Greg Weld on the track today
 

in his new car. Charley sent me the pics, can't wait to hear what Greg thinks of it.

Triple 8------now that's cool.

That just looks like way to much fun one man should be having!!! Nice Greg!!:trophy-1302:

Those 2 Elevens are kick ass. Congrats!

now that looks like alot of fun Greg,nice car

Awesome on so many levels...

Wonder if I could borrow it for 8 days?

:peepwall:


Why is it the Mary said no before I even finished typing this? :bitchslap:

Congrats Greg!

Hmm

That looks pretty cool:D but what about this? :headscratch: Is it running today?:underchair:

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...ps86875564.jpg

:cheers:

Sweet

Sooooooo any impressions on it? More pictures guys.

HAHAHAHAHAHA imagine my surprise to see this post.... Charley is nothing but a big trouble maker!


I alternated between running the '65 Mustang (590hp and 3015 #'s) and the Lotus (252hp and 1477 #'s).... TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CARS -- no DOH! there right??


The Lotus is absolutely on marbles or grease - or both for the first lap or two. It has Yokohama Advan tires -- they're super slick until I can get some heat in them.... and then with each lap the car can turn in more and more... and it's like driving a 6 speed shifter cart. Super sweet -- super forgiving -- you know exactly what the car is doing... wicked fast... as in OH WOW! Brakes are better than excellent... speed control is just amazingly accurate. This is a car a guy could get himself in some serious trouble in -- the speeds are just HIGH...

The Mustang is everything the Lotus IS NOT.... it's not sophisticated -- it's loud and harsh and rough -- and you can manhandle it thru a corner.... Gobs of torque... and it just grunts it's way around the track kinda like a pissed off bull.

The Mustang is more fun to drive. It's more "me".... I like it. I can make it do what I need it to do. The Hoosier R6's are sticky after 1 lap and then they don't change. I like that.

The Lotus is refined precision.... a screaming howler --- 1.8ltrs of bumblebee -- but you don't hear the motor all that much because the wind is trying to tear your helmet off.... holy crap - the end of the big straight comes up fast and the helmet is coming up even faster! A touch up of the brakes -- downshift into 5th and roll it on throttle around turn 1... awesome --- but scary too! You're carrying A LOT of speed... which makes the Mustang seem like slow-motion.

That's all for now --- I'm pooped!

I'll let JerrDawgy tell his own story --- but what I can say is that I just happened to be rolling south from Seattle to NorCal --- and this "race truck" happened to be between where I was coming from and heading to... and somebody bought it... and it got a ride down to Thunderhill and a guy I know (the proud new owner) came up from LA and took it home. Stay tuned as I'm sure this won't be the last you'll read/see of this cute little truck (which sounds every bit as bad ass as my Mustang!).

Hmmmm...........you had more fun than I did today!

Good stuff GW, not surprised with the 2-11. Wait till you get used to it. What were the track temps like?

Now you're sounding like Gaetano!!


I have no idea what the track temps where -- I have no idea how many clicks on my shocks... I have even less idea where my anti-roll bars are set... or how much toe-in I have or don't have. I own lots of tools and bring many down with me - but only to loan to others that may have a need. I come down for the FUN... If it breaks it goes on the trailer and I ride the passenger side with anyone that will let me.


I just set tire pressures.... put on my driver stuff... strap in -- and go out and have a blast. I pass some people -- and since I've moved up to Green group - some people pass me... then they wave a checkered flag and I get off track and go sit on my fat little ass until they call Green group again. :>)

Ambient high was 76* low was 48*..........kinda chilly for T-Hill. Certainly didn't help the slicks get up to temp. Maybe Hoosier R6's since it's somewhat obvious you're not inclined to run tire warmers. :D

I actually talked to one of the OTEC guys here today and asked about A6's -- his thought was that they might start off better but that after 20 minutes they might be greasy...

I'll order some R6's. And a spare set of wheels like I have for the Mustang... Ah the beauty of having some space...

I was laughing when I typed my response.... because Gaetano showed up today -- and immediately asked about the handling of the Mustang. I replied that it was a little crossed up in 12 and 13... but I ho-hum that stuff... He wanted to change tire pressure by a half a pound - and check my shock settings. I was like -- NO..... Why not he asked... Well, because.... it wouldn't make any difference in my driving... and I'm not racing so there's no prize... no check... oh -- and if it was a little squirrelly in a corner -- it would be because I entered too hot --- or I hit the brakes too hard or too late - or maybe I just didn't quite hit the apex.... In other words --- it's not the shocks or the tires - or the temps -- it's ME.... and changing the car doesn't change ME.

More importantly --- none of that "knowledge" would increase my pleasure... None of that is important to me. I'm not crawling under the car... I'm not working on it... I'm not changing anything. I'm just down here having a great time -- hangin' with my buddies -- driving our asses off... laughing at our foibles and telling lies about how fast we took some corner... or about how sideways we were.

Some guys are all about shock adjustments - tire temps - coil settings - and toe in etc. And they get a ton of pleasure out of knowing about that and seeing what each does. Me? Not so much. I'm focused on having a great weekend -- not hurting my pride too much -- laughing with my buddies... going out to some ptomaine parlor for dinner.

I like simple. When I'm on track the only thing I have to think about is hitting the apex -- and trying my best to catch the guy in front of me. If I can do some of that some of the time - then I've had a good day.

The grease will get changed when I get back home to the shed. :lol:

The Mustang is assigned a permanent number by Nor Cal Shelby club -- it's number 88.... Charley was kind enough to give up the number which was on the car when I bought it from him.... I asked the club for 088 for the Lotus... and the guy who handles that is "asian".... and he responded to my email that I should have 888 --- since "8" is a good luck number in asian cultures... so 888 it is!!

I think I'll have to raise my game and get some actual decals --- or as our buddy Blake (SpeedTech) calls them DEKKELS for it.

Just awesome on so many levels

:lmao: were suppose to check all that?? I HAD NO IDEA! :confused18: Im with you there

Stubborn as a mule. Who would think to fine tune a car to your driving style and skill level. :twak:

I remember hearing someone tell me " if it were easy, everyone would do it".

That sounds like an awesome day at the track to me.

Ya quick gunned posted me on editing my A6 to R6 error..............:guns:

On the bikes I wasn't a constant suspension tinkerer or tire experimenter either but I will tweak as much as it takes to where I get the suspension feeling right for me. Tire temps only get check for baseline and adjusted as needed to compensate for extreme ambient temperature variations.

Once I find the sweet spots I leave well enough alone and focus on lines braking and throttle application........

I bet a certain S10 woulda smoked both your cars.

:whistling:

It was a fun time and a pleasure to finaly meet Greg, Gae and Charile..Charlie asked if we were gona run the truck? We said maybe ..he says "does it have gas..do the brakes work"? ..I say "yeah" he says RUN IT THEN!!! LOL I like him.

If you've never seen these Mutstangs in person, they are very very nice! The Lotus is cool too.

Once again a Big Thank you to Greg for bringing my new toy "SPUDS" down for me :thumbsup: GAE looks like Erine Irvan

Nice that some 'lat-g legends' finally got to meet up and exchange Mancards. :unibrow:

Looks like some serious fun.


:hello:

Greg, you have no idea how glad I am to hear those comments.

The last track event I was at (only the 2nd one), someone asked me what I'm doing with my tire pressures.....I said "they were properly inflated to safely get me to the track, I'm good to go."

I didn't have great lap times, I was there to beat the snot out of my car and have a blast with it!! and when it comes down to it, I didn't finish the day with the fastest time OR the slowest time.....in my mind - - I WON!!

I learn more about the limits of my car every time I'm out there, I improve as a driver.....again I WON. :thumbsup:

It was my pleasure buddy! Glad I could lend a hand....


Sorry we were busy trying to prep for running.... those first couple sessions have everyone pretty busy - then it settles down and we have more time to BS. I was so distracted I almost forgot to put fuel in the Muttstang!

HAHAHAHAHA -- Scott..... I really was laughing to myself as I was typing that... but it's absolutely true!

To me - this is like hot rodding.... "to each his own". Some guys want to make all manor of adjustments and mess with everything on the car. THEY have fun doing that... I don't. Some guys like to sit in a parking lot all day displaying their car and answering all the questions of every passerby... But that's not my idea of a good day... I want to wake up with the sun - and go drive my hot rod somewhere and listen to the music the exhaust makes...

I can't even tell you what a lap is here... After checking one time to see my times against the faster group - and discovering I was faster (because the faster guys are running in more traffic)... I realized it just didn't matter because there was no pole position to win... and nobody else knew their times and not a single person asked me what I ran. Like you - I want to have some good laps - I like it if I'm faster than the guy in front of me through some sections... and I DO want to pass everyone one the track... but after that -- I settle in and just try to do my best thru every turn.

When I went to bed last night -- I never once thought about the "car"... Other than a note to self -- get Hoosiers for the Lotus!

James -- You know me... and that's just the way it is. HAHAHAHAHAHA



I have just as much fun "working" a track event as I do driving at one. It's all good.

Greg, great seeing you and Charlie again. I love the Muttstang and the Lotus. Oh. And I'll stop bugging you about how you should have been tuning your suspension for better drive ability. :waveflag:

Very nice Greg. When can I drive it..:thumbsup:

HAHAHAHAHAHA I knew you'd get a kick out of this thread!



So the Muttstang has a broken rocker arm - and possibly more.... and get this -- I just let a 14 year old "kid" (young man is a more appropriate description) drive the Lotus. He'll be 15 next week and said that was the best birthday present "EVER".

His Grandfather built Thunderhill -- his Dad -- Tommy McCarthy - raced NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.... and the young lad is a National Champion


What a hoot to see the smile on his face! "It's the koolest car I've ever driven..." ---- Dude?!?!?! Who can say that and you haven't even had your 15th birthday yet!?!?!

EEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHAAAAA


And oh by the way -- he's running Green group and smokin people in his Mazda Miata! I didn't know he was driving the car -- and followed him for a few laps -- going to school on him!

I let a 14 year old boy drive it before you!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA

Greg, every time someone makes fun of me for not knowing tire pressures, I'm going to tell them I'm in good company.

Don't get me wrong, I like tinkering and changing springs, sway bars, shock settings, etc. Most of those things are significant changes that make me insignificantly faster. I set tire pressure when cold, knowing it will grow and figure one or two pounds of pressure still doesn't make as big a difference as me cleaning up my driving.

p.s. I'm glad this was titled "Greg Weld ON the track today.

Matt -- I re-set the hot tire pressure immediately after coming off track back down to what I went out on cold.... So it I set the Muttstang at 28F and 26R -- and I come in and the front is 34 -- I drop it back down to 28 -- I don't know if that makes much of a difference but that's what I was told to do so that's what I do.

That is the extent of working on the car....


Okay -- I did fix the tailpipe that blew off the Lotus exhaust today. But right after that I swore off any more adjustments! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Looks like you had a total blast Greg.

That is a far more scientific approach than I figured you'd have. Next thing you'll probably tell us that you check tire temps to figure out how much to air them down. :lol:

You are making me feel bad though. I do check wear to see if I'm using as much of my tire as I should, but I can't tell you the last time I actually used a pressure gauge. Everyone (mostly Cris) tells me to take it more seriously if I want to go fast(er).

Hey Greg, I heard if you put a bunch of stickers on the car, it will make you faster. Now there's a fine line as to how many stickers you'll need base on your driving skills as there is a sweet spot. So it will take some testing on your part :whistling:

GW based on what I've read in this thread I don't know why you have gauges in the Mustang. You should just have two big idiot lights on the dash with dekkels below them stating GO to TRACK and GO to TRAILER. :D

LMAO
wrong accent Greg but close, you let me know if you need some I can make that happen.