Short evening at ICAR

I headed out to ICAR yesterday for Tuesday evening lapping. The weather forecast looked good, but there were a few dark clouds not too far away from the track. I arrived just as a green group session was about to begin. There was no way I would make the session (I had to get my bracelet, buy lap tickets and empty the car). I didn't feel like waiting an hour before the next green session, so I asked to run in the yellow group. The attendant said it was no problem as long as I followed the yellow group rules. I only pass with point-by's and in one of the three straights even in the green group, so this was not a problem for me. I lined up behind an E92 BMW non-M (license plate STIG) and a WRX STi with a big wing (there are a lot of big wings at ICAR...). There were a bunch of cars behind me, but, apart from an M2, nothing that looked super quick. The quick cars and drivers that usually pass me had all gone out in the green group.

Based on the way the car had felt last week, I had dropped 4psi of pressure from the front tires to see if the front end would bite better. I could tell after the warmup laps that this had not been the right call. The front end wasn't gripping well even after my 2 warmup laps. The front end started to feel more planted after a few laps, but that was when I caught up to the STi, who never gave me a point-by, despite the fact that the car was clearly holding me up. I guess egos are bigger in the yellow group, as I never get stuck behind a slower car in the green group. As a result, I only managed a mid-1:48. I would have dipped into the 1:47's with some clear track, but I don't think I would have beaten my personal best time. I measured the tire temperatures after the session and, sure enough, the fronts were only at 34 psi when these tires like to operate at 36 psi. I will bump up the pressures 2 or 3 psi next time. While I was on track, Pat had come by with his dad and son. We had planned to meet and I assumed that he would want to drive, but his ribs were sore from his recent karting exploits and he didn't feel like driving the car. As a result, after a 20-minute break, I strapped in again. I was ready to head out in the green session when it started to rain, which was strange, since it was still quite sunny out. I hesitated, but decided not to go out when it seemed the track was getting pretty wet. At some point I will have to see how ICAR is in the rain, but I did not feel like experimenting on a semi-wet track. I decided to pack up the car and head home early.

Despite only getting in one session, I was satisfied with my evening. Knock on wood, but the car really finally seems reliable now. If I can string together a few sessions, I think I can lay down a new personal best lap time. I look forward to trying!

Civic after a shower

Rain + sunlight

Huge swan neck wing on the silver Miata

Civic Si on track in the wet... he had more courage than I did.

The M3 at the end of the rainbow

A couple of cool Hondas

Dodge 600 with the license plate "K CAR"

This GT3 RS is a regular

Very strange weather

First test of my new shift knob... I like it!