This past weekend marked the first track day of the year. I decided to join NASA this year and ran with them at Pueblo Motorsport Park. The event was fabulous - professionally run, organized, very safe and loads of fun. Since this was my first time with NASA I ran with group 3 for the weekend. I will be going to group 4 and possibly time trials at the next event.

The track is incredibly fun with some very nice technical sections and a long front straight (I was at 120 mph at the braking zone). There is generally plenty of run-off except for 10 where there is a concrete wall on both sides of you and the surface is in good condition. The wind does come up in the afternoons blowing some sand/dirt on to the track so grip levels are changing often.



I was really quick through turn 5 and the blind uphill and 6A/6B. Turn 9 still vexes me for some reason. Turn 10 is just scary. It is pretty quick and there is a concrete wall waiting for you on both sides of the track in case of a mistake - not only that the surface changes, there are bumps mid-corner throwing you to the outside and the dragstrip burnouts are done here. A RX-8 went wide, tried to pull it back and spun it into the inside wall. I think the car is totaled but he walked away.

I never stop being amazed by this car. you would think that after all of those years on the track with it I would just take it all in stride - but I still smile at what it can do and it never disappoints. The balance was on all weekend and the car rotated beautifully under trail braking. These cars just love to flow from one corner to the next and you have to let them. Be gentle and smooth with the inputs and you are rewarded.

I was on the Nitto NT-01 tires this weekend rather than the Toyo RA1, which I had run in the past. I really like the NT01s, the sidewall is stiffer than the Toyos and so the car felt crisper on transition and responded well to inputs. Grip was awesome and they just got better as the weekend went on. I did not experience any chunking or other problems on the tires and wear was really good. I tried to be at 37psi hot pressure on the tires without any previous testing. The big thing I did notice was that they seem to be more sensitive to heat and overdriving than the Toyos. A few times I overdrove and they really went away and I could not get the car to turn until I went back to being smooth and gave the tires a chance to come back to me. I am very happy with the tires and recommend them.

With the tires being the only performance modification all winter (other than the 5mm spacers up front I guess) I had a new personal best time on the track 1.5 seconds faster than my old time and I was overall much quicker. It was a great weekend.

I had a lot of fun playing with the Corvettes, Porsches and M3s at the event. Most were really cool guys that would come up after a session and smile and laugh and tell me couldn't believe they saw "a little Honda" come up on them from behind...

Here is a video from the event. I apologize for the You-tube quality, but I have no place to host a nice version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpRqpCylGKw

And photos:

 

Awesome

 

mmmmmm RSZ-Rs

bad-*** pics

 

greta video and nice pass on the Porshe

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gfunkmos37 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">great video and nice pass on the Porshe </TD></TR></TABLE>
I was thinking the same.

 

Any specs on the car?

 

Thanks for sharing Jonathan .

Was that a C5 'Vette you were chasing in the first part of the vid?(i only watched the first 2 minutes cuz I'm at work ) Crazy spoiler on that thing. You look great out there .

One piece of advice which I've been taught is to keep your thumbs out of the steering wheel in case you go off track. It may sting a bit having the wheel ripped out of your hands

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MiamiEJ1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Any specs on the car? </TD></TR></TABLE>

hmmm.. lots of stuff. TODA A cams, Spoon header, Fujitsubo exhaust, TODA coilovers, safety gear, bushings, TODA flywheel and clutch, Cobalt Spec VR pads.... lots of stuff not all of it listed here.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by white rocket &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for sharing Jonathan .

Was that a C5 'Vette you were chasing in the first part of the vid?(i only watched the first 2 minutes cuz I'm at work ) Crazy spoiler on that thing. You look great out there .

One piece of advice which I've been taught is to keep your thumbs out of the steering wheel in case you go off track. It may sting a bit having the wheel ripped out of your hands </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, big C5 corvette with a huge wing. It was damn fast in a straight line but I could get him in braking and most corners.

Interesting about the thumbs - I have always been told to put them right where they are...

 

Awesome!!!

I'll check the vid later. So, any complaints at all with the new parts you installed?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dave_B &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Awesome!!!

I'll check the vid later. So, any complaints at all with the new parts you installed?</TD></TR></TABLE>

None at all, except the oil pressure gauge stopped working half way through session 3 not because of a mechanical malfunction but an electrical/wiring issue I think.

 

great vid

 

awesome vid! ahh the performance of the DC2 ITR never stops to amaze me.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flux &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

None at all, except the oil pressure gauge stopped working half way through session 3 not because of a mechanical malfunction but an electrical/wiring issue I think.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's awesome. I can't wait to watch the vid


&lt;---- at work at the moment, that stuff is blocked seriously!!!

So I take it, your new camera system worked good too?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flux &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Interesting about the thumbs - I have always been told to put them right where they are... </TD></TR></TABLE>

I was told that if the car goes off-track then the wheel could spin violently and hurt your thumbs in the process. I guess it depends on the situation.

Anyway, awesome vid . Looks like that Chase system you bought is working like a charm . The video is nice and smooth. You were really up that 'Vettes' *** in the corners. That was my highlight. I just had a full Mugen bushing upgrade so I can't wait to get my bish out on the track

 

Turn 9 and 10 look like doozy's

Great video, although that wind is killer. May I ask what modifications you're running ?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hybrider &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Turn 9 and 10 look like doozy's

Great video, although that wind is killer. May I ask what modifications you're running ?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, sorry about the wind.. it is a brand new setup and I'm still trying to figure out the best settings...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mugen Mike &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Awesome </TD></TR></TABLE>
Looked like a ton of fun

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by white rocket &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I was told that if the car goes off-track then the wheel could spin violently and hurt your thumbs in the process. I guess it depends on the situation.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yup, I was taught to keep thumbs out as well. I tend to rest them on the face of the rim when on track.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mugen Mike &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yup, I was taught to keep thumbs out as well. I tend to rest them on the face of the rim when on track.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, here is a screen capture of Senna driving his Honda during qualifying at Suzuka and he clearly has his thumbs on the inside of the wheel.

What's the point of opposable thumbs if you can't grab with them?

 

your car looks too pimped to be at the track *almost lol

 

Nice!! Wish we had a nice coarse here like that!

 

I have personally heard thumbs out and thumbs in. I use thumbs out because thats what Wai taught me.

 

looks like a blast.

 

nice pixors, will check out the vid at home later ( at werk too)