So got signed up for <a href="http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Road_America" >Road America</a> to run the Stohr one last time this year before she went into her winter slumber. Was going to run with NASA at their last event of the year but rain and cold really prevented me from getting anything done. I got a whopping one session in before the rain started on Saturday and then left early on Sunday as the car just wouldn't work in the cold weather as I was not able to get any heat into the tires. Here is my session write up from <a href="http://www.trackpedia.com/forums" >Trackpedia</a>. <br />
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<strong><em>So not really much to report from my side of things. I had one session of 9-10 laps after I had an issue with my brake lights working and missed the first one and had to make a trip to Fleet Farm with <a href="http://www.trackpedia.com/blogs/rob" >Rob</a> to fix them.<br />
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My session was spent the first 3 laps getting up to speed with the turns and the course but I was just never able to get heat into the tires. On lap 6 I had a major moment going into T8 where I locked the rears in the damp and had the car want to switch ends but recovered only to do the same thing going into T14. Just had to work the bias but in reality my tire temps coming off the track where maybe 80-90 degrees which just is no where near what I need to have the car work. On every corner exit getting power down was an adventure as well as the car would just spin the tires up into 4th gear.<br />
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Then rain started around lunch and then just picked up from there. Tomorrow looks bleek as well and given work tasks I need to get back to and the fact snow/rain is predicted all morning I might just pack the trailer up early and head out in the morning.<br />
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Ah well learned a personal lesson that its just not worth it trying to run this late in the year.<br />
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Another very interesting thing from NASA was I learned the car just is so small to be run in open passing (anywhere on the track) with other cars. I got pushed wide three times with people moving over on me try to let me by when I was closing quick OR they were in battles with other cars which were significantly slower than me and thus I had to camp behind them for significant parts of the track at a time. With cars my own size I would have just force my way through but no reason at all to here. Mike in the Exige had this happen to him as well so it must just be small cars.<br />
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The NASA event had a lot of cars I would be willing to bet 150-175 here as the paddock was full. Lots of good folks coming over and checking out the car as well as talking about TP so hopefully we'll get some more visitors. It was a good group of people but I don't like the HPDE 4/TT system here as there are just way to many slow cars in the same group with faster ones. I was running no where near max, just battling to keep it on the track, and the VW beetles, miatas, Civics, etc were just to much of a difference in cornering and closing speed. I much prefer the SCCA like classes on the track and the PCA with like times.</em></strong><br />
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Some pictures of a the car disassembled on a gloomy day and a <a href="http://www.trackpedia.com/forums" >Trackpedia</a> members Exige on the track.<br />
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So I finally got around to install my Genisis carbon fibon fiber fender vents before heading to <a href="http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Road_America" >Road America</a>. The fender vents serve the purpose of allowing air to get out from under the fender on top of the wheel which is a high pressure area that causes lift. After shopping around for a few weeks and being appalled by the price of the fender vents from West Racing that are custom for their West cars and retro fit the old Stohrs I made my way to HRP World and picked up a set for around $200 compared to $600. Granted they were generic and had to be cut to size but worked really well. <br />
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The install process takes about 3-4 hours and probably a lot less if you have done it already. Basically the first thing you must do is measure and then measure again. <img src="http://www.trackpedia.net/blogs/john/templates/default/img/emoticons/wink.png" alt=";-)" style="display: inline; vertical-align: bottom;" class="emoticon" /> What's the old carpenter saying measure twice cut once…it rings more than true when its on a $3,000 dollar nose cone. I had some good friends help out and we first measured the size of the vents (The actual place the air comes out) then made a same size size rectangle on news paper and positioned on the fender to ensure it was straight. We then taped out the outline…We then copied that on the other fender and made sure they both lined up. <br />
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Next up it was fun with the Dremel. We cut out a square about 1/2 an inch shy of the taped square and then attached the sanding bit and sanded down the rest. Result a perfectly square square. Next up was cutting the fender vents to size which was done with a normal dremel cut off wheel. You then place those over the open square for a test fit and drill the mounting holes in the front. Install the bolts to hold the vent on and then pull down the back and perform the same task. Your done. <img src="http://www.trackpedia.net/blogs/john/templates/default/img/emoticons/laugh.png" alt=":-D" style="display: inline; vertical-align: bottom;" class="emoticon" /> Sweet looking vents installed. Thanks again to <a href="http://www.trackpedia.com/blogs/eric" >Eric</a> and Rob for the help. Check out the pics…<br />
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Thats right I am in China at the moment at a conference but cant stop thinking about getting home and ready for the real last track day of the year with NASA at <a href="http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Road_America" >Road America</a>. China has been a lot of fun so far. Trackpedia's Billy Newport and his wife Laura are over here with me and we have had a lot of fun contemplating what crazy foods to try eating and then normally chickening out and heading over to Pizza Hut or McDonalds. <img src="http://www.trackpedia.net/blogs/john/templates/default/img/emoticons/smile.png" alt=":-)" style="display: inline; vertical-align: bottom;" class="emoticon" /><br />
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China is a great place and the people are really nice…only crazy thing is the driving and taxi cabs! Not quite the most awful ride I have had but damn they fly around within a few inches of each other. A picture of Hangzhou.<br />
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