mont-tremblant FUNNNNNNNNNNN !!!!

[Mark Swinehart]

If you didn't spend all of your funds Monday evening you could afford to buy me a set of tires.

[cuda6666]

+1

But it was a humanitarian gesture in part - ask Ron.

[6PAK72]

WOW! The MR2 is fast! Too bad that the GT40 got flagged....

Thanks to all of you for not running the TR of the road, and for celebrating Liz's first run! The support and critiques combined to make this a great weekend, even if we did not turn the TR into a fishbowl for Sunday!

The track was superb, the the flaggers and spotters were excellent - they caught a mis-latched door on one of Liz's runs.

We missed the 240Z - Hope to see you at NHIS!

[subsonic]

I too had a blast - Tremblant is great fun and I thank the whole organization for putting up this great event. I also witnessed a flute performance from Jeff and Liz.

My times at trial could have gone a bit better.. I made the wrong tactical decisions. It felt kind of silly following a car for 2 of my 3 timed laps..

[962porsche]

jeff and liz . when i was timimg liz day one ( monday ) in the 2nd run of the day i got he at a 238.89 for a best time and a 241.05 for her slowest time . i only time liz on 4 laps . does the TR have a soft top or does it not fit with the roll bar ? its good to see a husband and wife into the same hobby at makes for a strong relationship .

[WillM]

Monday was great, Tuesday was AWESOME!!

This was my first opportunity to drive Tremblant in the rain, and I loved almost every minute of it! I had so much fun that I was actually hoping for downpours during my time trial, but that was not to be. During my rungroup, the rain had stopped and there was no standing water, but the track remained very slippery, especially Turns 5 and 12. The varying amounts of rainfall made for ever-changing track conditions (and driving lines), and I had a blast looking for for grip and pushing the car a bit more as I found it. I'll post up a video when I can.

During the wet morning sessions I was right behind two spins. Both could be used in our classroom sessions, but for two different reasons (what to do, what NOT to do!).

Orange Mustang Spin in rain

White BMW Spin in rain

[zip4zat]

I think someone heard your prayers for TT. It was raining so hard during my run group that I couldnt see a thing going into 8. couldnt see the grass, couldnt see brake markers, all I saw was a lake and prayed that I was still on pavement. I have to agree with you open track was some of the most fun I had at MT. The track is surprisingly grippy in the wet, (in places...)

[WillM]

Joe, you aren't kidding!

During open track, when I was behind you and Mick, I totally lost track of your car. As I crested the slope at T9 I thought you both had totally run away. I almost almost soiled my race suit when your brake lights went on going into T10. I wasn't that close, but your gray car was totally invisible in the mist.

[6PAK72]

Let's see - The TR has a soft top. The factory roll bar height is designed to fit UNDER the soft top. So, it's just about even with my helmet - 6-footer.

We welded a 4" high steel box with Grade 8 studs on the base plate to drop into the factory-drilled holes, and it's a receiver for the bolts that hold the bar, thus fulfilling the "broomstick" rule.

The other reason I don't run in the rain is that the dash instruments and electrics can be funky when wet. The voltage regulator is mounted on the back of the speedo, right under the left windscreen airvent - it could get really wet. That, and it has the OEM Wilton-Wool carpets with the Jute heat mats - imagine the smell when wet.

I'm thrilled that she had a good time, and she was pretty surprised, though she's sheepish about having to go round in 4th.

Thanks for the times - I'll forward them over to Liz.

[TroyV]

I had a blast as well. I was turning in some decent laps in the dry. In the wet, the story changed though. I may have to consider a proper rain tire..

[mr2sc]

Just a comment on the rain; while some cars are rather benign to drive in the rain, others can be more than a handful even in the dry.
In my case, 330whp in a chassis designed for 130whp, makes the Porsche 'Widowmaker' (with similar weight distribution and dynamics, but vastly better suspension, etc, etc) seem positively docile in comparison.

When I was at LCMT a week earlier, also in the rain (morning was just drizzly, afternoon steady rain), that time on street tires, I crested the hump on the back straight and couldn't see squat from the spray. There were 2 cars just off at the end of the back straight, with the second one having barely missed the first one that had gone off (maybe he was he just hypnotized to following the tail lights through the spray?).
I saw neither, till I was almost there (couldn't see the flagger, even if he saw through the spray).
One was, a gorgeous silver 996 GT2 (despite his ABS), who had taken me around as a passenger earlier in the day.

Besides the fact that my power windows and locks had shorted out from the deluge entering the car, I decided that this just wasn't for me...not unless someone is paying me to do it

Anyhow, glad that all went well for everyone, without incident and I also enjoyed seeing all the cars out there (was relieved the TR6 had only run out of gas...reminded me when the same had happened to me during a race there with my old GT6+ circa 1975!). Also, I was really suprised at the clip the little white MG Midget was circulating at...whoooeeee!

I also realized that my wanting to keep the car looking as innocuous as possible is getting difficult, because those big-ass APR wings that many people now have sure do seem to help them in the fast sweepers. What to do...look authentic? Or go batmobile rice...dunno...hmmm

I'm bummed that I won't have a chance to see y'all again till next year.

[chaos4NH]

I had a blast as well. I was turning in some decent laps in the dry. In the wet, the story changed though. I may have to consider a proper rain tire..

Considering that was the first rainy time trial in the 20+ I have run, it would be hard to justify the cost of dedicated rain tires. I ran my Nitto Neo Gen street tires. It was a real lesson in overcoming understeer (which has not been a problem in the dry since going to the coilovers). Pretty good forward bite and braking power, but NO side bite with those tires (bet they will be a lot of fun NOT in the snow!). As opposed to Will, I was never happier to see that checkered flag!

[962porsche]

i do like the rain . its the grate equalizer . my very stock under powered 944 does the best in the rain . the only thing not stock on my car is the camber-caster plates and exhaust . so it should be in ST4 not SPC . but becouse of the roll cage it was put in SPC so when it rains its the only time my car comes close to the top runners in my class . the 50 plus HP the other cars have in my class can't help you now . MUCH ! one thing good i did find out was if you install a muffler on a S2000 you rob it of all its HP . do you think a big red apple in the end of the exhaust would do the same thing ?

[chaos4NH]

i do like the rain . its the grate equalizer . my very stock under powered 944 does the best in the rain . the only thing not stock on my car is the camber-caster plates and exhaust . so it should be in ST4 not SPC . but becouse of the roll cage it was put in SPC so when it rains its the only time my car comes close to the top runners in my class . the 50 plus HP the other cars have in my class can't help you now . MUCH ! one thing good i did find out was if you install a muffler on a S2000 you rob it of all its HP . do you think a big red apple in the end of the exhaust would do the same thing ?

The roll cage puts you in SPC? Not that I am aware of. I guess only because you have no front carpeting?

[cuda6666]

I also realized that my wanting to keep the car looking as innocuous as possible is getting difficult, because those big-ass APR wings that many people now have sure do seem to help them in the fast sweepers. What to do...look authentic? Or go batmobile rice...dunno...hmmm.

But Tommy, if you put a wing on the back of your car, how will you open the rear lid to feed the squirrels?