NorCal Vipers tear up Laguna Seca!

[Rapidrezults]

Nice save!!

Chris, that was some fast handwork. Are you sure you didn't hit fluid on the track?....the Viper ahead of you kick out its rear in the same spot (at least from what I can tell on the video).

You know, I was thinking that myself. It could've been something on the track but didn't seem to notice anything on the subsequent laps. I just attributed it to cold tires...but you never know.

[VENOM V]

I would have loved to have seen that comp coupe, never seen one in person before. Your really toasted those brakes. I did the same thing to my stock c6 z06 brakes, drove from thunder hill to Chico to get new pads only to have the motor blow up coming out of turn one on my 1st lap! My brakes felt spongy and didn't have any real initial bite either and I had new pads that I bought from a member here. I think I need to re bleed them and get some carbotech's like Chris has because his brakes felt great. After seeing the inside of your trailer I have to buy a new one now. I can't put a new ACR in my old beat up trailer. It's 10yrs old and has taken a beating!

If you join me at Thunderhill, there's usually a green Compe Coupe driven by a friend named Steve. It is an absolute beast, down to the factory sequential tranny. One of the best ever built, I've been told.

Yeah that was a lesson. I knew I was taking a gamble with the stock pads LOL. Were you running the stock TA pads?

The trailer wasn't cheap but it was surprisingly reasonable. It has a steel frame so it's a little on the heavy side (4700 Lb with cabinets and upgrades) but well within my tow capacity when fully loaded with car, slicks and tools.

[VENOM V]

Excellent read, Todd, and glad you caught the brake pads when you did. You probably never even thought to check them since they were new. I made the same mistake at Road Atlanta once and was metal on metal at day's end in the Supra TT. I hope your rotors are okay as they would have taken a lot of excessive heat with so little pad.

I hope the TA brakes will work well for you, although I suspect you might also exceed their limits on R7's.

Great looking rig!

Good luck, and keep everything shiny side up!

Bruce

I was checking them between every session. They were wearing fast, but they did surprise me. They gave us a bonus session that I ran back to back with my other session, so I was on track for 15 minutes, at rest for 5 minutes, then back on track for 25 minutes. That may have been the silver bullet.

Rotors thickness and condition was ok after turning, believe it or not. After I saw the FUBARed brakes, I immediately thought to myself, "Thank god for track day insurance!" LOL, I buy it every time, just in case. Takes the stress out.

[VENOM V]

Wow, those brakes are toast! I thought I had it bad with cracked and glazed stock TA pads, yours take the prize for sure!

We NorCal folks are very fortunate to have Laguna Seca within relative short distance from us. An open sound day at Laguna is one of the best track experiences one can have in a Viper IMO. For me, it's like the Super Bowl of HPDE events. What makes it so exciting is this is the track that legends are made on (TA strikes back ), and will be even more important especially now that the Ring may not be available for future testing. Thanks to RP and Motor Trend, it has now become the standard that we all look to when comparing cars and track performance. We really do need to get some of the hardcore track guys from other parts of the country out for an open sound day here! Prizes and trophies for he who can get as close to 1.33 as possible...

We can all sit and scratch our heads on how a 1.33 on street tires is even remotely possible because once you drive it, you will see it truly is an exceptional feat. RP makes it look easy in his videos, but there is so much to squeeze out of every inch of this track! Most of the street tire Vipers were running 141-143 with the Hoosier Vipers running 136-138. I will definitely be getting R7s for the next open sound day - that is if I don't have my ACR/Khumos by then.

All in all had a great time with no major 'incidents' in the Viper camp. Unfortunately a GT3 in my group stuffed it into the wall at the corkscrew.

My reality check came on day 2 when I got a little too excited chasing Andy right after track entry on COLD tires!

This video should serve as a reminder to be patient in letting your tires warm up! This was the first time the car had ever stepped out this far on me at speed.

Holy crap, that was a bun clincher Chris!!! Haha, turn 4 is treacherous. I've had several friends that have totaled their machines on that very turn. Nice save! What traction control mode were you in?

I just don't get it either, how the heck does Randy Pobst pull a 1:33? The dude is sub-human, and I mean that in a good way LOL. You're gonna love the R7s, they are addictive.

If Lee (Bushido), Darius, Maurice, you and me all get Gen V Vipers as planned, that would be seriously taking NorCal up a notch as track rats. Love it. It took a while for the NorCal guys to embrace the Gen V, I was the only Gen V on at bunch of club events. Times they are a changing.

[VENOM V]

You know, I was thinking that myself. It could've been something on the track but didn't seem to notice anything on the subsequent laps. I just attributed it to cold tires...but you never know.

Somebody lost an engine at the entrance of the corkscrew Friday and put down fluid, I was sideways in that gnarly spot. Not good, made it through fine though.

[VENOM V]

Nice write up.

As far as the TA pads...don't.

Hey Mark, congrats on the new TA!

Agreed on not going with stock TA pads, I'm having ducting added to the front and will run front TA rotors. I'm going to try Cobalt Friction XR1 front and XR3 rear pads, if they make them. If not, I'll go with Carbotechs per Mark Jorgensen's suggestion.

[TrackAire]

Hey George, thanks man. Very happy with the trailer. I saw trailer at the SCCA race with a bed that mounts to the ceiling and lowers down when you want it. Ever seen one like that? I've got a couple of jack mounts on order from Pitpal, and am trying to figure out where to mount my fuel can rack. No room inside, maybe on the front of the trailer?

You're coming to the 7/25-7/26 Laguna Seca race? Man that would be great to hang out.

Todd,

I've got a track day there on 7/27 so I want to come down a day earlier to check out your race. Plus, I promised my wife I'd take her to the Monterey area for our wedding anniversary that weekend......she just doesn't know it will be a couple of days at Laguna Seca. I'm sure this is going to cost me a stupid expensive purse.

Most toy haulers have beds that drop down from the ceiling and get away without headroom loss since they have a raised roof at the rear of the trailer for the bed to nest in when raised. Let me know if you find a low profile unit that doesn't make you have to duck to walk past it when raised. The only other downfall of sleeping in the car trailer with the car is after a hard track day, there may be a lot of smells (brakes, tires, fuel smells, etc) plus if the car was just driven it stays pretty hot for at least a couple of hours making the trailer an oven.

I would definitely mount the fuel tanks outside, again because even the best tanks can leak fumes and cause the trailer to smell.

[72hemi]

Todd the new tow setup looks great! Glad you caught the brake issue before something bad happened.

[IndyRon]

Really awesome thread with great pictures. I can't wait to get my ACR out on the track after reading your posts and others opinions.

[Simms]

Sounds like an awesome event!

The Stryker red looks amazing in those pics/sunlight.

[rw99]

You know, I was thinking that myself. It could've been something on the track but didn't seem to notice anything on the subsequent laps. I just attributed it to cold tires...but you never know.

T4 is surprisingly treacherous, take it from me. If you're not at optimal temps/grip, it's notorious snap-oversteer land. I think the Gen V electronics may have helped you save that one...

Fantastic weekend; what a great bunch of guys, friends both old and new. And I love seeing the new cars out in their intended habitat. I'll add a couple short vids to this thread to share the snake's eye view.

[Darius]

I was passenger in the car when Chris got loose on turn 4 of the 1st lap. It's been 20yrs since I rode passenger on the track and I'll be happy waiting another 20!! I felt like my Mom, I was shitting myself but kept quiet. Turn 4 is deadly, my last session a BMW lost it in 4 and hit the wall, car was totaled.

[VENOM V]

Todd,

I've got a track day there on 7/27 so I want to come down a day earlier to check out your race. Plus, I promised my wife I'd take her to the Monterey area for our wedding anniversary that weekend......she just doesn't know it will be a couple of days at Laguna Seca. I'm sure this is going to cost me a stupid expensive purse.

Most toy haulers have beds that drop down from the ceiling and get away without headroom loss since they have a raised roof at the rear of the trailer for the bed to nest in when raised. Let me know if you find a low profile unit that doesn't make you have to duck to walk past it when raised. The only other downfall of sleeping in the car trailer with the car is after a hard track day, there may be a lot of smells (brakes, tires, fuel smells, etc) plus if the car was just driven it stays pretty hot for at least a couple of hours making the trailer an oven.

I would definitely mount the fuel tanks outside, again because even the best tanks can leak fumes and cause the trailer to smell.

Good for you George. If you guys don't have an anniversary dinner planned for Saturday eve and don't mind some company, let me know and I'll join you. Maybe some of the other locals like Loyde and Angie or my fellow racers would want to join us. Let me know.

[VENOM V]

Todd the new tow setup looks great! Glad you caught the brake issue before something bad happened.

Thanks John. No doubt, I guess my number will be up someday and I will ding a Viper on track. So far so good, all the damage seems to be attracted to that poor Mustang.

Really awesome thread with great pictures. I can't wait to get my ACR out on the track after reading your posts and others opinions.

Sounds like an awesome event!

The Stryker red looks amazing in those pics/sunlight.

Thanks fellas. Get those snakes out there, I hadn't tracked mine since last year. I forgot what I was missing, now I'm looking to squeeze in more track time

[VENOM V]

T4 is surprisingly treacherous, take it from me. If you're not at optimal temps/grip, it's notorious snap-oversteer land. I think the Gen V electronics may have helped you save that one...

Fantastic weekend; what a great bunch of guys, friends both old and new. And I love seeing the new cars out in their intended habitat. I'll add a couple short vids to this thread to share the snake's eye view.

Amen brother Rich. Looking forward to the vids, I had technical difficulties once again so all I got were still shots.

- - - Updated - - -

I was passenger in the car when Chris got loose on turn 4 of the 1st lap. It's been 20yrs since I rode passenger on the track and I'll be happy waiting another 20!! I felt like my Mom, I was shitting myself but kept quiet. Turn 4 is deadly, my last session a BMW lost it in 4 and hit the wall, car was totaled.

I hear you, I'm not a big fan of riding with anyone as crazy as me :-P

[flyingskibiker]

Hey Chris, yes that was a close call. Glad you were at the NASCAR race, that was the first I've missed at Sears Point in probably a decade. But this unlimited dB weekend was too tempting.

Yah, I really wanted to go down and watch you guys. But I, too, have been going to NASCAR for years with my family. Roy goes, too. A couple years ago he spotted a VOA member. I guess there are a number of friends there that we don't even know about! If you go next year, or go to Reno, we will definitely have to meet up.

Anyway, I will probably show up at one of your track events. I haven't heard anything definite from my friends regarding Virginia City. Can't wait to have my own car... lol

[rw99]

Here's a brief blooper reel from the Saturday AM sessions: first up, the classic loss of concentration when somebody shows up quickly in the mirrors... next, the wooo-wooo-woooooo post T3, happily not involving a bridge support; lastly, the same guy, same session. Really?



A bit of extra footage because the weather was just plain perfect Last June we cooked ourselves for the inaugural runs of Thunderhill 5-mile; this year, a much better choice for summer track time. God I love Laguna Seca!

Next up: I'll dust off the PC, overlay some telemetry, and post up some proper Viper chase laps...

[TrackAire]

Rich,

Great vids.....Mr. Spinout must have had his wing installed upside down, LOL.

[VENOM V]

Man, that black group looks treacherous Rich! Run with the green group next time, much higher quality, more experienced drivers! Plus, I don't think you'll find too many Miatas in green.

Speaking of Miatas, I'll go ahead and say it. They are tooooooo sloooooooow, in the way! LOL, my pet peave on the track. Nothing worse than flying over the turn one crest and nearly running into a pack of them.

[rw99]

Agree, Todd. We also had the white P-car that went into the wall near the top of the corkscrew. He really looked like he was fighting that car just about the whole time...

[slowhatch]

Todd, awesome write-up and incredible pics. Laguna Seca is a bucket list track for me. Been toying with the idea of doing a Skip Barber open wheel event there.

[TrackAire]

Todd, awesome write-up and incredible pics. Laguna Seca is a bucket list track for me. Been toying with the idea of doing a Skip Barber open wheel event there.

If you ever want to ship the car out for a Laguna Seca event, let me know. I'm about 2 hours from the track and can store the car before and after the event in our warehouse. You can also cruise Napa Valley, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, etc as we are pretty centrally located. It would make a very nice week long vacation/track day bucket list adventure.

[serpent]

What times was that Comp Coupe laying down?

That 1:36.773 lap by Stephanie Cemo was done on a C6, not sure if its a c6z or zr1.



Slowhatch, if you ever make it to Laguna, make sure you spend the next weekend in Sonoma, can even take the girl to Napa Wine country after some track fun!

[Rapidrezults]

What times was that Comp Coupe laying down?

That 1:36.773 lap by Stephanie Cemo was done on a C6, not sure if its a c6z or zr1.



Slowhatch, if you ever make it to Laguna, make sure you spend the next weekend in Sonoma, can even take the girl to Napa Wine country after some track fun!

Joe ran a best of 137.1 in his comp coupe. Not sure but I don't think he's making 600HP either. Not bad for a 12 year old race car.

I saw Stephanie's time on the board and couldn't figure out what she was driving. That is impressive!

[Rapidrezults]

Holy crap, that was a bun clincher Chris!!! Haha, turn 4 is treacherous. I've had several friends that have totaled their machines on that very turn. Nice save! What traction control mode were you in?

Todd,

I had it in regular ESC mode, although I regret leaving it on because as I think you mentioned or someone at the track it has a tendency to create a "tank slapper" effect at speed. It felt like it was trying to over correct or something, hard to describe, but definitely a strange sensation. I know the ESC reaction times are supposed to be really fast but I'm almost sure if I didn't intervene the car would've ended up in a wall. I think at lower speed stuff when you are not completely beyond the traction limit it works great but if it did anything it felt like it was a little too late.

Not to take away from the thread, but since we're on the topic of stability control, wrap your head around how this happened. I highly doubt he turned off any of the nannies. Our local cars and coffee M4 trying to showoff. Lol.