Fall s2000 / NSX drive

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nsxsimon

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Fall s2000 / NSX drive -cancelled.. Fall Salamander instead

Update - due to lack of interest and money the Oct. 8th track day is cancelled. Instead, if there is interest we will have another drive like the one we had earlier this summer called the "salamander" of which nsx2nv, spa_s2000 and red dragon attended.

2005 MoosePort
Sat. Oct. 8th


Sat. Oct. 8th

2.5 mile Grand Prix Track
Track Rental - $4,500.00
Corner Workers (10 @ $85.00) - $850.00?
Ambulance - $850.00
Tow Truck - $350.00?
Insurance - $1,100.00

Total $7,650.00

If the price is too high, I'm trying to see if we can tag onto someone else's saturday as well.

I'll report back
 
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I think Im okay for the 8th.

We can get away with 5 corner workers no problem, but that only saves a bit.

If we can get 25ish cars, that is a VERY reasonable day. That said - first timers REALLY need to go around with someone whos been there a few times to see the lines and where they dont want to go. I dont know how much instructors get per day, but 5 instructors may be a good idea.

That insurance will allow how many cars on the track at the same time? 6? The goal would be to have no more than 3 run groups, and 6 cars on the track at once is nothing. 8-10 cars is probably okay even. We had 4 yesterday and its like you have the track to yourself 95% of the time.

If we can get 20+ cars im probably in. Id say screw the drive and Id just do the track
 
I think we set a new record today at Mosport .... 5 NSX's showed up for the Dexter Day and no one even organized it!

So if Tumbler puts something together, we should have a decent turnout.
 
I cant make it to the Oct 8th day - that is thanksgiving weekend and Im out of town :(

How was Dexter? We had a great day on Thursday. I was quite pleased with my day. Only 12 cars with 4 cars per run group. No traffic, except for those slowwww Porsche Turbos!
 
Well, there were a lot more cars than 12. As Daria mentioned, there were 5 NSXs alone!
I got passed a plenty which was actually a real good experience as you can see the other car/driver capabilities. Made some great progress as my instructor was David Emperingham. Let him take my car out for a few laps and actually should have asked him to drive it longer as there is a lot to be learned from just watching. He ended up taking turn 2 in 4th by his second lap( I do it in 3rd) with a nice slide almost all the way through, now that was impressive! He was real good with telling you what to work on within your own comfort zone. I improved immediately after a few of his tips and having the previous experience at the track definitely helped. No doubt a bit more activity on the track than at the BMW school but they let us out on our own almost right away if we showed confidence and wanted to go out. Put on 400 km on track so no doubt a ton of practice with only one scary incident due to me watching the guy behind me rather than braking the proper amount. Double oversteer situation in turn 9 :eek: All worked out well though and valuable lesson learned. There were a few times when a string of 4 or 5 cars were together but it was easy to avoid as most of them are real fast and will just take off ahead. Once in the afternoon session we had 4 cars all about equal speed which was a real treat, just lapping all in a line with the speed at the top of my comfort level. Traffic really eases off in the later afternoon so thats the time to go out if you want some space. All in all a real fine day and would definitely do it again.
 
WOW! 400 km on the track! How did that feel for you? My limit seems to be about 250 km before I start feeling more fatigued than I feel I should be, but that usually comes around 4PM, so maybe if I got those miles in sooner, then it would be different. 400km is a TON! I can see how you would learn alot during that day.

Sounds like a harry time through 9 - I bet you learned *the most* from that :D. Id rather do that there then in 2 or 4 though. Did you go off track?

I find that Im in 4th through almost all of the track. I shift from 3rd into 4th around the start/finish line. Back into third coming into 5a. Into 2nd at 5b. And I bounce off the limiter in 4th as I approach the crest on the back straight. I find the gearing in my car a little less than optimal for that track. Im giving up about 10km/h at the end of the straight because I dont feel like shifting into 5th (I redline in 4th at 210km/h) at the end only to shift back into 4th for 8. I could put a different rear end in so that Im higher in the revs throughout the track, but that Im able to accelerate all the way through the back straight.

Sounds like you had a terrific day. :D
 
Didn't go off track as it went one way then the other and it was the other way which really was the new experience. I just didn't brake enough, went in too hot and kept off the throttle which lightened the rear and that lead to all the fun!
The 400 kms seemed to be OK but cerainly had a bit to play in the mishap near the end of the day

No doubt the different gearing means a different approach. When I get out again, I think I'll not rev the crap out of it as much as it really isn't a race so why not ease off on the mechanical strain. I can do most of the track in 3rd from the end of the straight all the way to turn 5. I started doing turn 4 in 4th and that was waaay better! Then 3rd into 5a and 2nd in 5b
No way my car will do 210 on the straight. maybe 203ish at best. Thats where the extra HPs and that nice intake of yours surely make the difference.
My goal next time is to go 4th gear in turn 2 with more confidence and less RPMs.
 
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Yeah - I find that if you are WOT in 4th through 4 youre gonna have a way easier time with things than if youre in 3rd, or balancing the throttle and steering inputs, so I agree with you.

What scared the hell out of me, and shocked me even more, was what my car was able to do in the hands of an instructor though turn 2. WOT the entire time. No speed check heading into 2, just WOT in 4th, the entire time. I shat myself at what the car was able to do when all the weight was on the right rear. Gotta make sure youre set up right for that, but I bet its an easier way through 2 than balancing 4th vs steering inputs.

Im pretty sure you can get higher than 203kph down the straight. Stock S2000s do that and they have horrific aerodynamics.
 
Don't know how much but my 4th is higher than yours so there will be no WOT with my car in stock form ( or any form I might guess) around that turn. Geez that sounds a little scary . Can't truly say if I could squeeze a bit more top end out. I never really paste it to the floor the entire way. I actually like just taking it to about 180 and easing over the hill and not killing the brakes. I must say though that by the end of the day things seem a lot more relaxed throughout compared to the first couple days on that track.
 
I was surprised at how well my brakes held in; I was not braking until after the crest of the hill and I was at 210 cresting the hill lap after lap. They were shudddering mid afternoon, so I took a few cooler laps and then things seemed to settle in again.

I think I should get new pads for the next event though. I wasnt feeling any fade though :D
 
SPA_S2000 said:
... I find that Im in 4th through almost all of the track. I shift from 3rd into 4th around the start/finish line. Back into third coming into 5a. Into 2nd at 5b. And I bounce off the limiter in 4th as I approach the crest on the back straight. I find the gearing in my car a little less than optimal for that track. Im giving up about 10km/h at the end of the straight because I dont feel like shifting into 5th (I redline in 4th at 210km/h) at the end only to shift back into 4th for 8. I could put a different rear end in so that Im higher in the revs throughout the track, but that Im able to accelerate all the way through the back straight. :D
Click to expand...
That is precisely the difference between the earlier model 5 speeds and the newer NSX’s with the 6 speed gear box. I’ve been around Mosport in Peter Mills’ (6 speed) rocket and it felt that he was shifting much more than I was just because he would run out of revs with only another 50 to 100 meters left into every corner.

I much prefer a 5 speed around Mosport. That preference of course will change for other tracks. :wink:
 
I'm going to drive Mosport only, that way I can talk myself out of having to change to the short gears. Theres another couple thousand I can buy some new kites with!
Saturday was an epic Easterly with shoulder high waves on the inside and approx 8 footers on the outside at Ashbridges bay. Best kiting day I've ever had at Ashbridges. Nice way to keep the groove going after Fridays Mosport session.
Was trying to get into the session at Watkins Glen but have not heard back much from the organizer as in the one message she returned, they were apparently trying to get enough instructors. If I don't get into that I'll probably do the Oct 15 Dexter day at Mosport to finish off the season and whats left of my tires.
 
I saw those waves! I could hear them from my house.

Oct 15th huh....

Learned a great quote the other day.

"Race tracks are a really great way to turn money into noise and heat".

Not that I need a faster car - but a SC would get me into 5th sooner on the straight which would allow me to skip the bing bing bing bing as I bounce off the limiter approaching the end of the straight in 4th...

It would be irresponsible of me to continue without an SC. :D
 
Don't forget the bigger brakes to slow you down. The brakes probably won't fit with your rims so sell them to me cheap and get yourself some new ones. :biggrin:
Just got the email saying I'm in at the Oct 3&4 event at Watkins Glen.
Most likely take the boat over to Rochester then a few minutes and I'm at my destination.
Sounds like fun!
 
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Not sure about the one day option. You need a car inspection so that adds a bit to the pain. Sounds like you don't get a ton of track time as there are also work assignments which I'm not too sure of what they are. It is held by the NNJR Porche club, www.nnjr-pca.com Might find some infor there
 
Well, that certainly is impressive - you having David Emperingham as your instructor. I would have thought he'd have better things to do with his time now that he's racing in the Grand-Am Series. I guess Dexter must be paying him very well. Sounds like he gave your car a good workout! Taking T2 WOT in 4th without even lifting at the top is mighty impressive considering your car is bone stock NSX on street tires. I would have liked to have seen that. Did you happen to notice what lap times he was doing?

Glad to hear you had a good time on Friday.
 
Rui - that was Jonathan Urlin (of IRL fame) who did 2 at WOT in 4th in MY car, not Bruce's. May explain your surprise (Ive got TODA coilovers and RA1s on the car with a 275 rear remember).

What are you and Daria running for brake pads/brake fluids? Stock callipers? I should stuff some new pads in there and get a fluid swap before the next event probably.
 
I don't really know how much throttle he had going but pretty sure it wasn't full. If it was I would have jumped out at the turn in! He only did 2 laps but I did notice a bit of difference between his driving and mine :biggrin:
Getting ready for Watkins Glen next week, hope the gas is cheaper over there.
Any ideas as to the best way to amuse my wife while I'm at the track?
 
I'm a Watkins' Expert (I'm there at least three times a year)!

Feel free to PM or call me for various reccos but here's my short list for your wife (I'm assuming she won't have a car):

1) Corning Glass Museum (Corning is about 20-25 mins South)
2) Stay in Corning, leave her there to wander the town, you go to the WGI
3) Book her on a Boat tour
4) send her to Watkinsglen.com and see what she's interested in

Stu
416 258-8527
 
The only place of attraction I've actually been to in the few times that I've been to The Glen, was the Watkins Glen State Park which is right near the Sunoco/Subway joint in town. It's a pretty cool place. You walk through a gorge with spectacular rock formations and under a waterfall.

I've heard Captain Bill's Seneca Lake cruises are quite popular with the tourists. There are akso several wineries/vineyards in the area (she'll need a car to get to those). I was told the Castel Grisch Winery is one of the better ones to visit.
 
Thanks for the info. Being in only one car will be a problem. She's pretty good at entertaining herself and wants to spend at least a half day at the track to see whats its like. I'm sure something will work out. We're taking the high speed ferry across the lake so that'll be interesting as we've only seen it coming and going. Puts off some nice waves though as I've had opportunity to ride those at Cherry beach when its windy enough to get out on the kite. Might be able to talk her into a BMW school next season for sure if she likes what she sees..
 
I took my NSX on the ferry last week - my recco's:

1) Dont reserve in advance

2) Show up 1 hour+ before ferry scheduled to leave

3) Tell them you have an exotic car and that you need "space" around the car or you will insist on taking it off the boat - I was polite but firm

4) They will ask you to wait and then accomodate you (what they did is put two cars wide in the center vs. three wide I had when I took my Audi on several times)

5) The drive on they offered some wood to help on the lip into the boat - I declined (hate to see the wood flipping up into my body work) I took it easy at a slight angle and my factory splitter cleared just fine - off the boat was no prob)

6) I recomend 1st class because you get a couch to lie down on and table service - standing in line sucks, they are VERY ineffecient at serving at the cafeteria style food thing.

7) If they are going to park you tight - skip it! I took a minor dent to my Audi when someone opened their door into it, I'd hate to worry about my NSX! :eek:

8) To get to Watkins Glen: when you get off the ferry drive south on the road just off the ferry (Lake Ave I think) until you come to Hwy 104 (left hand exit), go to you get on 590 South, then 490 South to 90 East, to Hwy 14 South, 14 South into Genese (spelling)(don't take the truck bypass but make a right when in heart of town of Genese (you'll know if you've gone too far - its a dead end) then a left gets you back on 14 which takes you down into town of Watkins Glen. (Careful, I got a ticket last time, take it 15 mph (or less) over)

If you're gonna stay in Corning I'll give you different directions to get there faster

9) Feel free to borrow my maps - I have a good one. :biggrin:
 
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