Virginia International Raceway this Fall

[kanundrum]

Originally Posted by mike2100

I just signed up! Here's the event page:
http://www.motorsportreg.com/index.c...36E955043013F4

If you don't want to pay $379 for all 3 days there is a 1 day option. There is also a $50 "intro session" that is 30 minutes.

I usually room with my father-in-law but I think his wife is going this time, so if anyone is interested in sharing a room let me know! Have to sign up early if you want a room at the track. Otherwise it's a hotel in Danville

This seems very much worth it.

[celica73]

Originally Posted by mike2100

How much track time do you get per day with them? Just wondering if the extra $116 is worth it

THSCC is generally four 25-30 minute sessions per day. No extra cost if you need an instructor. The event is also on full course for all 3 days (vs South Course for 2 and full course for 1).

Nothing wrong with the Porsche club at all, I'm just biased towards THSCC because it's my home club and that is where my friends are.

[civicdrivr]

Originally Posted by celica73

I'm thinking about the Tarheel Sports Car Club event at VIR full Sept 7-9. They are a great group to run with, very novice friendly if it's your first time out.

Do you have a link to a sign up page?

[celica73]

Originally Posted by civicdrivr

Do you have a link to a sign up page?

Just saw the question about signing up. Note that Friday has been cancelled, but Saturday and Sunday are still on. I'll be there.
http://www.motorsportreg.com/index.c...0A4579FED1E812

It isn't very clear, but THSCC does 2 hours of track time each day (4 sessions @ 30 min). Most people are packing up and going home before their last Sunday session.

There are great classroom instructors, and THSCC does a nice job vetting their in-car instructors as well.

I think my track prep is about complete. I've bedded in new brake pads, changed the break-in oil. I just need to bleed the brakes with Motul and I'll be all set. It's been years since I've been on track and I'm looking forward to it!

[W2]

I have been thinking about giving this a go, looks like the PCA is doing Saturday through Monday? From what I've been reading the key things to change out are the brake pads and brake fluid? I realize the stock tires probably aren't the best but what would a complete noob need to do to participate?

[celica73]

Originally Posted by W2

I have been thinking about giving this a go, looks like the PCA is doing Saturday through Monday? From what I've been reading the key things to change out are the brake pads and brake fluid? I realize the stock tires probably aren't the best but what would a complete noob need to do to participate?

Register and show up. You don't NEED to do anything else.

[mike2100]

Green and Blue groups are full for the PCA event I believe. Check motorsportreg.com

[celica73]

Originally Posted by mike2100

Green and Blue groups are full for the PCA event I believe. Check motorsportreg.com

There is a waiting list for PCA.

THSCC still has spaces available. For those that haven't done this before, the die-hard track community is pretty small, so there is a ton of overlap between instructors at most of these events. If you are attending a *teaching* oriented HPDE, you can't go wrong, THSCC, PCA, BMWCCA, all are good.

If you do the THSCC event, there will be at least one person there with spare brake parts available

[celica73]

I took the BRZ to VIR this weekend. It was a great event with the Tarheel Sports Car Club on full course. Weather was good, a bit hot on Saturday, but lots of sun and cooler on Sunday.

Car Setup: BRZ Limited, Subaru camber bolts (-1.3 deg camber) up front and zero toe front and rear. 17x8 Enkei PF01's with 245/40 Star Specs. Front brakes are Hawk DTC-60 and rear are Hawk HPS.

Everything else is stock.

This was my first track event in the BRZ and first in about 6 years. I used to track a '73 Celica. I spent a lot more time building and wrenching on it than driving it (probably 6 events total in the car - in 6 years of ownership). I was running in "Yellow" group.

Green = Novice (instructor in car)
Yellow = Intermediate (instructor in car)
Blue = Advanced (instructor in car)
Red = Advanced (no instructor)
White = Instructor

The BRZ is pretty much everything I hoped it would be. In a way, it's too easy. It is slow on the straights, but everywhere else it is fantastic. It did all the things it was supposed to do, and did them well all weekend. The tires were great, the brakes were great (got a little green fade in the first session, but it didn't hurt things). I checked the brakes Sunday morning and they still looked new. Other than checking tire pressures and fluids a few times, there was no other service on the car. Just what the doctor ordered! The big red easy button.

So, how'd it drive? fantastic! Overall, the BRZ was slightly pushy, which is fine for my current driving level. I don't think I was truly loose all weekend. I was using a little lift throttle in turn 5 to get the car turned into the apex of 6, but that was it. Once I got a little out of shape in turn 17 and 4 wheel drifted down the hill. A couple of blown braking zones (14) and one early apex at Oaktree (the only 4 wheels off).

I think I spent a lot of time full throttle. If cars in front didn't lift, I didn't pass, fortunately, everyone was well behaved, and by the end of Saturday I was more than happy to take a late pass in all of the braking zones, the car had no issues with stopping on a dime. I was hitting about 115 on the front and back straights (indicated, no idea how close the speedo is at that point) and braking at the 2 marker for turn 1 was fine, but violent. On Sunday I stretched it back to 3 because that let me focus on looking around the turn and doing a little trail braking to the apex. It was just more comfortable that way. Braking at 1 or later into turn 14 was fine. Brake, turn in, brake harder.

Typical lap?

I was about 115 mph, 5th gear on the front straight, lift at marker 4, brake at 3 and carry the braking to near the apex of turn 1, then add throttle to full throttle well before the exit of 2. I really like how the track seems to come to you in 2. Full throttle 3rd gear to near redline (84ish) then lift for the the kink and maintenance throttle before a short brake and turn-on on 3. Still third gear through 3, full throttle, then late brake and late apex of turn 4. Roll onto the throttle out of 4, with part throttle at the turn in of 5 and then roll all the way into it through 5, light lift at 5a to rotate the car and full throttle out of 5a all the way to the uphill esses. The shift to 4th comes shortly after turn 6 and 5th is somewhere around north course. I would go part throttle at the turn in for 7 to get a good late apex and then held maintenance throttle through the esses. I admit, I looked at the speedo in the last session, I was consistent at just over 100 mph indicated. I was leaving a lot on the table too. I don't think I ever exited turn 9 wider than mid track. A little (over)braking for and downshift back to 4th for turn 10, with a good (conservative) speed being about 85 mph through Southbend. I was always on throttle at the apex of 10 and down the hill. Try to "diamond" turn 11-12 and keep enough speed for 3rd gear around Oak Tree. If I used 2nd, I was out of gear by the end of the trackout of 12. Now I would get out and push the car up the hill to go faster, usually hitting 5th gear as the track really turns uphill (about 105 mph), then maintain speed up the hill, get another 10 mph on the downhill before the braking zone for turn 14. Brake at about the 1 marker and slow the car for turn-in, get the car midtrack and finish braking while downshifting back to 3rd. I would get the car into the curbing of 14a, then be back full throttle down the hill through 15. Just as the shift light would come on I would do light brake for 16 and turn in for Hog Pen. A brief bit of constant throttle, then roll into it through 17/17a and get 4th gear by trackout of 17a.

Lather, rinse, repeat. Good times! Hopefully some pictures and video will appear soon.

Full course is the outer perimeter.

[mike2100]

Nice. Sounds about how I've been driving my Miata (stock 99 with all season tires).

Next time you go out try staying to the inside on turn 9. There is a dip that fully compresses the suspension and allows you to go full throttle exiting the esses. It is so much fun but feels hairy the first few times you do it. More hairy than going full throttle just before the dip at 17. Ahh so much fun rocketing out of the dips.

I can't wait to get the FR-S out there. It should be like the Miata but even more fun.

[celica73]

Not much video of me from the weekend, but a little follow the leader with my buddy in his Mustang GT is here.

It's the start of the session and he follows for a bit before passing and not being seen again.

BRZ footage starts at about 4:30.

[mike2100]

Very nice.
I'm leaving today for a 3 day event this weekend. 2 days of South Course and 1 day Full. I should have plenty of video and track data.
I also get my iPhone in today and will be playing with Harry's Laptimer so expect to see some (slow) lap times posted!

Oh I might buy some of those pro photos again, so I better wash the car before I leave!

[track_warrior]

Very tempted!! Gonna check my schedule!!

[mike2100]

Here is South Course:


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR12d1E2QXg"]2012 Sep VIR South PCA FSR White 2-4 Scion FR-S - YouTube[/ame]