Winter is almost here

Winter is coming very soon. There have even been a few snowflakes in the last few days. I got the Saabaru out of storage, but there are a few things to fix before I can store the BMW for winter. I have decided to run the 17-inch OEM Saab wheels this winter, and have bought some lightly used Nokian tires in the OEM size. I've only driven the car for less than an hour, but I was quickly reminded what a fun car this is, especially in city driving, with its potholes and multiple lane changes.

Saabaru almost ready for action

Not the prettiest car, but not too bad

There are other people getting their winter cars ready too:

Do you prefer white?

.. or black?

There are also still quite a few summer cars and classic cars out there, enjoying late fall.

I think these mid-range Z3's have aged well

Not my favourite Ferrari, but it looks good in white with these wheels

A classic Land Cruiser, which can also deal with winter.

The M2 looks mean in black

This classic will surely be stored this winter.

... this 2002 as well.

Not my favourite Z-car, but it was in nice condition in a nice colour

Another summer car that will surely be tucked away soon.

The Acura RSX Type S is becoming increasingly rare.

These BBS style wheels really look great on an E46 sedan... the design has aged well.

More great wheels: I really love Rotiform wheels. Look how they can transform a plain old Golf

The 2018 track season ends on a high note.

Two track Civics in the ICAR paddock

I was really hoping for a last 2018 track event at St-Eustache, but it was not to be. On the two Mondays following Thanksgiving, it rained and Carl decided that it wasn't worth it to have lapping in such conditions this late in the year. This left me with only one hope to get on track one last time this season: a Wednesday evening at ICAR.

I found myself constantly checking the weather starting on Monday... I didn't want to get my hopes up afther the disappointment of the last couple of Mondays. It seemed as if there would be clear skies Wednesday, but when I woke up Wednesday morning, it was raining, and almost snowing. It was hard to imagine that any track in the area could possibly be dry by the evening. Then, after lunch, a miracle: the sun came out. I messaged the organizers to confirm the event was on, and left the office early to try to get ahead of the traffic heading north out of the city.

Sometimes, everything comes together to create an unexpected, memorable time. Wednesday was one of those times. I hit pretty serious traffic, even on my way to the highway, but the car seemed OK, and I had left myself a nice time buffer to make sure I was at the track before it opened at 5:30. I really wanted to be on track as early as possible, as my last time at ICAR, a few weeks ago, I only got to see the track after dark. When you drive on a track you don't know that well (and where you had a major crash only a year ago), it's not easy to drive fast, as you can't see the details around the track. These days, the sun sets at around 6:00 pm, which meant that I could only hope for one session in broad daylight.

After stopping for gas, I was at the track well before 5:00 pm. Even though I didn't have access to the paddocks, I was able to park in a nearby lot and start to prepare the car. I was joined by a fellow Civic coupe owner whom I had met before and we chatted as we checked over our cars. Like me, he needed to add a splash of oil. By the time the gate opened at 5:30, I had checked my tire pressures, added oil and installed my GoPro.

There were only 3 cars ready to roll (myself, the grey Civic coupe, and a Mazda 2 driven by a guy I know whose RX8 is in the shop). We headed out (in broad daylight) and I wasn't really worried about my lap times. I just wanted to refamiliarize myself with the layout and try to figure out how I had been seven seconds slower than Pat in my car last time out... on that occasion, I had managed a 2:04 while Pat had hit the 1:57's. I didn't plan to hit 1:57, but I figured I should be able to get close.

The session went well. Visibility was good and I was basically alone out there, since the other two cars were slower than mine. I managed to dip under the 2-minute mark after a few laps and figured I was starting to string together a few good sequences of corners. The car still understeered loudly in the slower corners, but it felt good over all. Late in the session, my lap timer indicated I was 1.5 seconds faster than my best lap of 1:59, but the checker fell before I reached the finish line, so my potential 1:58 lap didn't register.

I came into the pits and there were still very few cars around, and none seemed ready to go out on track. Normally, I take a break between sessions and add some engine oil, but I figured I would take a gamble that I had added enough oil for two sessions before the first one. I lined up straight away for the next session to make the most of the rapidly fading daylight. I didn't get a good look at the cars behind me, but saw that there was a Ford Focus coming out on track. I was sent out right away, before the other cars even lined up behind me. I was quite happy about this, as I would not have to spend a couple of laps warming up the tires and I would get a second session in mostly daylight. Coming around certain corners, I could see the Focus' headlights in the distance, but it never caught up to me. By my third lap, I was in the 1:57's and on my last complete lap, I caught the Mazda 2 as I managed my best lap of the day, a 1:56.83. The session was almost over and I began to feel a vibration through the steering wheel, so I decided to end my session (and season) there, on a high note.

I had managed to get in my two sessions by 6:20 pm. I was happy to note that the Focus that had not caught up to me was a Focus RS, which is a pretty quick car. I think that running in the 1:56 range will put me square in the middle of the pack, based on what I saw when Pat was running my car in September. On my way home, I could feel the vibration and I am pretty sure it's an axle problem, as it only occurs under acceleration. I got home much earlier than expected, and very satisfied about how my last track event of the season had gone.

Could the evening have gone better? Maybe... it would have been fun to dice with other cars on the track. But I really can't complain: I shaved 8 seconds off my lap time from September and confirmed that the ignition problem was solved by the replacement of the distributor. The Civic will likely only need only minimal work before being ready for the 2019 season. Even though there is still room for improvement in my driving, I look forward to returning to ICAR now that I have a better handle on the track.  I made some  detailed track notes that should help me next year. I still enjoy St-Eustache more than ICAR, but I have to face the reality that St-Eustache will only be open for one more season, and that I will find myself lapping at ICAR more and more in the future. Basically, I have to learn to love ICAR...

My lap times at ICAR:
Best lap in a Super Production Challenge race (2013), 2000 Civic SiR with Integra Type R engine and BFGoodrich Sport Comp II tires: 1:56.50
Best lap with the 2000 Civic SiR after H23A engine swap (2014): 1:52.66
Best lap with 2002 Civic SiR, K24 engine and 6-speed transmission (2017): 1:57.94
Best lap with current car, 2000 Civic DX with JDM Integra GSR engine (2018): 1:56.83

Vince's ICAR track notes:

Turns 1 and 2: you can brake pretty late, downshift 4-3, a bit of trail braking can help get the car rotated. After this turn, you can get on the gas fairly hard, almost flat out through turn 2 to the braking point for turn 3.

Turn 3: Stay in 3^rd, early apex it as there is a lot of runoff at the exit. Open up the steering wheel early and get on the gas. After the rumble strips on the right at the exit, cross over the black painted area to get a better line for the esses.

Turns 4-5: shift to 4^th just before the turn-in for turn 4. Hard acceleration through turn 4, then lift and let the car settle before the turn input for 5. Roll onto the gas through 5 and cross over to the right to set up turn 6.

Turn 6: remain in 4^th gear, you barely need to tap the brakes just to settle the nose for the turn in for this very quick turn. There are rumble strips on exit if you run a bit wide, but they are not bad.

Turn 7: Brake hard, downshift 4-3, don’t worry about clipping the inside of the track early. Look through the corner and get on the gas early, as soon as you can see that you will make the super late apex on the left. It's OK to run over the rumble strips at the apex.

Turns 8-9-10: as you accelerate before turn 8, grab 4^th just as you are turning in. Come in close to the rumble strip on the right, then let the car move out left again. When the red and white runs out on the left and turns black, lift or brake for turn 9. Hit the rumble strip on the right to apex turn 9. Cheater/fast line: let the car coast out wide after the apex of 9. Cross over the yellow line on the left onto the green zone, basically outside track limits. Be careful not to come into the area too hot, the barriers are very close on the left! Cross back over the line just after the end of the red and white stripes. Spot the apex of 10 and hit the gas! This whole sequence can almost be done with a single steering input.

Turns 11-13: downshift to 3^rd, clip the apex at the left rumble strip and open up the wheel. Turns 12 and 13 can be taken flat out, with a 3-4 upshift before turn 13. 

Turns 14-15: downshift to 3^rd as you brake for turn 14, which is a late apex hairpin. After you track out, you need to cross back to the left to set up turn 15. If when tracking out of 14, you accidentally exceed track limits on the right, there is no real consequence. As soon as you reach the left side of the track, it’s time to turn in for 15. Constant throttle or a small lift to plant the nose before rolling to full throttle. You do not need to hit the inside rumble strip to apex 15. It’s more important to roll onto the gas as early as possible to maximize speed on the front straight. You should be ready for the 3-4 upshift right at the end of the rumble strips of turn 15.

THIS GUIDE IS BASED ON LAPS WITH MY GSR-POWERED 2000 CIVIC WITH JDM ITR TRANNY AND HANKOOK RS4 TIRES

Breakdown #4

I should have realized it when the rpm seemed to cut coming around the "oval-in" corner at St-Eustache that the distributor was about to fail again, but I stayed on track. Sure enough, a couple of laps later, the car died due to a lack of spark, for the 4th time in the past few weeks... I coasted to the pit lane on the oval part of the track.

Waiting for tow truck number 4

As I was unable to restart the car even after waiting an hour, I called CAA and used my last available tow (until summer 2019!). I had to face the reality that, even though I don't know how much longer I want to keep this engine, I would need to spend a few bucks on a new distributor. There was no point in changing components in the old distributor, especially given that Carl had a brand new one at his home, part of his spares kit for his Integra Type R. It was new in the box. My decision was made for me when I tried unsuccessfully to start the car a couple of days after the failure (usually, it would still start after a cooling off period of a few hours). I needed to move the car to the other side of the street if I wanted to avoid a parking ticket the next morning, so I called Carl and told him I would be over later in the evening to pick up the new dizzy. I installed it, tried to align it like the old one, and the car started (after a few attempts).

New distributor, thanks to Carl

I took the car out on an errand yesterday (buying winter tires for the Saabaru) and it performed flawlessly. I really think/hope the ignition problem is fixed, but the only way to know for sure is to drive the car on track. I like that the Civic is still usable, as a car. I easily loaded in 4 tires, even though the car has all my track stuff in it too. I even did groceries on the way home. The car is much more pleasant to drive with the quieter exhaust, and it's almost therapeutic to drive the car at night when there is practically no traffic. Carl promised he would try to hold one more lapping Monday before winter. It rained Monday this week, so maybe it will be October 22nd.

Clearly the season is almost over...

The car is ready for one last event

I often see this Shelby GT350 in the neighbourhood

I'm not the only one in the area that leaves a track car parked on the street. This GT4 is always in its spot.

A lovely MGA in amazing condition

I often see this cool beige GT3 in Old Montreal

Jaguar XK-RS is a rare sight

Breakdown #3

On my first attempt to lap St-Eustache under 1:02, I had a GPS malfunction and my external GPS was not communicating with my phone. I saw a lap of 1:01.9, but I can't rely on that data.

Civic at the track

I figured I had another chance last Monday, September 24th. My first session was cut short after a best lap at 1:02.6, when a fellow instructor lost a wheel on his BMW. In the next session, my distributor died yet again... I coasted back to the pits. It was again either the igniter or the coil. The car started after 30 minutes and I tried to drive home, but the engine died again after about 3 km. I had to call CAA for the third time in a few weeks.

I changed the coil and the car starts, but I won't know if the problem is solved until I attempt to take it on track again, hopefully Monday, which may be the last Monday night lapping of the year.

Back on the flatbed

I went to check on the Saab winter car. It started right up with no battery boost. The windshield cracked and will need to be changed. The car will need new winter tires, and I will likely install them on the OEM 17-inch wheels, which look cool in my opinion.

997 Turbo still looks cool

Rare 9-3 Turbo X

The Civic parked on the street, as usual

Tasteful WRX STi

A nice M3 on the way to J's school

Alfa Spider Graduate

Rare colour for an E46 M3

The 993 Targa looks better with age

The only photo of my first sports car

This is the only photo I have of my first sports car: a 1987 Mazda RX7 Turbo II. This was my second car (my first was a Dodge Aries I had bought from my Mom). I never had money to fix it properly and it used more gas than a V8 Mustang. I had a love/hate relationship with the car because it was so expensive for me to own, given that I was a student. Also, I had not yet discovered track driving, so I never got to enjoy it on track. Do I regret selling it today? Not really, it was not in the best condition over all and if I really wanted another one today, I could sell my Civic and buy one. For a track car, I prefer the Civic.

The RX7 just before I sold it

 As far as car spotting goes, there are fewer exotics and classics on the road these days, but still some interesting stuff:

The best angle for the Civic

Rare aftermarket wheels on a Tesla

Nice wheels on this Civic

The RS3 looks better from the front than from the rear

My first choice for a daily driven dream car

Nice wheels on this 350Z

I would consider a clean WRX like this as my next winter car

Surprising spot: a fire rescue Nissan Patrol

Nice Golf R32 on Porsche wheels

The Civic has become reliable again!

Thanks in large part to my friend Pat, the Civic is back to being reliable. As I had committed to instruct at a BMW driver education event at Tremblant on September 10th, I really wanted to try the car on track before that event. As I had been away on Monday the 3rd on a family trip, my only chance to get on track before the event was to try the car at a Wednesday night at ICAR.

I hadn't been back to ICAR since my crash there last year. Pat decided to join me and we headed up to the track together in the Civic. We were occasionally getting a check engine light on the way up there, but it turned out not to be anything important, probably something to do with the idle.

By the time I got on track, it was around 7:30 pm and getting pretty dark. I was driving tentatively and getting passed a lot... it was hard for me to see the best line on track with the fading daylight. Still, the car was reliable and I was satisfied. Pat went out for another session in the car and was several seconds per lap faster than me. I guess he's not afraid of the dark! He dropped me off at home and left with the Civic so he could perform a bit more work on it: he was going to finish installing the catch can and swap the new muffler back to my old one in an attempt to make the car a bit more quiet.

He brought the car back to me on Saturday and I didn't drive it until early Monday morning for the trip up to Tremblant. The check engine light came on a couple of times, but by the time I was halfway there it was off and it would not come on again all day. The noise level on the highway was indeed reduced by the muffler swap. The forecast had been for rain, but it looked like the rain would only come in the late afternoon and I would have access to some dry track. On my last day at Tremblant in July, it had rained so much that even the drive to and from the track had been scary. It would be my first time at Tremblant in the dry with this Civic and I was very curious to see how the car fare in comparison with my previous Civics.

I arrived just in time for the instructor's meeting at 8:15 and had a few minutes to set up the car (basically, check the oil level and tire pressures) before my first session at 9:00 am. The cars on hand were extremely varied, but there were many, many Porsches, especially Caymans and Boxsters.

I took it relatively easy in my first session, but my data shows I managed a 2:06 on my last lap. My best lap with my previous Civic was a 2:03, so I hoped to manage a similar lap with this car, or at least a 2:04.

My second session was cancelled due to a Subaru catching fire after some kind of mechanical failure. There would be other cancelled and compressed sessions during the day, due to an Audi TT-RS losing a wheel and an unfortunate crash by an instructor.

My former student Joe wanted to ride along with me in my second session, and I happily obliged. Of course, the lap times are slower when you have a passenger. The car was performing reliably, but I did not have quite the confidence to carry big speed into the faster corners like I used to with my old race car. As a reference, I had managed a best lap time of 1:58 in the past with the 1.8 liter engine in the race car, and a 2:02 with the 1.6.

My students were driving two completely different cars: a Honda CRX with an LS-vtec engine, and a brand new Audi RS5. The CRX was a nicely set up car and the driver did well with it. The driver of the RS5 was really a novice when it came to track driving, but he made excellent progress throughout the day. The RS5, to me, was an extremely boring car for the track. It had lots of power and grip, but felt heavy and disconnected. There was virtually no engine sound from the twin-turbo V6. I imagine it makes a lovely street car, but it's not a track car.

My last session turned out to be my best. I was getting more confident with each lap when a Fox-body Mustang entered the track ahead of me. I thought I would pass it right away, but even on its warmup lap, it was not going slowly. I ended up following that car for the rest of the session, and my lap times improved, as I eventually hit a 2:02.9. I was happy with that, and happy not to be the absolute slowest car in the instructor group (I don't think I passed anyone all day).

I would have had access to one more session at 4:30, but it had started to rain a bit and I preferred to end the day on a high note (and be back in time for dinner with the family). The ride home was without incident or traffic and I parked the car, where it still sits ready for its next event. I look forward to seeing if I can improve on my best lap time at St-Eustache now that the engine seems to be making its full power. Stay tuned!

Different approaches, similar results! 

Super rare in North America: BMW Z1

The Mustang I chased for several laps... fun times

The Civic Type R in its natural environment.

This R8 V10 passed me often

This 280Z looked great and was not slow on track

Same thing for this lovely Corolla GT-S

One of the lovely Porsches on hand

A rare 1M

The Z1 with its roof and doors down

My Civic, resting between sessions