My first track day...

[GotStung?]

So today I went to the local SCCA sponsored Track Night in America here at High Plains Raceway. I have a couple of thoughts and observations one SCCA is really good at making the environment welcoming for people who have never been on a proper track before (personally only done Solo and Drag Races before). Lots of normal dudes just taking their daily's out for a fun spin.

My setup:
JB4 with fuel wires and EWG
BMS Intake, BMS Intercooler, Borla Cat Back, Ark Catless Secondary
Tires: Brand New Pilot Sport 4s

Observations- Some of these will be fairly obvious this that been said for years but was only punted into my head after today
-Heat is the enemy.... Holy f*ck does the stinger get hot... I did 2 hard push laps transmission wasn't happy and i got an overheating warning. Even when i wasn't pushing very high heat. Then there are brakes granted I was heavy on the brakes the first few times around. But yeah, when i was heavy on the brakes they were faded pretty hard by the second lap.
-Girl is thick..... I always new the Stinger was heavy but god dam did i finally feel it when trying to throw it around corners on the track. The tires were begging for relief.
-Elevation change is amazing... I am sure doing hotlaps on a flat track is fun as hell. But i fell in dam love with turns sweeping up and down and the balance of the car shifting as my mind is trying to figure out where the hell the driving line went.
-The Stinger is not a very sporty sports car... Granted this could 100% be my poor shifting terrible driving line and general not knowing what the f*ck i was doing. But yeah i now really know the differences in between something built for pure sport then something like the stinger which is a GT car. I still love the car the value the performance etc. but it really didn't feel at home on the track in the way some of the other cars on track. I am sure this is a fairly obvious point but yeah still really hit home today.

And what some of you have been waiting for some Gopro footage of my driving feel free to roast my driving

Session 2 Video pt1
Session 2 Video pt2

 

[JSolo]

Those blind corners have a way of sneaking up on you I think it's a matter of learning what to focus on to stay on the road. I've driven some technical roads in the SE (NC/TN). You learn to read the road lines and understand which way it'll curve even through you can't see.

What kinds of speeds were carried through some of those corners?

 

[rk88]

Sounds like a fun day!

I'm sure you are correct in the idea that its never going to handle like a true sports car due to its size.

Would be super interesting to see how some aftermarket mods would change how the track felt to you.

sway bars, ATQ subframe bolts, brake pads, trans cooler, etc.

 

[G70LEbyAdoom]

So today I went to the local SCCA sponsored Track Night in America here at High Plains Raceway. I have a couple of thoughts and observations one SCCA is really good at making the environment welcoming for people who have never been on a proper track before (personally only done Solo and Drag Races before). Lots of normal dudes just taking their daily's out for a fun spin.

My setup:
JB4 with fuel wires and EWG
BMS Intake, BMS Intercooler, Borla Cat Back, Ark Catless Secondary
Tires: Brand New Pilot Sport 4s

Observations- Some of these will be fairly obvious this that been said for years but was only punted into my head after today
-Heat is the enemy.... Holy f*ck does the stinger get hot... I did 2 hard push laps transmission wasn't happy and i got an overheating warning. Even when i wasn't pushing very high heat. Then there are brakes granted I was heavy on the brakes the first few times around. But yeah, when i was heavy on the brakes they were faded pretty hard by the second lap.
-Girl is thick..... I always new the Stinger was heavy but god dam did i finally feel it when trying to throw it around corners on the track. The tires were begging for relief.
-Elevation change is amazing... I am sure doing hotlaps on a flat track is fun as hell. But i fell in dam love with turns sweeping up and down and the balance of the car shifting as my mind is trying to figure out where the hell the driving line went.
-The Stinger is not a very sporty sports car... Granted this could 100% be my poor shifting terrible driving line and general not knowing what the f*ck i was doing. But yeah i now really know the differences in between something built for pure sport then something like the stinger which is a GT car. I still love the car the value the performance etc. but it really didn't feel at home on the track in the way some of the other cars on track. I am sure this is a fairly obvious point but yeah still really hit home today.

And what some of you have been waiting for some Gopro footage of my driving feel free to roast my driving

Session 2 Video pt1
Session 2 Video pt2

Throw some sway bars on your car and watch your lap times drop by several seconds just from that upgrade alone.

 

[bfglitch]

Throw some sway bars on your car and watch your lap times drop by several seconds just from that upgrade alone.

While I've never tracked my car, I can agree the sways really do make a difference on this car. Prior to installing sways, the car was not very predictable in turns. It almost felt like it just didn't really want to go through the turn at all or fighting me the whole way. After the sways, getting into turns and going through them the car feels like it fights it less and just feels much more predictable.

 

[G70LEbyAdoom]

While I've never tracked my car, I can agree the sways really do make a difference on this car. Prior to installing sways, the car was not very predictable in turns. It almost felt like it just didn't really want to go through the turn at all or fighting me the whole way. After the sways, getting into turns and going through them the car feels like it fights it less and just feels much more predictable.

The real kicker here is I don't even have sways installed on my car yet and I still recommend them.... They will come eventually though! Just Got to finish paying for the rest of the stuff I am working on.... LOL

 

[MerlintheMad]

Tires: Brand New Pilot Sport 4s

Not anymore.

You are a very candid, brave man, sharing those videos. Thanks! (That first overcooked entry into the esses, lol.) The second video looks much better. I do not track, but I watch some, and know about apexing too soon, which you did quite a lot, but not so much in the second video: the blind corners and unfamiliarity are the main cause of that I bet.

 

[StingertimeNC]

That's cool man. Track is a whole different beast. That particular tracked seemed nice, lots of run-off room and elevation, etc. Great place to learn. Springs and sways are definitely worth it, makes a huge difference. also, brake pads at a minimum, something aftermarket and more aggressive. Lastly, weight reduction. pulling out the spare tire and all stuff in the trunk is good, even pulling out the back seat helps drop weight... This car can be pretty good on the track...

 

[GotStung?]

Forgot to list I have the eibach sways installed on the stiffer setting also breaks are upgraded with drilled and slotted with EBC yellow in front and I forgot what G lock pad in back

 

[G70LEbyAdoom]

Forgot to list I have the eibach sways installed on the stiffer setting also breaks are upgraded with drilled and slotted with EBC yellow in front and I forgot what G lock pad in back

well shite then, looks like you don't have any excuses now, time for practice!

 

[StingertimeNC]

Forgot to list I have the eibach sways installed on the stiffer setting also breaks are upgraded with drilled and slotted with EBC yellow in front and I forgot what G lock pad in back

Yep, time for practice. All about hitting those apexes! As the speed increases so does the desire to turn in early which gets you out of sorts. Also trust the brakes!! Get it right to the point ABS engages and back it off a hair. That was my biggest issue when I started is really learning the brakes capabilities.

 

[GotStung?]

Yep, time for practice. All about hitting those apexes! As the speed increases so does the desire to turn in early which gets you out of sorts. Also trust the brakes!! Get it right to the point ABS engages and back it off a hair. That was my biggest issue when I started is really learning the brakes capabilities.

Yeah, i wasn't even really focused on braking points and anything yet. I spent the whole session trying to figure out the best line for the car. Never figured it out so i didn't get to the point of figuring out where i wanted my braking points to be and such.

 

[JSolo]

Many moons ago, after a decade of riding, I still had no clue what I was doing.

This video, along with the book helped a lot. Much of it carries over to the car world.

https :// www. youtube.com/watch?v=EIbMN0lZd14

 

[StingertimeNC]

Also, check out the book "Going Faster, Mastering the Art of Race Driving" it was recommended by my first instructor and it was pretty good. Helps you understand racing lines, vehicle dynamics, etc. It's worth reading if you ever plan on driving on a track again.