Yeah, the Vtec did an awesome job on track but i think i did a 1:22 n not a 1:21. Will have to check the transponder results to confirm it (unless 1:22 was my average).
Neway, heres the low down on the Vtec.
Me n Wolf went to JC road, looking out for a set of cheap 2nd hand tyres with good tread life on them. The best we could manage was a mixed set of 2 Potenza G Grids n 2 potenza GIIIs (All 195/60 R14s with 70-80% wear). Paid around 700 bucks each.
We fit the G Grids on the fronts while the GIIIs went onto the rears. Ride quality wasn't all that great as they were worn out n bcome hard.
Day 1 - Session 1.
Being r very first time on track, Wolf decided to drive with me ridin shotgun. Our (follow the leader) laps were messed up by an agonisingly slow blue city who wasn't even able to keep up with the pace car.
Mclaren was the first to break loose and went on to overtake him. Wolf took off behind him and in no time we were going at full pelt. Being newbies we had a few rough patches on C2 and C7 with the car going off track on a few ocassions. The very first lap saw us doing 1:36. As time went by that fig dropped to around 1:32. Then it was time for me to get down and let Wolf make the best of the reduced weight.
I was standing on the tower clocking him everytime he'd pass under the JK arch. Once he got into the groove, the lap times fell drastically. 1:31, 1:30, 1:28 and finally a 1:26. Not bad for a first timer.
Day1 - Session 2
Now, it was my turn to take the wheel and see what i was capable of doing. Since i already knew the track (thanks to those 5 laps with Wolf), it didn't take me long to get my lines right.
Gray was sitting next to me n timing my progress. The first lap was a 1:32, which then came down to around 1:26.
The guy in the Mitsu FTO was furious to see a Vtec fly past him and tried his best to keep up, only to find himslef do a 360 and fly off, on C9.
Just then, the red flag was brought out n we had to enter the paddocks. But it wasn't over yet. There seemed to have been a goofup and there were still 7 mins left in the session.
This gave me the chance to take the car by myself. Wolf said he would time me from the pit lane. For those 7 mins, i gave it everything i had to give, late braking, revvmatching, toe-heeling...the works.
After the session, as i drove into the pits i knew i would better than the 1:26 but never expected a 1:22 on my first try.
Mclaren was driving pretty well but the lack of grip saw him manage around 1:32. Had that baleno been on 195s, it would have done a lot better.
Day2 - Session 1
We were a little concerned with the wear on the front left G Grid and decided to switch it with hois spare tyre which was a 185/60 R14 Potenza RE88. Miss matching the tyre pattern and size was never gonna help us but, we had no other choice.
The Baleno too made a quick change to 185 track tyres on the front wheels.
Wolf took to the wheel of the Vtec and was on a roll for a great time but, there were far too many cars on track that day and the marshals kept asking him to slow his pace. Inspite of it all, he managed a 1:23 on one off the laps. I'm sure he must have felt great overtaking the CLS and the Cayenne. Hehe
His session ended when the Vtec started losing power in the corners due to the lack of fuel in the fuel tank.
Day2 - Session 2
I'd just got back after filling some fuel in the Vtec when they announced the start of the car session. As i lined up, i could see that the CLS and the Cayenne weren't gonna be on track. They were replaced by a E270 and an awesomely sporty looking silver Mondeo.
As the session began, i was following Mclaren (who had Gray sitting with him). Wolf decided to sit in N_Adityas Esteem which was behind me.
The first few laps went in getting past the slow moving traffic. Everything went as planned until i caught up with the Red Swift being driven by Sawan (hope i got the name right). As we were aproaching C6, i saw the Swift brake and thought he was letting me through (as Aditya had done the same a lap earlier). I overtook him toe-heeled for C7 and vanished.
Then i saw the black E270 ahead, he was almost matching me on the straights but hell broke loose on C1, he went on a bit too hot and the car went off the racing line. Not wasting a moment, i took him from the inside, out broke him on C2 and went on with my business. The Mondeo joined in on the next lap. He was comming out of the pits while i was taking C1, he tried to get past but my speed out of the corner gave me the chance to nudge ahead at C2. For some reason, he just wasnt able to keep up. Infact none of the big cars did well on that track (too tight for them i guess).
As the session ended, i was asked to report to the paddocks. i knew something was wrong. As i parked the car, Sawan (driver of the red swift who is also a pro driver) asked me why i took him on the turn. I said it was my first time got a little over excited on track. I apologised to him and said i'd keep that in mind.
This was when JD Madan came up to the Vtec, kept his palm on it and asked who the car was being driven by. i said i was. He said : in this session? I said yeah.
He looked at me with a smile, showed me the thumbs up and said "Beautiful driving". I asked him why he said so. I'm pretty sure you've already read what he had to say, in SSJs post. That was it. Instant nirvana!!! Mission accomplished.
We went there to see the Vtec "REDEEM" istself, and that's exactly what it did. And mind u, even after those 2 session on day 1 the G Grid on the front left had enuf life to bring us, all the way back home. Wolf seemed so happy, he may just keep those tyres till they wear out themselves.
All said n done, track day is one hell of an event. Too bad we missed the first 2 due to comitments but will try and make the ones to follow.
For the low down on Wolf's experience behind the wheel, wait till he posts. I bet he's itching to get online. LOL
PS : The fastest car on track was a silver Porsche 911 which was lapping at a consistant 1:15. I think it was driven by an ex-Formula2 driver.
Shan2nu
Last edited by Shan2nu : 13th March 2006 at 20:45.
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