Wakefield Park 7/11/2009

[Skidude]

Hi All,

Mr & Mrs Skidude decided to test the car and get the speed out of our system at Wakefield today..

All I can say is that it was a great day but I need to upgrade the brakes as the OEM stuff

can't handle a few fast laps (looking at some DBA stuff with heavy duty pads).

Only about 22 cars turned up so plenty of track time for both of us. We let the car cool down

for a minumum of 20 minutes between drivers.

I discovered that the car goes into limp mode if it gets too hot. I found myself on 2 (?) cylinders on the main straight.

I let the car coast around and got back into it. This is addictive!

Fastest speed was 170 down the main straight. Our mate in the F6 was hitting 180 but was able to brake later with his Brembos.

Here are some pics :

[HIRO F6]

Looks like a fun day out. What was the lap times?

[Skidude]

No idea. It wasn't timed.

Although we had a trainer there with a student in an mx5 doing around 1:20.

We were lapping similar times but in the short twisty stuff he'd pull away and I'd

catch him or overtake by the end of the straight.

I'm hooked.

[Benny]

Awesome stuff. Wish I knew it was on, I would have come. I loved Wakefield last time I went. My DBA's and Ferodo's handled the 8 lap sessions ok if that's what you were thinking to get. Not as good as Brembos but not much choice with me running oem wheels.

What was the ambient temps for the day? Interesting how you said your car went into limp.

Benny

[gregor]

Are you sure it was shutting down cylinders? If its got the zf I reckon that's more likely to overheat and slow you down. It happened to me and D started flashing, felt like it would stay in 4th or 5th so you needed to cool it down for 1/2 a lap before giving it more. An aftermarket ZF transmission cooler would be great but I dont think anyone makes one.

[Skidude]

Temps early in the day were about 11-12 c.

Mid afternoon was 19c when the overheat occurred. All fluid levels are OK.

Track temp I think was 34c mid afternoon.

The dash screen flashed up with overheat and asked me to press "SEL" to confirm.

Needle usually sits about 2 mil below half on the temp gauge. It was just over half when it occurred.

I am thinking DBA and an upgraded pad. Probably look at some slotted and drilled rotors. I can't justify 6k and upwards for Brembos.

Do you have them on all 4 corners ?

Edited 08/11/09 12:54 AM by Skidude

[HIRO F6]

We do 1:10's in our MX-5 at Wakefield. I think I might take out the F6 at Wakefield next chance I get.

[Skidude]

1:10 in the MX is quick.

The driver instructor (Mike Navybox) was telling me that the MX5's are as quick through the tight section of the course as Nissan GT-R.

Hopefully our times will be better once we get some better brakes and experience (this was our first ever track day).

Planning a full instruction day next year after the heat of summer ends.

The green F6 in the photo was stock and considerably faster around the track.

With his brembos he was braking 100-150 metres past where we had to brake.

Consequently he was getting to 180-185 on the straight whereas we were having to pull back at 165-170 so we could pull up before the tight right hander.

He also had zero brake fade or shudder in the 20 minute sessions.

Edited 08/11/09 03:33 AM by Skidude

[Skidude]

Some more pics of the day:

[Guest XR09]

Some more pics of the day:

Too good

I bet your still trying to stop smiling

Love wakefield, turns 1 through 7 are the ducks guts.

170 up the main strait is pretty good for a stock car. we can only pull about 220 on litre bikes racing there. Mainly cause we brake earlier. Fun trying to jump on the brakes as late as turn one for turn two. Car wants to go left and the track veres to the right a bit.

Too good should be more of it. Should be on every weekend.