Tracked Car at NOLA Motorsports Park - Great Experience!

[KilgoreLSU]

PCA Whiskey Bay(Louisiana/New Orleans) was hosting a DE Weekend to get Porsche Owners and whoever else wants to come. Many of them do NASA and HPDE events as well. Instructors do it all.

They were the nicest people and just a great to be around. No egos, no one upsmanship. It was all about how can we get better. From a old Miata to a Porsche GT4 RS.. Same people and the same advice. Just happy to be here..

On to my experience in the Mach 1..

I have an A10 Non-HP car.. 7k on the clock.

The transmission in Track Mode was amazing. I cannot downshift and upshift as fast as it did into and out of corners. I get the Manual is prefered by people. I've owned a ton of them.. I just wanted to see what a modern automatic tuned for racing was all about and to be able to drink some water while in traffic. I'm getting old. After this track experience.. I'm glad I did it.

I've read that paddle shifting will get you better times, but I've got to learn how to do everything else before I get used to paddles.

What I learned from having an Instructor...

You can hammer these brakes and just hold them hard... It's something I never had the ability to do until they demonstrated it on my car from 135 to 60 on a 90 degree turn. I'm still not adept at that, it's so far out of my street experience driving.. But I'll work on it.

The manners of the car as you are throwing it into corners, braking hard, accelerating hard, pushing into and out of corners... It's incredibly predictable. Again, I had no experience with a car that just doesn't break loose and start spinning or sliding a lot until it's almost to a dead stop. It'll slide a little but you can feel it and back off or steer a little and it'll straighten up. The class room talked about weight shift using braking and acceleration to increase front or rear traction.. Another thing I'll have to learn.

The other stuff, hitting the apex correctly, making as straight of a line as you can, etc.. If I'm going 55.. no problem.. you are going 80 to 100 down to 35... A whole different feel and learning curve.

I'm going to keep doing these events HPDE/NASA.. get another set of wheels/tires that are HP size, camber plates, and brake pads as needed.. and enjoy the hell out of this car.

I can't recommend doing this enough.. The confidence gained from it is priceless.

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[falcongtho3]

NOLA is a fun track. I've done Xreeme Xperience there twice, once in a Lambo Gallardo and once in a 2021 GT500. The Shelby was much more impressive and the track (which did host one Indy car event) is fast.

 

[TopJimmyCooks]

Right on! Congrats!

 

[Boyd]

Good for you!! I love doing HPDE Track Days in my Mach 1. The capability of this car is just amazing.

Talking about the brakes, standing on em and just holding em... That's my biggest brain-block right now. Doing high speeds, charging down into a 2nd gear turn, I tend to brake early just because it's so far out of my experience.

I have 2 more track days this year, so I'm working on it.

Anyways, glad you had a great time! Addicting, isn't it?

 

[SBR70.3]

I am happy to read this as I tracked my new (to me) Mach 1 for the first time Saturday. I agree with everything you wrote. This car is amazing from the factory and I set a PB at Hallett during my first session. My 2021 Mach 1 w/HP & Tremec is light years ahead of the 2016 GT I have.

Regarding tires: I used Bridgestone Potenza RE71-RS and had zero issues with them. This was my first time using a 200TW tire and it made a significant difference. I also used G-Loc R10 (front) and R8 (rear) brake pads. Next year I will probably go R12/10.

Put up some pictures!

 

[KilgoreLSU]

Good for you!! I love doing HPDE Track Days in my Mach 1. The capability of this car is just amazing.

Talking about the brakes, standing on em and just holding em... That's my biggest brain-block right now. Doing high speeds, charging down into a 2nd gear turn, I tend to brake early just because it's so far out of my experience.

I have 2 more track days this year, so I'm working on it.

Anyways, glad you had a great time! Addicting, isn't it?

It is addicting! But, I have limits on going too crazy. I’ll treat it like golf. You are playing against yourself. Learning to adjust to gain a stroke here and there. Equipment can make you better, but skill will make you be at your best.

I listen to everyone’s experience and try what makes the most sense. Feedback is fantastic!

 

[Boyd]

It is addicting! But, I have limits on going too crazy. I’ll treat it like golf. You are playing against yourself. Learning to adjust to gain a stroke here and there. Equipment can make you better, but skill will make you be at your best.

I listen to everyone’s experience and try what makes the most sense. Feedback is fantastic!

Agreed and yes, you have to know your limits. I dont go 10/10 because I dont want to mess up my beautiful car. And experience is everything!

 

[WItoTX]

How was NOLA as a track though? It's on my list to do, but talking a few friends into making the trek over has been far more of a challenge than I expected.

 

[KilgoreLSU]

How was NOLA as a track though? It's on my list to do, but talking a few friends into making the trek over has been far more of a challenge than I expected.

it’s the only track I have ever been on. The instructors told me it’s a fast track. I’ve seen races at COTA.. track looks like fun.

I’m sure I’ll try some others for a change of scenery as I get better.

at least at NOLA, you can see some good live music and get great food!

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