++COMMENT++
Date du tour
31 Oct, 2018
Temps du tour
1:33.785
(-0.44s)
Température extérieure
18° C
GRIPFEST 15, an entry-level time attack event organized by the Tidewater Sports Car Club (TSCC), was host to 60 cars this year at the North Carolina Center for Automotive Research (NCCAR) circuit. Saturday was a full-day HPDE / track day to get familiar with the track, followed by standing start, full-lap runs on the course on Sunday.
The GRIPFEST format is very similar to the recent 2018 SCCA Time Trials Nationals, and differs from the typical NASA TT, Gridlife, Global Time Attack, etc event in that:
- There is no passing
- You have designated start and finish lines
- You have a standing start, and not a flying lap
Somewhat to my surprise (being a NASA TT veteran), i really liked this format, which is reminiscent of a high speed autocross, or circuitcross. You have to come up to speed immediately, and you have time between runs to analyze your performance and identify areas to improve. The standing start aspect also adds to the thrill. In addition, this format is safer, less wear-and-tear on your ride, and 'cleaner' (very low chance of another car "ruining" your flyer lap". It is pure speed and driver-versus-track skill... no racecraft here.
The car was a 2005 Mazda RX-8 that is prepped to NASA TTD class rules. However, because i corded my race tires on Saturday, i was running my rain tires as back-up on Sunday: 245/40/17 Continental ExtremeContact Sport (Conti ECS). However, they ended up being a decent choice due to the cool temperatures and run format (hot lap, then waiting in grip). Because race tires need a few laps to come up to temperature, and constant lapping to STAY in their sweet zone, they might not be the best choice. The Contis need practically no warm-up and were extremely consistent.
The results? First in D class out of 16 competitors, faster than all the C cars, and 8th overall on raw time... behind only the most powerful V8s and a formula car.
NCCAR is a 2.0 mile long circuit with a 1/2 mile straightaway that emphasizes constant-radius corners. It is very flat and has excellent turn-in and apex markers, making it easy to see potential hazards and learn the course. Runoff is for the most part generous. It is fairly easy on the brakes and fairly hard on the tires. It teaches you to look very far ahead to to keep your eyes moving and scanning due to the many very late apexes. The constant radius corners give you ample opportunity to play with the balance of the car and to feel how the steering wheel and accelerator can be used to affect the attitude of the car.
Data was captured with an android phone running RaceChrono and an external Garmin Glo 10Hz GPS. The video and telemetry data was merged using Dashware.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
* Group E (GRP.E) Suspension Services
* Fortune Auto Suspension
* Turn14 Distribution
* Motorsports Performance Group
* Hawk Performance Brakes
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? LEAVE THEM BELOW!
SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE TIME ATTACK, TRACKDAY, AUTOCROSS, RALLYCROSS, AND KARTING VIDEOS
http://www.youtube.com/mchuffman
RX-8 MAJOR MODIFICATIONS:
- Fortune Auto 500 Coilovers
- Intake, full exhaust, pulleys
- 245/40/17 Continental ExtremeContact Sport tires on Kosei K8R 17x9 +49 wheels
RX-8 SPECS
- 194 WHP
- 2740 pounds
- Full interior, A/C, radio
Commentaires