I headed to ICAR again yesterday for Tuesday evening lapping. I have already been three times this season so far, but on each occasion, something broke on the car (clutch slave cylinder, exhaust, fuel rail, etc.). All I really wanted was for the car to be reliable so I could focus on driving and having fun.
I left home before 6 p.m. and was at the track before 7 p.m. Even on the road, the transmission was grinding when shifting to 3rd gear. I guess it will eventually have to get that fixed. When I arrived, as there appeared to be only 9 minutes before the green/yellow session, I hurried so I could empty the car and get my bracelet in time. I made it to the start line only to find out that they had decided to separate the green and yellow groups, so I had another 20 minutes to wait.
When it was time for the green group, I was first in line. After I moved forward to the track entrance to wait for the green flag, the two cars behind decided they were not going to wait and just went around me. I followed them out and had a good session. I got passed by the usual people and managed to follow a Cayman S for most of the session. My lap times were not great, and I think it's due to the heat. It was hot and humid and I was soaked when I got out of the car. After the first few laps, the tires seemed to go off a bit and it became harder to achieve a good lap time. I managed a 1:47.7. Here is a video of that session.
My second and last session was a bit shorter because at the last minute, they decided to merge the green and yellow groups. I managed the same lap time, but early on, as the front end seemed to be gripping less and less as the session went on. The car had no issues. The check engine light stayed off and everything is working as it should. Finally, a normal evening where nothing broke! I hope there are many more like this.
I analyzed the data and indeed, the cornering speeds were slightly off my best, and the top speed was very slightly off as well. I'm pretty sure that if I get a cooler evening, I will be back in the 1:46's. I think that I will be better able to focus on going faster now that I don't have to worry as much about reliability issues. I will try to optimize the tire pressures and determine if the tires are past their prime and need replacing.
I am at a point where I am just a couple of seconds slower than the faster cars out there (not the fastest few, but the sort of quick group). I have to figure out if there is a way to go and get those 2 seconds without having to modify the car more. The car is easy to drive and not too loud... I would just like to be a little bit faster! Should I install some aero? Get better tires when these wear out? Try to remove more weight? Over all I can't complain... the car is working well, and the running costs are really low... and the track season is still only just beginning!
These are the quick cars I can't quite follow
Almost sunset
View from the balcony
Had to move out of the line
Nice GT3 RS
Tasteful Miata
Sentra Cup car looks good in person and is not slow (with only 146 hp!)
The weather has been all over the place in the past month, from snow to humid heat. Pretty much everyone that has a summer car has put it on the road by this point. Here are a bunch of photos from the past month. Enjoy!
The M3 in the country
BMW's ugliest car: the 2-series Gran Coupe.
The opposite of ugly, Alfa Spider
Super clean 850i... so cool
Not that rare, but still cool
First time I have seen a new F-Type up close...
... it's nice, the changes work are subtle and they work.
The ugliest Mercedes? Why even make a sedan version when the hatch looks so cool.
Cool Mustang, is it a Roush?
Pat installs a resonator to make the Civic less loud, my brother's Insight in the background
This design is aging well
This is a nice angle for the Supra
I have seen this 635csi many times over the years... glad it is still driven
Oscar checks out a modded Civic at the beach
Not a common sight in our small town
We have hired a professional painter for the country house and he has made good progress
A lovely black Civic Type R
The proportions aren't great on the S3, but over all it's a decent-looking car
"Old" F-Type R still looks good
Matte silver S63
This seems to be a Euro-spec E28
Note the much smaller bumpers... nice
Most Audis are good-looking cars, much better looking than their BMW and Mercedes counterparts
I had forgotten how massive these 90's S-classes were
AMG C63 in Old Montreal
AMG GTR in Old Montreal
... not sure if it's a "Pro", but it looked cool
On the OEM wheels and suspension, the MX-5 is not a great-looking car
Nice clean Triumph Spitfire
I like the "quattro" in the grille
Another older Alfa Spider
I don't know if this blue works for this car
The later FWD Alfa Spider
A nice spec for the 992
M3 and TT
A nice 80's 911 near the office
The Civic on the street
I never thought I'd see a London Taxi in Montreal, and it was LHD!
