NASA at VIR march 23-24

[pufferfish]

Who's going? I'm doing HPDE 3 for a check drive so I can get my TT license.

 

[Zquez]

I'm planning to go. I'll be running HPDE 2 if I do. Right now with my lack of fuel pressure in WOT, that looks unlikely though.

 

[KBBOSS1086]

I'm 90% sure I'll be there, Steve. I'm bringing new pads with this time so I won't have cut out early. It's my first time running with NASA - hoping to work my through HDPE this year and possibly build a Spec Iron car for competition next year. I will be in HDPE 2. Look forward to seeing you there.

 

[Sesshomurai]

Who's going? I'm doing HPDE 3 for a check drive so I can get my TT license.

Me too (HPDE 3->TT). See you there.

 

[pufferfish]

darren, what TT class are you planning to run? i have been trying to plan my class choice. i am trying to take advantage of the fact that the GT starts at TTB, while the BOSS starts off with TTA +7 points. having 39 points to work with for performance parts sounds like a good advantage in TTA.

 

[Sesshomurai]

darren, what TT class are you planning to run? i have been trying to plan my class choice. i am trying to take advantage of the fact that the GT starts at TTB, while the BOSS starts off with TTA +7 points. having 39 points to work with for performance parts sounds like a good advantage in TTA.

Since I'm using TT to basically get my skills and the car where I need to be to compete in AIX, I have to go TTU. This will let me mod the car however I need, work on my data logging, lap times and technique. Once I can crack 2:10 on a regular basis, I'll go into American Iron Extreme.

 

[pufferfish]

hope you aren't planning to be competitive in TTU. the VIR lap record is 1:55! i am also screwed. TTA lap record is 2:01. i ran a ~2:19 (info provided by the vette i was chasing) in january. i know these aren't average times, but they are certainly indicators. oh and AIX lap record was a 2:00. is a 2:10 competitive for AIX?

 

[Sesshomurai]

hope you aren't planning to be competitive in TTU. the VIR lap record is 1:55! i am also screwed. TTA lap record is 2:01. i ran a ~2:19 (info provided by the vette i was chasing) in january. i know these aren't average times, but they are certainly indicators. oh and AIX lap record was a 2:00. is a 2:10 competitive for AIX?

I know. Gonna have fun trying though. If I go in AI (which I might still do), I have to race Cobetto whom I have zero chance of beating (he races a mustang btw), but it's fine. I don't care if I'm last for a while. It's a personal mission for me! And I doubt the lap leaders will be racing all the time. It's definitely going to be a learning process. And that's why I want to do it.

 

[pufferfish]

i am with you on just running as well as you can and soaking up knowledge without getting hung up on the numbers. i am sure lap records were far from the norm. probably more like 5-10 seconds more. those records are likely perfect weather, with a run small group and a hundered other stars lining up.

do you have baseline lap times for VIR? how much are you going to have to shave off to get to 2:10?

ah, the cobetto factor! when i was looking to run AI a while back, he wasnt racing AI. If he was at that time, I would have built my old car for CMC-2 instead. i wouldn't want to compete against him. he is the AI record holder for VIR, by the way. some have said that being the head of NASA-MA has afforded him oversights on race winning techniques that other racers would be DQ'd for. i personally have no knowledge of this, but the conspiracy theories are great for campfire discussions!;D

regardless, he manages a top notch group. NASA-MA is the most well oiled group of all that i have been with.

 

[Sesshomurai]

My VIR full lap times are around 2:20 plus or minus a couple seconds.

I left a good bit on the table though.

I need to get my course average speed up about 5-7mph to break into the 2:10 range from where I'm at (to around 90mph). I'll improve from there what I can safely, with the car. If I race with the 'living legends' that's fine with me too.

 

[pufferfish]

bringing your average up 5-7mph is no small task! luckily, VIR has a lot of high speed opportunity. a simple power addition can make up a good deal of that average...although not up the esses without a much better suspension and aero package. guys in the sub 2:10 range are doing those esses (after the bridge) at 130+. thats insanity in a live axle car!

 

[Sesshomurai]

bringing your average up 5-7mph is no small task! luckily, VIR has a lot of high speed opportunity. a simple power addition can make up a good deal of that average...although not up the esses without a much better suspension and aero package. guys in the sub 2:10 range are doing those esses (after the bridge) at 130+. thats insanity in a live axle car!

No kidding. Thats one area of the track i focus on. I added a CF wing and better dampers but still entering around 118 and exiting around 85. If i take the inside curbs too fast on the stock dampers by the time the car settles to make the next quick bank its scary late. So im forced slower until i get full coilovers or stay off the curbing putting more load on the tires. My goal is 125 in 90 out for immediate future.

 

[pufferfish]

when i was getting ballsy with that vette i was chasing, i managed to enter at 120 and exit the top of the hill at 105. THAT WAS NUTS!...and i didn't repeat it. i stay off the curbing. the car just hates it. maybe when i get some r compounds, but until then, we have a "look but don't touch" gentlemen's agreement.

 

[pufferfish]

well, i forgot to reserve a room until just now. the only rooms left are above the garages next to pit road. actually seems like a cool place to stay, but its kind of expensive. does anyone want to split the room with me? its got two beds.

 

[KBBOSS1086]

well, i forgot to reserve a room until just now. the only rooms left are above the garages next to pit road. actually seems like a cool place to stay, but its kind of expensive. does anyone want to split the room with me? its got two beds.

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