Project "Payback"

[Vegas69]

Ya...I harrass these guys just like my buddies around here.

I understand your theory bowtie. I'm sure it's the best way but I feel safer on my R compounds. My other set is a 255/345 stagger. It works great on the street, but not so much on the track. The car is so much more predictable with these wheels and tires. It's my first time so I hope to be a little conservative. She's all ready to go. That accumulator is a pretty cool deal. I'm up at 5 AM to go over the hump to Pahrump and give it hell. I'm pretty sure I'm taking half the garage!

[waynieZ]

Good luck tomorrow Todd. Have some fun for me...

[rogue]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

Ya...I harrass these guys just like my buddies around here.

I understand your theory bowtie. I'm sure it's the best way but I feel safer on my R compounds. My other set is a 255/345 stagger. It works great on the street, but not so much on the track. The car is so much more predictable with these wheels and tires. It's my first time so I hope to be a little conservative. She's all ready to go. That accumulator is a pretty cool deal. I'm up at 5 AM to go over the hump to Pahrump and give it hell. I'm pretty sure I'm taking half the garage!

scary words... read them again. R-Comps won't talk to you like street tires, you will end up sliding off the track before you know it. They don't give a driver feedback at the edge of grip. I learned this lesson many times over myself with my car, and I'm SO glad I have a single stage earl sheib job. Just trying to keep your nice shiny paint job shiny and save a fellow Lateral-G member some heartache.

This is the last time I'll mention it I promise.

Good luck out there regardless of what you choose to run. Have fun!

[68protouring454]

I will disagree to an extent. toyo r888 have great grip but they are not in anyway shape or form dot slick tires, the offer really good feedback and are merely a sticky street tire, can be used in all weather.
I have driven every track day i have done with them, they give you confidence, but yet screech when nearing limit and come back quite nicely when you turn down the wic some.
while comparing to pilot sport II's they are day and night, but there are a few street tires that stay up with the toyos in short track burst's up to 10-15 mins, after that the toyos will hold much better.
just creep up on the edge as the day goes on, and you will be all good.

[Spiffav8]

Todd I wish I was there manning the pits for you! Hope you had a great time (like you wouldn't) and got in some serious track time. Looking forward to the after action report.

[Vegas69]

I woke up at 5 AM today and loaded half the garage up in Kelli's truck. We headed for Spring Mountain at about 6:15 AM. It was a really gorgeous morning and the sunrise was almost mars like in my rear view mirror. Just a really great 75 mile ride. I didn't have much to do but torque the wheels and adjust the rear shocks before the race. The first time out I was sandwiched inbetween a boat load of cars and really had no where to go. It was so slow that my lap times were a full minute faster in the second heat. The second run I decided to wait until it had started to go out and give myself some room. The race was black flagged right when I got in my car! Luckily I ended up with some space to RACE!

Let's start with the good first. The car really really surprised me. It really stuck to the track well and the handling was fantastic. The brakes I conintually whine about were actually really good on the track. Once they get a little heat in them they work great. I still liked a quick pump before the corners but it wasn't really needed. The motor ran really strong and I never saw the oil pressure drop below 25psi in the corners. I'd say the accumlator is working well. It was around 90 degrees in the first run and almost 100 in the second. Water temps hit 210 and stayed there. I really don't know how hot the oil got. I shot the oil filter and it was 200 and the oil pan was bewteen 210-250. Hot enough I would say.

The bad: I lost almost all my power steering about 3 laps into my first run and it came back a little and was notchy as hell. The second heat I was running way faster and pushing the car. It once again lost most of the power steering and at the end of the heat the front seal on the pump puked some fluid. The pump is junk. It was ok on the way home but still a little notchy here and there. I work out alot and trying to steer 275mm R888's around a road course is like arm wresting super man.

All and all a great day that was cut a little short. I just need to buy a better power steering pump from turn one. I ended up running the 4th quickest lap of the novice group. I suppose 15-20 of the 30-40 cars has transponders.

Here are some photos and video Kelli took for me.




Two cars ahead of me went off the track and I'm telling you it was like being in the closet with the lights out. It was like days of thunder man. I slowed way the hell down and putted through the cloud of dust. Check it out!

[Vegas69]

The video quality is pretty bad. I gave Kelli a ton of crap but she actually did pretty well since it was really hard for her in the places available. There really isn't any action of my fastest portions but you get the drift. Triple digits were definitely in play big time. We ran 3.2 miles and the other end was the fast portion.





Last but certainly not least, the victory donut!



It was definitely a "watch this" moment!

[tones2SS]

Sounds like a good day Todd. So new steering pump is on the list, I take it.
You must have crapped yourself when the 2 cars wiped out in front of you. I can't believe how much dust collected on your car because of that.
Glad you and Payback came out ok.

[camaro2nv]

Man thats soo cool. My guess is you'll be back soon. Man Im jealous!

[Flash68]

Looks like a lotta fun Todd. Looked like a tightly packed course there.

Originally Posted by Vegas69

I work out alot and trying to steer 275mm R888's around a road course is like arm wresting super man.

[/IMG]