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REVscene MotorsportsRS Motorsports by The Speed Syndicate RS Race Team
Pitt Meadows & Mission Raceway. Organize Race Pre-meets, post Racing related event Pics and discussion. In collaboration with The Speed Syndicate, Official race events presenter. [Solicitation of Professional Racing Events Allowed]
Last year when I went down to Ridge I had a hard time explaining to the border guard what I was doing in Shelton, I don't think she was familiar with the track day concept. So this year I spent a bit of time thinking about what I was gonna tell them to not come off as shifty or uncertain. Big difference is that this time around I have a Nexus and this was my experience,
The last time I went, the moment I told the US border officer I was going to Shelton, he exclaimed "Ah, going to the race track!", and he just waved me through.
Went to this Asians from Vancouver June 14th track day with my essentially stock Fiesta ST with 3300kms when I left Vancouver.
Overall impression of the car is IT NEEDS TIRES... BADLY, the stock tires were unbearable by the end of the day and I left early because of it. The brakes are also pretty meh, I found myself braking way earlier than most and still having to turn in later and sloppier than I would have wanted. I'm not sure whether it's a pad issue or fluid issue but those are my two main concerns.
The chassis is a lot of fun though, car is rolly polly through turn 6 (carousel) and turn 9, so much so that I can barely find the clutch in turn 9 because my foot is in the door and my head is at a 45* tilt to the left. I learnt a lot about steering with the throttle on this car and being only my 2nd time at the Ridge I got to try a few different lines I've observed on youtube since last year. The engine has plenty of torque and as you'll see in some of the videos below I get pretty lazy to shift and leave it in 3rd gear for a lot of the track.
I had a lot more fun in this car than in my 130-ish hp Miata and my best lap time from Harry's lap timer in the Fiesta was about 2:08.3x, somehow the overlay didn't show up on the video though but I guess the app is relatively new to android so there are some bugs or maybe I just don't know how to set it up. You can hear it beeping for the sector times in some of the videos but yeah, you can't see it.
I'm gonna preface this by saying that I know I come off as a douche in what you're about to see, some of my sessions got pretty heated/frustrating but at the end of the day I had a lot of fun and I think everyone else in my run group did too. I don't take it too seriously although my language might make you think otherwise.
Video 1: GTR
Spoiler!
This here is one of my first sessions after familiarizing myself with the car. It's also one of the most frustrating because I kept bumping into traffic that didn't want to wave me by. I understand that it is a C/Low-Intermediate group but even then the rules state you should be signed off for solo and have some basic track etiquette.
P.s. when I say "haha it's so fast" I'm basing that off of my old Miata which would actually lose speed going up the hill at turn 10 going flat out.
I ultimately had a chat with the GTR owner basically explaining how it would be safer/more beneficial for everyone if he waved people that are on his ass by, including the shitty econoboxes. He got a little defensive and tried blaming it on traffic and stating that he was way faster than me on the straight (no shit sherlock) and that we were "pretty even overall" but he agreed to let me pass if I was on his ass as long as I'd do the same for him. Honestly it was that little bit at turn 11 around the 14:38 mark that gets me, I almost felt like I was brake checked and was genuinely concerned
Video 2: Cadillac
Spoiler!
I had a lot of fun playing with this CTS-V coupe but as you can see even after I had the chat with the GTR driver he almost causes an accident between him and the Cadillac on his tail at 4:54 and should've waved that driver by quite a few passing zones earlier. Surely enough once he waves us pass we never see him again because in reality we aren't so "evenly matched". There are some bits in this video like 9:04 where I'm clearly getting a little hot-headed and overdriving the car to the point where it's quite a bit slower/sloppier. I got pretty nervous following the FRS/C350 at the end because I know my brakes aren't that great and I didn't want to inadvertently rear end someone especially coming down the hill before 8A
This video I have my friend Boatcaptain riding shotgun, we talk about different lines and try out some new things. While trying to keep it smooth though I noticed the CTS-V getting closer so perhaps it's not necessarily faster but at least it'd be a lot easier on my tires. The front passenger tire was ready to call it quits by this session so I ended things a bit early, gas was running pretty low too. Definitely fun to drive with someone more experienced and seeing things in a different perspective, it's easy to get tunnel vision and set in your ways and while they might not be a trained instructor, having a 2nd party's opinion is invaluable for development.
I have some friends who are interested in tracking but complain that their car isn't set up or they don't have the parts they need, personally I don't think it's really necessary to acquire all those parts to have fun and learn especially on a track like the Ridge. I don't think a first timer can really kill brakes/tires here and my car isn't really set up for track either. Some people complain they have no seat time and don't want to embarrass themselves but you gotta start somewhere right?
At this moment all I want are some stick summer tires and some DOT 4 brake fluid. No one makes an upgraded pad as far as I know but tires would help me greatly in developing confidence to brake harder and carry more speed through corners to improve my lap times. I'm glad I took this car out because now I have a baseline for how mods are affecting it.
Fuck, I need to get some track time asap. I had a blast at autocross today, but I want to wind up my motor and feel the feels. I picked up some Motul RBF600 and looking into either Hawk HP+ or Ferodo DS2500s.
Fuck, I need to get some track time asap. I had a blast at autocross today, but I want to wind up my motor and feel the feels. I picked up some Motul RBF600 and looking into either Hawk HP+ or Ferodo DS2500s.
I ran both before and preferred the ds2500, the hp+ squealed more for me and the cold bite was too grabby IMO. HP+ felt better for me at mission though but for ridge/street I like the ferodo
I have some friends who are interested in tracking but complain that their car isn't set up or they don't have the parts they need, personally I don't think it's really necessary to acquire all those parts to have fun and learn especially on a track like the Ridge. I don't think a first timer can really kill brakes/tires here and my car isn't really set up for track either. Some people complain they have no seat time and don't want to embarrass themselves but you gotta start somewhere right?
I've never gone out on a track day yet but this is so true. I've seen some people who aren't quite experienced in auto x/track just yet and refuse to go until they have this mod or that mod. Hell, my first 2 times at Auto X, I was running on some shitty tires but still had loads of fun.
I'm ready to go out to Mission and see how it's like even though my car is not "set up" for it. Would like to have at least upgraded brake pads but whatever. It'll be my first time so I don't really see myself driving too hard. Only thing stopping me is I'm starting my new job soon and don't wanna ask for a day off right away so I might have to wait till August
The Ridge looks like so much fun. I have to make a point to get out there soon.
As for those looking to mod before hitting the track; you're doing it wrong. Best time to track your car is when it is stock. Then you get to feel the car for what it is and upgrade each piece as you feel needed. This is the best way to learn about your car and driving technique. Mods like RSB's, coilovers, and R-comps can really hide your mistakes and not give you the best impression when starting from scratch.
The Turn 2 lap days @ The Ridge - Do they have a noob group or is there a pre-requisite?
That was the lowest group lol but they require you to be signed off to drive by yourself and have instructors ready to ride with the first timers. Its rare that anyone thinks they need an instructor but its better asking for one than being forced one on you 3 sessions in lol. One of my friends at this event was mic'ed up with an instructor in his passenger seat and went solo after 2 or 3 sessions
I haven't auto crossed in a while but I remember we would say things like "can we get an instructor/senior driver riding with that guy?" After multiple spin outs and slaughtering cones. It seems the Turn 2 guys aren't as strict about that kind of stuff and also its hard to see from the corner stations I guess especially when the car leaves half a front straight of gap between you when he floors it.
You kinda have to take things into your own hands and confront them about their unsafe behavior or tell an official to look out for that car. Like I said though slower traffic is more than welcome in C group but you have to check your rearview and acknowledge/admit when you are the slower traffic.
I ran both before and preferred the ds2500, the hp+ squealed more for me and the cold bite was too grabby IMO. HP+ felt better for me at mission though but for ridge/street I like the ferodo
once you get a taste of the ferodo crackppipe, you cnat use anything else. modulation is unbeatable imho. well, unless you maybe try raybestos ST series pads...
What hasn't Killed me, has made me more tolerant of RS!
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 170
Thanked 25 Times in 15 Posts
Props to the Miata on that last vid! Pretty ballsy to be able to make an Elise work like it did. Hope to see some of you guys on the next one zooming past me.
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