Road Atlanta...

[98banana]

Jimmy and I just got back from Road Atlanta. We had a great time seeing Thomas, Mike and Dave out there. We hung around at Thomas and Mike's trailer all day and also took a ride or two. I decided that I'm not a good passenger. Jimmy loved it, of course.

I also decided that Thomas is an excellent driver. VERY FAST! Dean, if he gets into AI next year, watch out!

Here's a few pics I took today:






More pictures can be found on the www.planetmustang.com main page.

And here's a few short movies:
Thomas
Dave

[johnbasf]

That'll get the juices flowing!!! Thanks Tom. Both of those guys were flying through 12!! Mike still looks nervous when Thomas is out there.

[Blown96Snake]

Thanks for taking some pictures! They are awesome. It was great to see you and Jimmy again. I hope everything comes together quickly with your business. Good luck

What a fun track, I can't wait to go back!

Dave

[johnbasf]

Got any in-car David???? I hope so.

[Blown96Snake]

Hey John,

I do, but don't have any way to upload it to the computer.

Road Atlanta is sweet!!!

I did have one interesting situation. I went off at the entrance of turn 3, instead of spinning, I went straight off and through the dirt and onto that pavement that isn't used anymore. It was the first time I have ever "gone 4 wheels off" at a higher speed. Unfortunately, my camera battery died before that session and I cannot review what happened. The somewhat useless Panoz instructor said I probably locked up, but I know I didn't. I locked up earlier in the day in t3, but not this time.

ANyway, it was a great time, I just need more power for the backstraight. Top speed for me was about 105-110 and that was on the front straight!

Dave

[98banana]

I just read over on CC.com that a corvette flipped out there today. Road Atlanta is one hungry track! I can't wait to get back out there and drive on it.

[Blown96Snake]

Hungry track it is, it will eat up someone driving like an idiot.

Tom, did you see that BMW X5 wreck on the front straight?

We were loading up and we heard a long screeeeech and then BOOM! He was driving like an idoit

There was also that Corvette that went off coming out of pit out??!!?!!! He chalked up to cold tires, I am thinking more like cold braincells!

Later

Dave

[98banana]

Originally posted by Blown96Snake
Hungry track it is, it will eat up someone driving like an idiot.

Tom, did you see that BMW X5 wreck on the front straight?

We were loading up and we heard a long screeeeech and then BOOM! He was driving like an idoit

There was also that Corvette that went off coming out of pit out??!!?!!! He chalked up to cold tires, I am thinking more like cold braincells!

Later

Dave

We left just before the X5 incident.

Every time I've been to Road Atlanta, somebody crashes on the warm up lap or the cool down lap. Normally the warm up lap though which is when they should be the most careful.

Crashing coming out of the pits does seem to lack a little of the gray matter required for driving a high performance car like a vette.

I REALLY think Panoz should have a little better driver's meeting than they do. They don't point out the things that a lot of ego laiden drivers seem to miss like proper point by and passing, the whole principal of warm up and cool down and the fact that people can and do ball up cars there. They mention it, but they just make jokes about it. What they need to do is scare some drivers before they get out there.

Tom

[Blown96Snake]

Tom, I also feel that Panoz does a sloppy job on their schools. There were several times where I had quicker cars come around me before I gave them a point-by, its not like I didn't see them, I didn't have a chance to get the arm out the window or there were 5 cars ahead of me going into turn 6. It would have really pissed me off if someone had hit me while I was passing a car that gave me a signal.

There was one instance where a guy in an M3 was all over me gonig into the braking zone in 6 and 7, this really pisses me off because its not like he has to draft me to get around me, it is just unneccesary risk on his part.

I might just write Panoz a letter with some recommended changes, it is a great track, its just the rules and things that are lacking.

Later
Dave

[johnbasf]

Dave, just go there when the NASA SE is there next year. Your welcome Mr. Pantas.

[thomasmoran1]

Well, we just got back and the drive home was fine. We dropped the car off at our rollcage builder because we are going to get a head start on next year. We have some major projects planned and we need all the time we can get.

Tom, it was awesome that you and Jimmy were able to come out and I hope you guys enjoyed yourselves. On sunday in the last session I went out by myself with low fuel and I was pushing pretty hard. I've yet to get a lap time from our video but it should be a lot faster than the time I did in the spring. I can't say enough about the performance friction pads that we've been using. The rotors were getting over 1200 degree's and there was no brake fade at all.

Over the next couple of days I'll be going through my video and pictures and I'll post links here to all of them. The whole ride back all me and my dad talked about was which AI races were going to do next year.

As for the guy in the X5... He told someone that the whole day he had been lifting at the bottom of 12 and wanted to try and take it flat out...

Thomas

[timz06]

Hi guys, I was out there this weekend as a spectator, I saw the green mustang with supercharger. I have driven on track with this car before at previous track events. Road atlanta is a dangerous track for sure, if you make a mistake there, you are going to shell out some $$ in most cases.

I had my first mishap there the last track day. I guess I am the one you guys are saying has cold brain cells. I came out of the pits on cold tires and got on it. The rear kicked out a bit and it shot me right at the inside wall. Really took me by surprise, I got it straight but not enough to avoid tapping the wall. " minor " damage, at $4200. I went ahead and had some parts of the car repainted while I was at it that were sandblasted from track use for a grand total of $5700. That is going to take a few months out of my track budget. I am now going to downgrade to my camaro. Cheaper car, and not quite as dominating as the z06. THis will give me more people to run with.

Like I said, I have had my car come loose many times, and it is like second nature to me to correct, but this got my attention and I learned that these things can happen when you least expect them.

The yellow z06 lost it coming out of 7 and hit the wall and flipped. That was a bad one. Last time a supercharged viper hit the wall in 5. Man that supercharger sounded bad coming down the front straight. That green mustang sounds pretty bad as well.

I've go a lot of road atlanta videos on my site if anyone wants to take a peek. My best time there is 1:41

http://www.slobird.com/video3.htm

Tim

[98banana]

Originally posted by timz06
Hi guys, I was out there this weekend as a spectator, I saw the green mustang with supercharger. I have driven on track with this car before at previous track events. Road atlanta is a dangerous track for sure, if you make a mistake there, you are going to shell out some $$ in most cases.

I had my first mishap there the last track day. I guess I am the one you guys are saying has cold brain cells. I came out of the pits on cold tires and got on it. The rear kicked out a bit and it shot me right at the inside wall. Really took me by surprise, I got it straight but not enough to avoid tapping the wall. " minor " damage, at $4200. I went ahead and had some parts of the car repainted while I was at it that were sandblasted from track use for a grand total of $5700. That is going to take a few months out of my track budget. I am now going to downgrade to my camaro. Cheaper car, and not quite as dominating as the z06. THis will give me more people to run with.

Like I said, I have had my car come loose many times, and it is like second nature to me to correct, but this got my attention and I learned that these things can happen when you least expect them.

The yellow z06 lost it coming out of 7 and hit the wall and flipped. That was a bad one. Last time a supercharged viper hit the wall in 5. Man that supercharger sounded bad coming down the front straight. That green mustang sounds pretty bad as well.

I've go a lot of road atlanta videos on my site if anyone wants to take a peek. My best time there is 1:41

http://www.slobird.com/video3.htm
Tim

Thomas Moran, who posted before you, is the owner of the Green Mustang. You'll be surprised to hear that it is not supercharged. That's 100% naturally aspirated.

Sorry to hear about your mishap. Coming out of the pits is the worst place to get on it, especially with cold tires and lots of power like the Z06 has. The first lap should always be babied until the tires are warm.

I know what you mean about shelling out some cash, my crash in turn 12 cost my about $30,000. But, boy did I learn a lot.

Oh, by the way, 1:41 is pretty dang quick. Keep working at it and you can keep up with the Cobras one day.

Tom

[timz06]

Sure sounds supercharged ! I'll keep working at it and maybe I can get better.

Tim

[98banana]

I didn't see a smiley face on your reply... you do know I was just kidding right about the Cobra vs vette thing? I would love to have a Z06 as a track car. I just can't afford it.