Archive May 2009

BMW performance center

May 7, 2009 in 2009 One Lap of America

As if Carolina Motorsports Park wasn’t cool enough, we had another short lap session at the BMW performance center. They usually only allow BMWs out onto this track, so we are safe in saying it was the first time it saw a Galant VR4.

Although we packed and got out of the last track quickly, the lady in the GPS didn’t quite understand where we were

headed. We ended taking a painful 30 minute detour that allowed us arriving with zero time to delay. It also meant we didn’t get to walk the track. Did I mention the iPhone saved us again?

Mike ran the course blind and with one recon lap and one hot lap it was over. Nice facility, didn’t see much of it, because

we have a 9 hour drive to Pennsylvania to get going on. We packed and left faster than the front runners, knowing they would pass us in route anyway.

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Carolina Motorsports Park

May 7, 2009 in 2009 One Lap of America

We all rolled over and heard the thunderstorms last night and sure enough still had rain this morning. Rain has been a large portion of this trip and we have learned to adjust the routine to accommodate.

With our top secret water deflection system in place, commonly mistaken for a laminated breakfast menu, we headed out to the land of sketchy cell service within Carolina Motorsports Park. This was Mike’s track, as he has had some family come down and visit and needed to get back out there to play again.

The rain had subsided, but the track was still wet for the first round. As we sat in grid, two cars in the previous group spun out in succession. The back stretch had a mild angle and roll that running flat would get you in trouble, and we knew it was slippery. Mike had a strong run, managed to get some dirt on the car, finally and then the skies parted. The rest of the day including the second run were dry and the sun was out again.
One of the brake ducts was coming out, so we made the call to yank them out of there, now that the big tracks were behind us. While in there we spotted the other brake line weeping, so we went to work on changing it out with the braided lines we brought.

Brock realized how special it was to share these tracks with everybody, so he arranged another parade lap for anybody not driving the afternoon session. Tim myself and Mike’s nephew went for a few laps around the track. The parade laps were supposed to be mild, but not Sunday drive mild. We landed behind the black corvette who was out for the scenery. After creating a train behind him and two laps of Tim giving him the swerve and flashing the lights, the corner workers actually gave him a Black Flag to pit. We played around a few turns now that driving Ms Daisy was out of our way and it was a very fun track to play on. We did

notice some brake surge however, so after 3 laps of playing, we decided to pit in and check it out. Turns out Mike had cracked a rotor and our pads were getting to that point were we could us something more on there. Good thing we went for that parade lap. The spare rotor went on and we moved to the spare pads, which are more of a street compound, but had meat on them.

Second runs for Mike, in the dry looked quick and we noticed some extra sand in the left read we need to get him to confess to.

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Sebring Report

May 7, 2009 in 2009 One Lap of America

I’ve always loved the 12 hour endurance races at Sebring. Its such a tuff race track with lots of speed and plenty of punishment both for the car and for the driver. I think its harder then the 24 hour at Daytona. From the start of One Lap I’ve wanted to drive it not because I expect to do well but because I expect to be challenged. Over three miles long with 17 turns with flat out sweepers and more blind apex’s then you can stand Sebring is tuff to drive. Its even more difficult when you get one recon lap then they line you up at start finish look you square in the eye and tell you. “you have the whole track to yourself..go as fast as you can” It’s the closest thing I’ve ever done to real racing. Somebody just gave me the key to Sebring and said go drive it…

To prepare for what really is impossible to prepare for I studied the track map and watched as many videos as I could. The more I watched the more I was worried. From the video there are lots of blind apex’s and fast sweepers that dump you into 90 degree turns Sebring is intimidating.

We arrived at the track close to 9am which is really cutting it close to the start of the event. Our pack/unpack routine needs work but we are getting there. Sebring is too long of a track to walk it to learn so I just had to go out cold. I hunted and pecked my way around struggling to find visual markers for the long sweepers. Without knowing what’s at the end of the fast sections you really can’t go flat out. The car is having its issues as well. The rear alignment is way off and the car is really pushing through corner entry and there is no way to “throttle lift” to get the car to over steer. But our new motto is “it is what it is” and I am going to have to just do the best I can. Some of the sputtering from the MAF is still there and we are going to have to do something with it when we get back but otherwise the car is making good power and I can really open her up on the long straits. The recon lap helped but even in my first lap is was still hunting for my marks. The second lap was better and by my third lap I think I got maybe 75% of the track.

On the cool down lap I coasted down the front strait and took my time getting on the brakes only to find I had no pedal. I panicked pumped the brakes and they came back but for the entire cool down lap they were soft. In the pits we looked for leaks and didn’t find any so we bleed the brakes and although the fluid is a little dark any air. When we get to the drivers front I can see one of the flex lines we had planned on swapping was weeping. Our first attempt at breaking loose those break line fittings resulted in some sailor talk and a rounded off nut. I broke out the MAP gas and cooked them a couple of times and finally with two vise-grips and lots of sailor talk they came free just about 5 minutes before I was due back out on track for the afternoon session.

The second section felt better and I was able to attack it and carry more speed through the big sweepers. I got into trouble in a couple of sections and went off again in the “paper clip” turn. This time I wasn’t going to stop and I just dropped it into second and lit up all four on my way back on track. You know you’ve done good when the corner worker gives you a standing ovation. The first session I think I was in 25th place and the second session I moved up a few places and knocked 12 seconds off my time even though I went off. I’d like another shot at the track but that’s One Lap. Its supposed to be hard and that’s what makes it fun. We are off to Gainsville for the drag racing and the expectations are high for the One Lap VR4.

This entire day was possible because of a sponsorship by the Staff at the East Rochester Public Library.  Without their donation, we would have never made it here. Thank you guys.

Daytona Friends

May 6, 2009 in 2009 One Lap of America

One thing that has helped us keep everybody up to date on this trip has been everybody else posting content. Having a few people come out and post their videos, while we are still driving to the next event has been huge.

Paul Stanley from the GalantVR4.org board posted up his pictures and videos from the day. It was such a great day in Daytona, it will be hard to top.

Paul Stanley’s Pictures from Daytona

He also took short videos of my trip around the hairpin turn at Daytona in the infield. I couldn’t get the car to turn in worth a crap, and powering out of the turn, waiting for the turbo to spool failed. You can hear me lifting on the throttle (blow off valve sound), which is not what I needed to happen.
Lap 1

Lap 2

Lap 3

Entrance to our parade Laps, Paul was in the Subaru with RJ behind us.