Ferrari Mailing List: Re: OK Thinking about a new toy car

[Mike (themightytoe]

I could not agree more here about RA...  I probably will go there again
sometime when the leaves come in and get some in car video but really it's a
high HP track, not super technical but easy to screw the pooch if you do
something wrong.  I need to hit all the other tracks and Autobahn also and
figure out which one I like best, from what folks tell me, Putnam, Gingerman
and Autobahn all sound like a lot of fun.  

 

At RA I spent little time worrying about any of the higher HP cars as the
well driven ones were out of my sight very quickly and the less well driven
ones were in my rear view at the first set of corners (3, and then pointing
me by at 7 if they had to be ahead of me to 5).  And there were a few folks
still that I was able to chase and be chased etc.  I always drive a bit
faster when I have a rabbit in front of me but I know how to temper that.


 

Mike

 

 

From: LtWacko [at] aol.com [mailto:LtWacko [at] aol.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 11:03 AM
To: ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com
Cc: themightytoe [at] gmail.com
Subject: Re: OK Thinking about a new toy car

 

<<From: Mike <themightytoe [at] gmail.com>
Subject: [Ferrari] OK Thinking about a new toy car
To: "'The FerrariList'" <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
Cc: The FerrariList <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
Message-ID: <000601c8a942$19928eb0$4cb7ac10$ [at] com>
Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="us-ascii"

OK,

Just finished a weekend at Road America (1st time on that track)...  That is
a tough track 5 cars ended up bent, at least 1 totaled (C5 Z06), no injuries
other than the vehicles so that was good, and 2 of them were street cars,
the others were race cars.  Really an 8/10ths only track for anyone without
all the safety gear.  >>

I really started not enjoying RA years ago.  My car was too slow!!!  It's a
huge track with long straights.  Always pissed me off that I was held up in
turns and then guys with really fast cars would give me the signal to pass
while they were under full throttle...  HELLLLOOO!  If you have twice the
horsepower, I can't pass when you have the go peddle down!  With a front
straight 1 mile long that begins with an uphill that my car SLOWS DOWN on
under FULL THROTTLE, only choice would be to spend the bucks on a lighter,
cheap and fast car like a vette to keep up with the boys with more $$$ than
skill.

 

RA is a nice track to do a few times just for the experience.  (Favorite big
track that I have been on...  Watkins Glen!)  90% of the accidents are just
stupid.  It's why the BMW CCA Windy City Chapter banned rookies from using
R-Compound tires at that track.  E36 M3's were relatively cheap at the time
and beyond rookie driving skills.  (yeah, it's been awhile since I've
participated at that track). We had to slow them down and develop their
skills.  People started driving 11/10's and didn't know it.  More safety
gear was needed for those that needed to wear helmets as children if you
know what I mean.

 

Anyway, it really is hard to find a cheap, fast and reliable car these days
for track AND street use.  (remember, pick two of the three requirements
above...  LOL)  You really need two cars if you are a track junkie or book a
track yourself with friends in slower cars.  LOL.  

 

Until recently, I more enjoyed the smaller, skill-required tracks like
Blackhawk, Gingerman, Grattan and Putnum Park which all just happen to be
closer to Chicago than Road America anyway.  I love passing cars with twice
the HP or obviously superior from the factory and we are both driving at
9/10's of our "skill" level!  

 

Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed RA.  Windy City always tries to put on a fun
and safe event.  It's nice to actually watch races on tv and point out to
your family that you went off at turn 6, 7 and 8 all on the same lap....
Image removed by sender.

 

Rodney

 





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