*The FL5 Track Junkie Thread*

[PointByPatrol]

Thanks for the video! It kind of reminds me of my old DSM a little bit. Or my hearing is much worse 20 years later ?

Hahaha lol. I actually recorded the exhaust sounds in 32 bit float in a wav file.bshould be pretty epic on some speakers that can handle it!

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[svvitch]

Ok I guess I get out my headphone amp and my AKG headphones ? get the full experience

 

[PointByPatrol]

Ok I guess I get out my headphone amp and my AKG headphones ? get the full experience

If my girlfriend wasn't sitting right next to me, I'd watch it on my home theater system lol!

 

[Dazzling2394]

Bit offtopic - do most folks here trailer to events? And for those who don't, do you bring another set of wheels/tires just packed, or has anyone stuck a hitch on the civic and rolled with a tire trailer?

Also, anyone have a good option for getting 8 cheap, lightish, wheels from, I'd like to know. Facebook sucks in my area, I'm about to just ebay some of those $150/ea ebay knockoffs, but ideally I'd like more used RPF1's

 

[MooMoo]

Bit offtopic - do most folks here trailer to events? And for those who don't, do you bring another set of wheels/tires just packed, or has anyone stuck a hitch on the civic and rolled with a tire trailer?

Also, anyone have a good option for getting 8 cheap, lightish, wheels from, I'd like to know. Facebook sucks in my area, I'm about to just ebay some of those $150/ea ebay knockoffs, but ideally I'd like more used RPF1's

Apex is about to have their black friday sale, not sure what percentage off it is but last sale they had was 30% for their EC7 wheels, I got a set last time and I think they were like $1100 for the set.
Its not $150. wheel but they are great wheels that will hold up, also apex has a 50% of if you need a replacement wheel.

I have carried an extra set of wheels to the track a couple times, fit fine inside the back seat/trunk along with a full size jack, ramps and track tool box

 

[BigBird]

Ought to be able to hear when to shift now!

sounds great!

I have a Remus exhaust, and am a bit hesitant on adding a downpipe, also it would move me up a class if I do SCCA Time Trials next year....this off-season should be interesting

 

[BigBird]

Gonna hit up NJMP (lighting) with SCDA tomorrow. Excited since I’ve never been on their track. Only went karting there once.

How was it?

Bit offtopic - do most folks here trailer to events? And for those who don't, do you bring another set of wheels/tires just packed, or has anyone stuck a hitch on the civic and rolled with a tire trailer?

Also, anyone have a good option for getting 8 cheap, lightish, wheels from, I'd like to know. Facebook sucks in my area, I'm about to just ebay some of those $150/ea ebay knockoffs, but ideally I'd like more used RPF1's

Type R has center exhaust, so don't think there's a hitch available, but I guess Vettes have one, so it's possible if someone made it.

Trailer would be best if you can. If you can't the Type R has a lot of storage for another set of wheels and tools, etc.

I would not buy any knockoffs. For a cheap wheel that's good, I would go SuperSpeed wheels.

 

[TW00Si]

How was it?

It’s my first time at NJMP and running a condensed schedule with SCDA. This is not a good combination. Usually SCDA runs 4-5 classes (novice, int 1, int 2, advanced w/w/o instructors) with 30 mins sessions each. But with the condensed, only Novice got to run alone and each session was only 20 mins.

Lightening is a short track so with the number of cars, lots of traffic. I got there early enough to make the track walk so it was good in that sense but because I wanted to make track walk, I got there with less than half tank of gas left. I didn’t see any good options on the way so was planning to get gas at the track.

My friend who is an instructor sat with me in session 1 and drove 2 laps with lots of traffic and was able to set 1:19 lap time while showing me what to do. His comment about the car was, “you got a lot of torque steer”. ?

I went on the track for session 2 for 2 laps and I was skating around the track. The gas light came on and I pitted out so I can fill gas. I didn’t want to be the one being towed and killing the session for everyone. With my luck, the gas station was not open so I had to drive to Thunderbolt to fill up. That was my session 2. Complete waste.

Session 3, I was still trying to figure it out. Corners 2, 3 & 4 comes up fast and I’ve been screwing it up and it either ruins the entire sequence and the following corner. Still skating around the track. Just when I got the track down, everyone got black flagged. A BMW broke an axle. End of session 3.

Still reading?

Session 4, still skating around. Managed to get 3 clean laps and got a 1:25. Then lots of traffic and I just pitted out with 5 mins left.

It’s a technical and small track. With the traffic, it’s hard to run the correct lines and clean laps. We had only 3 places to give point bys, but I got frustrated and just gave point bys everywhere except for the bulb and sequence 2, 3 & 4. Not sure if it’s the asphalt or me just not figuring out the tire pressure but I just didn’t get a lot of grip.

I felt rushed the whole day. Didn’t enjoy it. Didn’t really get a chance to chat with people I just met and learn how they are driving the track. To me, it’s part of the track day aspect I enjoy.

I will not do another condensed schedule track day. I don’t know if I will go back next year to figure it out or just try thunderbolt instead. I also think lightning is similar to Thompson, which I don’t really like either but now think it’s better.

My friend says I just like big tracks with long stretches to relax a bit. I think he might be right.

 

[BigBird]

It’s my first time at NJMP and running a condensed schedule with SCDA. This is not a good combination. Usually SCDA runs 4-5 classes (novice, int 1, int 2, advanced w/w/o instructors) with 30 mins sessions each. But with the condensed, only Novice got to run alone and each session was only 20 mins.

Lightening is a short track so with the number of cars, lots of traffic. I got there early enough to make the track walk so it was good in that sense but because I wanted to make track walk, I got there with less than half tank of gas left. I didn’t see any good options on the way so was planning to get gas at the track.

My friend who is an instructor sat with me in session 1 and drove 2 laps with lots of traffic and was able to set 1:19 lap time while showing me what to do. His comment about the car was, “you got a lot of torque steer”. ?

I went on the track for session 2 for 2 laps and I was skating around the track. The gas light came on and I pitted out so I can fill gas. I didn’t want to be the one being towed and killing the session for everyone. With my luck, the gas station was not open so I had to drive to Thunderbolt to fill up. That was my session 2. Complete waste.

Session 3, I was still trying to figure it out. Corners 2, 3 & 4 comes up fast and I’ve been screwing it up and it either ruins the entire sequence and the following corner. Still skating around the track. Just when I got the track down, everyone got black flagged. A BMW broke an axle. End of session 3.

Still reading?

Session 4, still skating around. Managed to get 3 clean laps and got a 1:25. Then lots of traffic and I just pitted out with 5 mins left.

It’s a technical and small track. With the traffic, it’s hard to run the correct lines and clean laps. We had only 3 places to give point bys, but I got frustrated and just gave point bys everywhere except for the bulb and sequence 2, 3 & 4. Not sure if it’s the asphalt or me just not figuring out the tire pressure but I just didn’t get a lot of grip.

I felt rushed the whole day. Didn’t enjoy it. Didn’t really get a chance to chat with people I just met and learn how they are driving the track. To me, it’s part of the track day aspect I enjoy.

I will not do another condensed schedule track day. I don’t know if I will go back next year to figure it out or just try thunderbolt instead. I also think lightning is similar to Thompson, which I don’t really like either but now think it’s better.

My friend says I just like big tracks with long stretches to relax a bit. I think he might be right.

read it all.

I could run a 1:15 at lightning in my Golf R.
1:19 or so by the instructor makes sense if you're running stock everything.

Surprised the track was not grippy eventually as it was sunny. I know coming out of the bowl, you have to be full on, but in a FWD car with low grip, that doesn't sound fun at all.

2,3,4 you have to treat as one turn, and not 3 separate ones. It really makes it interesting. I've also lost it in that section with my Golf R when I had the sways overly stiff.

Thompson is an ok track for me as well. I like Lightning just because I have way more laps there from my motorcycle days. It is a fast track, but also more technical that Lime Rock, and because it's shorter you can work on a certain turn a lot more.

Thunderbolt is a great track, and I heard the repave is awesome. I was thinking about doing it this weekend, but the lack of grip you mention will only get worse with a high of 49 or so, so I may skip.

At the end of the day, you got to go on track, and brought it home shiny. Still beats doing chores at home. Hopefully we'll coordinate and get out there. Also, VIR sounds like your kind of track, so let's try to make May happen

 

[TW00Si]

read it all.

I could run a 1:15 at lightning in my Golf R.
1:19 or so by the instructor makes sense if you're running stock everything.

Surprised the track was not grippy eventually as it was sunny. I know coming out of the bowl, you have to be full on, but in a FWD car with low grip, that doesn't sound fun at all.

2,3,4 you have to treat as one turn, and not 3 separate ones. It really makes it interesting. I've also lost it in that section with my Golf R when I had the sways overly stiff.

Thompson is an ok track for me as well. I like Lightning just because I have way more laps there from my motorcycle days. It is a fast track, but also more technical that Lime Rock, and because it's shorter you can work on a certain turn a lot more.

Thunderbolt is a great track, and I heard the repave is awesome. I was thinking about doing it this weekend, but the lack of grip you mention will only get worse with a high of 49 or so, so I may skip.

At the end of the day, you got to go on track, and brought it home shiny. Still beats doing chores at home. Hopefully we'll coordinate and get out there. Also, VIR sounds like your kind of track, so let's try to make May happen

The suspension is stock. Otherwise it’s tuned and lightly modded with some simple bolt-ons.
Yes, the advantage with a small track is also that you get to work on it over and over again real soon. So in my 3rd and 4th session I was just throttle coasting through 2 & 3 and braking hard for 4.
I will likely go back to figure it out, run a slightly faster time because I don’t like feeling defeated.
Let me know which track days you’re doing next year and maybe @MooMoo can also join and I get to meet you guys.
As for VIR, it’s not looking good. My wife told me, her friend is getting married and planning a wedding around Memorial Day weekend. When that’s confirmed, I might join my friend at Thompson for a TT in the beginning of May instead.

 

[TW00Si]

I think if you’re familiar with the track, then go and take advantage of the dry day. My skating around might just be a case of me not knowing the track well enough and a slower driver.

 

[BigBird]

I think if you’re familiar with the track, then go and take advantage of the dry day. My skating around might just be a case of me not knowing the track well enough and a slower driver.

what tires were you using?

also it's where I crashed, so maybe i'll wait for a better day

 

[TW00Si]

what tires were you using?

also it's where I crashed, so maybe i'll wait for a better day

I’m using Bridgestone Potenza race in 265.

Gotcha. I think turn 4 and turn 3 gets a good amount of dirt as the day goes on.
Which corner did your incident occur?

 

[BigBird]

I’m using Bridgestone Potenza race in 265.

Gotcha. I think turn 4 and turn 3 gets a good amount of dirt as the day goes on.
Which corner did your incident occur?

It was T4. It wasn't the 5.3g's, it was the side air bag that did my body in. As I was pinned on the door, the air bag popped by shoulder out. Car kept me safe though, so like PointPatrol, I got another and another, I'm on my third one of this gen, FL5, DE5, FL5

 

[yeaitsahonda]

It’s my first time at NJMP and running a condensed schedule with SCDA. This is not a good combination. Usually SCDA runs 4-5 classes (novice, int 1, int 2, advanced w/w/o instructors) with 30 mins sessions each. But with the condensed, only Novice got to run alone and each session was only 20 mins.

Lightening is a short track so with the number of cars, lots of traffic. I got there early enough to make the track walk so it was good in that sense but because I wanted to make track walk, I got there with less than half tank of gas left. I didn’t see any good options on the way so was planning to get gas at the track.

My friend who is an instructor sat with me in session 1 and drove 2 laps with lots of traffic and was able to set 1:19 lap time while showing me what to do. His comment about the car was, “you got a lot of torque steer”. ?

I went on the track for session 2 for 2 laps and I was skating around the track. The gas light came on and I pitted out so I can fill gas. I didn’t want to be the one being towed and killing the session for everyone. With my luck, the gas station was not open so I had to drive to Thunderbolt to fill up. That was my session 2. Complete waste.

Session 3, I was still trying to figure it out. Corners 2, 3 & 4 comes up fast and I’ve been screwing it up and it either ruins the entire sequence and the following corner. Still skating around the track. Just when I got the track down, everyone got black flagged. A BMW broke an axle. End of session 3.

Still reading?

Session 4, still skating around. Managed to get 3 clean laps and got a 1:25. Then lots of traffic and I just pitted out with 5 mins left.

It’s a technical and small track. With the traffic, it’s hard to run the correct lines and clean laps. We had only 3 places to give point bys, but I got frustrated and just gave point bys everywhere except for the bulb and sequence 2, 3 & 4. Not sure if it’s the asphalt or me just not figuring out the tire pressure but I just didn’t get a lot of grip.

I felt rushed the whole day. Didn’t enjoy it. Didn’t really get a chance to chat with people I just met and learn how they are driving the track. To me, it’s part of the track day aspect I enjoy.

I will not do another condensed schedule track day. I don’t know if I will go back next year to figure it out or just try thunderbolt instead. I also think lightning is similar to Thompson, which I don’t really like either but now think it’s better.

My friend says I just like big tracks with long stretches to relax a bit. I think he might be right.

Did you get any video? Lightning is by far my favorite track in the Miata. I’d be happy to watch some video and give some pointers.

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