Took the car out for another HPDE. Since putting on all the mods from the last time i was out on track, the car has certainly improved in pretty much all facets of performance.

I only put in a total of 1 hour of track time this time (two 30-minute sessions), but did push it progressively with each lap, as i no longer knew where the limits were. Let me say that the car just kept on giving back.

Braking - I never really had issues with the OEM sport brakes, but i also didn't step on it as late as i have this time around. The Akebono's, with OEM pads at that, were just great! Fluid was a combination of Valvoline DOT3/4 and AMSOIL Series 600. Yes, the spray-paint is holding up just fine The rubber bleeder valve covers are all cracked now though. Also, gotta love those Racing Brake 2-pc rotors.

Handling - With the BC Racing CO's, FSTB, 6-pt chassis brace, semi-lightweight wheels, the Hankook V12's and Eibach front sways, keeping all four wheels planted was much easier this time around. Transitions were most certainly quicker and more precise. Oddly enough, i think the combination of all of these work better in high-speed action than it does in regular DD where it's harder to really appreciate all they can offer you. Also, i respected the Falken 452s on track from prior runs, but the V12s are just on a completely different league compared to the 452s.

Power - With everything else on the car, it's hard to say if being able to top out higher, faster, speed-wise is because of those things, or the combination of the Injen SRI and Invidia Q300 (dyno), but i definitely felt more power coming out of apexes. Even finding it easier to control the rear end with slightly lesser pedal input.

What i took out of this recent session are:

• The car can certainly do more now, and as much as i pushed it later in the day, i am far from reaching the limits. It's a scary thought, really, when thinking about scrubbing speed late into a 120+mph straight, or being able to hit esses and sweepers roughly 20 or so mph faster than i'm used to.
• The G is still one heavy car. It only feels like it mid-corrner, but running with much faster blue and yellow folks in the mix (GT2's, built Corvette's, M3's and a whole lot of Miata's) you easily realize just how true this is when out of nowhere the rest of the gang just comes right up behind you. The G holds its own pretty well in the straights, but corners are just a completely different matter. Granted, i also still have a lot to learn as well.
• As i always thought, most rotor "warping" issues are mostly caused by uneven pad deposits. At least two instructors have mentioned it as well and offered pretty good advice for scrubbing the rotors. After it cools down, spritz water on the rotors and wait for the rust to show. Drive it around and voila, newly scrubbed rotors. I knew it wasn't just in my mind when i always felt that the brakes worked better sitting overnight after a wash.
• Although i do photography, i'm hiring one for my next run. I still have no picture of my car on track!

 

It sucks you didn't get pictures!! When I saw your post I was really looking forward for pics! I really want to take my G to Autocross! I think that's what is call when they put cones on a big open space!

 

I've got pics, but none of my car. I shot them in-between sessions/classroom. I have some pictures of some of the other folks though.

But yep, with cones that's AutoX. Either one will be F-U-N with an extra capital F.

 

Mike, where'd you go and what group were you with?

 

You should fine tune your suspension for the track, I think that your runs might be better with practice also. Good review!

 

MSR Houston, running with blue and yellow groups together. I'm not used to having so many faster cars out at one time.

Yeah, it's a fine line for me since this is also my DD/family car. I'm happy where it is right now, but like you said i just need more track time.

Here's the only lap i could properly capture on vid. The camera kept shutting down or screwing up (it's hdd-based, i'm sure i messed up the platters as i also turned off the g-meter), sadly even my makeshift windblocker didn't work as planned, so i put a soundtrack to this instead. My next "mod" will be to get a flash-drive based system, hopefully with overlays/logger/acquisition.

 

thats pretty cool Mike!! plus its usually hot and humid down there,,, harder on brakes, i have always said the G can do it all!!!!

 

Great work on your car. I loved watching the videos. I cant wait to see some pictures of it on the track and/or even video from the outside of it going through the track! Nice stuff Mike.