From edge to edge a lap around Grattan
02-28-2008, 05:25 PM
#8
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W. Detroit Events Coordinator
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Cruise-In VII Autocross Champ
Nah! Just a mini DV CamCorder
Ken, Jeff only drives when it counts, he doesn't need practice
That was about 1-2 seconds off the track record, on scrubs. Pretty close to full out.
02-28-2008, 08:37 PM
#9
Team Owner
Wow I guess I'm better than I thought 
I take almost the same line. I do several things right at Grattan and a few things wrong.
A lot of people find the area after the hump challenging but I zip through there no problem but coming up onto the long right sweeping corner the car feels unsettled and I tend not to push it in that area which costs me 2-3 seconds I'd guess. I had an "experience" in a 997 with slicks in that corner at about 100mph so that may lead to my caution through there I notice that is one spot your not wide out and I've tried several lines through there with not a great deal of luck. My last time out was with the camber kit and poly bushings which helped a ton but we were the first group on track after the re-paving so there were marbles all over there which made pedestrian speeds exciting.
My other trouble spot is after the straight I do well on that but braking to go downhill into the off camber again I tend to upset the car, stay on track but end up in various positions for the next corner.
The hairpin is 50/50, sometimes right, sometimes I get on the gas too early and the rear kicks out.
How much do the tires help you getting back on the throttle in that corner?
I take almost the same line. I do several things right at Grattan and a few things wrong.
A lot of people find the area after the hump challenging but I zip through there no problem but coming up onto the long right sweeping corner the car feels unsettled and I tend not to push it in that area which costs me 2-3 seconds I'd guess. I had an "experience" in a 997 with slicks in that corner at about 100mph so that may lead to my caution through there
I notice that is one spot your not wide out and I've tried several lines through there with not a great deal of luck. My last time out was with the camber kit and poly bushings which helped a ton but we were the first group on track after the re-paving so there were marbles all over there which made pedestrian speeds exciting.My other trouble spot is after the straight I do well on that but braking to go downhill into the off camber again I tend to upset the car, stay on track but end up in various positions for the next corner.
The hairpin is 50/50, sometimes right, sometimes I get on the gas too early and the rear kicks out.
How much do the tires help you getting back on the throttle in that corner?
02-29-2008, 09:12 PM
#10
Safety Car
I was there the weekend after the repaving. Overall lap times were about the same due to the slippery new pavement, but it was obvious that the improvement over the choppy old track would be significant once some rubber was embedded in it.
I expect some lap records will fall in '08!
03-01-2008, 08:46 AM
#11
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Member Since: May 1999
Location: Plymouth MI Formerly Milford, MA MI
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W. Detroit Events Coordinator
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Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VII Autocross Champ
Wow I guess I'm better than I thought
I take almost the same line. I do several things right at Grattan and a few things wrong.
A lot of people find the area after the hump challenging but I zip through there no problem but coming up onto the long right sweeping corner the car feels unsettled and I tend not to push it in that area which costs me 2-3 seconds I'd guess. I had an "experience" in a 997 with slicks in that corner at about 100mph so that may lead to my caution through there I notice that is one spot your not wide out and I've tried several lines through there with not a great deal of luck. My last time out was with the camber kit and poly bushings which helped a ton but we were the first group on track after the re-paving so there were marbles all over there which made pedestrian speeds exciting.
My other trouble spot is after the straight I do well on that but braking to go downhill into the off camber again I tend to upset the car, stay on track but end up in various positions for the next corner.
The hairpin is 50/50, sometimes right, sometimes I get on the gas too early and the rear kicks out.
How much do the tires help you getting back on the throttle in that corner?
I take almost the same line. I do several things right at Grattan and a few things wrong.
A lot of people find the area after the hump challenging but I zip through there no problem but coming up onto the long right sweeping corner the car feels unsettled and I tend not to push it in that area which costs me 2-3 seconds I'd guess. I had an "experience" in a 997 with slicks in that corner at about 100mph so that may lead to my caution through there
I notice that is one spot your not wide out and I've tried several lines through there with not a great deal of luck. My last time out was with the camber kit and poly bushings which helped a ton but we were the first group on track after the re-paving so there were marbles all over there which made pedestrian speeds exciting.My other trouble spot is after the straight I do well on that but braking to go downhill into the off camber again I tend to upset the car, stay on track but end up in various positions for the next corner.
The hairpin is 50/50, sometimes right, sometimes I get on the gas too early and the rear kicks out.
How much do the tires help you getting back on the throttle in that corner?
03-01-2008, 09:29 AM
#12
Team Owner
The new surface was great, we were also there the week after. Its odd though watching the cars go through there its so much quieter than the regular pavement.
For the jump I've tried a variety of things but usually tap the brakes, then when the car settles, hard on them again, then turn.
I think everyone has gone off there at one point or another.
For the jump I've tried a variety of things but usually tap the brakes, then when the car settles, hard on them again, then turn.
I think everyone has gone off there at one point or another.
03-02-2008, 02:12 PM
#13
Drifting
03-02-2008, 02:39 PM
#14
Melting Slicks
How bout some music instead of wind noise?
03-02-2008, 03:02 PM
#15
Safety Car
I felt the best way over the jump was an agressive little stab of the brakes and then get your foot away from that pedal near lift-off. I learned pretty quick that any residual brake as you hit the jump will result in you landing in ice mode, which isn't fun.
03-03-2008, 11:16 PM
#19
Drifting
I'm thinking if I can turn a 1:31 with R3S04's and a 126mph top end that I should be able to turn somewhere in the 1:27-28 range. At Putnam we picked up a minimum of 2 seconds with the good tires. My dad picked up closer to 3. I think people would flip if they saw a 1:27-28 out of a 250 hp car on a track with 3200' of straight away! Can't wait to get back there this year. I'll have some in car myself if all goes well.
03-03-2008, 11:17 PM
#20
Burning Brakes
This was the first NASA event at Grattan. TT records......
Grattan Raceway
Class No. Name Vehicle Time Date
TTR 149 Ed Hessel Shannon CSR 1:24.579 6/10/07
TTU 1 Paul Faessler Mustang 1:26.943 6/10/07
TTS 301 Matt Jensen Evo 1:27.176 6/9/07
TTA 206 Ken Smith Corvette 1:27.465 6/10/07
TTB 860 Jason Lakomiak Mustang 1:32.131 6/10/07
TTC
TTD 008 Jeremy Tavares RX8 1:34.266 6/10/07
TTE 138 Bill Brees Protégé 1:33.146 6/10/07
TTF 504 Mike Prow MR2 1:48.289 6/10/07
Grattan Raceway
Class No. Name Vehicle Time Date
TTR 149 Ed Hessel Shannon CSR 1:24.579 6/10/07
TTU 1 Paul Faessler Mustang 1:26.943 6/10/07
TTS 301 Matt Jensen Evo 1:27.176 6/9/07
TTA 206 Ken Smith Corvette 1:27.465 6/10/07
TTB 860 Jason Lakomiak Mustang 1:32.131 6/10/07
TTC
TTD 008 Jeremy Tavares RX8 1:34.266 6/10/07
TTE 138 Bill Brees Protégé 1:33.146 6/10/07
TTF 504 Mike Prow MR2 1:48.289 6/10/07