The forecast yesterday was for rain, but luckily it held off long enough so that I could get in a few sessions at ICAR. This would be my first time with the new wing and the wider front wheels. The temperature was somewhat cool, so I knew that if all went well, I could set a new personal best lap time. I arrived just in time to set up for the first session. My cell-phone holder had lost one of its rubber pads, so I used a dash vent holder instead. This was a mistake, as the holder, along with my phone, fell off after only one lap. I could see my phone sliding around on the passenger floor, but decided to stay out, figuring the protective layers around the phone would do their job (they did). I couldn't see my lap times as a result, but I knew I wasn't quick, as the front tires didn't seem like they were biting. The car felt fine otherwise and I guessed I had accomplished a best lap in the 1:15's, which turned out to be the case. I decided to drop the front tire pressures by 2 psi and this helped. The car felt better in the second session. My GoPro stopped filming after a few seconds, so I don't have video, but I managed my best ever lap in this configuration of ICAR, a 1:14.45. I was happy with that, but even then, I thought I could go quicker, as I wasn't driving as well as I knew I could. I chatted with Carl after the session and he recommended I leave it in 4th gear for the chicane. I told him my time, and he said "Congratulations, you are as fast as a bone-stock Civic Type R!". I know he recently did a 1:14.0 in his FK8 Type R, but I told him I was fine being as fast as him in a stock CTR... It's not like I could have bought one with the money I spent on my Civic!
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| Before the first session |
I had tried the chicane in 4th before but wasn't too sure about it. I decided to give it a shot, and it was worthwhile. I wasn't losing any time and it made for one less thing to think about coming into the tricky corner. I headed out for my third session after fixing my old phone holder (I found the missing rubber pad near the brake pedal), and was having a good time playing with the other cars. The vtec was slow to kick in on certain corners and I suspected it was the oil level, which was not over-fill enough. I managed a 1:14.58 near the end of the session and on the following lap, I was several tenths ahead when the checker fell. This would have been a low 1:14, so I was a little disappointed. Still, I figured if I added oil and drove well, I could hit a low 1:14 in my fourth session. By the time the 4th session rolled around, it was beginning to sprinkle with rain. My vtec issue was solved (because I added a bit of oil) and the car felt hooked up, but I could not bring myself to drive as aggressively when there were constant rain drops falling on the windshield. Probably there was enough grip for me to beat my personal best lap time, but I didn't have the guts to go for it in the light rain. I managed a 1:15.15, then on the 4th lap, I felt fuel starvation. It got much worse on the 5th lap, so I pulled in, ending my evening there. This was the first time I was unable to complete four sessions on one tank of fuel! I will have to start keeping a fuel jug in the car. Anyway, the drive home was uneventful (although I did have a lot of trouble winding up the driver's side window, like in the old days!). I am confident that the car can hit the 1:13's of I manage myself and the car properly (right tire pressures, right oil pressure, consistent driving). Hopefully I will get my chance next Tuesday!
Here is a video of my third session:
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