[Shotimes] Gingerman yesterday

Fri, 28 Oct 2005 09:00:17 -0500

Glad you enjoyed yourself Paul.
 I had done several track days prior to this, so I was used to the action
and got tossed into the intermediate class even though I had never been on
that track before. It was a good matchup as I let a few cars around, and was
let around several times. Good classifying if you ask me.
 I actually jumped in with Dave Kegel when the Advanced group hit the
course. Dave and I were the first ones out on a very brisk morning after
rains that left puddles in various locations around the track. I watched
Dave's line closely as he had run on this track a lo tin the past and I was
able to quickly pick up important tips on the tricky corners although some
of them I forgot. I enjoyed my ride and we came in a bit early as dave
wanted to swap back to street pads becasue it was so cold.
 We got in in time for the intermediate class, and soon we were out on the
track. I was learning the line and being really slow, even in the straight
bits. It's ok, everyone was being slow. On the first session you could tell
it was wet, and cold by the fact that the car liked to kick the back end a
bit more than expected. A few corrections though and we were keeping it all
in check.
 A couple sessions went by and then before lunch I was going pretty hard out
there. I had gotten nearly all of the line figured out and was confident in
my car even though I was running on all season Kuhmo tires. (which did
really well I may add). I have a theory to braking, I use every bit
available and make turning and braking rather seperate. While I was not
braking as late as Dave of Kurt when I rode with them I was pushing it deep
into the corners and giving the brakes a really harsh workout.... again and
again and again and again...... I came in after the sessio nad the cool down
lap with very little left. I had a lot of pad transfer and little pedal
left.
 After lunch I went to drive around the parking lot a bit and see if the
brakes had come abck after cooling down. Well, I took off to hear "grind
grind grind" from the BACk of the car.
 It seems that I had a problem and soon found I had no brake pads left in
the rear. Odd to wear them out, but I was being very aggressive on the
brakes and they had 2 track days at least and a lot of around town driving
on them. So Dave kindly drove me down the street to Autozone where I grabbed
a new set and put them in over the next hour or so. I was continuously
talked to by everyone, and while it is nice and friendly it really slows you
down. I have been in the process of moving so I just have a real mix and
match set of tools. i didn't have a single ratchet (ok need to steal them
back from dad) but I had my home made brake tool :)
 I got my brakes in and went out on the street for a few test stops.
Everything seemd to be a-ok. The brake pedal was still a bit smushy but it
seemed to stop ok and I ran it hard in the rest of the sessions all day.
 Packing up after the last session, I came in due to lack of brakes again,
they were there, but just not right. I decided just to call it a day. I
packed up all my stuff and said my goodbyes, by then a lot of folks had left
or were leaving very soon. The track closed up and the corner workers came
in. I pumped th ebrakes at a stop, ko, not great, but present.
 I took off...... grind grind.... Damn. Ok, new theory use as little brakes
as possible and just take the expressway home. I did and when I stopped for
gas on the way home I found that on the passenger side my "all new" brakes
pads had vaporized.on the driver side they were there, but dramtically
thinner than expected.
 I made it home using the brakes maybe only a couple times the whole way,
otherwise just downshifting as needed and coming up to stops nice and slow.
 So good times were had, never went off the track (a first for me). I have
some work to d onow on suspension and brakes.
 Z

 On 10/28/05, Paul L Fisher <sho@paul-fisher.com> wrote:
>
> Went to Gingerman yesterday with the TCCA. This was the 1st time I had
> ever
> been on a track. It was very fun. Arrived in South Holland, MI at 6:30 pm
> Wednesday night and met Kirk and Paul Nimz at the hotel. We went down to a
> local eatery, Clementines for dinner and met Don and Ken Mallinson there.
> Went back to the hotel and discovered I had forgotten my wireless NIC for
> my
> computer, luckily, Wal-Mart was near by.
>
> Got up at 5:00 am on Thursday and filled the car up and ate some
> breakfast.
> Got to the track just after 7:00 am. Man, it is dark late on the far
> western
> side of a time zone!
>
> Anyhow, down to driving. Since I was a newby, I was in the novice class.
> After some chalk talk, we rode with an instructor. I got to ride with Kurt
> Metros. He has a supercharged Gen 1 with a cage. As we are flying through
> the course and coming down the straight between turn 10 and 11 and doing
> 100
> MPH just before the turn, my brain goes we are going to die! These are
> Taurus brakes, Kurt hits the brakes and we go smoothly around the corner.
> He doesnt have Taurus brakes, he has Wilwoods. He gave me some great
> pointers.
>
> Next session I actually get to drive my car with an instructor on board. I
> asked Don Mallinson to come along. While we didnt break any speed
> records,
> Don emphasized smoothness and making sure to stay on line.
>
> Next session I got Kurt Metros to ride along and he helped refine my line
> at
> a higher rate of speed.
>
> By the end of the day, turn 2 was still giving me fits. As a matter of
> fact,
> it gave me my only off of the day. Luckily, the only damage was to the
> grass
> though I did pick up a couple ounces of dirt on the back rims. Turn 1 I
> had
> down, turn 3 seemed to surprise me every time but never bit me, turn 4,
> with some early turn in tips from Kurt was a flat out, foot to the floor
> hoot, turns 5 and 6 required some experimenting and I could never seem to
> go
> far enough out between them. The whole 7, 8, 9 and 10 series was a good
> run
> and the most fun was hitting 100 MPH on the straight and seeing how late I
> could brake without going off on turn 11. Another drag race was down the
> straight until turn 1.
>
> I drove the track the whole day in 3rd gear and it worked great! I had to
> keep the traction control off otherwise it bummed my high!
>
> HYPERLINK "http://www.gingermanraceway.com/"
> http://www.gingermanraceway.com/ has the map of the course for those
> wishing
> to follow along.
>
> I would do it again in an instant! Thanks to all that organized it!
>
>
>
> Paul L Fisher
>
> Visit my website: http://www.paul-fisher.com
> SHOClub Member: http://www.shoclub.com
> Amsoil dealer: http://www.paul-fisher.com/oil
>
>
>
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