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This was the swan song for my '93 VR4: I'm transplanting the Ground Control
suspension over to my '94 VR4 and getting it track-worthy between now and
February. The '93 performed flawlessly. I was running consistently 2:20
on the 2.9 mile course, about 6 seconds off my best times, and loafing on
the main straight. Fastest turnin to turn one was 125, but usual was
100-110. I was carrying students on three of my five runs, and that tends
to slow you down, because you want to minimize risks with a student in the
car.
The Panther brake pads are really helping with grab. My ABS kicked in about
every time I really used the brakes. The bad thing was that the machine
shop did a lousy job of turning the crossdrilled rotors last time: I had to
return two to be redone when I was installing them - I should've returned
all four. That just accentuated the jitter from the ABS.
No problems with transient overtemps: the flush and fill, new hoses, new
thermostat, and special attention to the lower hose connection to the
thermostat housing seems to have done the trick.
My routine exit speed from the last turn onto the straight is now 80 mph.
This puts me at 110 mph and in fourth gear well before the start finish
sign, maybe ¼ down the straight. I am definitely loafing down the straight.
There is plenty of pedal left when I turnin to turn one. The '93 is running
about 350 hp, I guess, with the K&N and manual boost at 12.5 psi. Oh yeah,
no missing at high speed and high boost with the regapped spark plugs. The
'94 will be running around 400 hp, with the dual solenoid boost controller
set at 15 psi.
I was driving on the tires that will not die: My son's cast off Yokohama
O32R's. This is the 12th DE event for these tires and they STILL have
tread. I remounted them last month intending to use them at Heartland Park,
but was sick and missed the fun. I finally destroyed my old set of Yoko's
on Labor Day Weekend after 12 DE's. This set just won't give up. I already
have 4 new ones (255R40's) waiting for me. I guess the old ones go back in
the garage instead of the trash heap.
Driving with the Red group has its advantages and disadvantages. First
advantage is free admission ($190) and a garage for $25 (no more EZ-up!)
These guys have zero ego problems and drive safely. The ones with the
race-prepped cars are just trying out tuning or just practicing: they have
other serious racing venues. But it is still disheartening to get spanked
so hard by their damn rocket ships - I think I saw maybe three cars in the
group that don't have roll cages, including mine. They are all good natured
about it, but my arm sure gets tired giving those passing signs. I am
learning to take a lot of turns off-line, which is valuable. I stayed on
the track again, which is more than I can say for several of them this
weekend!
Instructing is rewarding, but very demanding. It's exhausting and hectic to
ride with one student, try to summarize the session and then run over to get
your own car on the track. I missed 1/3 of a session, because my green
student needed debriefing. I had two students, one in Blue with a Boxster
and one in Green with a '91 NSX. I took a third student in a Miata the last
session Sunday while my Green student had her check ride and took a fourth
in Blue in a 911 Cabriolet while my Blue student soloed the last session
Sunday. Both my students will be promoted to the next run groups at their
next event, pending the Blue student's checkride.
It's really fun seeing the students improve over the course of the event.
It's amazing how maybe one thing you tell them makes a pronounced impact on
their driving. It's also fun to drive different cars around the tack for a
couple of laps to "show them the line" (grin). Some of the instructors have
been driving the track so long that they have forgotten what it was to be
Green. I feel like the Green Group's union rep, because I spent more time
in Green than any of the other instructors, and have been away from it the
shortest time! February is the annual instructor's clinic where I'll
relearn everything I forgot since last year, but where we'll get some more
help from new instructors.
Oh hell, I have to do some work today. When we hit the lottery, I'll spend
all my time playing with my Hot Wheels.
---
Chuck Willis, 94 VR4
DSBC, GReddy(?) filter charger, GC and Eibach springs, Porterfield Crossdrilled front and rear rotors,
Panther Plus brake pads, Goodridge stainless steel brake lines, GReddy SuperDrager exhaust, Volk TE37 17" wheels, Yoko AO37 255/40ZR17 tires
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