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View Full Version : Monday's Road Course excursion


mitchntx
12-10-2002, 07:51 AM
For Driver's Edge experienced participants, Motorsports Ranch was opened for the day.

The difference was, the track was configured to run the opposite direction. Doesn't happen too often.

Unfortunately, the track was wet ... all day. But this wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It's a good teacher of smoooooooth ....

Around 3 o'clock most everyone had left so the track was just opened up ... run as much and as long as you want.

Lot's of off course adventures for everyone. But up until about 4, I was one of the few (RWD anyway) cars that hadn't seen the infield.

Then it was my turn.

Running about 70 or 75, braking for a kink to the right, which is uphill and off-camber. I touched the brakes and the back end snaps to the right. At this point I'm a passenger.

I angle across the curbing, jump the curb, do a 360 in the mud, come back onto the track after the turn, go across the track, again completing another 360 and then off the other side. I stopped about 50' off track pointing the wrong direction.

Better than 6 Flags!

Nothing was hurt, just a little muddy. But $2 at a car wash fixed all that.

I checked out the car and then went out for more fun and excitement.

The cause was in the wrong line. The "dry" line is basically polished smooth from heavy braking and acceleration. Normally, it's the preferred line. But in the wet, this becomes like ice. Moving off the "dry" line a couple of car widths, the track is more abrassive and grippy. I had my left side in the "dry" line and the right side in the "wet" line ... not good.

Next event is January 25/26

NolanTA
12-10-2002, 08:04 AM
This sounds like so much fun. I know you've covered this over at ls1.com, but maybe you can reiterate here. If I wanted to try MSR once, what should I consider doing to my car prior to signing up?

I'm pretty sure you've mentioned SFC's, better brake fluid.. what else?

mitchntx
12-10-2002, 09:56 AM
For a first time ...

Flush with some new brake fluid, make sure you have a decent amount of brake pad remaining, pay the entry fee and go have fun.

Don't throw any cash at your suspension until you have a feel for the car at a base line, then make slow methodical changes.

I would also suggest The Driver's Edge ( www.thedriversedge.net ) as the host club. They run a very controlled and safe event. The instructors are very good and most understand heavy, RWD, high HP cars.

chris
12-12-2002, 02:30 PM
Mitch it sound like what i did at memphis years ago.....Chuck Stong was my instructor, we were going through some of the little turns after the big drag strip. I hit a bump, the rear started to come around, I over corrected then it came back around hard the other way. As you said, just along for the ride at this point :) Went off track, spinning around, slid back across another part of the track to the other side and ended up about 10 ft from the drag strip retaining wall :)

mitchntx
12-16-2002, 01:07 AM
The great thing about MSR is there are no retaining walls