[Ron Sutton]

Hey Guys ! I'll throw in a few tech comments ... just so we can say we're talking about cars & not having a BS Session.

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Times are irrelevant in track days... mostly because no two cars are anywhere near "equal". Different motors - different size tires - different compound tires... That's just jerking off talk. The Lotus with it's 1.8 liter motor was faster... and the Mustang with it's skinny tires was slower... only at the point of when Ron choose to time the laps.
There were very few clean laps where drivers could lay down a "best time" in the green group. I think Gae & Greg would have both posted faster lap times with fewer rolling chicanes on the track. But hey ... it was just a fun "club track day" ... and those slower cars have just as much right to be out there having a blast too.

When Gae was trying to chase me the Mustang pulled on him like he was dragging an anchor. Doesn't matter.... it's all just so much BS. There's dozens of cars and drivers out there that are FAR faster and there's an equal amount that are easily passed... I only pass people if they're slower than I am - but it's not the way I keep track of my "progress" as a driver or how well the car is working (or not). If people keep track of that kind of stuff - then they're not having much fun just enjoying the "event" and the people and their own car. There's no "Wally" at the end of the day... just a barbecue and a beer.
Several beers.

When I pass someone -- I give them a friendly wave thanking them for letting me by.... and if I'm lucky enough to be able to be somewhat matched with someone - I'll go to their pit and thank them for letting me run with them. There's a guy with a 4 cylinder Turbo Thunderbird that runs regularly with us. He used to blow by me like I was in the wrong group... this time at Sonoma we ran several laps together - he pointed me by and I declined even though I was faster - I'd rather run and have fun with him - we each enjoyed the give and take - catching up or pulling away depending on which corner we were in. I then went to his trailer to thank him... he's a young guy and drives a great line... at Thunderhill this October - I promised him a session in the Lotus as he has admired it (even though we were running T-bird against Mustang). Given what he's driving - and his ability - he'd just rip the Lotus and I'd love to give him the chance. That's what makes this all fun.
That was a great session with you & the T-bird running together.

I don't really give a sh!t about lap times. On Saturday they were fast - on Sunday - for whatever reason - everyone was off by 2 to 4 seconds. Didn't feel like it - but that's what the watch said. Same people - same cars - different day. Weird.

I was watching the weather with an app on my phone. There was massive humidity in the air (79%). Around lunch the temperature was only 6° from dew point. Most guys know at dew point ... actual dew drops form on the ground (or track surface in our case). But not everyone knows anytime the moisture content in the air is high (humidity) and the temperature is cool ... there is moisture constantly being applied to the track surface by the air. I watch how far the temperature is from dew point. Anytime it is within 10° ... it will significantly affect both track grip & engine power output.

So it took away grip from the track & affected all the cars power outputs. Most fell off 3-4 seconds. Some more.