Roadracing is FUN!

[Jano4]

Originally Posted by Nine Ball

Kris is right, you only use 2 or 3 gears total on most tracks. Automatics are just fine, as long as you don't have some loose ass converter in there. I'd highly recommend that anyone into cars and racing take a 2-day driver education course at their local track. Not only does it help you understand the limits of your car and driving ability, but it also makes you a better driver on the roads knowing those limits.

Vince at FLT who built the transmission recommended that I keep the transmission in D(3) anytime I go out racing. I think he was referring more towards drag racing though . The Vig 3200 isn't bad, but I feel it may generate more heat then I would like on road course. Hopefully the trans cooler and huge transmission pan will take care of that. I am still running 2.73 gears which may actually work out decent after the Procharger install (assuming I stop being lazy and actually install it!).

[Pro Stock John]

PI3200 + 2.73 sounds too loose for a road course.

Kris does your car have a 6L80E, and did you leave it in 6th or 3 or 4th?

[Nine Ball]

Kris' car is indeed automatic. I think he left it in sport mode manual, and only used 4th and 5th for the entire track.

[Richiec77]

I was about to say something about SEMA, but your remarks about the test area makes me want to go. What is cool about the race track is everyone is pretty friendly and is willing to show you their car and explain things. Hell. Alot of times you can ride along if it's allowed. Spent time in Mikes built 993 Carrera. Pretty nice to see how those cars handle differently. Then Steve (My instructor) took me out in his basically stock Z06 to show me the lines he wanted me to try on Sunday and to see what he meant about how to scrub speed with the tires, entry points better, how to be a little more gradule on the brakes, how to steer a little smoother. Really cool guy.

With the Auto in the Caddy, it's a 6L90E. I left it in 4th gear for almost the entire track until I needed to shift into 5th on the straight. I put the suspension in Sport mode since it seemed to me to turn-in a little crisper with less roll. Trans was in Sport and left in 4th most of the track. Temps weren't bad at all for the Trans. But I wasn't really pushing the car to it's limits since I'm no where near the cars limits yet. Maybe Tony can push it harder.

Tony, Sat, you'd be lucky to hit 145 safely on the straight. Too much water. Same with Sunday. I wish I had a camera for when we were at the water tower. Coming in too fast and long you'd see water splash just before they'd turn-in. I decided not to risk it. I have a bad affinity for water and wrecking.... 140'ish was pretty cool.

Oh. BTW. Be careful scrubbing speed in this Tank with the PS2. The tire finally made up for it's shitty cold performance by being wonderful on the track...to a point. Scrubbing speed in Turn 10 (Carousel, SP) worked great, but heated the tires up to a point I was uncomfortable running hard again on them. The back end I started feeling dipping out and Stability control kept me from spinning. The tires have a breaking point when they get too hot. Car doesn't want to turn-in like you want, rear starts to dance a little. Thinking it thru, I'm pretty sure Stability track kept me from spinning the car out a couple times when I was actually pushing the car hard and the tires reached their breaking point. Better tires are needed for the next trip. Or drive the track a little better to keep the tires from being too heated. The Rim's also transfered a bunch of heat from the brakes to the tires. I tried to dial it down a couple notches and take an easy 1/2 lap and then push it again in turn 8-9. Car didn't want to turn well enough. Then 10 it just didn't want to transition into 11 right so I said I'm done. Which worked out since that lap ended in the checker and it was cool down time anyways. I'd say a hard 6 laps and you'll have to watch it with these stock tires and this tank. 2 180-200lbs people and this car weights in around 4700-4800lbs. ALOT of weight to be throwing around continuously.

[Nine Ball]

Big heavy cars will put a beating on any tire, so I wouldn't blame the tires here. Those PS2 are very good, but we can't beat physics. Your statement about driving "better" will also work in favor of the tires. My last instructor told me that he gets several more weekends out of a set of race tires than when he was a rookie on the same brand tires. Taking that faster line keeps the tires cooler and wears them out less.

Bet the Z06 ride was fun, did it make you want one?

[Jano4]

Originally Posted by Pro Stock John

PI3200 + 2.73 sounds too loose for a road course.

That's what I figured. The 2.73 would probably be good for speed, but generate too much heat with the 3200 Stall. I really don't want to change the gears unless I throw in a S60 or Moser 12, which I doubt I would do before the April MFBA Road America event.

[NJSPEEDER]

Do you think going into the computer and messing with the TC lock up would be any help? Maybe have it always lock above 50mph regardless of throttle position. It would generate some heat too, but I would think less than having it slipping the whole time.

-Tim

[Richiec77]

Originally Posted by Nine Ball

Big heavy cars will put a beating on any tire, so I wouldn't blame the tires here. Those PS2 are very good, but we can't beat physics. Your statement about driving "better" will also work in favor of the tires. My last instructor told me that he gets several more weekends out of a set of race tires than when he was a rookie on the same brand tires. Taking that faster line keeps the tires cooler and wears them out less.

Bet the Z06 ride was fun, did it make you want one?

Not exactly. Fun car for sure but suprisingly the CTS-V isn't too far off in the turns. Even Steve kept saying he was shocked at how similar the CTS-V felt to his Z06 when I hit a turn right. There's only a couple spots where the lighter car wins out for sure. But yes. I'd like one in the future.

Could be that he's so good with his car that Steve is damn smooth and fast. Everything during that lap was seemless. It showed me how far off I am from even considering the tag "Good driver"

Originally Posted by Jano4

That's what I figured. The 2.73 would probably be good for speed, but generate too much heat with the 3200 Stall. I really don't want to change the gears unless I throw in a S60 or Moser 12, which I doubt I would do before the April MFBA Road America event.

Yeah. That stall speed plus gearing would heat your trans up pretty good.

Originally Posted by NJSPEEDER

Do you think going into the computer and messing with the TC lock up would be any help? Maybe have it always lock above 50mph regardless of throttle position. It would generate some heat too, but I would think less than having it slipping the whole time.

-Tim

Might work. The only X-factor in his combo really is the stall. A stock speed would work fine. Gearing wouldn't be an issue unless he needs to shift up and down alot to stay in the powerband.

[Richiec77]

Added links to Photo's from the Event in main post.

[Jano4]

Cool picture's, makes me wanna go out on the track right now