Z06Vette.com - Corvette Z06 Forum - PDA event last weekend at Pocono North cource

Backlash · 10-04-2004, 10:29 AM

JEM, 2003Torch and I were at Pocono last weekend. They both came in for Saturday and I drove up for just the day on Sunday (as I didn't get my brakes done till Wednesday night and Saturday was full up at that point - got to learn to make more time for the priorities in life). On Saturday, the day was cut short due to fog rolling in around 2PM, which is always a concern at Pocono in the spring and the fall. Sunday, however was nice and sunny

.

According to the more experienced drivers (red and black groups) the track, while dry, was more slippery than usual and one instructor impacted the wall with his 944 turbo (but still was able to drive it home). Another with a Z06 had to be towed home, but we never did find out what went wrong (no visible damage).

Anyway the three of us were having a grand time tearing up the track, passing the majority of the field in the blue group. There was a Porsche 996 twin turbo there, that we had a total blast playing tag with. One poor guy in a Mustang (with an instructor in the car at the time) had has engine let go at around 100 mph on the straight away along the wall. Turns out the motor just gave out, no driver error. Since he was close to the wall, they put cones up to mark where the oil was after the clean up (lost about 10 feet of track at the top near the wall).

As the day went on, we were pushing more and more. And on one of the laps, I really opened up from the start of the first turn and on down the straight away - which as the car was drifting up the bank of the track, I "found" a couple of cones marking the oil line.

I learned that the back brake air scoops are actually two pieces that are pressed together that a cone being struck at 120ish can easily break (which is great because the car panel is just fine).

This was the last running of my original tires and in the last session, I also picked up a rock that caused a small leak in the back right tire. Pulled out the tire plug kit (carry one at all times), patched it up and drove it on home (through i-80 construction - 1 hour to go 4 miles).

Anyway it was a great end to the track sessions this year. Plan for over the winter: buy tires dedicated to the track, add DRM ducts and a few other smaller improvements. By springtime, I'll get back to "educating the driver" and do far more events.

By the way, I want to thank JEM (Jose) for badgering me to go with him last spring. What was going to be a one time thing has advanced to an interest and is well on it's way to be an obsession!

Don Benson · 10-04-2004, 10:52 AM

Tom,

Make sure you bring the videos with you to Bill's on Saturday. I am certain a few folks would be interested in seeing the Z hit 150+ in that long straight at Pocono, not to mention your playing "tag" with the Porsche.

Don

Backlash · 10-04-2004, 10:55 AM

Don,

Not a problem, I'll bring some of the video. Jose was behind me when I sent one of the cones into low earth orbit, he might even have that on tape.

Tom

2003Torch · 10-04-2004, 11:11 AM

Yes Jose does have it on tape and you can clearly see the cone go flying. See all at Bills.

jem · 10-04-2004, 03:52 PM

Will do that, expect the video there, with some other stuff as well. Lots of fun guys, just wish more of you would try it out I am certain you will all be addicted as we are

Subdriver · 10-05-2004, 07:47 AM

Quote:

What was going to be a one time thing has advanced to an interest and is well on it's way to be an obsession!

You are certainly correct there!

Sounds like you guys had a great year. Have fun next year as well!

speedpup · 10-05-2004, 11:03 PM

I loved it and turn my fastest time yet on the North course of 57.66 on Hoosiers

crainholio · 10-08-2004, 06:24 PM

I was there in my silver third-gen Camaro running in blue group with some of you, had a great time! I usually do time trials with EMRA, but wanted to squeeze in one last event at Pocono to test some suspension mods I put on the car.

PDA really runs a great event. Very well organized, track doesn't get cold between sessions. I'll be back next year!

Jose's "21saints" car really put a hurting on me trying to keep up, thanks for stopping by in the pits. It's good to hear I'm not the only one who runs 15W-50 oil.

The LS1 powertrain transplant project has been a great success this season. I clicked off a few 1:02.xx laps last Sunday even with the track getting slick...best ever for me.

Backlash · 10-08-2004, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crainholio

I was there in my silver third-gen Camaro running in blue group with some of you, had a great time! I usually do time trials with EMRA, but wanted to squeeze in one last event at Pocono to test some suspension mods I put on the car.

And it was good running with you too. I was in the blue vette following you in the last session of the day. Hope to see you next season, learned a lot following your line

DJWorm · 10-09-2004, 06:18 AM

Whew....at first I thought this post was about a bunch of Geeks racing their Handhelds.

Backlash · 10-09-2004, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJWorm

Whew....at first I thought this post was about a bunch of Geeks racing their Handhelds.

The PDA is a local group in NJ that rents out tracks and runs DE's. Have to admit when I was first forwarded their site link I thought the same thing...

**blkZ06** · 10-09-2004, 07:00 AM

wow what a great write-up! I felt like I was there, Pocono is such a great track.

I was at BeaveRun last wknd and a we had the same problem with the fog-a porsche saw the sidelines and never made it back on the track. It can really get dangerous out there when folks think the track is dry just because it isn't raining.

If you don't have it already, get a camera mount so you can feed your obsession during the winter by watching videos

I have one DE left on Oct23 at Mid OH, then it will be withdrawal for me as well 'til May

speedpup · 10-09-2004, 07:54 PM

In 5 years I have been off by 4 wheels twice. Both times in the first half of the frst lap in warm up. Both times wet and doing about 30 MPH or even less and just slid off gracefully about 10 feet. Once on Pocono South and at the Oak tree at VIR. Only my feelings were hurt

I tape all my runs as you never know when you have a great battle with someone and they are great to watch all winter and give to the competition. They are usually thrilled when I tell them it is all on tape. Good to critique yourself by later also.

ROSSO Z · 10-10-2004, 07:25 AM

speedpup,

Ditto on Oaktree at VIR. I've done 4-off there also. Too much torque, too soon and bye-bye. That is not an easy turn to master. We are taught a double-apex line. The second turn in has to be tight, otherwise when you hit it there is no room to open up to the left. It almost feels off-camber, if you aren't way inside before you strart to accellerate.

Ain't it fun?

crainholio · 10-10-2004, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Backlash

And it was good running with you too. I was in the blue vette following you in the last session of the day. Hope to see you next season, learned a lot following your line

I hope I wasn't holding you up, it was tough gauging how close you were. The competition was great...with you and the other C5 behind me, and Jose out there in front, that last session was pretty exciting.