Clark Kent

I did a 3 day HPDE at CoTA last weekend. Great weather Friday and Saturday and mediocre on Sunday. The Porsche GT3 was well driven and I hung in there ok, but I couldn't completely catch up (without traffic helping, lol). Same for the McLarens.

But take a look as I roll past a C7 Z06, new Z/28, Boss 302, and an F80 M3.

I bested my lap time by a second. I'm at 2:38:04 now. Better driver skills and a LSD would help with that.

BLKROKT

Nice! COTA looks like an amazing track to drive.

You kept reeling that GT3 in on the straights, but then whenever it got twisty POOF it was gone. Coilovers next?

Carbon Dated

Nice driving! Thanks for sharing the video...I truly enjoyed watching that.

Thrilla

Nice driving! You're lucky to be local to a great track.

kjkidd21

According to his signature, he already has KW V3's..

Clark Kent

Thanks everybody. I am truly lucky to live so near this smooth as glass track (one bump prior to T12). I used to drive down from Dallas for these events but now it's just across town.

I saw Arizona plates, Florida, Illinois, etc. People come from all over to have this experience. And there were tons of race teams practicing as well. About twice as many as usual.

I do have the V3's already. I notched both compression and rebound two clicks tighter than factory settings all the way around. I just wanted to evenly stiffen things up all the way around and put more work on the Toyo R888R's I was trying out. I'm no expert on suspension set up so I'm open to suggestions on better configurations.

I think an LSD is the most appropriate next mod as I spin the rears on T1, T11, & T13. On T1 and T11 I want better traction. For T13 I want the rotation. But I'm still learning and improving and that's what's part of the addiction.

MTV10

He's on KW's.... open your eyes/do your research as you so eloquently put it in every thread.

BLKROKT

Oops I missed that, the horror. At least I try to contribute here. Don't you have a pile of poutine to eat or Céline Dion to listen to, or are you just going to come in here and flap your stupid mouth.

Jasonoff

Yes, you do "try" and that's all that really matters.

abcut973

Nice drive OP. Looks like a 04 GT3 with a RS wing.... these mezger rides are track weapon!

Vladds

nice driving.

pbaylog

That looks like some fun and brings back some good memories.

Attached is the ADA track overview we received last year as part of our prep for the course - enjoy!

MTV10

Learn to take it if you're gonna dish it out. Didn't your mother teach you anything?

Jasonoff

Says the guy who dishes it but can't take it.

Superman: that C7Z needed a rub lol.

BLKROKT

No..... but YOUR mom did

MTV10

I can see you guys are still butt pirates with each other

BLKROKT

Back on topic now boy.....

Clark, how are you doing cooling-wise out there?

Clark Kent

Ha-ha, he was SO cautious out there. But he was always quick with a point by (most of the time). When he pulled back in front of me that was right after T1, we were given the green light to pass up to T3. So that downhill off camber right hand sweeper is T2 i.e. good to pass. He should have let me go there. Instead I had to mosey through the esses and wait for the next passing zone at T9. This was one of the Advanced groups so I think he should have been bumped down a group.

Friday reached 90 degrees ambient and I hit limp mode in the first afternoon session. From there, I have learned to coast into T1 and T12 (end of the two longest straights) to let the car breath. Of course I lose a little time but it's better than a mid-session loss of power.

Saturday highs were in the mid-60's I believe. I could run hard all session in S+, high rpms, and be fine. Oil temp was at 265.

D3-AMG

I think the only way you keep up with the GT3 in the corners is your car has to shed 800-1,000 pounds.

Jasonoff

That's dangerous. Those were NOT advanced group lines.

Needed a tap for sure lol. The best is when you press hard and they end up on the lawn.

Adi-Benz

Awesome! It must be great to live near a track [Old lady's house] lol.

zcct04

I got uncomfortable running my DD at the limit without real safety gear - roll cage protection, multi-point harness, fire system, fuel bladder, etc. I got wallet pains thinking about the investment I'd need to tackle to make the C63 track-ready (cooling system, LSD, camber plates, etc). Other factors were the tire wear from trying to throw two tons around, and the squeeks and rattles that are sure to grow from all the frame-flexing. A key factor for me was that I wanted to race, not just drive around for fun.

I found my way into Spec Racer Ford and am loving it. Costs are not bad and they hold their value far better than a track-modded Mercedes. It's about a third the power we have but it's also about a third of the weight, so it's reasonably quick on the straights and far quicker through the twisties. Probably not something of interest to someone who is happiest spending more time modding on the car than driving it, but it was an ideal fit for what I wanted. Here's a friend's video from a recent lap at COTA. Clark's laps in the C63 are certainly great driving, but the Spec Racer is several seconds quicker.

Jasonoff

Those downshifts hurt my feelings.

zcct04

Yeah, haha - clearly not a heel & toe guy!

betrezra

We rented spec racers @ MSR last year. Great FUN!
If I had the storage space, I'd get one.