Post by skimobile on May 22, 2010 21:21:55 GMT -5
Well, I went to the HPDE Track day @ Pocono International on Friday (5/21/10).
They ran the long course (see image), the same ones that the GT Series cars run.
The course was FAST.
I was running flat out in 5th gear every lap for 1/2 the track, hitting speeds in excess of 140mph (that's where the needle stops on my speedo). There were some sick cars out there. It was sponsored by Roush, so Mustangs were everywhere, as well as Corvettes, Porsche, BMW, etc, etc. I think I was the ONLY SUBIE on the track.
My driving instructor was a Pro driver driving a Porsche GT-3 and he was great. He drove my car for the 1st two laps with me in the passenger side to show proper line around the course, see how the car handles and judge braking distance. He even took me out on the track in his brother's brand new Corvette ZR-1, WHAT a car!
With his help I started picking off 1 car after another, Mustangs, Corvettes, even the unsuspecting Porsche or two (much to my instructors amusement).. The most frustrating part was that you could not pass unless the car ahead of you gives you a point-by (driver points hand over the car roof). I'd climb up their tailpipe and then have to ease off for several cars (MUSTANGS every F-N time) because they didn't give the point by. The BMWs, Corvettes, Porsches were all good about signaling OK to pass however.
I went through an entire tank of gas in two 1/2 hour sessions in the morning. During the second session, coming out of a tight (2nd gear) right hander onto the main speedway I hear this LOUD exhaust noise and power cut, so we head for the pits to see what's up. The darn header pipe let go at the slip joint, turing fiberglass wrap to solid glass chunks, blowing hot exhaust at the lower radiator fan area, melting the fan shroud, which then caused the fan blade to cut into my radiator hose. At the garage area I jacked up the car, and tried to pry the header back together at the slip joint but with no luck. The pipe had cooled by then and was sprung away fron the normal connection point. The best I could do was to butt the two ends together then wrap with heat wrap and hose clamps untill I got to my parents house. MY next door neighbor tack welded the pipe in place.
So, all in all, it was an AWESOME time. What sux is that I missed the catered lunch and the whole afternoon sessions because I was in the garage up to my elbows in hot exhaust and fiberglass dust/chunks, trying in vain to get the pipes back together.
Looks like this week I'll be shoppin for a new header, new (better) radiator fan/shroud, hoses, etc...
It was still worth it.
Track layout
Photos from the event (just look for blue subie in the A group).
picproofs.biz/tbranoff/hookedon/
Click on the "A" button at the bottom of the page.
They ran the long course (see image), the same ones that the GT Series cars run.
The course was FAST.
I was running flat out in 5th gear every lap for 1/2 the track, hitting speeds in excess of 140mph (that's where the needle stops on my speedo). There were some sick cars out there. It was sponsored by Roush, so Mustangs were everywhere, as well as Corvettes, Porsche, BMW, etc, etc. I think I was the ONLY SUBIE on the track.
My driving instructor was a Pro driver driving a Porsche GT-3 and he was great. He drove my car for the 1st two laps with me in the passenger side to show proper line around the course, see how the car handles and judge braking distance. He even took me out on the track in his brother's brand new Corvette ZR-1, WHAT a car!
With his help I started picking off 1 car after another, Mustangs, Corvettes, even the unsuspecting Porsche or two (much to my instructors amusement).. The most frustrating part was that you could not pass unless the car ahead of you gives you a point-by (driver points hand over the car roof). I'd climb up their tailpipe and then have to ease off for several cars (MUSTANGS every F-N time) because they didn't give the point by. The BMWs, Corvettes, Porsches were all good about signaling OK to pass however.
I went through an entire tank of gas in two 1/2 hour sessions in the morning. During the second session, coming out of a tight (2nd gear) right hander onto the main speedway I hear this LOUD exhaust noise and power cut, so we head for the pits to see what's up. The darn header pipe let go at the slip joint, turing fiberglass wrap to solid glass chunks, blowing hot exhaust at the lower radiator fan area, melting the fan shroud, which then caused the fan blade to cut into my radiator hose. At the garage area I jacked up the car, and tried to pry the header back together at the slip joint but with no luck. The pipe had cooled by then and was sprung away fron the normal connection point. The best I could do was to butt the two ends together then wrap with heat wrap and hose clamps untill I got to my parents house. MY next door neighbor tack welded the pipe in place.
So, all in all, it was an AWESOME time. What sux is that I missed the catered lunch and the whole afternoon sessions because I was in the garage up to my elbows in hot exhaust and fiberglass dust/chunks, trying in vain to get the pipes back together.
Looks like this week I'll be shoppin for a new header, new (better) radiator fan/shroud, hoses, etc...
It was still worth it.
Track layout
Photos from the event (just look for blue subie in the A group).
picproofs.biz/tbranoff/hookedon/
Click on the "A" button at the bottom of the page.