I have been running around a lot in the past few days! Alex is in San Antonio, Texas, for a work-related conference and will be back tomorrow. I have been running around trying to keep the Civic and M3 in working condition (with limited success) and attending various events. Monday of last week at lapping, I managed to strip the 4th gear in the Civic transmission. I had to buy back the spare transmission I had sold to a friend so that the car could be used Thursday and Friday, as I was scheduled to instruct at the BMW Club of Quebec Mid Summer Heat high performance driver education event at Tremblant. The transmission was replaced by wednesday night, but, unfortunately, the Civic would not start Thursday morning and I had to head to the track without it. Fortunately, Rob let me have a session in his E36 M3 and Marc was able to fix my Civic Thursday. I picked it up Thursday night so I could use it at Tremblant Friday. On Friday, I more than made up for lost time, running the car in seven different sessions. I managed a best lap of 2:02.42, about the same as last year, running on some well-used Nitto NT01 tires.
Here is a video of 4 laps viewed from my Civic:
I saw a bunch of Ferraris from the "Ferrari Experience" at the track and on the street: 458's, California's and a 599. Nice, and loud. On the way home from the track, I picked up the M3 from Marc's so I could head to a family get-together Saturday in rural Ontario, 700 km away. After a (very) scary moment on the highway in the rain on Sunday, I decided to bring the car back to Marc's, so he could find out why the rear alignment seemed to change when the car went over a bump and to change the worn rear tires. I hope he can find out what's wrong so I won't have to take it to a more experienced mechanic.
On Thursday night, I head to Calabogie with the Civic for an ASE Lapping Club track day on Friday. On Saturday, I am scheduled to instruct at the Fiat/Alfa Romeo Club of Quebec track day at St-Eustache. Last year, I got to drive some pretty neat cars on that day.
The marathon training plan takes a lot of hours and is still pretty grueling. I had one of my worst runs the other day on a Sunday morning. It was hot, and I was really overheating. Surprisingly, the runs I had after getting home from Tremblant Friday and from Ontario Sunday (26 km) went well, despite coming at the end of long days. I guess part of it is related to nutrition (I had an interesting talk with my cousin Dave about nutrition. He is a triathlete who works for Nestle, makers of Powerbar, whose gels I use). This Sunday, I will have to run a quick half-marathon. Last year, I managed to complete the distance in under 1:28, and I am hoping I can do it again this year. Stay tuned...
Cool cars spotted:
Aston Martin Vantage
Ferrari 348
Ferrari 355
Ferrari 360
Porsche 997 GT3
Porsche 997 turbo
Porsche 964 Turbo
Porsche 993 Turbo
Jaguar E-Type
Corvette Z06
Maserati GT
Maserati Quattroporte
Bentley Arnage Black Label
Bentley Continental
Rolls Royce Corniche
Audi R8
Audi S6 Avant
Audi RS4
BMW Z8
Lamborghini Gallardo
AMG SLS
AMG C63
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Still enjoying summer!
Yesterday at lapping, I got to drive a student’s 1990 Porsche 911 for a couple of laps at St-Eustache. The car was pleasant to drive and had a decent amount of power and torque. The car did feel a bit unstable in the corners. I really like the narrow-bodied look of these 964-generation 911’s, but the consequence is that the car feels much less stable than a post-2000 911. My student actually managed to spin the car on his first lap when he entered a corner (the dog-leg) too fast. Would I buy one of these 911's? Probably not... they are not cheaper than 996 and 997's, but they are much less comfortable or reliable. I am getting soft in my old age, I guess.
I had the pleasure of riding with Rob in his E36 M3 later in the evening, and he also managed to spin with me aboard! He had gone over a wet rumble strip a bit too aggressively when trying to keep up with a vintage 911. In fact, there were a bunch of 911’s at the track yesterday (at least 6), along with some other really cool cars (Corvette Z06, Nissan GT-R and R32 Skyline GTR). Aside from my student with the 964, I had one student with an S2000 (my knees touch the dash as a passenger), an Audi S6 V10 (lots of torque) and a new 911 convertible (stable and comfortable).
I haven’t actually driven the race car in two weeks, as I have not been able to finish work early enough on a Monday. I hope to remedy this next week. Even if I miss lapping, I will be heading to Tremblant on August 11th and 12th to instruct for the BMW club and get some track time in the Civic.
The marathon training continues. Last week was an easy week and I just enjoyed two days off of running in a row, which almost never happens in this training plan.
Cool cars spotted:
Jaguar E-type V12 Coupe
Jaguar E-type convertible
Ferrari F430
Ferrari 348
Ferrari 550
BMW Z8
Acura NSX
Flat black Mercedes SL550
Flat silver AMG C63
CL600
Audi RS4
Audi S6 V10
Audi S8 V10
Audi R8 (loud)
Aston Martin DB9
Aston Martin Vantage
Ford GT
Maserati Quattroporte
Maserati GT convertible
MGTD
Porsche 997 Turbo S
Porsche 993 Carrera 4S
Porsche 996 GT3
Porsche 997 GT3
Porsche 997 Turbo
Porsche 928
Porsche 930 Slantnose
Bentley Mulsanne
Bentley Azure
Rolls Royce Corniche
Nissan Skyline GT-R R32
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 1
Alfa Romeo Spider (1980)
Lotus Esprit HF Turbo
Dodge Viper SRT10
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Still hot, still training, still fast on Monday nights!
The marathon training continues, as does the hot weather. I am running at night whenever possible to avoid the crushing heat and humidity. This has worked out well so far.
On Monday night at St-Eustache, I had another fun evening with the Civic. I managed to yet again best my fastest personal lap, with a time of 1:01.25, this time using Nitto tires instead of Toyo's (apparently, they have the exact same compound). I was pretty happy about that. My camera batteries were dead, so I don't have video.
I tried a student's Nissan 370Z (automatic) and it feels like a well-put-together car. My other students had a modified Camaro, a BMW 135i (still fun to drive) and a Lexus IS-F (I didn't try it). The Lexus left me a bit cold. The interior feels like quality, but it's a bit boring, except for the cool dash display. There is much less road feel than in a BMW M3. I guess this is a good car for those who mainly want a quick and comfortable street car more than a track car.
The M3 has not spit out any more fault codes since I had the steering angle sensor reset at the alignment shop. The only issue for now is that sometimes, when I go over a big bump, there is a clunk from one side of the rear suspension. The clunk then repeats on every bump for a while, then eventually disappears. Weird.
Cool cars spotted:
Ferrari F430
Ferrari 575M
Ferrari 599
Ferrari 348
Jaguar XF-R
Aston-Martin Vantage
Porsche 996 GT2
Porsche 996 GT3
Porsche 997 GT2
Cadillac XLR
Corvette Z06
Lexus IS-F
AMG G55
Audi R8 V10
Viper RT/10
Viper SRT10
On Monday night at St-Eustache, I had another fun evening with the Civic. I managed to yet again best my fastest personal lap, with a time of 1:01.25, this time using Nitto tires instead of Toyo's (apparently, they have the exact same compound). I was pretty happy about that. My camera batteries were dead, so I don't have video.
I tried a student's Nissan 370Z (automatic) and it feels like a well-put-together car. My other students had a modified Camaro, a BMW 135i (still fun to drive) and a Lexus IS-F (I didn't try it). The Lexus left me a bit cold. The interior feels like quality, but it's a bit boring, except for the cool dash display. There is much less road feel than in a BMW M3. I guess this is a good car for those who mainly want a quick and comfortable street car more than a track car.
The M3 has not spit out any more fault codes since I had the steering angle sensor reset at the alignment shop. The only issue for now is that sometimes, when I go over a big bump, there is a clunk from one side of the rear suspension. The clunk then repeats on every bump for a while, then eventually disappears. Weird.
Out on the road, there are many exotic and luxury cars. It seems to me that there are more every year. Are people getting richer, or just going more heavily into debt?
Cool cars spotted:
Ferrari F430
Ferrari 575M
Ferrari 599
Ferrari 348
Jaguar XF-R
Aston-Martin Vantage
Porsche 996 GT2
Porsche 996 GT3
Porsche 997 GT2
Cadillac XLR
Corvette Z06
Lexus IS-F
AMG G55
Audi R8 V10
Viper RT/10
Viper SRT10
Friday, July 15, 2011
I guess the aches and pains aren't so bad...
The marathon training plan has been keeping me pretty busy. Four runs per week is a lot, not just in terms of exercise, but in time. Given that I still have a full time job, my evenings are pretty booked up. This is making summer fly by even faster than usual! The runs themselves are going well, although I know I am not always hitting my speed markers on the intervals. Tomorrow there is a particularly tough 3km "test" incorporated into a 12 km run. Yay.
Despite the heavy demands on my free time, on Monday, I managed to hit the track with the Civic for the first time in six weeks. Although the evening was cut short by rain, I managed to get in one and a half sessions on track. In my last session, after giving a few passenger laps to one of our more enthusiastic club members, I hooked up with Nick's E36 BMW for a few fun laps. Although I did not feel I was driving especially brilliantly or that the Civic had much grip on the hot tarmac, I managed to record by best lap ever at St-Eustache (a 1:01.32). I was pretty surprised. When I say best lap ever, I include the time when the car still had a 200 hp 1.8 liter engine. Here is a short video including this fast lap:
I've been driving the BMW a lot and was unhappy to note that, despite an alignment, the steering wheel is not centered. Also, because the steering angle was not reset during the alignment, the brake warning, traction control off and tire pressure warning lights all come on in yellow on the dash whenever I head out on the highway. This is supposed to be corrected by the alignment shop this afternoon. Otherwise, the car handles really well and fuel economy has even improved! Also, I am now addicted to air conditioning. I even use it with the sunroof open.
Cool cars spotted:
Lamborghini Murcielago
Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera
Despite the heavy demands on my free time, on Monday, I managed to hit the track with the Civic for the first time in six weeks. Although the evening was cut short by rain, I managed to get in one and a half sessions on track. In my last session, after giving a few passenger laps to one of our more enthusiastic club members, I hooked up with Nick's E36 BMW for a few fun laps. Although I did not feel I was driving especially brilliantly or that the Civic had much grip on the hot tarmac, I managed to record by best lap ever at St-Eustache (a 1:01.32). I was pretty surprised. When I say best lap ever, I include the time when the car still had a 200 hp 1.8 liter engine. Here is a short video including this fast lap:
I've been driving the BMW a lot and was unhappy to note that, despite an alignment, the steering wheel is not centered. Also, because the steering angle was not reset during the alignment, the brake warning, traction control off and tire pressure warning lights all come on in yellow on the dash whenever I head out on the highway. This is supposed to be corrected by the alignment shop this afternoon. Otherwise, the car handles really well and fuel economy has even improved! Also, I am now addicted to air conditioning. I even use it with the sunroof open.
Cool cars spotted:
Lamborghini Murcielago
Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera
Ferrari 575M
Ferrari California
Aston Marin DBS
Aston Martin Vantage
AMG C63
AMG G55
Porsche 997 Turbo
Audi R8 V10
Audi RS4
Lotus Elan+2
Maserati GT
Friday, July 8, 2011
Aches and pains
I've officially started my 12-week marathon training plan for the Montreal marathon, to be held on September 25th. My plan was to go running at least twice last week to build up to the plan, which is quite grueling (when compared to sitting on your couch...). I had remembered that the plan started out with three runs per week, which eventually grew to four. It turns out I was confusing the marathon plan with the half-marathon plan. The marathon plan starts out with four runs per week (Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday-Sunday). Also, I only managed to go running once last week. It is now Friday of week one and I am sore. In fact, last night, when I went out to run 14 km, I was still sore from Tuesday's run. Both of these runs included intervals (16.5 km/h for 30-second bursts and 16 km/h for 90-second bursts). I imagine I will still be sore tomorrow when I run 14 km and again Sunday when I run 17 km. In fact, I can't envisage a time when I won't be sore.
This is the same marathon plan as I used, successfully, last year for the Ottawa marathon. Last year, I had been running more regularly before starting the plan and the transition into the plan seemed smoother. However, I seem to remember that I was having more trouble hitting the required speeds for the intervals last year. One thing I like about a fixed plan (as opposed to just trying to run a lot, like my friend Franck), is that it does not require a ton of willpower. Once you commit to the plan, that's it. You just follow it like a robot. The first time I did this last year, it felt good, as I knew I was following a training plan prepared by an experience marathoner (Christian Brouard) that would likely result in me being able to run a sub 3:15 marathon. As I was able to meet my goal last year, I am even more confident than I was last year that following the plan will allow me to again meet my goals. I am not aiming to beat the Ottawa time, as Montreal is a less flat marathon and as I can't be guaranteed pleasant weather in September. I am not worried too much about the result... I just want to make it through the plan. Also, it would be nice to be less sore.
On the automotive front, I watched the first two episodes of Top Gear's summer series this week. They tested (and loved) the BMW 1M. They pitted it against the Porsche Cayman R and the Lotus Evora and they sort of raised the same question as I have raised in the past: why buy a 2-seat sports car when a car with four real seats (not unlike my M3) performs just as well. I believe I brought up this point this spring: when a Golf GTi is as fast around a track as a Boxster or Cayman, why choose the Porsche? Of course, the Porsche is pleasant to drive, but so is a BMW and even a Golf. I guess it has something to do with the flash/prestige factor... I don't know. I used to want a Boxster, but really, for someone who only owns one parking spot, it makes more sense to have one car that meets my daily transportation needs and my performance needs. Of course, I figured out long ago that, for track use, I need a car that is cheap and easy to maintain. Until recently, I was thinking that I would sort of like a nice used Porsche 911, but really, I don't see how it is better than a nice used M3 of the same vintage, which has a real back seat and trunk. As for convertibles, I think my needs would be met with a Miata or an Alfa Romeo, as straight line performance would be secondary. Buying a convertible would be a sort of selfish endeavour anyway, as Alex would always be cold whenever I put the top down.
Cool cars spotted:
TVR 280
Aston Martin Vainquish
Aston Martin Vantage
Ferrari 458
Ferrari F430
Ferrari 328
Ferrari California
Lamborghini Gallardo
Maserati GT
Corvette Z06
Lexus IS-F
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 1
Nissan Pulsar Gti-R
Nissan Skyline GT-R R32
Bentley Continental
Alfa Romeo Spyder
Lotus Elise
Porsche 997 Turbo
AMG E63
AMG C63
Audi RS4
Audi R8
Audi S6 V10
BMW Z4 M Coupé
BMW 1M
This is the same marathon plan as I used, successfully, last year for the Ottawa marathon. Last year, I had been running more regularly before starting the plan and the transition into the plan seemed smoother. However, I seem to remember that I was having more trouble hitting the required speeds for the intervals last year. One thing I like about a fixed plan (as opposed to just trying to run a lot, like my friend Franck), is that it does not require a ton of willpower. Once you commit to the plan, that's it. You just follow it like a robot. The first time I did this last year, it felt good, as I knew I was following a training plan prepared by an experience marathoner (Christian Brouard) that would likely result in me being able to run a sub 3:15 marathon. As I was able to meet my goal last year, I am even more confident than I was last year that following the plan will allow me to again meet my goals. I am not aiming to beat the Ottawa time, as Montreal is a less flat marathon and as I can't be guaranteed pleasant weather in September. I am not worried too much about the result... I just want to make it through the plan. Also, it would be nice to be less sore.
On the automotive front, I watched the first two episodes of Top Gear's summer series this week. They tested (and loved) the BMW 1M. They pitted it against the Porsche Cayman R and the Lotus Evora and they sort of raised the same question as I have raised in the past: why buy a 2-seat sports car when a car with four real seats (not unlike my M3) performs just as well. I believe I brought up this point this spring: when a Golf GTi is as fast around a track as a Boxster or Cayman, why choose the Porsche? Of course, the Porsche is pleasant to drive, but so is a BMW and even a Golf. I guess it has something to do with the flash/prestige factor... I don't know. I used to want a Boxster, but really, for someone who only owns one parking spot, it makes more sense to have one car that meets my daily transportation needs and my performance needs. Of course, I figured out long ago that, for track use, I need a car that is cheap and easy to maintain. Until recently, I was thinking that I would sort of like a nice used Porsche 911, but really, I don't see how it is better than a nice used M3 of the same vintage, which has a real back seat and trunk. As for convertibles, I think my needs would be met with a Miata or an Alfa Romeo, as straight line performance would be secondary. Buying a convertible would be a sort of selfish endeavour anyway, as Alex would always be cold whenever I put the top down.
Cool cars spotted:
TVR 280
Aston Martin Vainquish
Aston Martin Vantage
Ferrari 458
Ferrari F430
Ferrari 328
Ferrari California
Lamborghini Gallardo
Maserati GT
Corvette Z06
Lexus IS-F
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 1
Nissan Pulsar Gti-R
Nissan Skyline GT-R R32
Bentley Continental
Alfa Romeo Spyder
Lotus Elise
Porsche 997 Turbo
AMG E63
AMG C63
Audi RS4
Audi R8
Audi S6 V10
BMW Z4 M Coupé
BMW 1M
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The BMW is back!
... and I am very, very, very happy to have it! When you have a BMW (or any other European or high end car), you can have it repaired quickly or inexpensively, but not both. As I had chosen to have the M3 fixed by my friend Marc (at a cost of 300$ instead of 1300$ at the BMW dealer), I had no choice but to wait a few weeks before getting the car back. This was not so bad, as I was on vacation in China for three of those weeks and because Marc had lent me his Civic while he had the BMW. Still, I felt that I could not fully enjoy the summer without the M3. I bought the car at the beginning of winter, and after driving a sports car all winter, I felt that any inconvenience was worth it because I would get to enjoy the car in summer. It was painful to be denied this pleasure, but all is well now. Summer is here, and the M3 is back. Yes.
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