Back from Bedford trackday
Discussion
Just got back from Bedford, awww what a trackday. Didn't start in a nice way but turned up to be a pretty good one. Arrived there 7:40 just to find out that I am failing the noise test - 104.5 db (the car has been measured couple of times in london with proper sound meter at 100, the iphone app was also giving between 99 and 100). They retested and it was 103...still no chance of going on the track....had to go back to bedford and find an exhaust place to fabricate me two baffles...2 hours later all good, the guy had a noise meter - 93db, shall be all fine....well the noise meter at bedford tested 100db....so somehow I suspect their meters are calibrated to read higher....
anyway to keep on with the unpleasent part....not allowed to drive without the top unless I have a full face helmet...no way to fit in with top and helmet...however all helmets were rented out. tried 4-5 laps and gave up, too uncomfortable and was afraid that at 145mph on the back straight I might loose the top....at the end the MSV guys sorted a helmet and I was back on track topless
Ahhhh what a joy this car is - the torque is insane, the amount of grip as well (but still driftable without much hassle if you want to). It actually is faster than my zm coupe on track....the only thing that let me down are the brakes - running standard stuff is not an option, gotta put my sleeves up and install the alcons. They just lack any feedback, you gotta slam them really hard and still no good braking. I admit my pads are not the best but just they feel a way too small for this car. So all the gains in the straights and in the corners I had to give up braking, but got used to it and had tons of fun. Next time I am going on sticky tyres and I can imagine it will be a serious weapon, although I am more than surprised that the 9 year old michelins kept that well. Also very happy how much feedback there is from the steering and suspension. It seems to be also very predictable and you can actually feel where the limits are....and this is a fully standard car, I can only imagine what the effect of some penske or moton race suspension will be.
anyway, here is a semi-fast lap...waiting for some pics and will post them later
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3sRRhZLwOg
anyway to keep on with the unpleasent part....not allowed to drive without the top unless I have a full face helmet...no way to fit in with top and helmet...however all helmets were rented out. tried 4-5 laps and gave up, too uncomfortable and was afraid that at 145mph on the back straight I might loose the top....at the end the MSV guys sorted a helmet and I was back on track topless
Ahhhh what a joy this car is - the torque is insane, the amount of grip as well (but still driftable without much hassle if you want to). It actually is faster than my zm coupe on track....the only thing that let me down are the brakes - running standard stuff is not an option, gotta put my sleeves up and install the alcons. They just lack any feedback, you gotta slam them really hard and still no good braking. I admit my pads are not the best but just they feel a way too small for this car. So all the gains in the straights and in the corners I had to give up braking, but got used to it and had tons of fun. Next time I am going on sticky tyres and I can imagine it will be a serious weapon, although I am more than surprised that the 9 year old michelins kept that well. Also very happy how much feedback there is from the steering and suspension. It seems to be also very predictable and you can actually feel where the limits are....and this is a fully standard car, I can only imagine what the effect of some penske or moton race suspension will be.
anyway, here is a semi-fast lap...waiting for some pics and will post them later
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3sRRhZLwOg
and a few more....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gToHwFaVkPM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gToHwFaVkPM
Edited by oxam on Sunday 31st July 09:40
oxam said:
ha! the G force eventually got the better of the camera 
Great drive round- so many corners. 
ViperGTS99 said:
must be fun to drive 9 year old michelins on the race track ...on a Viper.
well it was 27c and sunny so the tarmac was hot as well. I was running 29 psi and they still managed to get quite hot. No sign of understeer or what so ever and I was more than happy with the grip...the Dunlops on my Mustang and the Falkens on my zmcoupe have less grip even if they are 1 year old.I would never push hard 9 year old tyres being cold on a normal street....but hey, they were simply perfect for the track given the weather conditions.
Before I get more comments about the tyre age etc. I have a set of Kumho V700 waiting to go on the 18's and once I am back from holiday will purchase a set of Iforged Astra's 20in for daily use. I got the car 2 months ago with the Michelins and never intended to keep them long.
Im still running Pilot Sports on my Viper, Yes they are not fantastically grippy so respect is needed. Earlier this year I was on the Top Gear track with the car and did get caught out at Gambon corner a couple of times 
But I was on a track environment so could push the car much more than you would on the road 
Now driving my car on the road in wet or damp conditions is another matter, I know full well how wide those PS1s are and they do not deal with water that well! There is no way I will push the car in wet conditions.
Its the same thing with very early morning Piston head runs, You may come unstuck with damp road conditions!
Im looking forward to some new tyres (saving hard at the moment) to really push the car and see what it can do, but in the mean time I have respect for the tyres i'm running.
I have done a couple of sprint starts which are great fun, the car goes nowhere and the tyres just spin up I love it I know its all about grip getting you off the line as fast as possible, but I dont care, Im having fun
But I was on a track environment so could push the car much more than you would on the road Now driving my car on the road in wet or damp conditions is another matter, I know full well how wide those PS1s are and they do not deal with water that well! There is no way I will push the car in wet conditions.
Its the same thing with very early morning Piston head runs, You may come unstuck with damp road conditions!
Im looking forward to some new tyres (saving hard at the moment) to really push the car and see what it can do, but in the mean time I have respect for the tyres i'm running.
I have done a couple of sprint starts which are great fun, the car goes nowhere and the tyres just spin up
I love it I know its all about grip getting you off the line as fast as possible, but I dont care, Im having fun Gassing Station | Vipers | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff