This page is dedicated to my fascination
with the
and running it at the local track -
Read on and enjoy!
(last updated 02/25/04
)
For those interested - the Red SVO was being worked on all 2000 and only had one run at the track in 2001 (two run groups on one day) - which I'll document soon. I have been working on the Red One and it's just taking me longer than I anticipated while trying to hold down gainful employment... Come back soon to read my 2001 escapades and come back for a full 2004 campaign in the Red One (I have to name her someday...)
2000 Track Days
1999 Track Days
October 23rd
October 16th
September 10th
May 8th
March 27thSpectacular Video of the Red SVO in Turn Three
June 2nd, 2000
June 2, 2000 Track Day
Shelby American Automobile Club Northwest Open Track
Finally, a weekend that is expected to be sunny, and it starts Friday - TODAY! It’s been cloudy and rainin' for the last week or so and none of us was looking forward to running our cars in the rain at PIR. Still can't believe it, Rose Festival begins today also and Rose Festival in Portland means rain 99% of the time. But we won't complain!
PIR is getting very busy these days. So busy in fact that we are seeing more and more Open Track and Driver Training events during the week - so here we are on a sunny Friday morning. Air is cool but will get much warmer as the day progresses, which no one will complain about. Only 51 cars pre-registered however a lot of folks showed up the day of the event. I think we had somewhere around 67 cars. You can see some of the pics of the event at http://www.saacnw.org/.
Today I brought the Gray (1D) SVO out because "Red", my red (2R) SVO is still in the shop. The Gray SVO hasn't been out to the track in over a year. Still has last years gas in it too, which was a bit concerning as I don't like detonation when I'm playing at the track... Turns out it wasn't too bad and I was able to gas up after the first run - which made any detonation I had go away. I unpacked the car and got in line for Tech. Passed with flying colors and I was assigned good ole number 11. 11 is easy to put on your car because if you can rip tape and apply it semi-vertical (not necessarily straight), you can make the number 11.
I took a walk around the paddock and found 2 more SVO's! Bart O. was out with his 85 Comp Prep again and someone brought a 1984 Canyon Red SVO all the way from Idaho to sell to a guy who has a friend up in Seattle. The SVO was in real good shape and I'm glad the owner found someone who really wanted an SVO. The friend from Seattle came down and I talked SVO with him for quite a while. That's me and him standing next to the Gray SVO.
Lots of very cool Original Shelby Cobra's and replica's out today. Along with some very nice Shelby Mustangs (a few GT350's and one GT500). A very nice full race Sunbeam Tiger - a small British looking car with a huge Ford powerplant under the hood. All smoke and noise here and very fast! One of these days I want to build a Factory Five Cobra replica... Another fellow SAAC-NW member brought his Thunderbird Turbo Coupe (also has the 2.3L turbocharged engine) - he's been playing this winter with the car and wanted to see what it would do today. Lots of other Mustangs and Fords - including a 1974 Camaro with a Big Block FORD powerplant! A Saleen or two and other assorted hot rods ready to burn fossil fuels and squeal the tires.
I was put in run group 3 today - could have run group 2 but now you have to have a full race suit to play in groups 1 and 2. That's OK, I did NOT want to run the Gray SVO too hard today, this was to have fun and not break it day! As it turns out, this was the right group to be in - fast enough so I could have fun and the car/drivers were fairly equal. Made for some fun driving altho I forgot I cannot stand the tires I have on the Gray SVO - they really slow me down in the tighter turns and overall are junk. Even under braking I can't really depend on them - wish I had taken the old Comp T/A's off Red, they would have been better than what I was running.
The SVO ran flawlessly - even had comments on how I was getting around the track which was great to hear. It was fun keeping the v-8's at bay even with the tire problems. There were a number of cars that ended up passing me today, but that was OK with me because I wasn't out to run hard today. I think I could have given most a run for their money in the 2R, particularly when I get it finished. I can't wait for the day that car gets back on the track... Brakes were great ALL DAY. I never had a fade in any run - I'm sold on slotted rotors and Red will get them next. Power was great all day. I forgot how nice it was to drive this car (except for the tires) - and how good the 2R is going to feel when it gets subframes.
I met a couple of people from Yakima, my hometown. Small world. They had driven down with their Mustang (8x Cobra SVT) and Porsche (think it was a 928). The Mustang owner asked me to sit in the car with him during his runs to help him learn the track.. I thought this was pretty cool and agreed to do it. I tell you, from the passenger seat - you really have to trust the one with the steering wheel in his/her hand at full gallop... I have a greater appreciation for this effort by the folks that have sat with me at the Team Continental Drivers Training (LOL!). He did fine altho he really needs to get an eggshell under his right foot! That car would come out so easily in most turns and push bad in others under acceleration. I think if he learns how to squeeze the gas, he'll bet much better exits. Definitely not afraid to charge a corner either (LOL!).
I will say that I do like the sound and feel of sheer torque sitting in a V-8 Mustang! <expletive deleted for the kids!>
I will also say that I really noticed how much better controlled, smoother feeling, and stable a stock (ok it's lowered but otherwise stock) SVO feels particularly in the twisties. Granted, the opposite rear wheel lifting off the pavement in a tight turn can be resolved with some rearend tweaks - the stock rear on my 2R does not have this problem at all. Nor does the Gray SVO. But did I like the GRUNT of that V-8. That was fun. By the end of the session, he was doing much better and was clicking off faster laps. He would dive into the chicane much faster than I would that the Gray SVO today but his tires were sooooo much better than mine. I don't think I've ever taken Red into the chicane THAT fast before and now I know the potential better tires might produce. I hope he comes back again for another track day so I can see his progress - it was nice to be able to do this for someone else.
In between runs, I was talking a lot of SVO. A lot of folks stopped by my SVO to chat and when I stopped by other places somehow the conversations would turn into SVO. It was nice talking to the guy who bought the SVO sight unseen from his friend who knew someone in Idaho.
We talked about how many parts we'd acquired or needed over the winter. Mostly we reveled in Mustang chat, speed and the pursuit thereof. And the sunshine. Got up to 87 degrees today, I didn't bring enuf water- it's $2 a bottle at the concession stand - YIKES! Met a nice Porsche Club member and I'll definitely be running their track days when Red gets back online.
And hey - nobody wrecked their car or got hurt today! That is what I like about the SAAC-NW events - they are safety-minded and almost never have any serious problems. And they are a bunch of fun-loving car folks - what more could you ask for? Can't wait for the next Open Track.
See you at the Track!
1999 Track Days
October 23rd Track Day
This weekend I ran "Red" at PIR with the Alfa Romeo club (AROO). Nice bunch of folks and the cheapest track day this year at $75. Prolly go up next year due to insurance and City of Portland rate hikes but that's a story for another page...
Mid-October is about the time we begin the rainy season here in Oregon. This October has been exceptionally dry and sunny, some days getting into the upper 70's! This day turned out to be sunny and dry - it was cold and the clouds showed up in the afternoon but the sun shined through for the entire day. With this club, you pick which run group(s) you run your car in - I decided I didn't want to get in the way of the two Ferrari's (one was an F50), so I ran with the Intermediate crowd. My goal is to run with the advanced group - I'll get good enough to ride there one of these days. The run groups ran 15 minutes in the first session, then three 30 minute sessions, the longest sessions of the year for me. And we used the chicane also - I enjoy the chicane however it throws much of what I learned last weekend off... I do enjoy challenges.
The day started out cold and foggy. I arrived way too early, however this gave me the opportunity to meet new people and check out some of the cars running the track. We had about 65 cars - a medium crowd. I dropped the tire pressures down to help them bite the cold track and gave the car a once over. Passed tech and parked the car ready to go. By the time we were ready to start the day, the fog had lifted and the sun began to shine - which was very helpful in keeping warm! Unfortunately, the on-track medic hadn't arrived yet so we had to wait an additional 30 minutes which threw the entire day off. This was cool however as they opened the track at the end of the day for a full hour!
My first run of the day was spent adjusting to the cold conditions and finding my points on the track for shifts and turns. Not a full out run at all, but a measured run. Waited until the second run of the day to work up to some serious speed. I'm telling you, the 7/8 esses are so much fun when you hit them right - full on the power at about 90MPH and brushing the alligator bumps is sooooo much fun! Too much speed and the SVO is teetering on the brink of traction loss as you prepare for turn 9. My exit out of turn 9 gave me a real head of steam all day going down into the chicane.
The chicane is an interesting set of corners. I need to work on being very smooth here and try to carry more speed into it. As it stands, I am still braking way too much before the turn in. I had a very interesting event happen here too: I was tooling down the front straight, giving the slower car in front of me plenty of room as there was no one behind me coming out of 9 (and he didn't pull to the right as the BLUE FLAG told him to do...). By the time I was ready to begin braking for the turn into the chicane, I found a black Nissan NSX coming at a very good clip. Not to be getting in anyone's way, I went in a little deeper and turned in too fast. The SVO came around on me and I ended up facing the cars coming into the chicane! I could do nothing to catch the car before it came around as I was carrying too much speed for the amount of turn I was giving the car. I ended up off line which was very good considering :-) I didn't repeat that event the rest of the day and I hope I don't ever again!
I need better tires - badly. Street tires don't cut it when you are trying to go as fast as this car is capable of. I found that I reached the limits of the tires way too soon and it is hampering my ability to do better. I have found that I can drive within the limits of the tires but this car wants more. And she's gonna get it over the winter - stickier rain tires for to/from track runs and rain days, and racing tires for dry days.
I'm loving the Griggs setup more and more each time out. It is taking a bit of getting used to as it is much more sensitive than the standard SVO setup - which is certainly no slouch! The rear of the car needs bushings bad and that'll be fixed over the winter too, along with some structural stiffening and new brakes. I'll probably replace the rear upper and lower control arms too, but the minimum will be new bushings. The car is very balanced and the only problem I am having is being loose going into the tighter corners - the rear of the car wants to come around (not under power). This is a good thing. I'm having too much fun. I also found out that I can run with most of the clubs - which means I go from 8 track days to 20 next year - my pocket book will not be overflowing but the adrenaline will be pumping.
Can't wait until next year!!! See you at the track
October 16th Track Day
Second track day out with the Red SVO - and third day out with my friends at Team Continental (this year - been out with them 6 times over the last two years). No images this time unfortunately, forgot the camera...
It was sunny all day, very cool in the morning (35°), working up to about 70° in the afternoon. This is unusual in this neck of the woods, we are normally getting into the rainy season about now. But we've had more continuous sunny days this month than we've had all summer! Go figure - works for me tho!
Update on the car - I found the shimmy in my steering wheel and fixed it. Big difference in the feel of the car (LOL!). I cannot say enough about the brakes on this thing too, while they dust pretty good over the course of the day, they take a lot of abuse and I still have over 60% of them left after today's run! I also had a vibration noise that was driving me crazy last time out - this was the shroud around the catalytic converter, seems it was missing a couple of bolts... Fixed, and no more noise...
Now, back to fun day! Team Continental (TC) put me in run group 3 this time (the fastest run group, no speed limit, passing on front and back straights). I feel very comfortable with the flags, passing other cars and being passed by others so this was looking to be a great day - flat out running all day! We were not using the chicane this time, which puts particular emphasis on braking before turn one ('cuz you are really hauling). I picked an instructor to help me with my gear selection and other things I've been working on all year, and I picked a good one. He was Norpac Champion last year and was second this year! He took third in his class at this years Valvoline Run-offs at Mid-Ohio (SCCA Event). He runs a V-8 Mustang in AS class and I picked him 'cuz he knows how to drive Stangs (obviously). I've had a number of instructors that run smaller cars and while just about everyone has their own line, the smaller cars definitely have a different line around PIR.
My first run out was a joke, tires were cold and I was charging the corners. The car was tail happy and I almost lost it coming out of two and four on a couple of occasions. My instructor in the car told me to take it easy and we'd work up to speed over the day. I thought this was a good idea and took his advice. It felt ssssoooo sssslllloooowww but my lap times were way down! I was a bit nervous too, he is good :-) After the track walk, I felt much more comfortable with him in the car.
After the first run, I let some air out of the tires as they were overinflated for the track conditions. This turned out to be a very good thing as I was able to control the car much better on a cold track. Unfortunately, after some very hot laps, the tires started fading and after the run, they were the hottest I've ever felt them. Next time I'm bringing a portable air tank so I can go up or down on pressure during the day.
By the end of the second run, I felt very comfortable in the car and was able to bring my lap times down considerably. I was getting passed by nearly everyone, mainly because I wasn't charging down the straights as fast as I normally would (about 100MPH). It should also be noted that every car in Group 3 either was a full out race car or had racing slicks on - makes a BIG difference in how fast you can approach this track. Next season, I'll have a set of Bridgestone RE71's for wet days and BFG R1's or Hoosier Racing Tires for dry days - then we'll see how this baby will do...
It was really warming up after lunch and the third run of the day was a total blast. I was going very fast into turn one and doing 4-wheel drifts in 1, 2, 4, and 9. Full on the throttle (after slowing to about 85-90MPH) though turn 7 - this is a adrenaline rush! First time I've ever tapped the brakes before 8 and then back on the gas hard before stomping on the brake before the turn into 9. The turbo is spooled way down after braking for 8, so you don't have much power there, but that's OK as turn 9 is a slow turn in and full on the throttle about halfway through. I think the turn workers were worrying about the cones they set out there because I was drifting right up to them on exit (9) which made my straight speeds very good. When I was charging the straights during the last run of the day, I was easily the fastest I've ever been down the front straight (120MPH). Believe it or not, only the last two laps did the brakes and tires begin to fade.
The last run of the day had whittled my run group down to 5 cars - very cool. Means lots of open track and lots of fun. My instructor ran two or three laps and told me to pull into the hot pits. Said I was doing great and to go out and finish the day by myself - alright! I was only passed by the race cars this run, and I was screaming around the track - no brake fade, no tire fade. I really had a good time out there.
The car did great and like I said last time, when the SVO is on, it is ON! This winter it will get some serious chassis stiffening and I'm investing in some good tires. Will do some baselining on the engine (leak-down tests, dyno runs) to get some documentation on where it sits before messing with more flow work, 3" downpipe, etc., etc., etc. I'm going to see if I can finish out the year running with the Alfa Romeo Club this weekend (Oct 23rd) 'cuz it is going to be sunny too! Sunny and Cool, what great turbo weather!
See you at the track!
September 10th Track Day
First track day out with the Red SVO - what a hoot! This time I have video of some of my fun that you can enjoy. Many THANKS to Lisa B. for the digital images!!!! For a look at the track - click on this link
I've been working on this SVO for the last 8 months or so, fixing this and adding that. It still ain't perfect yet but I wanted to shake it out at the track to see what it would do, including trying to determine the differences between the Gray and Red SVO's. This SVO has some major mods done to it, particularly the Griggs Racing GR-40 coil-over suspension on the front end. How would it compare to the lowered suspension in my Gray SVO? How does the engine feel after being rebuilt and having the head and other flow work done to it? I almost didn't make it - the night before track day I was tightening the lugs on the car and one of the front wheel studs broke! I found that these are not listed properly in the Ford Parts computer and after wrangling there and getting the wrong ones, I was able to score one at the local NAPA dealer - he had to use a micrometer to make sure the diameter was correct but it fit and I was back in business - whew! BTW, I have the real Ford part number now if anyone needs it...
On September 10th, 1999 my fellow Shelby American Northwest club members and I took our cars out to the local track to have some Open Track fun. This time, the weather was warm and sunny all day - not too hot in the afternoon, nice and cool turbo weather in the morning. I ran Group 3 this time. Met a very nice SVO owner who spent the previous night swapping noses so he could run his fairly stock '85 Comp Prep (He attended the Carlisle event and met a lot of you fellow SVO Owners - he's the one you all told him that he was a lucky Comp Prep owner! Bart Ouichida). Brian and Lisa B. brought their '86 2R SVO out but didn't run it (Brian ran the track announcements and timing while Lisa worked the turns and took some great digital footage of the day's events). Some very cool Shelby's and AC Cobras out also (One HR500 too!).
We were running the chicane for the first time this year - this was a hoot! For those not familiar with Portland International Raceway (PIR), the CART boys run here and the chicane was modified this year due to the interesting line Greg Moore took last year. Much wider into the chicane (3 cars wide) but very narrow into the second turn (whoa'ed down to about 45 MPH). It transitions from asphalt to concrete and I had a couple of 'issues' where I almost swapped ends coming into the turn. If you turn into it smooth you can carry a lot of speed, downshift to second, turn hard left and exit with the pedal mashed to the floor. It was a blast if you can't tell... Due to running the chicane, passing was allowed on the back straight - another first for me. It was fun blowing away that SHO on the back straight... Not bad for a 4-banger.
The first run of the day, I was taking it pretty easy, feeling out the car. After all, this is the first time I've had it out to the track and wasn't sure how it would handle - or if all my hard work would stay together for the entire day, much less cranking on the car later on in the day. Didn't need to worry - solid as a rock although I will try to figure out why my steering column is a tad loose (moves up and down but otherwise solid).
The car handles very nice and you can definitely tell the Griggs stuff makes the car much lighter in the front. As if the SVO isn't already light enough in the front. I was not able to make the car push all day. The car turns faster than the stock SVO setup which took some getting used to but once I got the hang of it, Katey bar the door! I love the stock SVO setup - I'd recommend this change to anyone that wants to replace their front suspension parts with something that you can easily get parts for. Otherwise, the stock SVO setup is still miles above any stock 5.0 in drivability and balance.
I was able to make the rear end of the car come out more easily than the Gray SVO. It turns in much faster than the Gray SVO and takes a bit more effort to be smooth. Not twitchy or anything like that, just a bit more responsive. When you are on the gas hard, the front end feels much lighter but I never felt as if it was ever out of my control no matter how hard I was driving. The stock SVO rear needs new bushings and or rear upper and lower control arms if I want to complete the suspension - it has the stock control arms and it looks like the stock bushings are very well worn. But I only felt uncomfortable in the turn into the chicane with it, the rest of the track felt like I was riding on rails.
Definitely LOVE the BFG Comp T/A's! What a difference over the Rikens I have on the Gray SVO. Sticky sweet. I'm going to invest in a set of R1's this winter for next years track days and will probably run both sets - will never run the Rikens again that is for sure. I was unable to get the car to do 4-wheel drifts like the Gray SVO, and Lord knows I tried. Brakes were good - stock too. I haven't had time to pull the wheels off and check the wear but they only faded once during the entire day and that was on the last lap of the third run - going into the chicane. Couldn't get whoa'ed down enuf and drove past the cones and into the short chute before turn 1.
The engine ran great - I can't say enough about how these 4-bangers feel when everything is working correctly. It hummed along all day without a problem. And it did feel more responsive than the 1D - can't wait until I finish the rest of the breathing and fuel mods. Darn thing never ran over the R in NORMAL unless I was idling after a run (to cool the turbo). I was able to pull with the V8's all day ('cept the Vipers and Corvettes with more topend on the straights). During the last run of the day, me and a 86 5.0 were having a real good time burning up the track. After the run, we both exchanged pleasantries and discussed the run. He was aware I had a 4-banger and told me that he just didn't have enough to pass me - he did a darm good job of keeping up with me in the turns (he had a very interesting line also - I'll have to try it sometime...). His 5.0 had a lot of suspension work and other engine mods. Made me feel good that on it's debut, the Red SVO was right there and then some.
I didn't care much for passing on the outside of the back straight altho the SVO was more than capable - it is very uneven and the car feels unsettled. Many of the other drivers expressed the same - I suppose with lots of downforce it wouldn't be so bad. Fun nonetheless! I got about 3 hours total track time, total of 102 miles, and used about a tank and a half of gas. Top speed was slower than the last track days but the front straight is considerably shorter when using the chicane, about 105 MPH. I'm not sure if I'll be able to attend the October track day but am really looking forward to running with the Shelby Club again next year!
Video 1 Video 2
OK, ready for some cool video? Here are a couple of digital movies taken of me at the track... Taken from turn two of me entering turn one and exiting two on the way to turn three. They are in MPEG format so just about anyone should be able to view them using RealPlayer or Microsoft's player. Enjoy! I'll have pics soon, they are still in the camera needing development...
May 8th Track Day
Sorry folks, no new pics but I do have a story to tell you about my latest fun at the track...
Saturday, May 8th was a lot like the last track day - cold and potentially wet. Go figure! The sun was out for long periods but just when you started to get warm enough to peel off some clothing, the clouds would move in and the temperature would drop. The high for the day was 54°... Great for making horsepower. This is unusually cold for this time of year.
The track was dry for all but my third run of the day - I finally figured out the rain line on this track and that was a real confidence builder. I can tell you that driving the dry line in the wet is very scary - feels like you are driving on ice. You do have to cross the dry line many times in the turns but with the proper "touch", you barely feel it. Got sideways down the front straight once but corrected and mashed the throttle again (with a bit more grace I might add). I was able to hold off every car on the track and even had the opportunity to pass a couple in the rain - wouldn't even have thought of that my last two times out...
The car (the Gray one again) was running great - but I couldn't get the tires warm enough to handle well, so I dropped a bit of pressure out of them after the first run. This worked well for the rest of the day. The more I get to drive this car the more I love it, if that can happen. I had the opportunity to run a V8 Mustang around the track a while back and there is no comparison - the SVO feels so balanced and has the same power feeling - In fact, my instructor drives an AS-class Mustang and couldn't believe how this car 'feels' on the track (and was very impressed by the power).
I have finally figured out what weight-transfer does and why you want it. I've said before that this car rides like it's on rails. Weight transfer to the front tires - ever so slight - going into turn 5 really makes a difference in your exit speed and ability to drive the corner smooth. Before learning this, I would rarely stab the brake, I could turn the car fine without it. But I was fighting a it of a push that went away by simply pumping the brake pedal just before the turn into 5. I've been trying to figure out what this was all about and finally "felt" it. So now, I'm looking for not only the best line, but the execution of each turn.
I also figured out how to exit 3 properly. Before I was trying to hold the car into the turn, shortening it. The guy who taught me this line drives a GT-4 Scirroco, I'm sure this is faster for a front-wheel drive car. I can hold the line with the SVO, but letting it drift out to the rumble strips while stabbing the gas is very smooth and much faster. I can also stay on the gas longer using this line, stab the brake before entering 4 and carry my speed into the 5A/6 corners much better.
They have changed the wall in turn 7, it comes right out to the edge of the track now, where before it drifted away - no more run off. A bit intimidating but I paid much less attention to it this time out and was up on the curb - way up - in 7, holding the turn to tap the curb in 8 while on the gas. Stab the brakes (slow way down...) before the entry to 9, turn, turn, turn, pick up the throttle and stab it as you pass the turn workers on your left. Drift, drift, drift out to the wall while you are full on the gas. Shift into 5th about half way down the straight. Pass the chicane doing 100-110mph.
As the front straight wall ends on your left, downshift into 4, by the second cone you want to downshift into 3rd while braking hard. Brake, brake, brake, turn into 1. Roll onto the throttle, more, more. Clip the curb in 2. Full on the gas out of 2. Pick up the seam in the track and straddle it. Brake to set the weight onto the front tires and coast around 3 (a little gas works here but not too much). Hit the apex of 4 and hard on the gas. Drift out to the rumble strips and point yourself at the entry to turn 5. All the way over to the left side of the track.
Stab the brakes (not much, just enough to get the weight transferred), turn into 5, on the gas hard and stay in third until you pass the cone on 5A. Shift into 4th. Hard on the gas. I was shifting before 5A in the past and this was upsetting the car - both hands on the wheel through this turn is the smooth way... There is also a dip in the track at the entry to the back straight that will upset the car. (this corner collects a lot of cars - lots of paint here). Pick up the seam in the track and straddle it all the way to where it straightens out (You'll see the G.I. Joe's sign on the far fence here). Move right and hug the wall. Off the gas, brake and downshift to third at the "2". You can fly through these two turns! On the gas, up on the curb (way up) in 7, hold the turn a bit and tap the curb in 8 while you are on the gas. Get the car under you and stab the brakes. Brake, brake, brake, and turn into turn 9.
Actually, when I say stab the brakes, I really mean be smooth but forceful. A hard thing to do but with practice (and I still need it!) it will make all the difference in how the car feels.
There were a couple of race prepared Rabbits out there. These cars can kick my tail through the corners but I have them on the straights. I can't believe how fast these guys can throw their cars into the corners, but that's the difference between a race car and a street car. Plus they are about a 1000 pounds lighter... During my last run I was able to keep on the tail of one pretty good, and that made me proud of my little 4 banger.
A 240SX bit the wall today. Too hot going into 5 - locked the brakes and went off the track. Once you hit the grass, if you are carrying any speed, hold on folks! Right into the wall. Poor guy was devastated. This really pisses off the club holding the event, and I can't blame them. I over-cooked turn 1 once during the day, locked up the front brakes trying to slow down. Didn't go off track, just went in a little deeeep. And scrubbed off too much speed but corrected and was back up to speed by turn 3. If this is the scariest I can get, I feel pretty good :-).
All in all, I had a blast this day. I intend to retire the 1D now, and begin running the 2R the next track session. I had this forced on me due to a problem on my way home from the track. I downshifted into third and boom - no gears. I can shift the car but it don't go - so I'll be sorting this out as time permits. Hopefully nothing too bad happened. A glorious ride home on the back of a flatbed towtruck and she's home and in the garage...
March 27th Track Day
These pictures were taken on March 27, 1999 at Portland International Raceway (Portland, Oregon). This was my third time driving this SVO on the road course (1.92m, nine turns, 7 right handers, 2 lefts).
The day was cold, and partly sunny until the afternoon. The track was dry, until the last run of the day... I bet it didn't even get over 50° all day - great turbo weather! The car was had a full tank of 104 Octane. We ran the day without the chicane (denoted as C2, C3 on the drawing). They were working on it so that Greg Moore can't use it like he did last year! (2014 edit - RIP Greg Moore, you will be missed!)
Most folks that know me know how much time and effort I've put into this car in the last year. It has just turned 17K miles (at the track I might add!) I let it sit for 8 years in the garage, rarely driving on summer weekends. This ain't good for the mechanicals. I brought it out to the track last year and ran into heating problems due to an 80% clogged radiator, and dynamited the brakes (they were the original pads). Needless to say I went thru everything - but you didn't come here to hear this story...
The photos shown here were taken in the paddock area, getting my car teched.
and later, in line waiting for my turn at the track.
Here I have warmed up the car and was getting ready to squeal thru second gear when the track officials held me back for another car... There were a lot of us out there this day. The part of the track I'm on is cement, the launching area for the drag races held here. Some forget about this and spin - embarrassing themselves in dramatic fashion as it's very slick when wet.
OK, here's where the fun starts, or ends depending on how you look at it... This is me coming out of turn nine. It was a bit congested. Notice the position of the purple rabbit in front of me.. you'll be tested later. Also, please note the perfect apex (I must say so myself) for this corner.
click here for a larger image
Here I am speeding out of nine onto the front straight. I know this picture sucks but I didn't have fast enough film in the camera... HA!
Doesn't my car make me look good? lolOK, here's the test - this picture was taken two laps later. Where the hell is the purple rabbit now??? That's right - behind me Mr. Blue Flag! Is my testosterone getting a little thick yet? LOL!
Click here to see me slapping myself happy!It was funny, I also passed a Porsche Boxer later in the day - that was fun. He stopped by later and I showed him my little four banger under the hood. You should have seen his jaw drop to the ground. I didn't get to run with the Vipers, but they were on and off the track all day (literally, they left more rubber on the track than anyone, mostly from spinning out in three) - this is a finesse track, raw power is nice but it won't make you fast - you must be smoOh yeah, 115MPH down the front straight, 110MPH+ down the back straight, I don't look at the speedo in the turns. I let the guy I bought the car from back in 1989 run it and he got it up over 120MPH - he races, I'm a Saturday driver... we didn't time any laps this time. Next time hopefully I'll get turn out of turn nine faster.
I'm running this car two more times this year, the 2R should be ready by June I figure. That makes 6 track days this year (can you tell I really enjoy this?) Then this one will be a Sunday driver - a very fun Sunday Driver!) Then this one will be a Sunday driver - a very fun Sunday Driver!
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