GT350 there, and it generated a lot of interest from all corners! There were a great variety of cars there, from a 1979 RX-7 that was bought new 38 years ago, 1 owner, to plenty of Vettes (including Z06s and ZR1), many Porsches new and old, lots of heavily modified 3 series BMWs, and a handful of exotic track-only machines. There were a few mustangs there, including a late 90's one with a built engine (equal acceleration to the GT350), an S197, and a Roush S550.
I had an instructor with me on every session, and by day 2 the organizers and instructor wanted to move me up to the "intermediate" run group from the novice group, so I could worry less about passing all the time. Once in that group I was able to get many consecutive clean laps without being held up or having to let anyone pass. Temperature during the day was around 60F; had a wet track on the morning of day two but it dried out later.
Some things I learned about the car:
Fuel: you burn a lot. I was barely able to finish 2 sessions on a FULL tank. Toward the end of the second session I was getting the "25 miles to empty" alerts. Bring some jerry cans in the trunk and plan on topping off after every session. My Avg MPG showed 6 mpg and I'm just a beginner!
Coolers: I think in higher ambient temps even with the track package we'll be seeing some worrying temps. Engine oil and axle oil both topped 250F with OAT of 60. Trans stayed cooler than that but it has that big radiator out front and isn't working as hard as the engine oil cooler. Now I see why the 5w50 and I might even use 10w60 if its going to be hot.
Tires: The MPSS are still looking good and they performed well in the wet and the dry. Airing down helped I think.
Brakes: great! never got soft and of course they got used a lot.
Seats: Even in the Recaros I had to brace myself some, but they really hold you well. I can't imagine having less bolstering though, I'd be exhausted from bracing myself after 1 session probably.
Engine: Instructor sometimes stopped instructing so he could hear the "best soundtrack out here"
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