So it was a good and bad day. First session started out and for some reason the car just didn't feel right. It was sorta fine in the corners (getting point bys) but then I came out of T17 onto the front straight and struggled to pass cars. Well, that's odd. Turns out the Vtec wasn't coming on at all. I knew the oil level was fine and I was on a straight so oil deprivation wasn't an issue. Couple of laps later going around the carosel (sp) it decided to kick in while I was tracking out. Very interesting time for it to come back needless to say. Still though, during that session it wouldn't stay in Vtec past 7800 RPM. Odd I thought. I finished out the session and started to look at it. Turns out to be a bad connection to the VSS. I removed and repluged it in a few times to get a good solid connnection and all was good for the rest of the day as far as Vtec is concerned but the spedo was still jumping around. Second session was fantastic. I finally got my braking down in a few places enough to get a slight wiggle in the rear under hard braking. Third session was going great too until the last lap of the session. I came out of the hairpin in T7, went through 8 and 9 and into 10a the car lost power and sounded odd. I instantly went into panic mode thinking to myself this is only the second time I've had the car out, please don't be something major. I pulled to the side of the track and shut the car down. Sat for a few moments as everyone else finished up their cool down laps and proceeded to try to fire the car up again. She started but was shaking pretty bad and still didn't quite sound right. So the corner worked signaled the tow truck and off we went, being towed back to our spot was the worst feeling ever. I was having such a great day up until that point. We parked the car and popped the hood. Me not being in the right state of mind can't think of anything other than possibly a bent valve. Turns out that a MSD plug wire had backed off on the dizzy side. Thanks to Dave-ROR pointing that out, I wasn't even thinking about that. He plugs it back on and I fired up the car. All was once again well. That didn't last to long, turns out I may be replacing the brake booster before the next outting.
I have to say, going out for the second time in the car was a great experience. No more nervousness of being out for the first time. I knew what to expect and I knew the track layout and the lines. I ended up improving my lap times by 7 seconds according to our stop watch (yeah, not official but close enough) Now I'm turning sub 3 minute lap times (Sebring is 3.7 miles 17 turns) I'm working on a few new things, T17 instead of going around in 4th, I'm now going in 3rd for about 2k RPM before I shift during track out. Turning in a little bit later on T1 (wow what a difference that makes, especially since there's a wall on the inside of that turn about 1 foot from the rumble strip), also working on the carosel. Apparently I wasn't out far enough the last time out. Now I'm much faster going around it. Lastly I was working on braking. Learning my braking points per corner and really working the spec VR's. If your not smelling the brakes, your not using them right.
Recap of the day:
First session I had the VSS issue that sorta worked itself out by the end of the session, came in and reconnected it and all is good.
Second session was almost to good to be true. Not a single hiccup.
Third session though, the MSD plug wire issue made my heart sink.
What I learned this time out is as follows:
Turning in later is sometimes better than turning in early. At least at Sebring, there are a lot of corners that you can carry more speed this way.
MSD plug wires are teh suckzor!!! I'll never use them again on anything I ever own. Back to stock for me!!!
The A-pillar cage bar on the drivers side really needs to be closer to the cars A-pillar. I really like how DavidNYC has his done. I'm going to be talking to the fabricator to see what we can do about that.
If your not smelling the brakes, your not using them right.
Question for you guys though before the pics, with the Azenis 615's what hot and cold tire pressure are you running? At the end of the day I was up to 39 PSI all the way around in them. Thoughts?
Well enough with all the rambling, on with the pics as they say. There were a few nice cars out there on Sunday.
I wish I could have seen this DB9 on track more than the parade laps.
I've only seen a few of these. This is for you Pat!!!
Oh how I'd love to have a GT3!!!
Always makes you feel good when you get a point by from one of these. =)
Wish this one would have been out there too.
The chick driving this SC mustang was fast as hell!!!
Dave-ROR's pile of crap
My pile parked
This was the only car on track louder than mine.
My buddy out on the parade lap with mah old man driving.
I don't think I noticed it as much last time out, but this time coming around the back section there was a plane landing heading in my direction maybe 200 yards to my left.
And finally on with the pics of me on track. I had a blast!!! Thanks again to PIC for all the support you have given me, you guys rock.
The timing tower.
Turning into T1
Little early turn in on T7
One of my favorite pics from the day. Thanks ROR.
Not sure which corner this was. Looks like the back section around 14-15
This is a fun section here. This is the part of the track that I never thought I'd be going as fast as I am.
No really, the planes are right there.
Going round the carosel.
Not sure where this is either
Looks like T3
Mid turn in, in T1
Looks like the beginning of the carosel.
Not quite sure what I was looking at here.
Before turn in at T1
Coming under the Audi bridge.
Yeah, those GT3s are real badasses 