Yes, it was much fun and amazing learning experience that seriously changed my life. This memorial holiday I went with CARGUYS for three days event at summit point (Shenandoah Circuit) http://www.summitpoint-raceway.com/ I have been told by many professionals that this is the most technical circuit in the east coast if not the US. It was beyond believe how 3 days of speed and hard turns and tires squeaking and brembos turning brownbrembos. I put 350 miles of just true track time on my EVO. It was insane as I was going through gas like water (more than 3 tanks). The Event was perfectly organized and I decided to pay someone I trust for a great event. I just did not want to go to an event where they have 70 cars and all I get is couple sessions, I basically wanted all or nothing. I got 12 sessions and every session is about 30 minutes and some exceeded that. On some sessions we had anywhere between 12 to 6 cars so it was a blast as the track was not crowded. It’s a great feeling to feel the car, the track and to close your eyes and imagine and know every turn ahead. I just can’t explain it in words but it was the best money I have ever spent on my car in fact it was the best money I have ever spent. I decided to stop adding power mods to my EVO as the power I had was beyond control and start spending it on the track. I thought to myself what’s the reason of spending all this money when a blue Miata and E30 can just blow by you. I would recommend everyone to at least try the circuit track once because it will make you look at your car and other cars in a different view. The owner of Car Guys is a great guy and I am planning on attending almost all of the event of this year and next year. If some of you EVO guys want to join me out there I can probably talk to him into giving us a nice group discount. Trust me our EVOs are great stock and all they really need is some good brake fluid and maybe fresh brake pads. There you will know what a true EVO is.

 

Great track time, I just wish every Evo owner (and future Evo seller) would post up if they took their car to the track.
Bump for a NoVa guy! Chantilly HS graduate myself back in the day!
Great bouncing avatar too...

 

the track was a blast... I learned so much about my car during these three days. I thought I was a good driver before I went there but after my first session I learned that I was horrible. I can tell you this, I left there a smarter, and happier driver. After about 350 track miles I learned soooo much. I never knew how good the factory brakes are (if treated properly) the factory tires are amazing, and the evo has more than enough power for most tracks.

The people at the event were so nice and helpful, there were some pretty high $$dollar cars but everyone was down to earth and willing to show us their cars and what they could do.

I am now thinking differently about my cars path... instead of turbo upgrades and power upon power I now feel I need some amazing brakes, track tires, well rounded suspension, and possible a roll cage (safety first)

Here are some pics for the visual learners (warning... pics are huge)




my car ( Red MR) and Az3ar's car (white)














highly modified GT2!!!!!! on the skidpad

 

It was the best 3 days of my life.

99% I am going to Watkins glen and VIR any one wants to come?

 

I will probally go to VIR, but I will be house shopping when the watkins glen course is scheduled

 

Glad you guys had a good time and that the weather improved after the first day. You guys should check out the FATT and Seat Time events run by Summit (BSR). You can get a lot of track time there for a lot less money than Car Guys. I know that Car Guys is a good school, but it is pricey. You also need to get out on the big track and see what it's like to go through a turn at 100+ mph

I have to say that going out and watching you guys for a little while has rekindled my interested in doing a track event again. I've been dragging my feet on fixing an oil leak and a couple of other things on my Camaro to make it track worthy, but now that I'm motivated I've already started ripping into it to fix it. I'm not ready to put the Evo "at risk" on a track yet, so I'll stick with the Camaro for now. Hopefully, I can join you guys at some event before the end of the year.

VIR is an awesome track. Much nicer than Summit. Be careful at Watkins Glen. That track is very fast and has intimidating blue walls. I've stayed away from that track because I prefer to have generous run-off just in case (VIR has tons for the most part).

Be safe out there.

 

sounds like fun

 

I am glad you are converted now. Welcome to the DRIVERs Club. Goodbye POSERs Club. It goes to make you think about people dissing the stock EVO and spending thousands of $ in making their car running fast in a straight/highway run in the middle of a public road.

The best mods IMO are always 1)yourself, the driver and 2) your tires.

 

Those huge pictures screw up this entire page....resize them!!!!!

How did your neck feel after 3 days of "THE BOWL"?

I ran 4 sessions there with NASA to get a feel for it. we race there in
less than 2 weeks. Not sure how good of a "race" course it is being so skinny
with nearly no runoff.... but the course itself is fun....just take some neckpain pills.

 

yea the bozo club is oh I want GT35 oh I want stroker..... for god sake leave the car alone and invest in yourself and some serious track time... If my 3071 turbo fails I am going back to stock turbo with nothing else not even cams!!!

I am shopping for role cage, 5 point harness, better suspension soon..

Anyways, our EVOs are heavy which making me hate it ... I need a light car with a rear wheel drive.

 

Are you thinking about selling and buying a different car after that experience?
Because if you are you should consider a Lotus Elise.

 

I think after you get more track time under you you'll change your mind about the importance of HP for the track, particularly on a larger course. Autocross is a situation where power doesn't matter too much, but on a track you need that power. It's not good enough to be fast in just the curves if you are chasing people who are fast in the corners AND have good power.

Also, no reason to put down drag racers. The challenge is to be good at all kinds of racing and to have a car that can do it all. A friend of mine with a 9 second 94 Firebird takes it to the drag strip one day and then to VIR the next and then to Maxton the weekend after that. He's the CBRE of our club from a driving standpoint on the strip and is also a great road course driver. His car is set up to do everything decently. His car and his driving skills are the envy of many. The last thing that you want is to become another road course snob.

As far as the Evo being heavy, what are you comparing it to? An Evo isn't heavy at all compared to most cars that you see on the track that have comparable power and balance. Sure, you'll get smoked by a turbo Lotus, but the Evo is light enough and powerful enough to take down nearly everything streetable.

I wouldn't be too rash about selling your Evo if you are considering that. What I would recommend is getting a car that you use just for the track -- something relatively cheap that you don't mind cutting up to install a roll cage (I know someone in Manassas who is the best of the best on fabricating roll cages, so ask me about that when you are ready), that you don't mind having an unstreetably stiff suspension, and that you wouldn't be too upset to scuff up on a tire wall. An Evo is a great track car, but it's an expensive car to wreck and insurance for track events is iffy at best. You could get an older Miata or RX7 and then when your skills and wallet are ready, you could run one of the Spec classes -- now that's racing!

 

Do you have to be in a Car Club to be able to race, or do they have open to the public days, ( just come in pay a fee and race all day ) . Im really interested, and would LOVE to attend.

 

they have things call friday at the track... but ususally its over crowded... but you can call and look into it

 

Welcome to the addiction!