it is a hf honda event. i'm going with all my honda buddies. it is my first event so i'm pretty psyched. it would be pretty cool to see some other evo drivers out there.

 

I will be there with my wife--she's driving too. I will be instructing also. We'll be in a BBY Evo.

 

hey bogie this is my first time road racing. maybe you will be able to be my instructer. better you than a honda guy. i'll see you there.

 

You're probably right, as a fellow Evo driver I hopefully will impart the necessary ingredients for you to drive your Evo smoother, faster, safer, better than before. We should be able to arrange that; however, don't underestimate anybody who tracks well and is willing to instruct--whether he drives a CRX or an NSX. Looking forward to meeting you and to introducing the Mitsu logo on your car's nose to the Hondas' rear-view mirrors

 

If only it wasn't a 4hr drive...

 

C'mon, dude!! What's 4 hours?! We drive to Dearborn from Chicago to drive at Waterford Hills in MI. I think G-Man would be worth the drive. Moreover, South Haven is a nice little town, there is a lot to do there. Particularly important if you're traveling with people who aren't interested in motorsports.

 

There is a MORPCA event at Putnam Park on the 24th and 25th of July. That's gotta be close enough for you. I'll be there doing my best to chase down 911's.

 

Gingerman drivers: How was it? Any tips? I am going there for the first time for an event on Friday July 16 (6 hour drive). It's sponsored by www.speedtrialusa.com. One day $135, so it's a deal.

 

They run a nice, informal, unridgid event. My wife and I have participated with those guys back in '02, unfortunately scheduling conflicts have prevented us from running with them again.

G-Man's fun, it's a smidge technical, one semi-blind corner (nothing like the right-hand uphill/downhill at Waterford), no major elevation changes, and there is plenty of run-off (he says thankfully, because he went off at turn 11 ), with 3 relatively fast straights. However, it can be a bit demanding on brake systems (maybe it's my driving/braking style); therefore, fresh brake fluid is a must and new pads are highly recommended. Also, be sure to check your oil before every session, particularly if it's hot. Some of our Evos like to swig motor oil.

If you decide to go to Clementine's for dinner we recommend either the Walleye or the Perch

 

Pics:

http://www.mrapg.net/d15pwr/WMHM_04/pages/DSCF0154.htm
http://ef-honda.com/main/viewtopic.php?t=4368

 

it was my first track event and it was great. bogie was real cool he sought me out and i drove with him on his first run. i really had know idea what to expect. the best was when i was riding along with my buddy behind bogie and he was on three wheels. my friend had a camera in his car i will see if has some footage of bogie's run. i recommend this to everyone.

 

Just back from Gingerman. Great beginner's track. No long straights, top speed 95 or so, lots of twists and turns, emphasizes handling over power, nothing to hit but still lots of excitement. I thought it was pretty technical and didn't think I had it figured out at day's end, after 125 miles of laps.

It does have a blind corner (turn 1, just past the flag stand). Since it comes at the fastest part of the track, it can be pretty thrilling.

It was very hard on brakes and I used up 1/2 of my new set of stock pads, not to mention lots of stock rubber.

 

Glad to hear you were thrilled--turn one is a relatively fast, and blind, corner. A thousand apologies if I (unintentionally) misled you regarding G-Man's technical level. I have clocked more miles there than any of the other tracks we go to, therefore, I am quite accoustomed to its layout; perhaps I don't consider it so technical anymore. Moreover, I only drive at 8/10ths, things move slower for me .

How did you tackle turn 2? I see a lot of drivers take different lines there. I treat it as a single apex corner--I clip the first one, then I track out from there. I prbably should have told you that before. Sorry, again.

We have to get you up to Waterford Hills in Clarkston, MI.

Any pics?

 

I was probably the most confused by turn 2. As you know, the curbing suggests 2 apexes, early & late. I tended to go wide, skip the 1st apex, then turn in & hit the 2nd apex & then track out. So, I was doing it the opposite of you, which may be why I was slow there. I tried using 2nd gear & powering all the way around in a huge drift, which was fun, but not especially fast. I mostly used 3rd, ****ing into 4th briefly before turn 3.

How do you do the 5-6 sequence? I initially apexed 5 and drove hard to 6, then into 2nd and a real hard (slow) left at 6 & powered out of it. By day's end, after losing considerable ground to more experienced drivers there, I followed their line, which was stay real wide on 5, & enter 6 as wide as possible, then nail the apex there & carry more speed thru it in 3rd gear.

 

After tracking out at turn one, in 3rd gear, I approach turn 2, I bring it back about 3/4, jab hard on the brakes, start turning at the entrance ramp there, bring it in tight, clip that first apex, then get on the power sooner than if I were to apex at the second set of burrs.

Pic 22, I'm behind the red RX-7. You may notice, I'm already closer to the inside than he. http://ef-honda.com/main/viewtopic.php?t=4368


My buddy, in his S2000 likes to hang wide at the 5-6 turn, as if he's in a carousel. I treat it as a single turn also, but more V-shaped as opposed to U-shaped. I Come in hard after the kink, jab hard on the brakes, then off the brakes as I compression-brake (I'm pretty close to coasting here, and I know there's no coasting in racing); again, I bring it in tight and clip the apex at turn 5, and feather the throttle (it feels as if I'm steering more with the throttle than the steering wheel here), I don't brake anymore after the initial braking going into 5; while tracking out--way out, I then clip those outside burrs and, once again, bring it in tight and attack the apex at turn 6, and, once again, track way out. I guess it could be compared to the Nascar guys at a tri-oval.

I don't think there is a right or wrong line at G-Man. I see a lot of fast cars following all kinds of lines.