Thanks again for the continued input, I would love to have you ride along with me (and ride along with you) that weekend. I agree that I've learned a lot riding with more experienced drivers, they do this at the BMW schools. It's amazing to see what a great driver can do in a car that I can't (yet anyway). Anyone can spend thousand upgrading a car but if you don't learn how to use it as a tool it's about as useful as a howitzer in a knife fight.

I will definitely hit Dave up about the used transponders, where would I get more information about them? I did rent one for July and am a huge gadget guy. I'm the Director of Technology for a tech based venture capital firm so that's right up my alley. I actually have a Windows XP based CarPC that I installed in my Z - it's got an ODBII-USB interface in it so I can get data from the car. Haven't done much with that yet but watching (listening) to movies on long trips is great. I usually watch Top Gear when I'm on the way to the track!

I'll definitely try the standard reset next time I'm out for a drive. I'm realizing that I'm going to need a few sets of brake pads to get me to the end of the season (and oil, brake fluid, etc) so I'm going to hold off on any other big items. As you said I also want to see what I dislike about my car next time I'm at the track.

Really looking forward to meeting you guys that weekend, anyone else going to come down on Friday???? Come on guys, you know you want to!

-Ross

 

Just for fun (ok, I'm bored today), I did a quick double-check of Joel's calculations, and I get the same point total, but not in quite the same way (and it might have just been a typo on Joel's part). Here's what I came up with:

Base class: TTC + 7
Exhaust/cat (assuming stock headers): +2
Suspension: +7
Brakes: +2
------
Total: 18

A quick edit to something that Joel had said: this gives you one more point to play with and stay in TTC, not two, as 20 points and over will bump you up one class. You'd be much better off at the top of TTC than the bottom of TTB (for the most part, though there are times where the fully-modded TTC cars have run quicker times than some closer-to-stock TTA cars, though that's not something to count on).

So, unfortunately this means that any kind of tire or other upgrade would bump you up a class. Not that that's a reason to not mod the car however you want...just something to be aware of in case you decide to make a serious TT run in the future (though, the rules change a little every year, so a car that's in one class in one year might be in a totally different class the next).

And for the record, here's another vote for tuning the nut behind the wheel (which, incidentally, is something that is very easily done at a NASA weekend as there are plenty of instructors to consult, ride with, have ride with you, etc.)

 

http://www.amb-it.com/ The TranX260 model (older body style) is what Dave is selling.

edit: This is the cradle and charger that you want:
Personal Charger Replacement Kit (original) (US)
Personal AC/DC charger for the original style TranX160, TranX260 and TranX Pro transponders. Includes charging cradle, AC power adapter, and 12v cigarette lighter adapter. (Transponder shown is not included) LINK (3rd from the bottom)

edit: I would rely on Gary's figures over mine as posted above. I just scanned through the classification regs. I'm certain Gary has triple-checked the math and regs at the very least. That's just the way he is and I thank him for it!

 

Too bad we never got a chance to meet up. I've got the same thing (CarPC, that is). You aren't by chance on mp3car.com, are you?

 

I was thinking the same thing about you two! Ross, Dave used to work at NORAD and I think they allowed him to install a mobile JTAG station in the trunk of his G35! All those uber-cool blinking lights, electronics, sound and computing systems - man I miss you already Dave.

 

True about NORAD, not quite true about the JTAG. Although, there are quite a bit of lights and wires and amps and things in my trunk...

I do have a couple pics in my .sig, click on the link. Things have since changed since those pictures, but most of it is about the same.

 

Dave,

I have been over the before but it's been a while. I built my system last year and haven't really done much with it (other than enjoy it) since then. When I got into driving I decided I'd never put another penny in the PC/stereo system - gotta have priorities you know!

What part of town are you in, we should meet up sometime and compare systems. I'm using Centrafuse, you?

...back to our regularly scheduled thread...

 

Streetdeck (but lets not get into that... Unfortunately, I recently moved to California, but I like to keep track of the Colorado section fo the forums, since some good friends are still there.

 

Bummer we didn't hook up before you moved then, then again if memory serves you're much closer to some kick *** tracks than I am so I won't feel to badly for you...