Cyberbug Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Can't thank Croc enough for an awesome day today. He invited me and the misses as Guest at a Members only track day at NJMP. He took care of us all day, showed us the facilities and most importantly his CSR. Best of all he let me drive it too, sweet car :willy_nilly: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyberbug Posted April 7, 2012 Author Share Posted April 7, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 But I did not let him drive the car on the track! :rofl: I have to say it was just gorgeous sunshine yesterday and I have a bright red face to prove it. Cyberbug provided great entertainment value himself yesterday. Running in the no passing group behind the pace car, at one point he and the pace car were a quarter of the track and out of sight of the remaining cars who could not keep up. Later in the classroom there was a memorable meltdown from a 911 GT2 driver who could not handle that he could not keep up with Cyberbug's Miata. Cue the hissy fit/meltdown/tears/flouncing out of the room from the 911 driver. That became the talk of the pits at happy hour starting 5.30pm - Porsche drivers lined up against everyone else! :D:D Sadly I will probably only get 3 sessions in today before I hit the wear bars on the tires. Then it is the 2 hour drive home up I-95. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 people keep saying that about Croc. After a while we'll all have to accept it as truth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Mike: Are you now a member @NJMP? I have to say, I saw the spec on that Miata elsewhere and thot, jeez, it cld be a bit humbling, even in our mighty se7ens, to be in its run group, esp if he knows how to drive. I'd like to think I wouldn't cry tho:). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marine7 Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Wow... What a couple of absolutely beautiful cars! I'd like to hear more about both. Anyone who thinks that miata doesnt look the business should have their glasses fixed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyberbug Posted April 11, 2012 Author Share Posted April 11, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 The Porsche is way over-breaking into the turns. Interesting that it never really powers away from the mighty Miata. The instructor drives the "Croc" line thru Octopus (or visa versa). It had to be a bit frustrating to have to stay behind the instructor's much slower car, lap after lap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyberbug Posted April 12, 2012 Author Share Posted April 12, 2012 The Porsche is way over-breaking into the turns. Interesting that it never really powers away from the mighty Miata. The instructor drives the "Croc" line thru Octopus (or visa versa). It had to be a bit frustrating to have to stay behind the instructor's much slower car, lap after lap. someone else said " That Porsche couldn't find the drivers line if it was painted on the track " :iagree: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 someone else said " That Porsche couldn't find the drivers line if it was painted on the track " Exactly what I was thinking as I watched the video. Hopefully you had some better laps when just the pace car was ahead of you. Did the exchange with the Porsche driver after the event get captured on video? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyberbug Posted April 12, 2012 Author Share Posted April 12, 2012 (edited) I did get some better laps, but then the pace car had to pick up speed and that left me and the pace car 1/4-1/2 track ahead of the car behind me. so he kept slowing down. Then at half time of each session they would put another car in front of me and last session they did that for the whole session The exchange with the P driver was unexpected but may be it was my fault. I have other hobbies too and I am used to teaching and coaching, being certified instructor in my other hobbies and used to talking to large groups and teaching class. I was trying to help but I should not be doing that with this group where people buy big cars just to show what they can spend its a different crowd and I come from a much humble background.. So during the drivers briefing we were going over the best lines etc. he was excited and talking. I should have known better then to open my mouth, :banghead: I tried to help by saying I was behind you and I can give some input, and I apologize I wasn't trying to give you a hard time and it was just that I didn't know what to do when you slow down to 20MPH I couldn't complete the last part.. he just blew a fuse or something " I don't want to talk to you, I don't even want to see you" repeated a few times so everyone went quiet including me and then he goes on "I didn't have any where to go!" he said one or two more sentence I don't remember... so I said "I thought you weren't talking to me..." so he goes... Yeah I don't want to talk to you and I don't want to see you while standing there through out the time... I felt great being 5years old again .....:smilielol5: But seriously... we are all grown ups. I am always willing to listen.... I can never say I know everything... even F1 drivers make mistakes... Also the car does not define a driver... It does bother me that people buy these cars yet have no clue about driving and yet they are the worst racers on public roads... If you are going to spend 100-150K on a car like GT3-RS at least get some proper class room sessions before and start with something less powerful, lease another Porsche and build your self up.. A Novice track group isn't for drivers doing 20MPH around a bend.. or at least put your self at the end of the pack..I would But ... I feel bad as he was excited and we all could have helped him and he would have a new friend ... yet peoples wallet sometimes get in the way of their attitude.. :deadhorse: Edited April 12, 2012 by Cyberbug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 I don't quite understand having to stay behind the "instructors car"for the whole session. I could see for maybe 1-2 laps to get up to temp and see what the track was like. Is he just staying on track to show what line to use or is he instructing a student driver? Either way, seems like you would be pulling your hair out following him around, especially when they put the Porsche ahead of you. Did the other Porsche drivers pull him out of the car and beat him with their expensive designer logo covered driving suits for being such a klutz? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 (edited) Jim, I think its a NJMP rule for their own track days. Why? Who knows, it seems totally unnecessary. Maybe YellowSS can explain?' I have done abt 100 trackdays and like to say I have seen it all, but never saw or heard a meltdown like the poor little Porsche driver's. I have been been "gently chided" for various driving infractions, and have had the occasional heart-to-heart with other drivers, but always done in a friendly way, whether I was on the receiving or the giving end. Edited April 12, 2012 by Kitcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 Jim - NJMP Drivers Club makes guests start in the Novice sessions which are designed for those gentlemen who have just bought the Ferrari/Porsche/Maserati/Viagra of their dreams to have a very safe way of getting out of track. It also covers the younger male who with a wallet bigger than his dick size/IQ needs the mature influence of a pace car to slow him down. So the format is one of stay behind the pace car and no passing. As the sessions go on throughout the day the pace car ups tempo and by the end of the day is doing pretty quick laps. It is a great idea for those who are brand new to tracking and concerned about their new automotive babe. If you have track experience you can submit a resume 1 week in advance and are precleared into a passing group. Unfortunately Cyberbug signed up on the day and was ineligible to get into the passing group. Despite being overqualified for this type of event Cyberbug demonstrated some excellent street smarts and rigged the game in his favor by tucking in tight behind the pace car. Pace car then thinks he needs to go faster and the two then take off and leave the other cars for dead. I saw them 1/4 of a track ahead of the other group at one point :rofl: Pace car driver is head of PCA instruction and is a superb driver to follow around NJMP. Has much better lines than Kitcat Porsche meltdown was epic - definitely caused some polarized opinions in the bar later than night! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyberbug Posted April 12, 2012 Author Share Posted April 12, 2012 Despite being overqualified for this type of event Cyberbug demonstrated some excellent street smarts and rigged the game in his favor by tucking in tight behind the pace car. Pace car then thinks he needs to go faster and the two then take off and leave the other cars for dead. Secret is out :driving: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyberbug Posted April 12, 2012 Author Share Posted April 12, 2012 What do the Top Gear (UK) guys say about some car drivers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 Jim, I think its a NJMP rule for their own track days. Why? Who knows, it seems totally unnecessary. Maybe YellowSS can explain?' This was a "Drivers Club" event. During these trackdays, in the Novice group, they limit the speed on the straights to around 85mph supposedly. There is no passing, and they allow Convertibles to run without roll bars. It is not a typical trackday Novice group. As Croc said, there are alot of pretty cars that have never been on a track before and it's a chance for their drivers to get a taste of the track experience without really risking their cars, althought it is always possible to make a mistake.:conehead: In car instructors are often provided and the pace does quicken during the sessions. It is also a good way to learn the track without getting run over. The Intermidiate and advanced run groups are pretty strong, and they do often combine them in the last session of the day which requires your head to be on a swivel as the advanced group are very competent and do not hesitate to take a pass in the braking zone. In watching that GT3, I can't believe how slowly he was taking those turns on the back side of TBolt. It almost makes me want to sell my Pcar as that was really embarrassing. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 In watching that GT3, I can't believe how slowly he was taking those turns on the back side of TBolt. It almost makes me want to sell my Pcar as that was really embarrassing. Hmmm.....I have video of you in the seven going through there at about 30mph. Same session that you stopped in the middle of the track to check out a flaggie waving at you. Poor quality driving must be a Porsche driver characteristic? How does the ego withstand being inferior to a Miata driver? :jester: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 How does the ego withstand being inferior to a Miata driver? :jester: Not very well sometimes. A few years ago I had my Miata at a CECA (Colorado Exotic Car Association) track day. There was a guy there with a dedicated Mustang race car. This was a horsepower track and I was passing him on the straights and he was slowing me down in the corners. Their events are wave by passing on the straights only. After the first session he came over and demanded to see the V8 engine in my Miata. I told him it was just a four banger and he wouldn't believe me. Played him along a bit then opened the hood. He looked at it for a bit and turned and walked away muttering just loud enough for me to hear: God damned four banger, just a God damn four banger. After the next session he came back for another look. Didn't say a word and went off and loaded his car back on the trailer and left. Another time at that same track with CECA a Viper driver asked for a ride in the Miata. On the warm up lap I went into a corner called Widow Maker at a reasonable speed, late braking to warm up the brakes. I heard a gasp and saw his foot head for a non-existent brake pedal. He also pulled the upper end of the arm rest out of the door. I looked at him with a WTF expression on my face and he said he thought he was going to die. I said wait till the next lap when the tires and brakes are warm. He asked me to let him out after the second lap. Four times over the years I've had people pull that arm rest out. Good thing its only a 50 cent plastic part to fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 Skip: Ya gotta give Hank a ride! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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