Ian Baas (aka '06 Rolex 24 GT2 class Winner) took my X for some laps today

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24 August 2001
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Location
Downtown Orlando
They mentioned that Ian Baas might stop by the DE today at Putnam Park (I think he's in the area for the race this weekend in Indy). Anyway, I saw him so I asked if he'd like to take the car out for a few laps as I'd like to see what it could do in the "right" hands. He was more than happy as he'd never driven an NSX. First of all, he's a super-nice guy - very young to have all the accomplishments he holds. He didn't waste a second with formalities (like warming up on the track :smile: ) and got right into it. I could tell he was feeling much more comfortable with the car by the 2nd lap then the fun really started. We ran in the instructor session which was comprised of all race prepped cars (all on r compounds) and were getting held up in the corners (I'm running oem 15/16's w/ the yoko's)! We did about 7 laps (I was having too much fun to count). It felt out of control in a very in-control kinda way. He left the TCS on but it still let us get a little wild in the corners. He commented on the amazing sound of the car (as literally everyone does - thank you Comptech) and said my front koni's need to be firmed just a tad. What a blast! StormTrooper has officially been christened! :biggrin:

I'll post better pics when I can get them...

 
wow, that's a very good experience!!! and I thought there's nothing in Iowa. (I stayed there one summer and fleed home ;) )

one advice though, switch off the TCS if someone had race car, track experience driving your car, they may not be able to do things they wanted to do, say powering out to transfer the weight to maintain balance. Actually you should learn driving without TCS too.
 
Great story. I had a (somewhat) similar experience when I was shopping for a used car. I met the seller, John, at the top of Skyline Blvd. and asked why he was selling. He had won a car, he told me, and didn't need the WRX anymore. "How did you win a car?", I asked. He said he had just won the Toyota Atlantic championship. :eek: "John Fogarty?" I asked. "Yep."

I took his car up and down Skyline for a few miles then I asked if he'd like to drive the NSX. He took me for a tour of one of the most picturesque coastal roads in the country. Great fun, and like Ian, he loved the handling of the NSX.

It's great to have a car the racers can appreciate.
 
ChopsJazz said:
Great story...
It's great to have a car the racers can appreciate.

Kudo's on your story as well. :smile:
Unfortunately I have alot to add to this story but am not yet ready to here on the forum. Though it's neat to be able to say he drove it - race car drivers aren't known for going easy on cars. The following day I found that my car had been pushed too hard (not his fault, really) and I'm now in a position I never thought I'd be in with this car.
BIG bucks is all I have to say. :frown:
 
Thanks for sharing, that must have been a great experience.
 
ChopsJazz said:
Uh oh, what happened? Clutch? Brakes? Worse?

Haha, ohmygosh I wish it were both!
I'm looking for a new engine. :frown:
 
2slow2speed said:
Hmm.. Maybe an overreved motor? Everything else besides that should not cost that much money to fix. Hope that you get the problem sorted out soon so that you can enjoy your NSX once again.

Spun bearing. Thanks for the well wish, though. It was nice to come home to my '95 garage queen after leaving the racer at the shop... for an undermined length of time (do we have a crying smiley??). I'm afraid this saga is just beginning - and in the middle of the track season. :frown: :frown:
I'll write out the whole experience once things come together w/ the car.
 
Sorry to hear the mishap after expecting to have left the track with a positive experience.

Perhaps it is appropriate to note the "expected" protocol when another driver drives and purportedly damages the car - speaking in general of course. I know you offered him to drive, just curious, did you notice the damage immediately afterwords?

At the track, very few of us have the courage to drive someone else's car or allow ours to be driven by someone fearing the consequences of such ensuing damage. And friendships can be lost over such situations which statistically speaking we know will happen - perhaps when we least expect them. I have taken the conservative approach - if you I can't pay for it, I don't drive it, and I always have the owner in the passenger seat to make sure if something went wrong whether it was my fault or a mechanical failure. I have also said the same to those who want to drive my car, you break it you pay for it. It takes a lot of trust on both sides.
 
Very sorry to hear about the spun bearing - I did the same exact thing last September and my car is still at the mechanics (though by my own choice).

I've also had several pro (Speed WC, ALMS, and LeMans) and amateur drivers take my NSX for a few sessions around the track. It was always a stated and realized that "Break=Bought" and I was always (save for once) in the passenger seat. I have to say that my biggest breakthru in becoming a better driver was watching and feeling what a pro driver could do with my NSX. Realizing that I could do certain things with my NSX on track that I theretofore did not think possible did wonders for my confidence and was entirely worth (for me) the risk involved.

Obviously and I wish it hadn't, that experience worked out differently for you.:frown: Still, good luck with getting your NSX up and running.

FWIW, which bearing was it? The last bank of cylinders?
 
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