For those interested, I will be attending a driving school on November 15th at Gateway International Raceway weather permitting. It is an all day event and after the instructors check us checked us out (intermediate class) we will be free to drive at SPEED! Should be some great photo ops. Lots of other cars will attend as well from Porsches to a '65 Superformance Cobra (my friend Jim) to full race cars. The expert class (racecars) will be allowed to run at race speed. We will be on the 1.6 mile road corse inside and on the oval. This time, I'll have an in-car cam! Should make for some good video. The drivers meeting is at 8:00 am, but there will be almost 5 hours of seat time for my class (I have been told). That means showing up in the middle of the day works too. For me it will be for stretching her wings and making chassis adjustments. If you want to check out a Fiero running at 130+, this would be a good time. I know I'm excited!
.........WEATHER PERMITTING......... (naturally)
------------------ Paul From right to left: Quick, Fast, and INSANE!
[This message has been edited by R Runner (edited 11-09-2003).]
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09:15 AM
PFF
System Bot
Nov 10th, 2003
fieromadman Member
Posts: 2217 From: Oconomowoc WI, USA Registered: Jan 2003
The track is in St. Louis just east of the river (okay, not really St. Louis because it is in MO.) It should be very cool. Right now the weather is concerning me. They are calling for 50F and 30% chance of rain. I can handle 50F, my problem is the rain. I told my daughter about your proposal (marrige ) and she just looked at me. Might want to giver her time, she IS only 5 weeks old. Sorry, son-in-laws don't get to drive really fast cars. Thanks for responding, I thought no one even noticed the post.
Paul
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06:57 PM
R Runner Member
Posts: 3691 From: Scottsville, KY Registered: Feb 2003
The weather is not looking good. I will be there even if it rains, but may be setting in the trailer all day. If there is a hope of the track drying out, I will give it a shot. With a damp track, I think the risk is too high for the minimal gain. They are calling for a 30 to 50% chance of rain. If you don't get to see it run, I KNOW you will get to HEAR it run. Not much of a 2nd prize, I know.
Thank you for the support!
Paul
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06:59 AM
Fiero5 Member
Posts: 8882 From: Arecibo, PR Registered: Jun 2000
The same thing happened to me this past summer. I was asked to pace a Nascar race in my Indy which was quite an honor. But good old mother nature stepped in and we got rained out. I was asked back to pace a few other races later in the season to try and make up for not getting to pace the big Nascar one, and sadly each weekend I was scheduled to pace, it would rain. What a crappy summer we had for weather. At least they are looking at trying to fit me in again for one next year, so there is always hope
Good luck with your adventure. Hopefully the rain will hold off for you.
I saw your ride at the 20th and took some video. I think THEY are the ones who missed out. The lights are killer. I really want to run. I just built a front air dam that sets about 2" off the ground for some aerodynamic effect at the track. Reliable sources say I should be able to get as high as 160mph at the end of the main straight. Let's hope the weather is good!
Paul
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01:45 PM
Doug Chase Member
Posts: 1487 From: Seattle area, Washington State, USA Registered: Sep 2001
I completed preping the car today (naturally). What do you think about the new airdam?
I understand completely, and so does everybody that owns a race car. It looks nice. That'll probably help your top end a lot. Does it allow enough air to the radiator?
Reliable sources say I should be able to get as high as 160mph at the end of the main straight. Paul
I hope there isn't a dip at the end of that, before turn #1. Otherwise it may look something like someone else did here on the forum. All in good fun, atleast after you clean out your pants.
I'll be looking for some stats.
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05:22 PM
California Kid Member
Posts: 9541 From: Metro Detroit Area, Michigan Registered: Jul 2001
Originally posted by Fiero38SC: I hope there isn't a dip at the end of that, before turn #1. Otherwise it may look something like someone else did here on the forum. All in good fun, atleast after you clean out your pants.
LOL You don't even have time to even think about crapping your pants, you're too relaxed watching the slow motion effects happening right in front of you, and it all happens in under 3 seconds.
I had a bet on the side with Track Officials at Waterford, that I could pass 2 cars on the short straight, hit 100mph by the end of the short straight, and still make the turn!
I lost! But it was a very valuable lesson with little expense envolved, except pride for a few hours. Certainly could have been much worse at the speed I was traveling.
My advise to anyone getting into Road Course Racing (aside from Performance Driving Classes and Books), is to spend a lot of time on the track (couple of weekends) running laps, before you start to explore the limitations of the car. A 'short track' with a fast car is like trying to play a game of chess with only a few seconds between moves, only alot more demanding.
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07:30 PM
Fiero5 Member
Posts: 8882 From: Arecibo, PR Registered: Jun 2000
Well, the air dam worked fine, but was a bit two low and didn't seem to help much, but I really didn't have much to compare it too. The first run was a "follow the leader" run and even at low speeds, the car was very shifty. I decided that there was no way I could drive at high speed like this. I adjusted the tow in slightly for the 2nd run hoping to make it more stable. No dice. I then started thinking and talking to other road racers. If I didn't get it figured out, I was going to call it a day because it was to dangerous. With some help I decided that it was the caster setting I used. After some (god, I can't believe I did this) "manual" alignment guessing, I was ready to try it again. We had an opportunity to take passengers for a follow-along (low speed). I had the car set up by then and I took her out. Much better! Still needed work, but a serious step in the right direction. I made another adjustment and went out for the 4th session. This was the first time I had really gotten to drive her as I had intened from the design. True road race course. I drove within my limits and still was eating up pretty much everything except some of the Vipers which were "faster" due to seat time and experience with their car. During the 5th session, I pushed a little and had some minor "mishaps". I blew through turn 1 once (straight onto the oval) due to too much straight-away speed (about 140). The other I lost in turn 2 and had to put her in the grass. No damage. Fortunately I had taken off the air dam (which was well worn by this time) before the session. I cracked the windshield due to stress (bolted it on too tight) and found several other minor issues. Also due to my "emergency alignment" the tires were worn on the inside 50%. Fortunately I could still see dimples. I think things went well for damp and 46 deg. F. My consistant top speed down the straight was about 135 mph. For comparison, A friend of mine in a 500hp Superperformance Cobra going the same speed in the previous curve could hit 110 mph. LOTS of potential in this car and withthe proper set up, I think a maximum speed of 145 to 150 is possible. Factor in some better skills, more tire contact, and the proper alignment (WOW that would really help!). Oh yea, and a higher front air dam. I have lots of video, but am still working on formatting. In Car It isn't as impressive while watching it on camera. No lap times. We were discouraged to do this and I was constantly behind slower cars. There was never one clean lap. I promise to post images some time this week and hopefully some short videos if I can find a host (hint, hint )
------------------ Paul From right to left: Quick, Fast, and INSANE!
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07:40 PM
California Kid Member
Posts: 9541 From: Metro Detroit Area, Michigan Registered: Jul 2001
Sounds like you had some fun mixed with a little frustration Paul! It's all part of the learning curve to setting the car up for a track, I'm sure it was time very well spent. Looking forward to future posts on your car.
Tom
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07:52 PM
R Runner Member
Posts: 3691 From: Scottsville, KY Registered: Feb 2003
Not too frustrating. I am very happy with the potential in both myself and the car. Thank you Tom! On a side note, I get to see the C6 on Wednesday in Bowling Green. (Checking out fascia fit.) Here are some pictures of the track day....
Should be some great photo ops. Lots of other cars will attend as well from Porsches to a '65 Superformance Cobra (my friend Jim) to full race cars. The expert class (racecars) will be allowed to run at race speed.
