sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Hot off the presses, here's the last session from today at Roebling Road Raceway, Savannah, GA. This is a combined NASA HPDE3&4 session. There was a moment where I thought I was doing pretty well until I was passed on the straight away by a Rusty Wallace wannabe doing 160mph. I was running about 10-11psi max and on old used '07 date code 205 RA1 Toyos I picked up for free (because I'm a cheap bastard).

You can see what the throttle is doing by watching the upper (boost) gauge on the A-pillar.

1993ka24det

I hoping to race with you soon on Sebring

Scrappy Jack

iTrader: (2)

I haven't watched the whole thing yet, but did you have any lap timing at all? The first couple of full laps appeared to be circa 1:33?

Was this your first time at Roebling? Thoughts?

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Yes, it was my first time on this track. I had a "guide" ride with me in the morning, and while he was a nice guy, he wasn't doing a great job explaining the line to me. Throughout the day I had a chance to watch several race groups run from a few vantage points and picked up a few things. I still don't feel confident in several sections and these old, hard tires are squirrelly in a few sections where I should be flatout.

As you can see, two of the sections are decreasing radius turns. The racers carry an odd flow from inside to outside and back in 1,2 then 5,6 and also in 7. And the turn (8) before the front stretch supposedly could be taken flatout if I had better grip or less power. I'm sure I could do it on new Hoosiers.





Between turn 7 and turn 1 should be one giant acceleration run on good tires. I was right at 130mph indicated entering the braking zone before turn 1. I feel that I have been braking earlier and more there than I need to to make the turn but haven't got the experience yet to know how much speed I can carry there.

I really didn't like the track much initially. By that last session, though, I started to enjoy and understand it better. Like many things in life, understanding begets enjoyment.

GeneSplicer

iTrader: (14)

Maybe b/c the end of the day - but that sure wasn't a combined 3&4 group I've ever seen with Nasa... very empty. For the rest of the weekend, was it like the typical RA combined traffic jam?
Once the car is done, if ever, RR is on the list of tracks to do. I have heard the same impression of RR - looks un-impressive at first until you drive it.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

It was initially unimpressive to drive it. Once I started running the racing line and began pushing it some, it got engaging and quite entertaining. Most apexes are blind and late, so you start your turn-in on faith like turn 2 at RA. Some turns are slightly off camber. At least one of the turns is terrifying if you are doing it right.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Hurry up!



Cool, damp track and cold tires for this first session on Sunday (Youtube is still processing is right now but should be up soon):

Scrappy Jack

iTrader: (2)

Gotcha. I was really fortunate to have a great instructor my first time out at Roebling who had plenty of experience there and was good at communicating with me. I was with a Porsche Club and he also pointed out there were a few "distinct" lines: the race line, the 911 HPDE line and the Miata HPDE line.

With fresh tires and more seat time, I bet you can pick up a decent amount of time by carrying more speed through 1, 3 could probably be flat-out, I don't think I got 5 "just right" a single time in four days there, and - like you said - 8 can be flat-out for a lot of people.

I lacked the confidence to take either 3 or 8 flat-out. I would breathe off the throttle just a bit before both.

Our speed differentials are pretty huge. I think I'm doing something on the order of 85 MPH indicated exiting 8 and only getting to ~105 MPH indicated before braking before turn 1.


I definitely think it's a fun track that's pretty easy on the cars and a lot more enjoyable than you'd think looking at it on paper. It looks super simple, but I felt it was a lot more nuanced than it might seem at first.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Nuanced is a good word for it.

I know I was overbraking in several of the turns but didn't have the guts to brake less. With the car as it was this weekend I'm confident it couldn't have taken 3 or 8 without lifting. I was hitting 134mph indicated by the end of the straight away and was braking a little early every time. I was working up the guts to stop later and slow down less. I was probably giving up 2-3 seconds right there.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

I just signed up for Sunday May 12th at Homestead with Hooked on Driving. They have a completely wide open track with open passing from 9-12am and then 1-5pm. They are running the Grand-Am configuration which includes the high banking of Nascar 3 and 4. Woot!

Come run or come visit!

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Only 20 cars registered. Open track, open passing all day. It was hot.

And some pics:

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Gryff

iTrader: (6)

open track open passing? heck yeah! I wish I could get something like that a bit closer to here...

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Multilayer fire suit cannot be worn without cool suit in this heat for very long, no matter how damp the suit is. And I refused to wear the single layer suit at the speeds I was running. If anybody has a line on a cheap used cool shirt or any associated hardware, let me know.

How to have a great Mother's Day:
1. Take wife and daughter to a resort in Key Largo.
2. Leave them there.
3. Drag turbo Miata 20 miles up the road to Homestead-Miami Speedway.
4. Play.


Open track with open passing all day 9am-5pm with a break for lunch. Only 20 cars started the day.
It was hot, and I learned some things:
-A multi-layer fire suit cannot be worn without a cool suit in the summer, no matter how damp it is.
-Turbo blankets work very well. After a half lap of cool-down and taking my time unbuckling and removing safety gear in the garage, the turbine housing and downpipe were still glowing cherry red under the blanket and shielding. IR thermo gun said it was still 860+ degrees.
-Tire pressure - 26psi cold can equal 34psi hot if tire gets hot enough.
-Corrado front rotors don't fade like 1.8 rotors when using the same brake pads.
-Old used Toyo RA1's are not as sticky as old used Hoosier R6's
-OEM front wheel bearing grease doesn't like to be very hot.

According to RaceChrono (free software for Android phones), I was reaching ~120mph on the back straight before slowing to
110 for the banking, then up to 130 before braking on the front straight to dive into the infield. Trail braking almost always got me loose in turn 1 coming off the front straight because of the transition to the apron from the banking.

I'll upload some videos soon.

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

Been there brother. MIS in May, happened to be a 90*F heat wave with high humidity. Thats a lot of black pavement to be around wearing a black fire suit, with a black helmet, black gloves, and black shoes. in a open top car. Thankfully I didnt have to do the long race, our team Asian did, he sucked down 4 bottles of water when he got off the track in the time it took to push the car like 200 feet.

Scrappy Jack

iTrader: (2)

Looking forward to the video. I remember *****-footing around that track about a decade ago during my first and only drive in an open-wheel car. The sensation of coming up on to the banking and having the car "sucked" toward the wall was definitely disconcerting.

I'm also trying to figure out why all the events are hitting my radar in June when it's going to be 95F and 95% humidity everywhere in the SE.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Where have you been all Spring?

June 15-16 at Sebring is next. It might be a scorcher and I'll definitely be using my single layer suit. I usually wet it down and that works ok. I hope a wet suit won't burn. I still need a cool suit.

I've run there in Summer thunderstorms a few times and it gets slick, and also deep. I learned a lot by doing it, though.

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

A wet suit wont burn, but if it is soaked through I would think the water would still be able to burn you. Remember, the suit not only protects you from flames but from heat too, thats why its so hot inside. It keeps the heat out, but as a side effect it keeps the heat in too.

Ryan_G

iTrader: (8)

Come play with us at Sebring! DO IT!

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

'96 Miata, stock block, Chinese 2870 turbo @~10psi max, Hawk Blue brake pads, very old Toyo RA1 tires, rear sway bar was disconnected to test handling and car was understeering in turns and felt a bit numb. It was hot and tire pressures ended up too high as well - still testing. This was second outing of the day. Car always felt a little light in the rear end in turn 1 across the transition from the banked front straight onto the flat apron.



Rear sway bar was reconnected to softest setting and car was better in turns. Running up toward 120mph on back straight, down to 110mph in the high bank turns, then up to about 130mph before braking and turning into the infield at turn 1. Definitely traction limited in banked turns on these old tires compared to the Hoosiers I had last time. This was the third time out that morning.

I caught a Gallardo, lol.