[RussellHodgson]

I did my first track day of the year last Monday at Lime Rock in CT. The weather was a day of extremes. When I got up at 5 there was a thunderstorm going on. After wondering for about half an hour whether or not I should actually go due to the weather I decided to go.


The drive up was very wet, and I even had to back-track at one point due to downed trees. But I managed to arrive at the track at 8. Then at 8:30 the clouds parted and we had blue sky at 65 degrees! So the first session, pictured below going into turn one, was great!


Then around 11 or so the torrential rain came back. This put a damper on the next two sessions, with only a handful of people going out - I was not one of them. Luckily, the rain stopped around 2 or so, and the track dried out, even though the clouds remained. So I got one more session on a drying track. So quite fun in the end!

 

[Semitone]

I wish I was there to see ( and hear) another 718 on the track. I was signed up but had to cancel because of my schedule. I went last Nov and it rained 20-30% of the day. Wasn’t thrilled with the prospect of driving with my windows down in the rain. It’s still a new car for me and would like to keep it that way at least for a little while.

I’ve got a few sessions scheduled for this year. Going to try out SCDA so I have more flexibility for days. I also finally signed up for a two day course at Birmingham after thinking about it off and on for a year.

 

[RussellHodgson]

I wish I was there to see ( and hear) another 718 on the track. I was signed up but had to cancel because of my schedule. I went last Nov and it rained 20-30% of the day. Wasn’t thrilled with the prospect of driving with my windows down in the rain. It’s still a new car for me and would like to keep it that way at least for a little while.

I’ve got a few sessions scheduled for this year. Going to try out SCDA so I have more flexibility for days. I also finally signed up for a two day course at Birmingham after thinking about it off and on for a year.

Hopefully we'll be at the same track day soon! My next one is in mid-May. The Cayman seems to be the most popular option at the moment. The 718s are starting to show up as well.


I had an instructor ride along for one of the sessions (it is good to get someone else's viewpoint on your driving every so often), and he said he was surprised at how fast the car was, especially in third gear, and he was driving a 991.2 GT3 RS! So points to the 718 S engine.

 

[nineball]

if you have never done it before driving a 718 in the rain on the track is a great experience. you will be amazed at what it can accomplish. that bieng said after i did it once i was done - no more rain inside the car for me!


my first track weekend is not for 3 weeks but i have 8 events lined up for the season from ohio to alabama to florida to pa. can't wait to wear out my last set of stock rotors and switch to the new 2 piece i bought.


oh, and for you track rats out there, suncoast has the oil filter with the rubber gasket and crush ring for $24 each, or about $16 less than the local dealer charges. i ordered 5 of them last week. i change the oil and filter every 2 track weekends so it gets expensive!

 

[RussellHodgson]

my first track weekend is not for 3 weeks but i have 8 events lined up for the season from ohio to alabama to florida to pa. can't wait to wear out my last set of stock rotors and switch to the new 2 piece i bought.

Do you drive the car to all those places, or trailer it?

 

[nineball]

i trailer it to them. well all buy daytona as a bunch of us get together and rent a semi to take all the cars down at once. there isn't enough room in the cayman for me and all the gear for the weekend (various tools, chair, grille for lunch, spare parts, suitcase, helmet, etc. etc.). plus the nitto nt01 are VERY loud on the street and the humming drives me crazy.

 

[Blk718CS]

outstanding! I was up at LRP this past monday with SCDA but because I'm still in my break in, I only did a car control clinic. It was interesting! On the wet skidpad I had a TOUGH time getting the car loose. I kept getting up to speed, lifting and then punching it to try to disrupt the back end, but despite starting at almost 40mph in puddles, the back end wouldn't come loose! The instructor was amazed at how much grip, even in the wet, the car hard. I then got it on the autocross course with all the traction control off and was able to get it pretty drifty around some tighter turns. AMAZING how stable it is and when it does come loose it does so in such a gentle and easy to control manner! So I leave tomorrow for 2 days up at Watkins Glen and my first time both there and with the Cayman on track. I'll be back at LRP a few more times this summer with SCDA and up at Palmer as well. Hope to see some other 718s!!

 

[sweetsound]

Question for the folks tracking a 718 - does anyone have experience with brake replacement and/or modification and where the best deals are on rotors+pads (parts only)? (Car is a GTS but don't believe thee 718s are different)

Just thinking (hopefully a long way) towards the future.

Cheers!

 

[nineball]

i swapped my pads to giro disc s&s pads on stock rotors and there was a nice improvement. i have their 2 piece rotors sitting on the shelf waiting to be installed when i burn through these stock rotors in the next few weeks. i've also got 2 more sets of their pads waiting on the shelf (i ordered a lot to save on shipping).

 

[RussellHodgson]

i swapped my pads to giro disc s&s pads on stock rotors and there was a nice improvement. i have their 2 piece rotors sitting on the shelf waiting to be installed when i burn through these stock rotors in the next few weeks. i've also got 2 more sets of their pads waiting on the shelf (i ordered a lot to save on shipping).

Do you do the brake pad and/or rotor change yourself? If so how do you change the rear rotors? Does the electric handbrake make it difficult to do them without the appropriate software control?

 

[nineball]

no, i have a friend with a shop who does all my track prep for me now. i have so many events lined up for this year that i just don't have the time between them and work to spend any significant time working on the car.

 

[X2Board]

Lime Rock was my old home track, when I lived in CT. My first DE event was there, in my '99 986. I'm lucky to call VIR home now, and I can't wait to get the 718 out there to see how it compares to my 991 S.

Photo is circa 2004

 

[dhc3]

Do you do the brake pad and/or rotor change yourself? If so how do you change the rear rotors? Does the electric handbrake make it difficult to do them without the appropriate software control?

FWIW, I just did the rears on my wife's 981. Same brake pads as our 718s in the rear. It is easier than the fronts, no need to remove caliper. Old school 911 type w pins holding pads in place. I have not done my 718 yet, honestly have not even taken a good look, but if the pads are the same I would guess the replacement is the same...

 

[Semitone]

I went to Lime Rock yesterday with SCDA. A lot of Porsches showed up...Mostly Caymans and 911 variants. I was the only 718.

My second HPDE event with the 718. My first was a PCA event last November ( also the only 718). Weather was beautiful, even if it wasn't sure it was going to be. First three sessions where clear and the final session was a bit of rain, nothing crazy, which was nice for a change of pace.

The car performed like a champ. No heat issues, no brake fad, no tire issues.

I destroyed my front Michelin PS4S tires last year during one event. Chunked so badly they were destroyed. I put the same model tires on, with slightly more negative camber. No issues yesterday. ( Whew, because I really didn't want to buy new tires....again)

I also let my instructor ( since I am in novice/green group) take my car for an instructor session (with me in the passenger seat). I guess I feel the need to be a bit of ambassador for the 4 banger, LOL I think the car held it's own on the track. Certainly have a new appreciation for the bucket seats ( which I don't have..I was slipping and sliding around a little on the Alcantara)

I wasn't sure what to expect with SCDA versus PCA. I enjoyed it and had as much fun on track. Also thought the classroom sessions were better and more extensive with SCDA. It wasn't as clubby in the paddocks with car talk as it was with the PCA crowd but maybe that was because I had my wife with me this time and made less of an effort.

 

[RussellHodgson]

Here are a few laps from my second track day of the season (also at Lime Rock)

Average lap time when not in traffic was about 1:05.


Car is totally stock and running on 19" Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.

 

[Semitone]

Nice video. I need to set up my car with some data and a camera.

I've been to Lime Rock twice. I haven't scheduled anything else for this season but I think I might aim for Palmer in MA for some variety. The drive to the track is only slightly longer for me.

 

[aeronca65tl]

I did my first track day of the year last Monday at Lime Rock in CT...…..

Your race number is like mine, but upside-down. [I'm "909"....an homage to The Beatles].

I haven't run Lime Rock in a few years but I have plenty of seat time there of the last 30 years. It's a fast, momentum track for small bore vintage cars like mine. Going under the bridge and down the hill, three-wide is exciting.
A fun place but watch the limited run-off near the chicane (T5).
Your average lap time is impressive. Faster than Sam Posey in a 289 Cobra.
I was thinking of running the VSCCA (vintage) Empire Cup at LR next weekend, but I don't have the prep-time. It's a great event to watch...lots of my friends will be running.

We're in northern NJ so Lime Rock, at around 140 miles, is actually a tiny bit closer to me than NJMP. And Pocono is about half that distance from either of those tracks.
Living in the northeast, we're actually sort of lucky. There are plenty of tracks within a day's pull. Around 8 or 9 I think.
My longest tow is VIR which is less than 500 miles.....still not real bad.

Another good group for track days besides SCDA is C.A.R.T. (Connecticut Autocross and Rally Team). They run at Thompson, Cannan Motor Club, Lime Rock and Pocono.

http://www.cartct.com/

 

[InTgr8r]

Here are a few laps from my second track day of the season (also at Lime Rock)

Average lap time when not in traffic was about 1:05.

Car is totally stock and running on 19" Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.

Good stuff !


I assume you mounted the camera to the cross bar.
what kind of bracket did you use.


I'm trying to come up with something myself.


Thanks

 

[RussellHodgson]

Good stuff !


I assume you mounted the camera to the cross bar.
what kind of bracket did you use.


I'm trying to come up with something myself.


Thanks

I'm using a GoPro 5 mounted on the cross bar. I sue this to mount it: https://shop.gopro.com/mounts/jaws/ACMPM-001.html


Note the neck part is removable, so I am not using that part. I like this as it is easy to attach, just clip on, and it does let the camera move slightly in the turns, which makes the video look cooler.

 

[InTgr8r]

Thanks