First Track Day, WOW!

[Pe7e]

I'm still grinning and occasionally laughing out loud about my first track day experience. :D:D It is what the car was designed for! (No news, I know.) Man oh man, the sights, sounds, smells, wind and g forces of one lap were sublime! I find myself replaying certain corners in my mind. Croc and Yellowss7 were superb hosts/enablers. "So, uh Pete, how'd you like it? Think you've been bitten?" It was kind of touching, really. As if I hadn't come to NJMP to satisfy a pre-existing addiction. :drool:

 

The paddock camaraderie, as so many have already noted, was just as big a part of the day as the driving. Tom, Mike, Jeff S, Dave D, Jeff, and yes, even some other car drivers all helped to make it a day I'll be thankful for for many days to come. My son, who only got to ride in the pace car due to new rules, told me repeatedly how much fun he was having and how glad he was to be there and said that it was great to be with a group of guys who were enthusiatic about 7s.

 

As a total newbie, I had carefully read-up Blatchat on track day checklists and adhered to the "check tire pressure after every run" rule. After session one, LF had gone from 18 cold to 8 psi hot. (Hoosier slicks, it still looked okay.) I had spares -thanks to you guys, who recommended this to me awhile back- and put a good one on. Trackday saved. When I mentioned the issue to Tom, he said he'd experienced something like it some time ago and it was the valve stem. I touched the stem and: sssssss! Metal stems, here we come.

 

A huge thank you to my buddy, Ed Smizer. The day would not have happened without him. 5:00 p.m., the day before, "Uh, Ed, I'm a little behind in the car prep, do you think you could stop by and help out for an hour or so?" 2:30 a.m., we're pushing the car onto the trailer to avoid waking the neighbors, Ed is still smiling. Priceless. Thanks, buddy.

 

That's all for now,

 

Pete

[Croc]

This is the second or third time on this forum I have been called "an enabler"! :rofl:

 

Glad you enjoyed the experience and learned a lot from it. Sorry they changed the rules so I could not take out your son in my car but bring him along with you to another member day with his own car to try the same program. We can arrange a loaner helmet so he does not have to buy one. Look at all the friendly father/son rivalry that could ensue when you outbrake and out handle him! :jester:

 

So when are you coming back? There is Thunderbolt next weekend (big group likely) and Lightning in early June (need to check dates but a nice practice session for the June sevens event!) - all the same format as last Thursday.

[Pe7e]

Both, of course. You have pm.

[yellowss7]

Glad you enjoyed the day Pete. Your car sounded great on the track and the pace car driver commented to us yesterday that you guys were pushing him pretty hard, so much so that he was getting worried that he might roll the STI as he as pushing pretty hard in the turns. :jester:

 

Ed seems very knowledgeable and it's always good to have another set of eyes looking the car over. A little more padding for support in your seat will also go a long way to making you more secure and confident in your car.

 

Hope to see you out on the track again soon.

 

Tom

Edited May 18, 2013 by yellowss7

[Kitcat]

No transmission issues, seat issues, creative ''repair" issues? Or were those resolved prior to the event (@2:30a.m)?

[Pe7e]

Transmission issues: attempted to resolve by double clutching on 2-3 and 3-4 upshifts, roughly 20% successful due primarily to wild-eyed euphoria.

 

Seat issues: temporary fix using R. Pare method from ApexSpeed forum (glued and shaped bead board). Sub-optimal, but a low investment prototype. Now I can take it to Stable Energies (nearest race dealer) and compare to see if an aluminum seat will work for me.

 

Creative repair issues: some resolved, some, take a deep breath and ignore for the day. The previous mech and I have different concepts of either craftsmanship or urgency.

 

I was very anxious that some of my discoveries indicated a car that was going to let me down (and a $175 barn-find TR-3 as a first car, lo those many years ago, had conditioned me to expect "adventures".) but really, it performed flawlessly.

 

Ooo, ooo, I forgot to show off my first upgrade, the sweet little Ballistic EVO2 16 Cell. This was motivated by the desire to fit an instructor in the passenger area; he would have needed to lack a left thigh to fit with the old battery in place. The 4 1/2 inch (112mm) cube of the new battery is tucked into the right front footwell.

 

Next: work on the growing punch-list (fun) and learn to drive (fun++)

 

 

Pete

[Kitcat]

Biggest single improvement can be in tires, esp if yours are old or heat cycled out. I like Toyo RA1s shaved, but just one of many options/opinions.

[JBH]

Pete

 

It was great to meet you. Welcome to the adrenaline club. It only gets better (and more addictive) from here.

 

The camaraderie is a big part of why I joined NJMP. From the moment they saw my Caterham, Tom and Croc embraced me as one of their own. That sold me instantly.

 

Hope to see you again soon. Not sure about this weekend - trying to workout some details. I'll still be driving the Boxster, but I am trying to push repair of my Seven in time for the gathering.

 

Jeff

[blubarisax]

Glad you had fun! I'm looking forward to seeing you agin on the track in June.

[subtlez28]

I keep opening this thread hoping for pics...

 

 

But, I cannot blame you, I seldom take pics at track events. Busy enjoying.

[Croc]

Sorry Subtlez28 I got lazy and did not take any. But look out for the June 22/23 NJMP post next month when there will be a lot of photos and eventually video of a bunch of middle aged to ancient farts goofing around on track in their sevens.

[KiwiBirkin]

Hi Pete

 

Sounds like you had a fantastic time, I can tell you ownership only gets better from here on, enjoy .

[Kitcat]

Ancient? As the "senior" member of the NJMP se7ens gathering I must object. If I could remember where I put my car keys, I'd drive over and put this right!

[yellowss7]

Sorry Subtlez28 I got lazy and did not take any. But look out for the June 22/23 NJMP post next month when there will be a lot of photos and eventually video of a bunch of middle aged to ancient farts goofing around on track in their sevens.

 

Yeah, that's true, but the big question is "Will PETE be there"? :seeya:

 

Tom

[Pe7e]

Well he did say ancient, so I felt warmly included.

I was more puzzled about who might qualify for the middle-aged part. :jester:

The real question is whether or not I can take a by on an extended-family function which is awkwardly planned for that weekend. I may only be able to do the Monday LTW event, if at all. Still holding out hope for Saturday, though.

 

Thanks for the words of welcome, Jeff, Karl, and Kiwi. After I got a ride in Karl's orange rocket, I realized I needed to order helmet aero mods and stuff the chin area with foam to keep the road grit out and regularize my breathing. Fortunately, my hp level seems to have resolved that "problem" for the time being. Kitcat, right now even more speed can be had by driver improvement, though I appreciate the advice and Tom was already suggesting that the car would look better with tootsie rolls.

 

subtlez28, not much, but here are shots of car and driver, complete with the ineluctable 7 Silly grin.

http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q554/Pe7ey/1stTrackDay.jpg

 

 

On the way to Tech Inspection

http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q554/Pe7ey/OnthewaytoTechInspection.jpg

 

 

I forgot to mention earlier how much more fun it was to be at -or near- speed with DaveD and jeffs' sevens instead of the armored vehicles that some other people were running that day. Another reason to be wanting the June meet.

 

 

Pete