teamking Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Hi all, just wanted to introduce myself. I recently purchased a Birkin S3 from TMW that had formerly been owned and raced by a gentleman from San Antonio. I won't use his name without permission. But if any of you know the car I would love to hear your stories. I will be taking it to an autocross at the airport in Danville Virginia for an autocross on Sunday. A Mod, unfortunately, since it has a hayabusa engine. But assuming it shakes out ok, I will be excited to take it to VIR in the near future. Anyone have any video from a 7 at VIR? Any other advice? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Hi Will, my name is Skip and I don't need no 12 step program. Congratulations on the new 7 and welcome to the forum. Please post some pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffee break Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Welcome to the asylum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Anyone have any video from a 7 at VIR? Any other advice? Thanks! Welcome aboard, Will. Here's a Stalker at VIR: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Hi Will Welcome to the forum! :seeya: If you are thinking of taking the Birkin to VIR then maybe think about joining the sevens group on track at NJMP on the July 4th long weekend - look in the regional posts area. You would not be the only bike engined car present! Cheers mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderbrake Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Hello, Will. Welcome to the Sevens group, a collection of slightly insane car nuts who enjoy going around corners very quickly, working on their cars (even if they ain't broke), and answering the question "What kind of car IS that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGTorque Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 VIR is a hp track, especially if the configuration you run includes the two huge straights. Your top speed will likely max out early on those straights and you will be giving multiple point-byes. You will make much of that up in the wiggly parts tho. You mite even be able to go flat-out up thru the "climbing S's". I look forward to a full report! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamking Posted May 27, 2016 Author Share Posted May 27, 2016 Hi Will, my name is Skip and I don't need no 12 step program. Congratulations on the new 7 and welcome to the forum. Please post some pictures. This was the day it showed up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamking Posted May 27, 2016 Author Share Posted May 27, 2016 Welcome to the asylum. Hello, Will. Welcome to the Sevens group, a collection of slightly insane car nuts who enjoy going around corners very quickly, working on their cars (even if they ain't broke), and answering the question "What kind of car IS that? My kind of scum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamking Posted May 28, 2016 Author Share Posted May 28, 2016 I'll look into it! Haven't been to NJMP yet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamking Posted May 28, 2016 Author Share Posted May 28, 2016 (edited) VIR is a hp track, especially if the configuration you run includes the two huge straights. Your top speed will likely max out early on those straights and you will be giving multiple point-byes. You will make much of that up in the wiggly parts tho. You mite even be able to go flat-out up thru the "climbing S's". I look forward to a full report! So that's really interesting. I'm used to driving a 944 turbo with a modified suspension but stock drivetrain. Figure about 210 hp. On R6's, I could enter the climbing esses as fast as 122 but would exit about 102, having to lift in both the rights. Top speed on both the front and back straights was 132, but still accelerating. The car weighed about 2800 with me in it. I was told this Birkin is geared for 142 as it sits and makes just under 200hp. So do you think I'll get up to that speed or be drag limited beforehand? Here's me in the 944 turbo: Edited May 28, 2016 by teamking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamking Posted May 28, 2016 Author Share Posted May 28, 2016 Welcome aboard, Will. Here's a Stalker at VIR: Thanks for the video, although I'm struggling a little bit with the 173 MPH part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted May 28, 2016 Share Posted May 28, 2016 (edited) Never been to VIR, but my 195 hp Caterham gets to about 125 at NJMP. I'd guess 142 with 200 Hp would be tough unless it's a really long straight, down hill and with a tail wind. :jester: Bring it out to NJMP and we can compare. Tom Edited May 28, 2016 by yellowss7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelD Posted May 28, 2016 Share Posted May 28, 2016 Hi Will, Welcome to our world, where it is the Smiles Per Mile that really count. My 215 HP Caterham at 1,426 lbs with me ans gas, tops out about 139 +/- (Caterham Speedo?) a little on the back straight at VIR about half way down. I have videos bit not posted. Search for Folis Jones Racing on Vimeo and on Youtube, There should be some VIR video from hem there in his Brkin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 (edited) Here is Folis Jones in his Birkin at VIR Does not show how fast he gets though. And I recall he had aero modifications? Caterham speedos seem to over read by about 4-5% at vmax - at least my 2004 and 2011 do when measured by GPS speed. So Michael's 139mph speed is probably a true 133-5mph. Edited May 29, 2016 by Croc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MudHut Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 Hi Will, Great to learn you bought a seven. Look forward to seeing you out with the Blue Ridge Region SCCA. Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelD Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 Croc, Thanks for the speedo verification. Whatever it is I do know it will not go any faster. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamking Posted May 30, 2016 Author Share Posted May 30, 2016 So I had my first shakedown yesterday at a Triad Sports Car Club autocross and the Danville airport yesterday. Overall, the car did really well! What an amazing chassis! I had fuel starvation on my second run, which I need to spend some time figuring out. But the biggest impediment to fast times was lack of heat in the front tires. I am running 35 compound Hoosiers, 7.5f and 10r. It was a cool (low 70's) and dismal day, if it wasn't raining it was about to. Nevertheless, 5 of my 6 runs were in the dry so I can't complain. I was experimenting with tire pressures and found that 18f and 15r worked best. It seemed that all the time I spent spinning the rears got a little heat in them, the fronts were never more than lukewarm to the touch. I ended up 4th fastest out of 61 cars, and about 2-4 seconds faster than I likely would have been in my S2000 (just judging by times from other folks). Let's not talk about the results on PAX index, though... Unless the SCCA SEB ever decides to class motorcycle-engined 7's in DMod, this will always just be for fun when it comes to autocross, but I'm wondering how the succesful drivers deal with the heat issue when the ambients are below 75 degrees. A co-driver would have helped. 25 compound would have helped. Are there better tires for autocross, or do people use a narrower tire to build heat? Here's a link to the fastest run I recorded (I left the camera on after this run and used up the entire memory card): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIHsnpJonzY. Just amazing how well the car did while I was spinning the rear tires at full throttle. This car is going to be a lot of fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamking Posted May 30, 2016 Author Share Posted May 30, 2016 Hi Will, Great to learn you bought a seven. Look forward to seeing you out with the Blue Ridge Region SCCA. Jay Definitely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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