Road Atlanta Track Day (pic)

[RussMcB]

Mark (8cam) and I took our ZR-1's ( 8 cams :-) to Road Atlanta yesterday for a fun, laid back track day. We had a great time, great weather, great track, both cars ran great. There were a few guys who stopped by and knew about ZR-1's, and a little surprised to see two of the somewhat rare cars there at the event.

I was really happy to feel changes I made to my car since my last/first time there - exhaust, 30 HP more, and no cooling issues after Dewitt radiator swap.

I'm still not accustomed to driving such a big, heavy car on a race track. My best lap time was an unimpressive 1:47 - slower than I ran in my Spec Miata by 2 seconds. The difference is in the braking and cornering, because I know I was going way faster on the straights in the ZR-1! :-)

Mark and I ended the day talking about all the mods we want to do (money we don't really want to spend...) before we go back next year. For me, it's replacing old suspension bushings and a better alignment so maybe it will brake in a straight line. :-)

Only took one picture. I might have a video to post if I can figure out how to edit it down to a short lap or two.

http://zr1.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=336&pictureid=2967

[8cam]

Wow you caught me and my red shoes. We had a fantastic paddock spot, great place to talk to folks and see what was running. Lots of seriously fast machines and drivers there, and in my group (Int-2) I was definitely one of the slower cars. Street tires and suspension meant I was waving through everything from brand-new Z06s (bunch of those) to track-prepped Miatas. You heard me right, Miatas. Not fast on the straights, but in the corners they were outstanding. And there was this other thing there too, amazing machine - a BAC Mono. BTW the red C6 parked next to me might have been the fastest car there, super-nice guy driving it too.

What a gorgeous day, couldn't have asked for better. I took a few more pics, just a few shots of what was out there. And I won't discuss lap times, but I will say Russ' car is STRONG. Between the track tires, and his recent exhaust work, he absolutely walked away from me...until he ran out of brakes. :D Thanks for letting me know about it, fantastic way to spend a Friday.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb49/mlitherland/ZR-1/IMG_2333_zpsrhbvqrdo.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb49/mlitherland/ZR-1/IMG_2332_zpszws6cglk.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb49/mlitherland/ZR-1/IMG_2334_zps2difujhj.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb49/mlitherland/ZR-1/IMG_2331_zpsgzas1ggo.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb49/mlitherland/ZR-1/IMG_2336_zpsjqok6ngq.jpg

[ZR1North]

Looks like a fun day, guys. Great to see your mods paid nice dividends, Russ. How to enjoy those great machines!

[8cam]

I should also mention how happy I was with my car. It performed flawlessly the whole day, water temp never got more than half-gauge, oil temp about the same. It was flat and stable under braking and cornering, and as I got familiar with the high speed handling it was amazing how it would just hook up and go out of the corners. Realistically I was only driving maybe 8-9/10ths, but it is my street car and my daily driver. I figure if I can hear the tires in the corners, I'm pushing it hard enough. And I was happy with my Nittos, really good grip and predictability. I think they do better at a full track where I can get some heat into them, actually very sticky. Autocross just never gets them hot enough. Hot pressures about 38 and it looks like I could have gone a little softer, but I wasn't out for time attack. Just enjoyed my car and the day.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Thanks for sharing guys! Always good to hear about some Z brothers getting some track time around the country. Glad to hear all went well. =D>

[lbszr]

[QUOTE=RussMcB;233670]
Mark and I ended the day talking about all the mods we want to do (money we don't really want to spend...) before we go back next year. For me, it's replacing old suspension bushings and a better alignment so maybe it will brake in a straight line.


Sounds like you all had a great time!

If you don't want passed by Miatas, I found 315's all the way around made a huge difference, if not a must. But the VBP springs, sway bars, and Hoosier R seem to help quite a bit. If you do bushings. it would be a good time to put the off set bushings in the front to get more negative camber.

That looks like a great course!

[ZZZZZR1]

Russ,

Thanks for posting pictures! Looks like you had a blast!

I'd consider coil overs...

:cheers:

David

[We Gone]

Next time let me know...I would love to come an at least watch...

[8cam]

Hey Steve, I sent you a text about it! :D Would love to have you there too, that blue beast would be fun to see giving the C7s a run for their money.

[We Gone]

Hey Steve, I sent you a text about it! :D Would love to have you there too, that blue beast would be fun to see giving the C7s a run for their money.

Thanks... Mark, never got it. if you sent it to the 770 # that's a home phone ;) I'll watch for the next event.

[RussMcB]

The 2016 dates for that particular club are:
March 13 - Atlanta Motorsports Park
May 30 - Road Atlanta
... and then two more events in the Fall.

[RussMcB]

<snip> ...until he ran out of brakes. :D You weren't joking. These Hawk pads were about 10% worn when we started the day. No wonder it wouldn't stop on that last lap.

http://zr1.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=336&pictureid=2969

If you don't want passed by Miatas, I found 315's all the way around made a huge difference, if not a must. But the VBP springs, sway bars, and Hoosier R seem to help quite a bit. If you do bushings. it would be a good time to put the off set bushings in the front to get more negative camber.

That looks like a great course!I wasn't passed by any (but there was a turbo Miata probably turning faster lap times than I). But I don't think of track days as competition. They're just for fun. It just surprised me that, even though the top speed was way higher, the lap times were slower than when I raced my SM.

My track tires are decent (NT05's, 315's on 11" wheels all around). Thanks for the good suggestions regarding suspension improvements. I need to give it a good alignment, too.

<snip>Looks like you had a blast!

I'd consider coil overs...

:cheers:

DavidYes, we had a great time. It's pretty cool to watch the prototypes at Petit LeMans on TV (or in Mark's case, in person), then drive the same track a few days later.

Coilovers would be great, no doubt, but much more money and work than I want to do (at least for now). I'm trying hard to stay happy with just the low hanging fruit updates (I know, everybody says that at first. :-)

[lbszr]

[QUOTE=RussMcB;233838]You weren't joking. These Hawk pads were about 10% worn when we started the day. No wonder it wouldn't stop on that last lap.

Are those rears down to metal? Mine wears the front faster, but with no abs.

Which hawks are you using? I started with hp +. They trashed my rotors from overheat, and wear quick when they go above their temp limit.

Ht 10 hawk pads now, last a twice as long, rotors have a lot of heat cracks, but not to the edge and last a lot longer. I added brake ducts, but I think the ht 10 made the difference. In warmer climates, they are ok on the street, with brake dust.

[RussMcB]

Are those rears down to metal?Yep.

Right before the event I received and installed the DRM brake bias spring. I suppose that could have been a factor (but I'm certainly not blaming it. Too many other factors).

I bought HAWK HPS PERFORMANCE STREET BRAKE PADS - HB111F.610 to swap in for track days. Maybe I need to go to a harder compound. Perhaps cooling air ducts will help, too. I will certainly make sure I start an event with almost new pads, and check them during the day in the future.

[8cam]

I wonder if the bias spring caused the greater rear pad wear? I need to pull my pads and we'll see the difference, since mine were brand new at the start of the session.