1970 Mustang / Ron Sutton / SpeedTech Track Warrior

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Tinker

Gregg,
I hope you know I'm not making fun of you, I'm laughing with you. With anything, how do you know if you are at the edge if you never push past it. Reminds me of many years ago when i started drag racing snowmobiles and I spoke with a multi time champion, and he asked me if I ever blew up my motor yet. I wish I could have seen my own face of horror because I just spent thousands of dollars I didn't have to spare on that motor. He then asked "well then how do you know if there's not any more speed left in it?"

Never thought that at all. But remember you're not the only one reading. It's a public question and response. When I respond - my response always tries to answer questions that others may only be thinking.

Racing is hard (they call these TRACK DAYS - but that is only a cover for "I'm not really racing" which is complete BS) -- only those that haven't done it would think otherwise. I'm no good at it - am a total weekend warrior. I know this for fact. I have never thought otherwise. I have IMPROVED... I have pushed the limits when my limits were far lower. Now I push the limits harder and mess up "less" -- less is not making for a particularly great record. LOL

I will say --- when I spin now -- I expect it - and know why I did what I did. That's a HUGE difference than when I began. Now I usually know in advance the minute I've done what I've done. My experimental line trying to find more speed or carry thru - or my later harder braking zone. Sometimes it's just that momentary lapse - and at the speeds we're carrying - there is no momentary. So yeah - usually it's just bad judgement on my part and I don't have the skills to recover.

But damn I have fun!


I would add to this -- that the car got way better -- but I don't think I got better until I had some seat time and began to push it a bit. I had to take almost a year off due to the cancer issue - and then kind of got a second wind. Seems to me that when I came back -- things just began to work better for me. Then -- the car set up needed to change because I found the limits of the set up that "was". It went from neutral to "free" to loose.... these changes happen quickly on track. Free became loose within a couple laps as the "free" used up the tires quickly. You'd have loved to have been chasing me because it was a **** show for the ages! LOL Now.... I'm not blaming the car - rather - I'm trying to explain what people may not know or understand. A cars set up can be neutral - until you begin to drive it differently - then it can go to pushy or free or loose in a hurry. Once I put some more rear grip in the car - then I suddenly found "push" - but left it alone because it was balanced and I could "cause" the push. Mind you... we only get 20 minutes (about 9 to 10 laps) and sometimes there's traffic and you don't get to explore the track to the cars (or drivers) ability. We're out there with some real different drivers and cars. You can waste an entire 20 minute session parading around... and not get out of 3rd gear. My point is -- in all of my driving -- not all that many laps are done at max effort. The experience comes slowly....