Sorry not to post a little sooner. I got home about 5 pm on Monday, and had some catching up to do yesterday.

It was great to see you all (except Kolia!) this weekend. What a weird time! Friday was great. I set some new personal best laps (under and around 1:47) and had a pleasant Mexican dinner (even if a bunch of people I invited stood us up).

Saturday was just so strange. I was shocked when John said he was going to try to get home to Virginia, because the thought of leaving hadn't even occurred to me. But then again, I hadn't bothered to watch a weather report, either, so I didn't know about the 3-6 inches that were expected. I had just assumed it would be like last year, a little snow but no real accumulation. But by the time John decided to go, the paddock was all slushy, so I thought maybe I'd better go with John.

As he's explained, we had a very interesting trip from the track to my hotel (although he's exaggerating, naturally: I only did a 360, not a 540!). But even before that, I had decided the road conditions and our treadless tires were just too dangerous to try to make it home. I had the luxury of not having to be home at any particular time. Sunday, Monday, even Tuesday would have been okay.

I tried to persuade John not to go, pointing out that he could almost certainly reschedule his job interviews, and that it wasn't worth risking his car or even maybe his life just for that. But he's young and fearless, and decided to risk it. Frankly, I wasn't terribly surprised when he called and told me he ahd gotten stuck just a few miles away, although I was relieved that it wasn't any worse.

On the Weather Channel, the radar showed that the snow was falling on a line from Columbus along Rte 71 to Cleveland/Akron. Ten or twenty miles east of Lexington was probably just rain, but the path out was snow for at least 50 miles. I decided to stay in the hotel. It was probably a good thing that I left the track when I did, though, because otherwise I would have had to leave the car there overnight, and gotten a ride from someone back to my hotel. Although maybe that would have been better. I found out later that some of the other folks we met there spent Saturday afternoon at an indoor go-kart track near Columbus.

Meanwhile, I spent all day Saturday trying to figure out if I should try to make it home on Sunday or wait till Monday. They were calling for snow and rain mix all across Pennsylvania on Sunday, up to 8 inches. So it might have been as bad or worse than Saturday. I was in that escape mode Sunday morning through breakfast, and really not sure what I would do, right until I went outside for the first time and realized that Sunday was going to be sunny and clear in Lexington, and that the track would probably be open. D'oh! Why was I thinking about going home and giving up track time?!?

So I got to the track at about 9 Sunday morning. We had gotten 5-6 inches overnight, but the roads were mostly clear, even though the paddock was still covered with snow. They had plowed the track surface, and were letting people go out in their tow vehicles to dry it off. Lawrence posted a modified schedule, and the first HPDE group went out at about 10 or 10:30.

It was probably the weirdest track I've ever driven, because it was completely dry in long sections, mostly the straights, but in other places water from melting snow was running across the track and creating fairly deep rivers. With my bald tires I really had to tiptoe through them.

At least three cars went off in the first two laps of the second Group 3 session. (After seeing the wild driving of the Time Trialers on Friday, I decided, given the conditions, that it was safer to run with the calmer Group 3.)

There was a wide river running across the straight up to the keyhole that was particularly treacherous, because it ran at an angle. I would hydroplane through the deepest section, but as I came out the right front tire started to grip before the left, giving me a quick pull to the right that was startling and potentially dangerous. A yellow 911 went off big there, possibly for that reason.

The most annoying thing about the day was that they kept cutting the sessions short. They were scheduled as 20 minutes, but most were 10 or less. Finally, at the end of the day the had a session for all HPDE groups that they said would be 40 minutes, although they cut it short, too, at about 20. But finally we got a fairly good long run, and I ended up with total track time for the day that roughly equalled the four 20-minute sessions originally planned.

I've decided that after three weird, cold April weekends at Mid-Ohio, I'm not going to let it scare me off. I'm sure that if I skip next year, it will be a perfect beautiful weekend. So I'm going to make sure to bring my heavy winter coat, my winter boots, and maybe even a snow shovel, and that will guarantee good weather. See you there!

 

Here are some pics:

http://www.lfexaminer.com/misc/IMG_3034.jpg
http://www.lfexaminer.com/misc/IMG_3039.jpg
http://www.lfexaminer.com/misc/IMG_3052.jpg

Smaller versions of the same shots (for slow connections):
http://www.lfexaminer.com/misc/IMG_3034a.jpg
http://www.lfexaminer.com/misc/IMG_3039a.jpg
http://www.lfexaminer.com/misc/IMG_3052a.jpg

Better times. Me at VIR in February. (Photos by Euroimages.)

http://www.lfexaminer.com/misc/VIR_0080.jpg
http://www.lfexaminer.com/misc/VIR_0652.jpg
http://www.lfexaminer.com/misc/VIR_2104.jpg

 

By which I meant, of course, not that I didn't like Kolia, but that I never met you. I saw your car a couple of times, but never you. Sorry about that.

 

I figure that what you meant!

I did walk up to you in your car Saturday morning as you where leaving, but you just drove on. John had driven up to the class room and I was just getting out of it and he told me you guys where leaving. Bah, next time then. I spent most of my time with the guys from Honda Research.

I didn't do the complete last session. The track conditions where too crappy to push the car and I was getting lots of water through the open windows. Particularly in the carousel.

I'm afraid I'll have to get better tires. The re040 where getting greasy before I could complete one full fast lap. They might not survive the TracQuest event in May. I'm looking for some street/track tires, in the hope of not having to buy spare rims (and some form of a trailer hitch and trailer...)

 

So that was you that came up to me and said hi as I was driving out behind John? I was wondering who you were. I assumed we had met before and that I had forgotten. (I'm getting more used to this as I get older.) Sorry we didn't have a chance to meet properly.

Here are the NASA photos:

http://www.racenasa.com/photogallery...lMidOhio05.htm

and

http://www.racenasa.com/photogallery...yMidOhio05.htm

Look who's here (on the left, armed): http://www.racenasa.com/Pits_DSC_5487.JPG

There are a few shots of Jeff in his yellow roadster, but no other shots of Zs.

 

wish I had known you went back out sunday, I woulda came up and watched you run.

As for the crazy time trials...you sure that was scary? I know I only needed to change my pants once per corner hehe. All in all, great time, and I hope you know, my sunfire is very likely to hit up gingerman here soon up in michigan, because mid ohio requires roll bars in a convertible.

I also just got hired to work at mid-ohio as security for the major events! Don't pay squat, but the cool factor is pretty high

Glad you guys enjoyed it, and made it home safe, I'll be sure to see ya next year, if I'm not in chicago going to school. Thanks again James!

 

It's become an annual tradition to go the Mexican joint. Of course I only go there for the 44oz. margaritas...

I was waiting for the online "I told you so." In all seriousness though, I knew I was taking a valid risk. What suprised me the most was the number of street cars that were flying off the road left and right into the ditch, yet even with slicks, we were able to maintain reasonable composure. I still have yet to figure this out.

I developed a *cough* today at work and took advantage of our 80 degree weather to give the car a bath. My rear rirght tire is nearly corded on the inside! This has to be as a result of my inside rear wheel spinning too much on many turns. Definitely need to get rid of this viscous in place of the Nismo LSD.

 

James, glad you made it home safe, and survived the beautiful weather!

You say John is young and crazy to attempt driving home, and you're right, he is!

So you too are young and crazy enough to WANT to go back next year?

Glad all had a great time in spite of mom nature.

Now, a question for James. How did you take those great pics of yourself at VIR?

 

Hi guys,

this is james with the white Z, really great meeting all the people at the track. special thanks to john who risk his life to be my instructor, and james who took me out on sunday! i had a great weekend!

 

Interesting pics...but too bad about the snow. One of these years I'm convinced that you guys will finally have some GOOD weather for this early spring track day at Mid-Ohio (after what I think is 3 straight years of snow!)

Better luck next year!

Gary

 

Obviously, we're much better drivers than 99% of the public. "Civilians" don't understand weight transfer, skid control, grip, etc., and haven't practiced the recovery techniques or developed the reactions we have. (Even so, I was thinking I shouldn't have lost complete control in that 360 on the ramp. I should have tried steering out of it. 20-20 hindsight.)

Like I said: I know that the year I give up will be the year it's beautiful. So either I'll be there for perfect weather, or I'll keep making it snow.

http://www.euroimage.us/new.htm

EnthuZ: You have a brake duct kit, right? Can you remind me which one it is and point me to your installation thread? Are you still happy with it? Do you think there are better ones out there now?

I ask because the DBA rotors I put on last summer started cracking after just 5 or 6 track days. I should probably replace them before my next track day. So I'd be interested in any recommendations for rotors and cooling. Thanks.

 

EnthuZ: You have a brake duct kit, right? Can you remind me which one it is and point me to your installation thread? Are you still happy with it? Do you think there are better ones out there now?


I have the kit N-Tech sells. I'll search for my install thread later. Other than not being able to keep the flex hose on the entrance to the duct, it's OK. IMHO the duct need a 90 degree bend there so the hose has a straight shot. But, I still run 17" wheels, and most other users run 18" wheels, and I haven't heard of anyone else having this problem. I do have fiberglass manufacturing leads, so MAYBE BCR will make an improved kit. I haven't heard of anyone else other than Wright Engineering making some custom kits. You might want to give BJ a call.

I ask because the DBA rotors I put on last summer started cracking after just 5 or 6 track days. I should probably replace them before my next track day. So I'd be interested in any recommendations for rotors and cooling. Thanks.[/QUOTE]


I just got Stopteck 2 piece slotted rear rotors to replace my cracking DBA's. But my rear DBA's did last through about 20 track days. Go for the Stoptechs.

Are you still happy with the Carbotech pads? I still am, in spite of many other recommendations.

2 weeks till the Autobahn Country Club......I can't wait!

 

I found the thread with my brake cooling duct install. It starts in the middle of page 3.

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....ighlight=ducts

 

All rotors will crack, it's just how large the cracks get. My Stoptech 2-piece rotors started cracking after the 4th track day.

 

My stock rotors didn't start cracking until almost a year and a half on the track and 20 track days. (Admittedly in the early days I was still learning the capabilities of the car, and probably not wearing the brakes as hard as I did later.) I changed them for the DBAs last summer after 28 track days.

I first saw cracking on the DBAs after four months and seven track days, at Lime Rock last November. (And two of those seven days were FATT instructor days on which I only had two track sessions, at most.)

I now have 15 days on the DBAs and don't think I should go more than another day or two on them. If I'm paying about half the price of the stock rotors, the DBAs are a slightly better deal, I suppose. But I was hoping they'd last longer, hence my question about cooling.

Maybe I'll try out the DBA two-piece rotors. Has anyone tried them?

And has anyone put cooling ducts on a Track model?

(Maybe I should just start a new thread on brakes on track cars.)

 

Here are my dba 4000's after 6-8 track session on my Impreza...



What killed them that bad was ONE butched cool down lap. I had just got on the track with my camera and a guy blew his Porsche 911 engine, spreading oil every where (was a second blown 911 for him) and they cancelled the session. I wanted to have some decent images so I did only half of a slow lap. And voila... Dead rotors...

Now, I only run either blanks or slotted rotors...