That is funny right there the go to track one would be Green and the other Red I will suppose

Bingo! :thumbsup:

That's right Matt.. & this is why lately this rookie (me) driver has been beating you :lmao: ... Barely..

So I suck at GoPro --- even though I bought a new Hero 3 Black Edition with the remote control at SEMA last year.... I forget to turn it on --- or the battery is toast when I want to use it... or... <pick one> whatever.


So this was at the end of a session like the last lap and then cool down... and it just shows the Lotus staying behind the 14 year old Tommy McCarthy in the blue Miata. He just seemed so smooth and I just decided that rather than pass him -- I'd just run around with him a bit. It's actually kind of fun to run around at 7/10ths! If you watch the tach you can see that half the time I'm under like 5K -- and usually I'm shifting at 8K or above.... and when I'm running up there you can certainly hear the difference. LOL


I'm posting this just so you get a view of "The Doorstop" as it's been named by the NorCal Shelby group.

What a great backup car! :D

Really wish I'd have remembered about this so I could harass you AND Charlie in one sitting.

I'll have to settle for the roadster show instead :D

As much as I like the Cobra replicas, the Lotus seems like a much better choice for a track car.

It's pretty cheap fun ---- at the end of Saturday -- although I maybe only ran 2 or 3 sessions in it -- I had to put 5 gallons of 110 in it.... vs --- 7 or 8 gallons PER 20 minute session in the Mustang.


I also didn't start to really push the Lotus until Sunday after I'd gotten some seat time in it. It's quite "tail happy".... and the POS Yokohama A048's are about as greasy a tire as I've ever driven on... the car is so light that it has problems building any heat in the tire. I followed the previous owners notes and was running cold pressures of 21 lbs all around. GREASY GREASY GREASY.... but once I could get a little heat - then it settled down. Still --- needs real race tires.... not street tires.

All in all -- a nice little car for the 60K I paid for it. If it stays together -- it'll be way cheaper than the Mustang is turning out to be! LOL

Nice lines Greg, you look great out there. Lotus looks like a hoot :thumbsup:

You've got plenty of time!


I even laid off poor Charley since he'd just had an issue with his forehead so wasn't feeling up to snuff.... That left only poor Gaetano to put up with me... and Chet --- but Chet had family around so I couldn't really pound him like usual. HA!!

I need a crew chief!


LOL


Good talkin' to ya today buddy. Your panties are in the mail.

:lol: See ya at Laguna

Greg,

Enjoyed the vid. :thumbsup:

Well hopefully the Mutstang will finish it's 'teething' very soon.

Have you chosen a new tire yet for the Lotus?

And what's the next time you're going to track the car(s)?

I watched that video and had to grin. I remember having to talk Greg into buying my Mustang and come to a driving school with the Shelby club. Told him he would not be in over his head. He would be learning with other beginners. Now seeing the video from his 60K car, the Renegade Toterhome etc is perfect. Yes I had fun making Greg spend money but I bet he hasn't had this much fun in years. I did the same with Chet and he also is having more car fun then ever.:cheers:

I notice that about friends in this hobby. They always seem to make you spend more money. :headscratch:

Yep! Some friend you've turned out to be! Gwen says she's not letting me hang around you anymore -- you're too expensive! LOL


OMG! Your last sentence is spot on.... Playing with these cars on the track is just the ultimate and I only wish I'd have discovered how much fun it was earlier in life - but we still have plenty of years ahead. The guy with the White and blue stripe Mustang just on the other side of me this weekend -- he's 79 !! Still out there making it happen.

When we're 80 and at a track event -- do you think either of us will remember what gear we're in? Or how to get home?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Okay --- Here's some more narcissistic cellophane for your viewing pleasure...


This was earlier in the same session as the other one I posted.... and this shows Tommy pointing me by -- but I waved him off -- and the corner workers as well - as they were giving Tommy the "faster traffic" flag...


At the time I had no idea the driver was a whopping 14 years old..... When I put him in the Lotus I had to grab two bath towels out of the house to prop him up in the seat!

Man that looks like a lot of fun. Great to see you out having such a good time!

And here... finally (it takes so long to upload a video to YouTube!) is Tommy driving the Lotus....

Here's little Tommy's "racing credentials".... do the math -- he's 14 years old - and will turn a whopping 15 next week....



And the rest of you want to adjust tire pressure and click shocks..... Yeah right.... how about just learning how to drive???





Tommy McCarthy is Fourteen years old and has been racing since the age of five. Tommy has won 600+ races, and holds championships in all three major racing disciplines; road course karting, pavement ovals (large & small), and dirt-tracks. Tommy’s achievements include:

2012 QMA Grand National Champion Dirt A Class
2012 USAC Albuquerque Champion Pavement Sr. Animal Class
2012 QMA Winter National Champion Lt World Formula Class
2012 QMA Red Jacket Track Records at Madera A & B Class
2011 QMA Grand National Champion Pavement Lt. AA Class.
2011 QMA Western National Champion Pavement Lt World Formula Class
2011 WSRA Mini Cup Champion Pavement (most wins too).
2011 QMA Region 10 Champion: Lt. Mod (undefeated), & Lt. World Formula.
2011 Baylands Champion Lt. World Formula & Track Record Holder
2011 QMA American Track Records in Lt. AA & World Formula
2010 Western Indoor Lt. Mod Champion & Lt. AA Champion
2010 QMA Region 10 Champion: Sr. Stk, Lt. Mod, and Lt. 160 (undefeated).
2010 USAC “Battle of the Brickyard” Sr. Stk Champion, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
2010 Baylands Lt. 160 Champion (undefeated)
2009 Motor Sports Press Association “Rising Star Award” Recipient
2009 MMRA Mini Cup Rookie of the Year
2009-current MMRA Mini Cup Stockton 99 Speedway Track Record
2009-current MMRA Mini Cup Madera Speedway Track Record
2009 Region 10 Quarter Midget Sr. Stock Champion
2009 Baylands Quarter Midget Sr. Stock Champion
2009 Jim Russell Infenion Raceway Karting Arrive & Drive Cadet Series June Winner & Track Record
2009 Jim Russell Infenion Raceway Karting Gazelle Series, Champion and Undefeated
2009 Tri-Valley Howard Memorial Sr. Stock Track Record & Lt. Mod Track Record
2009 Vallejo Indoor Lt. Mod Champion, Lt. 160 Champion, & Sr. Stock Champion (three in the same year).
2009 Hangover Classic Sr. Honda Champion & Sr. Stock Champion
2008 Baylands Quarter Midget Sportsman of the Year (voted by other drivers)
2008 Region 10 Quarter Midget Sr. Stock Champion
2008 MONZA Quarter Midget Sr. Stock Champion
2008 Baylands Quarter Midget Sr. Stock Champion
2008 Tri-Bay Quarter Midget Series Sr. Stock & Lt. Mod Champion
2008 Baylands Sr. Stock Track Record
2008 Tri-Valley Sr. Stock Track Record
2008 Won 64 Races (Heat Races & Main Events)
2008 Las Vagas Clash Race Jr. Stock Champion & Jr. Honda Champion
2007 Baylands Quarter Midget Jr. Stock Champion & Jr. Honda Champion
2007 Madera “Galante” Jr. Honda Track Record
2007 Tri-Valley Jr. Stock “Howard Memorial” Track Record
2007 BQMRA MONZA Jr. Honda Track Record
2007 Won 60 Races (Heat Races & Main Events)
2006 Baylands Jr. Stock Champion & Jr. Honda Champion
2006 American Quarter Midget Jr. Stock Track Record
2005 Baylands Rookie of the Year.

Pretty sure if we had little Tommy's cholesterol level we might win sumthun too. #webmd



:tv_happy:

:secret: That says something about the shift linkage........

No not really ---- #1 the shifter in this little POS is incredible... super tight pattern... very short throw.... and I did the same thing little Tommy did until I finally had some time in the car and then that went away. The primary H pattern is very close - then the 5 and 6 pattern is over to your right.... and it was very easy at first to go from 4th to 3rd unless you made a deliberate move to the passenger side to slide it up into 5th.

On this track -- I only slid it into 6th ONCE that I can remember..... and of course a better driver might come off the corners onto the straights carrying more speed therefore getting into the higher gears sooner... and maybe I'd be a better driver if I spent more time adjusting my air pressures. HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA


Later on Sunday I did make an attempt to stay up with a couple of race prepped ZR1's that were running in the Blue group (they combined the blue and green later on Sunday) and I was very happy with the Lotus's performance.... I, however, knew I was driving way over my head and let them go after a couple corners. The car/driver combo was just way too fast for my LOFT.

I was hoping it was acclamation period. Took me a while with the T56 Mag and Hurst shifter. Trust and a little leap of faith. :D

I have to say == I wouldn't change a thing on the little POS. It needs way better tires... so I'll get a couple sets of those coming but other than that I was very happy with it.

It's funny to hear it run thru the gears -- you don't hear much of anything when you have the helmet on and the air whizzin' past you... and all that buzzing sound is going away to the rear.

Now the Mustang on the other hand... OH YEAH!!

Nice driving Greg :thumbsup: Smart move to follow the kid around the track… he has the lines dialed in.

Enjoyed the videos… The Lotus looks like so much fun!

:cheers:

Thanks Dale! And just think - you were there the day I bought the little POS!!


Thanks for the kudos.... but as you stated -- the KID had the lines -- it was super easy to just coast around behind him and commit them to memory. Left on my own - I tend to go into attack mode - hitting it harder and harder until something lets go... like the grip.... I even managed a tank slapper from 8 up to 9! There's a super nice set of black stripes that look like a slalom course was set up. HAHAHAHAHAHA I'm not even sure how I started that! The Lotus loved it.

How old are the current tires?

You must be fast cause you were haulin azz when I buzzed by you!!

Good question.... But I have no answer. They're coming off regardless.... I can't waste 2 and 3 laps waiting for the tires to start to work.

AH HEM..... <clearing throat>


Perhaps a few more people should read this statement from the Lotus "chassis set up" manual:



The more time you spend in the car, the more you will learn what can be achieved with the vehicle. Until you gain sufficient experience, do not make any changes to the car. Get used to the car in its standard, very good, base setting. Only when you are fully comfortable with the car should you begin to consider the adjustments described within this manual.


I think the point they're making is ---- learn how to drive first.... and once you can really drive to a cars POTENTIAL -- then you can start to customize it. Until then - leave the SOB alone.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

One of the things that BONDURANT beat into my fat little head was "you have to hit EVERY APEX"... At first I was getting "close" to the apex -- and an instructor came out and ran in front of me (I was in a single seat Formula Mazda) and showed me how much easier it was to carry speed IF I hit the apex because it makes your exit better. Hope that makes sense.

Now -- in wheel to wheel racing - that's not possible and it's why you see banging and all manor of mayhem. But in track days -- you should be able to hit your marks.


I'm not trying to be narcissistic here... I certainly don't think I'm a great driver - I'm a beginner... I can still spin anywhere on the track. I'm just making a point to those that perhaps are interested in doing this kind of driving with their cars.... Hitting the apex is really important. I try to do it in every turn. As I get better I'll practice being off line and still be able to negotiate the turn -- that's much harder to do!




http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...us/file-12.jpg






http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...us/file-16.jpg






The other thing they'll beat into you -- is how important it is to LOOK UP LOOK AHEAD AND LOOK THRU THE TURN TO YOUR EXIT. It doesn't make a lot of sense until you do it. It slows everything down as far as your eyes/brain go... and there's some magic link between your eyes/brain and your actions with hands and feet. Again I'm TRYING to practice good habits when on track. I'm TRYING not to get caught up staring at the guys bumper in front of me - drive my own line - and LOOKING AHEAD. So when I was sent this shot - I was glad to see that it "appears" that I'm doing that. It's so easy to stare at the cone in the apex etc.



While following Tommy McCarthy --- I was turning consistent 2:16 laps -- that's probably 10 seconds slower than what I'd have been running if I was just out there hittin' it. BUT what happens when you're doing that is you're able to think about something else other than OMG I hope I make this turn! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA His line was very smooth - he didn't have the power to smoke down the straights - but he carried that speed thru turns and in a lot of cases he exited the turn faster than I did because I had to brake to stay behind him... and he had the momentum and now I'm hard on the juice to keep up. It really showed me A LOT by doing that for a few laps.






http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...us/file-13.jpg

What do they know at LOTUS!?:_paranoid

Great pics!!!

They're by "GotBlueMilk" --- they come out to the track and then post them on their website and you can order digital or prints. He does a real good job.

Alot of great points Greg. Especially the one about looking through and ahead of the turn. I was given the same advise for turn 8 at T-Hill and it certainly did help. Even with that advise I think I have only nailed it perfectly once.

You should go up and see the "tank slapper" double black stripes exiting 8 and heading up to 9 !!


OMG..... I was pounding the top of 5th gear (127mph) and the steering on the Lotus is so light and precise... and I was trying to not saw it but I had to catch the ass which was trying to do the f'n rumba.


I've been having a running dialog (gee who'd a thunk it?) with the Unlimited Champion (2 years!) in the Lotus Cup.... about the set up and tires etc and have learned a few things about the little POS... and it seems the issues I was having with the car are very well known - and there are "fixes" for them. Such as the RAKE (the body is designed a particular way to aid downforce and if WRONG - makes a mess of things in the rear) --- the tires --- and the AERO WING settings.


Of course Jack wants me to move up to TRIPLE ADJUSTABLE shocks from the current double adjustable Ohlins. That ain't happenin'. To F'n' many knobs. I only need to turn one "knob" -- it's connected to the front wheels.

I have made some MAJOR strides in getting my head wrapped around this little POS.... and have GREAT INSIGHT for set up and modifications required by the Lotus Cup Unlimited CHAMP (2012 and 2010) who campaigns a 2008 2 Eleven.

What a great guy and I can't thank him enough.


Then today -- as luck would have it -- I run into the Lotus Service Engineer - whom also has massive race pedigree including F1 teams.... and he printed off some super useful "notes" for me! Wow...


Just to pee off Gaetano and Todd.... I've even upgraded a couple of tools.


http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...us/file-17.jpg





http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...us/file-18.jpg





http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...us/file-19.jpg





http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...us/file-20.jpg

F1 experience = LISTEN to that guy!! How fortunate you are to have someone like that to give you advice, Greg

This could be my new signature!!!

:bang: :bang: :bang:

:popcorn2: