First off I'd like to say that I'm a complete novice/beginner when it comes to road courses or any track event for that matter. This also was not a competition but a driver's education event.

I was thrown in the begginers class. It was a Porsche event so most of the cars were Carrera's, Boxters...etc. The rest were BMW's. There was one 2G eclipse in my group and the Evo (myself) I stuck out like a sore thumb. The only blue car and the only 'rice burner'.

Anyway, after my instructor finally signed me off to go solo I got to really do what I wanted to do. I think I was scaring him by hitting corners too fast. He kept holding me back, but as soon as I ditched him and went solo I shaved off 14 seconds of my lap time! yeah, he was definately holding me back.

Without skills required, the Evo OWNS the straight away. It could not be touched. After I got my confindence up and really started pushing in the turns I started making progress on a Carrera 4. A car that seemed untouchably fast earlier in the day. But after more practice I was zero'in on him to pass...but he spun out and in a way, I did pass him...hehe. IMO, by the end of the 2 day event I became the fastest car in my group.
At first I could hardly touch a RSX-type S with slicks on, but after I found my ***** I left him in the dust. The RSX driver was really good and the RSX type-S pulled surprisingly hard in the straights. It wasn't until about 90-95mph the RSX seemed to quit and the Evo kept pulling up to 115mph were I had to brake for the next turn.

My impressions on the handling (remember this is coming from a total track newbie) was that this car was absolute neutrality! I detected no understeer AT ALL. But this may have everything with HOW you approach a turn.
Oversteer was possible in some fast off camber turns, so don't tap those brakes and watch the throttle. I never spun, and the car never wanted to but you could feel a little loseness in the rear when pushing hard.
She was ALWAYS predictable, so predicatable it reminded me of my old go-kart was I was a little kid.
Braking was awesome! I had no fade and the brakes were supeior to most except some of the Porsche's, who had matching, but larger, brembos with some cross drilled rotors..stock of course. (what else would you expect from $80K+ cars) When putting the brakes to the fullest I did notice the rear end getting squirely on me, but nothing out of control. They also made popping noises. This is being discussed in the tech section. I think it's just the ABS kicking in. Felt and sounded WEIRD, but it kept braking hard.
The Evo is VERY easy to setup for turns. It just FEELS so right when braking and transferring the weight to the front for the turn in. It's easy to be smooth with the controls. It definately makes you a better driver than you really are.
My biggest problem was something only the learning of Heel/toe will fix. When down shifting for the next turn the rear tires wanted to drag. This was usually done in combo with braking so I've got to figure out a new strategy or learn heel/toe.
I played with tire pressures a bit with the stock tires. IMO they felt the best when 39-40psi HOT. Any more than that and I felt like I was all over the road. But I guess every track and conditions could make things different.
I'm hooked on this track stuff now and can't weight for the next chance I get.
BTW, has anyone ever heard the Evo flying by when boosting? It's so quiet then all of a sudden the Evo flys by and you just here this VERY loud suction sound, like a rocket! My GF videotaped some of it for me and when I watched it and heard the sound it made my jaw dropped. Beautiful. Yes, the car is COMPLETELY STOCK.

Here's me moments before eating this Porsche for lunch:

 

shootin for the apex:

 

the competition

 

the rest of the competition. I had a BIG class group.

 

..

 

I got lots of questions and interest from the Porsche guys. Most just wanted to know about the Brembo's. Rather or not they were stock.

 

What kind of lap times did you end up running? I'll be going there for a track school the first weekend in October with the BMW guys. I can't wait.

 

I got a best of 1'30" and averaged 1'31" on my last session. I was constintantly improving since this was my first time tracking ANYTHING so I think I could have hit 1'29" with a little more practice. On the last day I shaved off 11 seconds on the second session then 3 more on the 3rd (final) session.

 

As Mayhem noticed in another thread, I was at Putnam in my blue Evo the Fri night preceeding the 2 day driver's school. Since I had done Putnam 10-12 times I knew the track well and I was able to get my Evo, w/stock everything, including alignment, down to a fastest lap of 1'24.85".

The Porsche drivers on the track & in the audience were impressed as I was faster than all of the other "door slammers" on the track, including several Porsche Turbo's, except for a race prepared T1 'Vette and a Ferrari F40.

Tire pressure: I was still playing with it when the track shut down. I started at 44/40, front/back and ended with 35/30. The car kept getting faster as I dropped the pressures (altho they squealed more) so it is possible that the optimal pressures were even lower.

Next up: Mid Ohio on Sept 1-2. I will at least get an alignment before this driver's school . It is open to all drivers , including those who have never been on a track. It is sponsored by www.tracquest.com. See you there?

 

Mayhem:
Come run with the St. Louis Are Lotus Lovers (STALLS) at Putnam Park September 15th. We won't treat you like a red-headed step child!

Mark Pfeffer - Grand Poobah STALLS

STALLS Putnam Park Track Day

 

I might. There's two future Lotus Elise owners here in Louisville. If they decide to go I'll follow. Right now I have to buy new rotors because of the last event. boooo hooo

 

Mayhem, I was hoping you would post a track report. You HAVE to let me know when you go up there again!