| Neek | 01-09-2005 11:09 PM |
First track day experience in my MY05 STi
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As a guest of the Porsche Club of America at Moroso Motorsports Park in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
Car is stock except for the brake fluid swapped for ATE superblue.
The track was 2.2 miles long with a very long front straight and speeds in excess of 130 before braking for turn 2.
First of all, anyone owning one of these cars that does not track it or autocross it is doing themselves a huge disservice. If my car had a tongue it would have been sticking out all day today and waggling around like a puppy.
The event was a DE course with the two instructor groups being green (novice) and blue (experienced). Since I was new they started me in the green group. After 2 sessions they bumped me into the blue for the final 2. There were strictly enforced passing zones in 3 places.
Cars included numerous 911/996 turbos, GT3s, Corvettes, M3s, Minis, and a Viper GTS. There were two other Suby's there...another 05 STi (driven by an instructor) and a bugeye WRX with many mods, including Tein RA's, VF29, injectors, TBE, Clutch and STi RA tranny.
In all 4 sessions, each about 25-30 mins, I was passed only once, and THAT was the WRX mentioned above. Nobody, I mean nobody could keep up with the Subarus. Probably 10 people came over between session asking what the hell I was driving, and what I'd done to it (I loved saying "changed the brake fluid to superblue...that's it".
The car handled flawlessly, the stock tires held up beautifully and the brakes showed just the slightest bit of fade in the last session. I can't wait till I can get out there again.
Car is stock except for the brake fluid swapped for ATE superblue.
The track was 2.2 miles long with a very long front straight and speeds in excess of 130 before braking for turn 2.
First of all, anyone owning one of these cars that does not track it or autocross it is doing themselves a huge disservice. If my car had a tongue it would have been sticking out all day today and waggling around like a puppy.
The event was a DE course with the two instructor groups being green (novice) and blue (experienced). Since I was new they started me in the green group. After 2 sessions they bumped me into the blue for the final 2. There were strictly enforced passing zones in 3 places.
Cars included numerous 911/996 turbos, GT3s, Corvettes, M3s, Minis, and a Viper GTS. There were two other Suby's there...another 05 STi (driven by an instructor) and a bugeye WRX with many mods, including Tein RA's, VF29, injectors, TBE, Clutch and STi RA tranny.
In all 4 sessions, each about 25-30 mins, I was passed only once, and THAT was the WRX mentioned above. Nobody, I mean nobody could keep up with the Subarus. Probably 10 people came over between session asking what the hell I was driving, and what I'd done to it (I loved saying "changed the brake fluid to superblue...that's it".
The car handled flawlessly, the stock tires held up beautifully and the brakes showed just the slightest bit of fade in the last session. I can't wait till I can get out there again.
| wayne_rx | 01-09-2005 11:45 PM |
Glad to hear your positive experience! My first ever track day will be in 2 weeks. I don't plan on pushing my Sti too much since I've never done any track day before...so I guess I'll be passed by many of the other guys there (The list so far includes other Stis, Evo MR, M3, GTO, Cooper S, Elise...all are pretty fast). I can't wait!
| fastwrx | 01-09-2005 11:53 PM |
neek,
It's great isn't it?? I had the first STi in Palm Beach County. I've done HPDE with PCA, but not for a while now. I got the same reactions as you... especially since nobody had seen one yet. When I drove into the paddock, it was like a rock star arrived with folks flagging me down to see the car. I've been going out with PDC (performance drivers club - a affiliate of NASA). I also recently went out with Chin Motorsports. Both are great groups like PCA.
[url]www.performance-drivers-club.com[/url]
[url]www.chinmotorsports.com[/url]
Hopefully we'll cross paths at the track some day. I have a white 2004 STi with a "fast wrx" license plate. However, I'll soon also be driving a Chrome Orange 2005 Lotus Elise! (Due to arrive in February if all goes well.) If you see me, be sure to introduce yourself! :)
Enjoy your STi!
Mike
It's great isn't it?? I had the first STi in Palm Beach County. I've done HPDE with PCA, but not for a while now. I got the same reactions as you... especially since nobody had seen one yet. When I drove into the paddock, it was like a rock star arrived with folks flagging me down to see the car. I've been going out with PDC (performance drivers club - a affiliate of NASA). I also recently went out with Chin Motorsports. Both are great groups like PCA.
[url]www.performance-drivers-club.com[/url]
[url]www.chinmotorsports.com[/url]
Hopefully we'll cross paths at the track some day. I have a white 2004 STi with a "fast wrx" license plate. However, I'll soon also be driving a Chrome Orange 2005 Lotus Elise! (Due to arrive in February if all goes well.) If you see me, be sure to introduce yourself! :)
Enjoy your STi!
Mike
| M | 01-09-2005 11:57 PM |
elise is best car ever, cannot be passed by heavy imprezas
| Neek | 01-10-2005 09:11 AM |
Forgot to mention there was one incident...
911 Turbo in the Green group tried to save a tail swinging wide and ended up putting it nose first into the inside wall. Airbags deployed nobody hurt, but lots of dmg.
:(
911 Turbo in the Green group tried to save a tail swinging wide and ended up putting it nose first into the inside wall. Airbags deployed nobody hurt, but lots of dmg.
:(
| fastwrx | 01-10-2005 11:29 AM |
Turn 10, neek? Ouch. Hate to hear that. He had to be pretty out of control to hit that wall. Lots of room there. I've done about 10 HPDEs and have never seen a car damaged.
Got any pics?
Mike
Got any pics?
Mike
| Neek | 01-10-2005 01:24 PM |
No it was exiting turn 4, after the 3-4 double apex (which was giving me fits the first few sessions to get right).
No pics...I almost went to snap some, but felt so bad for the driver.
In other news, I'm gonna try to shoot for the April 9 HPDE. I think it's at Homestead.
No pics...I almost went to snap some, but felt so bad for the driver.
In other news, I'm gonna try to shoot for the April 9 HPDE. I think it's at Homestead.
| fastwrx | 01-10-2005 01:31 PM |
Oh, wow... wouldn't have guessed turn 4. I would think that a Porsche Turbo is NOT the ideal car for a track novice.
A few weeks ago at Skippy School (at Moroso), I spun off in turn 2 (outside) and again in turn 6 (inside). Didn't hit anything, but got lots of sand in the car and even inside my helmet! :)
Mike
A few weeks ago at Skippy School (at Moroso), I spun off in turn 2 (outside) and again in turn 6 (inside). Didn't hit anything, but got lots of sand in the car and even inside my helmet! :)
Mike
| Neek | 01-10-2005 01:43 PM |
Yeah getting down the hill and hitting the apex right in turn 6 was tricky. I first started realizing that there was so much space to track out after turn 6, that you can carry a good bit of speed through it.
| ToddStratton | 01-10-2005 01:53 PM |
[QUOTE=wayne_rx]Glad to hear your positive experience! My first ever track day will be in 2 weeks. I don't plan on pushing my Sti too much since I've never done any track day before...so I guess I'll be passed by many of the other guys there (The list so far includes other Stis, Evo MR, M3, GTO, Cooper S, Elise...all are pretty fast). I can't wait![/QUOTE]
It'll be a blast. Just work up slowly to a safe level and let people pass (if that is allowed at your event) whenever they want. You'll have more fun. Then again, if you're at an event with a bunch of beginners, you may be one of the fastest since a stock STi is more track-worthy than most and pretty easy to go fast in.
TRS
It'll be a blast. Just work up slowly to a safe level and let people pass (if that is allowed at your event) whenever they want. You'll have more fun. Then again, if you're at an event with a bunch of beginners, you may be one of the fastest since a stock STi is more track-worthy than most and pretty easy to go fast in.
TRS
| rickeolis | 01-10-2005 06:01 PM |
AXing-
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Yeahhh buddy! This is right up my alley!
I have been driving a 1977 911S for a couple of seasons now, both at PCA and SCCA, but once I drove a WRX, I sold the Porsche and bought this new wagon. I raced it twice last season without any mod�s. Once in SCCA where I was not used to all the tight turns, and ran decent, but slid a lot.
The other event was at a good size track in the PCA club. There were about 40 cars, and about 8 were non-Porsches, including me. At the end, of the top 18 fastest, 6 were non-P-cars, including myself!
I picked up about 5 seconds from 1:46 just going from the 911 to my new WRX :banana:
Since then, I have put mod�s on the car that should get me another few seconds, and should be in the top 10% I think.
SCCA is another matter, there were a lot of fast, highly modded cars there, but a WRX did get 5th out of around 45 cars there that day. (Over Vette's, Viper's, Miata�s, etc.)
I have been driving a 1977 911S for a couple of seasons now, both at PCA and SCCA, but once I drove a WRX, I sold the Porsche and bought this new wagon. I raced it twice last season without any mod�s. Once in SCCA where I was not used to all the tight turns, and ran decent, but slid a lot.
The other event was at a good size track in the PCA club. There were about 40 cars, and about 8 were non-Porsches, including me. At the end, of the top 18 fastest, 6 were non-P-cars, including myself!
I picked up about 5 seconds from 1:46 just going from the 911 to my new WRX :banana:
Since then, I have put mod�s on the car that should get me another few seconds, and should be in the top 10% I think.
SCCA is another matter, there were a lot of fast, highly modded cars there, but a WRX did get 5th out of around 45 cars there that day. (Over Vette's, Viper's, Miata�s, etc.)
| slowstangguy | 01-11-2005 10:54 AM |
neek its your instructor Bill. just wanted to back you up on how the subaru's did this past weekend. This was my first weekend as well in a subaru and i can tell you that i've never had so much fun in such a forgiving car. oh and neek i wouldn't be suprised if jeff sells the cobra and gets a suby as well. when we both owned mustangs we were waiting to see which one would turn to the darkside first. well all i have to say is the darkside is good. and more are definately on the way over from the other side.
| JustAnotherGuy | 01-11-2005 11:08 AM |
I thought all the PCA events were being closed to non-porsche owners? I'd love to bring the STi over to a Moroso event.
| fastwrx | 01-11-2005 11:29 AM |
PCA events are open to non-Porsche owners. You just can't be a PCA member. Members, of course, get a bit of a discount on the HPDE fee. So, you attend as a non-member and pay a little more. PCA is a good group of people and has great instructors.
Mike
Mike
| johnfelstead | 01-11-2005 11:33 AM |
[QUOTE=M]elise is best car ever, cannot be passed by heavy imprezas[/QUOTE]
wanna bet? :devil:
wanna bet? :devil:
| Neek | 01-11-2005 01:59 PM |
[QUOTE=slowstangguy]neek its your instructor Bill. just wanted to back you up on how the subaru's did this past weekend. This was my first weekend as well in a subaru and i can tell you that i've never had so much fun in such a forgiving car. oh and neek i wouldn't be suprised if jeff sells the cobra and gets a suby as well. when we both owned mustangs we were waiting to see which one would turn to the darkside first. well all i have to say is the darkside is good. and more are definately on the way over from the other side.[/QUOTE]
Good to hear from you Bill...you need a name change and quick.
Thanks to your help I was able to get comfortable on that new track in a new vehicle really very quickly.
Jeff and yourself are very good drivers/instructors.
Good to hear from you Bill...you need a name change and quick.
Thanks to your help I was able to get comfortable on that new track in a new vehicle really very quickly.
Jeff and yourself are very good drivers/instructors.
| rankink | 01-11-2005 02:41 PM |
How much were the fees to run for the day? I have been invited out by PCA members that I auto-x with in the keys. But that was in my WRX and did not have the money to at that time.
| Neek | 01-11-2005 02:51 PM |
Registration was $200. You need to have a tech inspection prior. I had the shop swap my brake fluid and they did the inspection for free. You needed to bring a helmet. I also paid $40 for a disc of all the digital pictures that were taken of my car. Should be here in a week.
| rankink | 01-11-2005 03:00 PM |
[QUOTE=Neek]Registration was $200. You need to have a tech inspection prior. I had the shop swap my brake fluid and they did the inspection for free. You needed to bring a helmet. I also paid $40 for a disc of all the digital pictures that were taken of my car. Should be here in a week.[/QUOTE]
It is not a tech inspection like at regular auto-x? Do you have to have it by a shop with some kind of waiver from them or something?
It is not a tech inspection like at regular auto-x? Do you have to have it by a shop with some kind of waiver from them or something?
| Neek | 01-11-2005 03:07 PM |
[QUOTE=rankink]It is not a tech inspection like at regular auto-x? Do you have to have it by a shop with some kind of waiver from them or something?[/QUOTE]
Yeah, you download the tech inspection and medical form from the website and bring the tech inspection form to one of their approved shops. After they fill it out and sign it you bring it to the track with you.
Yeah, you download the tech inspection and medical form from the website and bring the tech inspection form to one of their approved shops. After they fill it out and sign it you bring it to the track with you.
| slowstangguy | 01-11-2005 03:55 PM |
rankink what autox do you do down in the keys? would it happen to be bay bottom crawl?
| rankink | 01-11-2005 04:28 PM |
[QUOTE=slowstangguy]rankink what autox do you do down in the keys? would it happen to be bay bottom crawl?[/QUOTE]
I race with EVSCC down in the lower keys. They are the club that puts on the Bay Bottom Crawl. Although, I have raced at all their other venues, I have never made it to the Crawl yet. Hopefully this year though.
Kolin
I race with EVSCC down in the lower keys. They are the club that puts on the Bay Bottom Crawl. Although, I have raced at all their other venues, I have never made it to the Crawl yet. Hopefully this year though.
Kolin
| slowstangguy | 01-11-2005 05:37 PM |
definately make it down there, it will be my 5th year. the best event i go to every year. just definately not to the faint of heart. probably about a dozen cars a year go off course. if it was a regular autox that would be fine but off course here is water and trees:)
| rankink | 01-11-2005 05:52 PM |
[QUOTE=slowstangguy]definately make it down there, it will be my 5th year. the best event i go to every year. just definately not to the faint of heart. probably about a dozen cars a year go off course. if it was a regular autox that would be fine but off course here is water and trees:)[/QUOTE]
I know exactly how the course is, they have the Serpentine coming up next month. Which is basically the Crawl in reverse, so I am familiar with the course (backwards at least). They also run one called Snoopy & woodstock twice a year, that is also on another old road. Like 1.5 miles total each run and has three different timed sections as well.
I know exactly how the course is, they have the Serpentine coming up next month. Which is basically the Crawl in reverse, so I am familiar with the course (backwards at least). They also run one called Snoopy & woodstock twice a year, that is also on another old road. Like 1.5 miles total each run and has three different timed sections as well.
| Liquid Schwartz | 01-11-2005 07:42 PM |
Hey Neek, It's me, Kira... ya know... the one that passed you?! What an awesome weekend! Oh yeah, and hi Billy. Please let me out of the trunk. That is no way to treat your girlfriend!
| Neek | 01-11-2005 07:57 PM |
Hey Kira...no shame here my dear. You have a fast car and drive it that way. Nicely done. I think those German guys were hitting on you though.
"You have zee greeeze on jour faaaze! Here fraulein let me vipe it for you!"
"You have zee greeeze on jour faaaze! Here fraulein let me vipe it for you!"
| FiKtIOn | 01-11-2005 10:44 PM |
[QUOTE=M]elise is best car ever, cannot be passed by heavy imprezas[/QUOTE]
Heheh.... :devil:
Heheh.... :devil:
| w0rXer | 01-13-2005 07:49 PM |
FYI: PDC has an HPDE day on the 23rd of this month at Moroso, if you all are interested. There is also a track day on the 22nd but I can't recall which club is organizing it.
I have a couple questions for you local guys. Where do you take your cars for tech inspections? Any opinion on Bello's? Also, don't you have to be invite by a member to participate in a PCA event? I plan to bring my wrx out in the next few month to one of these events, too. So hopefully I will meet you all in time.
I have a couple questions for you local guys. Where do you take your cars for tech inspections? Any opinion on Bello's? Also, don't you have to be invite by a member to participate in a PCA event? I plan to bring my wrx out in the next few month to one of these events, too. So hopefully I will meet you all in time.
| slowstangguy | 01-14-2005 12:00 AM |
Bello's is an excellent place, i've gone to ernie for years and he was one of my first instructors as well. just a great guy and very knowledgable about any car. if you are in the deerfield beach area go to foreign affairs. they are off of power line and sample, kinda tucked away but you can get better directions on their website. as for pca events, i've been a member since i started because my dad owns a porsche. i would go to their website and just try and sign up, i know people who weren't porshe owners who got in fine. then again you can always email the registrar and find out. pca is a good bunch of people.
| fastwrx | 01-14-2005 11:32 AM |
Ernie Bello is DA MAN! I've been a customer of Ernie's for a number of years. His knowledge and integrity is unsurpassed, IMO. Think about this... he doesn't advertise. His location is as about as hidden as can be. And, his business is hopping! All word of mouth. He has a VERY good reputation in the motorsports community.
If you decide to use Ernie, tell him that Mike the STi (and future Elise) guy gave the thumbs up!
Seriously... you won't regret going to Ernie (and Marcello).
Mike
If you decide to use Ernie, tell him that Mike the STi (and future Elise) guy gave the thumbs up!
Seriously... you won't regret going to Ernie (and Marcello).
Mike
| w0rXer | 01-15-2005 02:40 AM |
Hey, thanks for the advice guys. It looks like I will be getting my suspension/alignment done at Ernie's then. Actually I have spoken to Ernie on the phone before and he did seem very knowledgeable and was very helpful, he even spoke of your car fastwrx.
Will any of you be running at the PDC event next weekend? I hope to be there just to scope things out and learn what to expect for my first time out.
Will any of you be running at the PDC event next weekend? I hope to be there just to scope things out and learn what to expect for my first time out.
| fastwrx | 01-15-2005 09:06 AM |
I will be out of town next weekend, so I can't make the PDC event, darn it. Maybe next time! :)
Mike
Mike
| Butt Dyno | 01-16-2005 09:05 AM |
[QUOTE=Neek]First of all, anyone owning one of these cars that does not track it or autocross it is doing themselves a huge disservice. [/QUOTE]^^^^^
| srf | 01-16-2005 11:18 AM |
I have to second that. These aren't Audis after all. =)
| slowstangguy | 01-16-2005 02:52 PM |
i will be there, it was a very last minute sign up.
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