Survived season #1

[tb1999]

Ok fellow racers, I've survived my fisrt year on track finishing up the season with a 41 lap race at Lime Rock Park this past Friday.

I'm already planning the required build up to have a semi-competitive car in SCCA's STU class next year.

I'm making this post in the racer's forum to see if anyone here can contribute to my winter build up.

Please have a quick glance at my WTB post here....

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=214909

Thanks in advance!

[WIZARD Racing]

Who did you run with? EMRA?

If you haven't run with SCCA yet, they are a great bunch of people!

Race safe, apex well!!

*ok this was my way of bumping*

[WeeAsp]

Buy an AI Mustang...

I am kidding of course.

To quote Viney... "Speed is a matter of money. How fast do you want to go?"

As with all things, seat time at tracks is critical. This is not a luxury we all enjoy.

However, as a start, I would recommend that you look at iRacer.

For most of the MARRS and EMRA series races, the tracks run are captured in the iRacer simulator. You certainly do not get the "butt cheek" sensory input, but the visual cues are invaluable.

The only other advice I would give is to look carefully at:

1. Brakes. We change brakes like most people change socks. It took me a long time to realize that "WHOA" power is much more important than "GO" power". Find a friction compound that compliments your driving style. If you are notorious for late braking (whole different discussion), then go with a more aggressive compound. I am a big fan of HAWK.

2. TAKE THE RACE TIRES OFF THE CAR for the winter. Buy some cheap/used tires or put the car on blocks for the winter. Race tires, when sitting vertically, flat spot very easily. This can limit competitiveness and put a hurting on your wallet.

3. Seat time. Run a few go-kart events. They are apples and sequioias in comparison, but it will help to keep your reflexes sharp.

Good luck!

[Paladin]

i loled at #3. apples to sequioas...
proper comparison though

[tb1999]

Originally Posted by WIZARD Racing

Who did you run with? EMRA?

If you haven't run with SCCA yet, they are a great bunch of people!

Race safe, apex well!!

*ok this was my way of bumping*

Ive done most of my Time Trials and track days with EMRA and NASA, but have an SCCA race license, and plan on doing most of my racing with SCCA.

The 41 lap race @ LRP was with EMRA.

Since I don't have rain tires yet I backed out of the Jersey Road Race Classic due to wather, and ran the EMRA event instead as my last race of the year.

My friend Dave has been running a 1st Gen RX7 for years with SCCA. I did my race school in his car back in MArch. It's been sold and we are building his 2nd Gen RX7 over this winter to run ITS next year.

WE did one MARRS event together @ summit pt in May, and I did 3 other SCCA races this year. NJMP Lightning and both the short and long courses @ WGI.

IF the budget holds out I hope to do 6-8 races next year, mostly SCCA.

EMRA can only be considered a "hobby" club, they dont even have a post race impound. They are great people and lost of fun and lots of seat time.

I can't speak about other regions but I'm not thrilled with what I'm seeing with NASA events in the north east. Not nearly as organized as SCCA for providing event info online. I'm not thrilled with the vibe either, they seem to appeal to the tuner crowd due to thier classing by points structure. I heard that when they were at LRP this summer, there was a group of STI/EVO racers that put on a huge BBQ, and were getting drunk/loud and the cops were called to settle them down.

Not my idea of a fun race weekend.