Car,not guitar related

[crash]

If those criminals were really smart, they would have taken the carbon brake discs off that black Bentley Continental.

 

[Graffiti62]

Many of you here know me and I've built a number of Warmoth guitars.  In 2009 I got a Nissan GT-R.  After the break-in period, I realized there was no way to safely, sanely, or legally, stretch the car's legs on a public street or highway.  I learned about open track days and just intended to to do one.  It was so much fun, I was instantly addicted.  So much so, I haven't even picked up a guitar over the past two years.  Instead, I have focused my free time on modifying my GT-R for more power and overall performance.  Stock, the car makes 480 crank hp.  Currently, the car makes 540 awhp and 517 awtq on 91 octane (track map).  Modifications include Akuma big MAF intakes, AAM decatted downpipes, Cobb race catted midpipe, HKS Legamax catback exhaust, Injector Dynamics 1000 cc injectors, twin Walbro fuel pumps, AMS intercooler, Harmon Motive intercooler piping, and a Cobb Accessport custom dyno tune on 91 octane that reads 540 awhp and 517 awtq on a "heartbreaker" Mustang dyno.  Even though the stock car is rated at 480 crank hp, on this particular dyno, a stock car reads about 380 awhp, for a point of reference.  The car also has AP Racing J-hook brake rotors, Carbone Lorraines RC6E pads, Stillen stainless steel brake lines.  I also am running 285 tires on all four corners, as opposed to 255 front and 285 rear (OEM), and Stillen sway bars front and rear set at medium stiffness front and ful soft rear (which is still 67% stiffer than OEM).  I also have a KW coilover sleeve kit with the car dropped about an inch and corner balanced with a custom race alignment.  I'm still running on the stock tires, which are 200 treadwear runflats, LOL.  But they're pretty grippy for a street tire; I can usually hold 1.2 g sustained while cornering, with peaks to 1.5.

Basically, the car is a beast.  I have all but lost interest in guitar playing and have focused on track driving.  I've done about 20 track days over the past 2 years and went through the beginner, low intermediate, high intermediate, to advanced run groups during that time.  I've been running in advanced during the past 8 or 9 track days.

Recently, I have had the opportunity to run at Spring Mountain in Pahrump, NV.  I was there over the weekend and ran 3 of the 5 sessions each day.  This was my first time ever at this track.  For giggles, my best lap during the first session of the first day was 3:11; it is a 3.1 mile course.  By the end of the third session on the second day, I got down to a 2:41 lap.  After watching my video, I would change my line in a couple of places, brake later in a couple of places, and some areas where I was doing maintenance throttle I should be wide open throttle.  I think with these changes to my approach, I could probably drop another 10 seconds.

Here is my best lap of the weekend.  Like I said, this was my first time there, and there is plenty of room for improvement,  My next time there, I think I can do a 2:32, at least!  If you have track experience and have feedback to help, please feel free to post helpful hints.   Otherwise, enjoy!  And DBU, I want to see some track videos from you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOXk_dkX4co  

I don't do a lot with overseas stuff, but I've helped out a couple of buddies with their tuner cars, and I've always been incredibly impressed with Stillen's stuff. A good friend of mine has a '92 240SX that he's been working on for close to six years, after he bought it on the west coast. A very impressive car to say the least. He has been updating things in chunks. The first thing he upgraded fully was the suspension and brakes--nearly everything came from Stillen. After that, and fitting Pirelli tires to the thing, he was able to shave off close to eight seconds off of his time at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI, and swore he could shave even more time off, but a thunderstorm cut track day short for him. The next thing he wants to tackle is the engine and transmission, and I have a feeling that's going to suck up even more cash than the suspension parts did.

Millen's company has also built up an insane GT-R that's been putting on an impressive show wherever it goes. Road & Track did a full comparison between the Stillen model compared to the stock model:

http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/comparison/gt-r-showdown-stock-vs.-stillen

The 0-60 time was brought down from 3.5 to a 2.9 seconds.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

Track Days look AWESOME!  I'd love to do it.  I live about 20 mins away from Summit Point Raceway, so it's not like it would be hard to access a track. 

I have a 2005 STi, and it's a lot of fun.  I don't really have anything done to it, aside from an ECU tune and air intake, so it's not super-fast.  I also have a 1994 Camaro, which I like to take out for those really fun, fast drives.

While I love a car that can handle (STi), I love my Muscle Cars, and sometimes, it's just nice to put about 10,000 miles on a set of tires within the span of 500 feet.  :cool01:

 

[DocNrock]

Track Days look AWESOME!  I'd love to do it.  I live about 20 mins away from Summit Point Raceway, so it's not like it would be hard to access a track.  

I have a 2005 STi, and it's a lot of fun.  I don't really have anything done to it, aside from an ECU tune and air intake, so it's not super-fast.  I also have a 1994 Camaro, which I like to take out for those really fun, fast drives.

While I love a car that can handle (STi), I love my Muscle Cars, and sometimes, it's just nice to put about 10,000 miles on a set of tires within the span of 500 feet.  :cool01:

You need to do it, then.  However, be prepared to be instantly addicted to tracking.

And to Graffiti62, I'm well aware of the Stillen GT-R.  I too have been very impressed with Stillen's parts and customer service.  My contact there, Sean Morris, has always been more than helpful.

BTW, mine does 0-60 in 2.9 seconds, as well.   :icon_thumright:

Here are a couple of more photos:

My wife and I at Spring Mountain between run sessions:

On track at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA.  I think this was my second track day ever: