Mikelly

Here's my "opinion" on this subject without any actual data to back it up, but with the knowledge I've gained in the two cars I've owned that have pretty decent bottoms and looking under a bunch of race cars that have incorporated difusers... Adding a difuser will likely negatively impact the performance, unless you do more to clean up the rest of the cars undercarriage. When we were at the tunnel the engineer commented that the bottom of the datsun is so ugly that you really do have better areas to focus on... Tom's Redbird has a diffuser and I'll wait until he gets it in a tunnel to confirm or prove wrong my thoughts on this. But I think ZR8ED has the right idea... Install a couple panels where air can escape and call it a day! Mike

Spectators weren't allowed. The facility, although large, gets filled up quick with the addition of several cars, and the required personnel to reconfigure cars/ move cars/ tape yarn to cars/ and do everything else that was required... I believe we had 12 people in attendance and it was crowded, with little viewing area and very little down time during that 9 hours... We were all pretty whipped at the end of the day... Mike

It probably would help to get a better understanding by going back and doing some research on why we did what we did and what we tested by priority, as well as what we learned from our Wind Tunnel test operator. Mike

Unfortunately, Time and other commitments dictate that I will not be involved in the organization or documentation of a future test. If someone else wants to come forward and take the reins, with the approval and oversight of the admin staff, I'd be good with that. As a matter of fact, my time around here will be slim, starting next week. Mike

Thanks Tony for posting that. I feel your first hand, real world experience with your land speed efforts is extremely valuable to this thread, this category, and this subject. Mike Kelly

Yup, Adams, Klasse, Zaino... There's a bunch out there, and they're damned pricey... I'm going to get back to using something I can pick up at Pep-boys or AutoZone/ Advance Auto when I'm done with the stuff I currently have... Ease of application/ less time to detail is my ultimate goal. The one thing I hated about the Zaino product process of old was the hours and hours of time it took to detail a car... That was nuts... Mike

I had a set of calipers I was going to use, but instead went with the Ford Mustang/Cobra "stuff" because someone else was making the kit and it was just easier. The C5 corvette brakes are some of the best OEM brakes I've ever driven on a track car. Mike

Because we have opinions? Or aren't we allowed to have them? This same student has offered me the chance to drive his car if we hook up at VIR. I'll take him up on it and report back. Until then, I, and others like me aren't buying into the hype. It's a nice car, I'm sure. It also has a page in the owners manual specifically for tracking trans replacements. That doesn't seem ODD to you? The number of denied warranties and failed trannys is climbing, btw, but hey, It's the greatest and most advanced car in the world. Mike Kelly

I was using Zaino "stuff" on my Black 996TT. I now use a mix... I apply Optimum Polish, to buff the car with (Portercable 7424 with various cutting and polishing pads) and I use Zaino ZAIO to give it the shine and finish it off with Z8. That said, There's a lot of different products out there to use and I'd recommend going to Autogeek.net and get on their forum... Some of these guys work their magic in crazy ways... There are 8million opinions on the proper way to detail... Find the cheapest that gives you the best results... And don't scrimp on your micro-fiber towels... They DO make a difference, the better they are. Mike

That's the difference in your setup and what Mark's running... BIG difference there! Mike

I'm using a 1.45inch thick 14inch rotor on the front of the Porsche, and it's 3365# without me in it. I can say this much... For as fast as Mark is running, I think he needs more rotor than many guys may think... He is running 2:10s or quicker on a road course that is 3.3 miles long with two sections that will allow above 150MPH, along with several heavy braking zones, 6 come to my mind, on a 22 turn course (counting all of the two part turns). Those are seriously fast times, and Mark is using his brakes hard to get those speeds/times/brake forces. I'd venture to say that very few people on this board will experience those forces. Mark is a hell of a driver, driving a 2600# 325WHP track car. The car and the driver are ideal for the issues mark is experiencing. Mark, You need to look at what other marques are experiencing while running those times... That's your answer. Mark, you have a PM... Mike

And those brakes are pretty much race only $15K brake components... The "regular" C5 and C6 calipers are considered a consumable by the corvette guys because the calipers spread on the press-fit pins and fail over time. My buddy that races in T1 replaces his calipers twice per season. Mike

The upright "feel" and comfort is why I ride the 99 ZRX1100. It's way comfy and I can still hang a knee off it... No, it's not the ZX9R I used to back into corners at Summit, but it also doesn't hurt my knees, back and shoulders like my ZX9R was starting to do... I will eventually get another Sportbike to play with, probably a Gixxer1000 or a ZX1000R. But I don't see me doing 1100 miles in three days like I did on my ZXR1100 earlier this summer! Chris, it's your first bike. I'd ride it and learn on it and then move on... One of the funnest bikes I ever used to chase at the track was the R6 Yamaha. I had a chance to ride one (an 01 model) and it was just amazing to get off a 400# 900CC 132hp sportbike and get on a 350# 100HP sportbike. The weight made a LOT of difference in corner entry, mid corner throttle on and exit. And these newer 600Class bikes, they're nuts! Learn on it and enjoy it... Then move on! Mike

I think it's important to note here that Mark isn't your regular "student" HPDE driver... Mark, you're turning 2:10s (and probably faster) at VIR, and once you get beyond a certain level in performance, you're going to start seeing these anomalys. I think two things are contributing to it, as I've had time to think about it without an adult beverage infront of me... The solid rotor/ solid caliper mount is part of the issue (at your level of driving performance). You either need to get to a floating rotor, a floating caliper, or a stronger "monoblock" caliper like the Brembos we're using on my "other" car... I'd personally recommend getting incontact with Coleman racing. They can make you a floating hat/rotor design in any size and rotor configuration you want. That's what I'm using on the black car and I have 19 days total on those front rotors. Mike

I've been in a C130 during combat landing scenarios and I can tell you that the things those pilots are able to make those planes do when avoiding potential anti-aircraft fire is simply amazing! Mike

I agree with Jon. Mark, I think you might be better suited with a stronger caliper. How was pad wear and is this with a solid or floating rotor? I think your rotors were solid 2piece, and you may want to go to a bobbins setup... Mike

That's not a bad strategy... My oldest son was trying to consolidate some student loans back in the spring, after he bought his first home. He was denied at the time... Yesterday he informed his mother that they contacted him and asked if he was still interested... I think the banks are starting to look for customers again! Good luck with it man! Keep us posted! Mike

I married THE best wife... She allows me the latitude to spend our discretionary income on cars, track events, and stuff she truly has little interest in. She manages the budget and still squirels away money for extras. She keeps the house cleaned and the pets cared for, along with making sure her sons are taken care of (Both adults now) She loves, respects, and honors me. She is humble, gracious, and caring. She gives of herself to me at my requests. She is the most impressive human in my life. Mike

Congrats! Nothing beats new homeownership... Mike

Good write-up David! Mike

Check MSA or Blackdragon. Mike

You can't guess at this. We spent a lot of time and members money to conduct these tests. We can only suggest that the Gnose would have performed better than it did, had it been fitted with headlight covers. I base that conclusion on the results from the stock body Z's test with headlight covers, when compared to the Gnose Z without headlight covers. MSA's Type3 airdam performed very well, and I'm going to run it on my car for that reason. But I will be making modifications and running headlight covers as well. Mike

I think you misunderstood my point. Regardless the amount of radiator ducting, you're not going to overcome the blunt pockets that the extended sugarscoops contribute to the problem that already exists with the OEM scoops at the headlight opening. Covering the OEM headlights made it have less drag. That is a whole different discussion from downforce. mike

Well I have three criteria for "semi-retirement" living... - Warm most of the year - Wife's mandate! - Reasonable Realestate prices - both our needs! - # of Road Race courses within 4 hours - My sanety! North Georgia, Central South Carolina, most of North Carolina are all on my radar! I really liked Simpsonville and that area... Easy access to lots of outdoor activies, and Greenville was a true treat. I had no idea how much industry/ business is there. I know, I know, Michelin and BMW are there... Just didn't realize how much sub-contract work has sprung from those two! Mike

It's even better in Person... SEMA is coming up again in LasVegas and they always have a Supercars Display... Check it out and you'll be able to see the Koenigsegg and a lot more! Mike