After reading John's thread about a HPDE event he attended shortly after the Dragon I had to have a cup of the koolaid. Jane Bridges has mentioned 10/10ths Motorsports as a great group to run with. Here is there link <http://www.1010thsmotorsports.com/page/page/5236308.htm>. The group allows passing with a pass by for novice and intermediate group drivers and the advanced is a race type event where the drivers must earn the pass. Everyone I spoke with was very cordial, was impressed with the Crossfire and offered as much information as they could share. The group also offers instruction at no cost for drivers of any level. At Putnam we got 4 dedicated sessions and a final combined session, for $255. I couldn't pass it up.

I started the day in the Novice group at Putnam Park Road Course. As some can attest I can do a solid to good job driving the roads at the Dragon, but this is a different beast all together. Grasping using the whole track, threshold braking, track in, opening the wheel and others were concepts I could talk about, but couldn't apply my first two times out. The third track session I rode with my instructor in his Diasio 962 powered by a 1000cc motorcycle motor. Talk about smooth and settled. Riding with Jack opened my eyes to the line, threshold braking, track in, track out ect.

There is nothing more fun than pedal down to in excess of 120 mph, hard brake into a sweeping right without the fear of the law man! In our last dedicated session were late to the track so I was playing catch the packs. By mid session I had caught two very fast Porches, an older Carrera and a Cayman. The Cayman was a donkey dressed as a clown(censored) who did not quite know how to handle; he went off track 5 times. The Carrera was spot on with his line and brake points. After a few laps of riding the bumper of the Cayman trying to indicate that I wanted by, he signaled a pass going into 8, a sweeping left. I attempted to take the pass and he ended up changing his mind and forced me off track. A fun by scary experience in going off track. Everything was good after we got rolling again.

In the last session we were late to the track, my instructor had two students over the weekend. I ended up catching a SRT8 Challenger and a previous Gen Evo. I was able to pass the two guys who were also very quick. The SRT8 pulled wide and tried to out muscle the Coupe, but was unable to do so.

I am addicted. The list of mods have changed. No longer I am in pursuit of high HP with no where to go. I am now on the search to build a Benz sourced big brake kit in the same fashion as Steve or Lantana's setup, adjustable koni's, and at least 5 point harnesses. Although its an expensive hobby with the setup I can autocross or do track days. I recommend a High Performance Driving Event to everyone!

My final lap of the day was a 1.27.2 hand timed by instructor's wife, she was an awesome lady who loved track day as much as he did. Track record is 57 seconds set by a driver who was being tested for a CART team.

 

check your facebook message and give me a call

 

Give ya a call on Tuesday or Wednesday Steve.

 

Great stuff Jason. How did your tires hold up? i think you will be very good at this.

 

Tires, well the BF Goodridges were super pi##ed by the close of the day, but they are also done. I need new tires so the car is only seeing street time when the weather is ideal.

 

So glad you enjoyed yourself!!

The comment about 120mph into a right-hander is so, so true.

If you're like me, you look back on the Dragon and think... what "crazy driving"? That was NOTHING!!

Nothing to sneeze at, but road courses simply can't be beat for the smiles per gallon.

 

Jason,
That is a great write up. I hope to hear more.
John

 

You have come such a long way from cooking your limited's brakes at the first Dragon, I am glad we have all gotten to be a part of that. Come AutoXing with me sometime and I will show that SRT a thing or two

And now you understand what I was always talking about with suspension and brake mods, the HP is fine, but if you can't put it down or stop in a timely fashion, who cares? (stop light racers, usually LOL)

 

The boiled brakes is something that will never be lived down and I am fine with that lol. I am sure you would walk all over me at an auto cross event, lol but it sure would be fun.

I can understand both what you and Nick have been saying. I found a new toy come tax time, Pontiac Fiero GT, gut the interior and begin a build. Cheap parts and performance..hmmmm!

 

Not sure I would walk all over anyone, but to me, it is so fun, I don't care who beats me.

In a year or two of competition, I will probably not feel the same way

You would have a BLAST and probably an ego boost. Last time out, I beat my bosses dinan tuned twin turbo 335i and a buddy in his lotus elise, both on their first time out. They had so much fun their cheeks hurt that night from smiling LOL