The Beast Chasing Eric Curran around the track. [VIDEO]
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
The Beast Chasing Eric Curran around the track. [VIDEO]
Last Tuesday I went out to Autobahn for some set up work on the Beast. It was a relatively quiet day which is great for test and tune. Eric Curran was at the club testing out a full carbon bodied GTR prepped in World Challenge trim.
We spoke a little before we took the cars out but I kept it short as he was hired for feedback on somebody else's dime.
I lined up behind him for one of the later sessions to once again remind myself not to quit my day job. It was fun chasing him despite his weight disadvantage (he was overweight by 200lbs class-wise) and I believe I had a more more ponies.
It was an open session but still required point-bys so a few times I was held up.
Shortly into the session (5:17 in the video) I came in too hot for T8 (South) which resulted in over-steer and a brief 4 wheels off. As you know the video never does the driver justice but I was quite proud of the save despite the fact that it never should have happened. The next turn (T9 -- Patience) did me in as well as my tires weren't clean.
Sorry for the static in the left corner of the video, my rear camera wiring was not connected. I still haven't calibrated the T/C system hence no MPH or RPM.
Better to double click embedded video and watch on full screen
I offered Eric a few laps in the Beast later on in the day. We went over the car, the controls. etc... and strapped him in. He got the go ahead from the starter and proceeded very slowly around the track. Long story short, he came in after one lap because he noticed fluid on the windshield. It turned out it was gas spewing from an O-Ring that dislodged from a drivers side injector. With the safety crew armed with extinguishers we determined a cold tow back to the garage. It was an easy fix the next day, but a 25 cent part grounded us.
After the track closed we went to the garage and had a beer. Eric is a very down to earth guy and pretty cool.
I've come to learn that going to the track is an futile exercise in awaiting broken parts.
Mike
We spoke a little before we took the cars out but I kept it short as he was hired for feedback on somebody else's dime.
I lined up behind him for one of the later sessions to once again remind myself not to quit my day job. It was fun chasing him despite his weight disadvantage (he was overweight by 200lbs class-wise) and I believe I had a more more ponies.
It was an open session but still required point-bys so a few times I was held up.
Shortly into the session (5:17 in the video) I came in too hot for T8 (South) which resulted in over-steer and a brief 4 wheels off. As you know the video never does the driver justice but I was quite proud of the save despite the fact that it never should have happened. The next turn (T9 -- Patience) did me in as well as my tires weren't clean.
Sorry for the static in the left corner of the video, my rear camera wiring was not connected. I still haven't calibrated the T/C system hence no MPH or RPM.
Better to double click embedded video and watch on full screen
I offered Eric a few laps in the Beast later on in the day. We went over the car, the controls. etc... and strapped him in. He got the go ahead from the starter and proceeded very slowly around the track. Long story short, he came in after one lap because he noticed fluid on the windshield. It turned out it was gas spewing from an O-Ring that dislodged from a drivers side injector. With the safety crew armed with extinguishers we determined a cold tow back to the garage. It was an easy fix the next day, but a 25 cent part grounded us.
After the track closed we went to the garage and had a beer. Eric is a very down to earth guy and pretty cool.
I've come to learn that going to the track is an futile exercise in awaiting broken parts.
Mike
#2
Burning Brakes
Looked like a fun session! I heard it was a little chilly in Chicago recently. What kind of temps were you running in? The GT-R's are definately for real. I do hear that they heat soak though. Would be intereting to see what kind of coolers he was using on the car.
Hope to see (and hear) he Beast at VIR next month. See you there Mike.
Hope to see (and hear) he Beast at VIR next month. See you there Mike.
#4
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
#5
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Looked like a fun session! I heard it was a little chilly in Chicago recently. What kind of temps were you running in? The GT-R's are definately for real. I do hear that they heat soak though. Would be intereting to see what kind of coolers he was using on the car.
Hope to see (and hear) he Beast at VIR next month. See you there Mike.
Hope to see (and hear) he Beast at VIR next month. See you there Mike.
I remember driving Frank Lapani's GTR when he first got it and I still can't figure out how they stop and turn with all that weight.
#10
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
#11
Le Mans Master
It was an "OK" save. Looks like I will have to come back to Autobahn to catch up. Tommy, can I borrow your car?
Looks like the old eye ball is better. That is GREAT news Mike.
Nice video.
See you shortly at VIR.
Jim
Looks like the old eye ball is better. That is GREAT news Mike.
Nice video.
See you shortly at VIR.
Jim
Last edited by Painrace; 05-31-2011 at 02:52 PM.
#14
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
[QUOTE=Painrace;1577738041)
Looks like the old eye ball is better. That is GREAT news Mike.
Nice video.
See you shortly at VIR.
Jim[/QUOTE]
Jim,
Are you mowing the left or right side this year? I don't want to do double work!
Mike
Looks like the old eye ball is better. That is GREAT news Mike.
Nice video.
See you shortly at VIR.
Jim[/QUOTE]
Jim,
Are you mowing the left or right side this year? I don't want to do double work!
Mike
#15
Le Mans Master