Trak comedy 7-31 -'10 Buttonwillow

**harrison** · 08-01-2010, 03:33 PM

A little update on my R8 exploits: Serviced my filters before hand. THANK GOODNESS. Car was choking. Probably need to be cleaned again real soon 'cuz of get-off into gravel because of loss of tire rubber on last lap, at end of day. Carbotech brakes (XP 12s up front and XP10s on rear) worked great and allowed me to shave 2 seconds off my best time of 2min 6sec. Am being told that my car has reached its' potential for its' weight at this track. Fresh wider shoes and am sure I can shave off 2 more seconds. 2 minutes flat, is my goal and hope another R8 V8 (normally aspirated) can match or better that. Had no problem passing Desparado, or lapping his son. No-one ever passed me and I was able to eventually pass everyone in my groups. Fastest lap times in all my groups. I drove the tires off the car. Being prepared mentally and mechanically is KEY. You can guess what I'll be doing all day today... Pressure washing, cleaning, polishing, vacuuming, and putting street brake pads and tires/rims back on. Krpman...trying not to use that letter that comes before J too much !!!!!!!!!!!!! Kfab... had there been trees at the track, I would be destroyed several times over. Here are a couple of pics of the wing mounts you wanted to see. You'll have your wing soon , no? Before the GT came out , many of us were ANTI-WING. Just had to rub that in !!! I occasionally get off, but I manage to get out on my own. Desparado had to be TOWED out because of too much power. Drove the Hoosiers right off. Desparado had less rubber than me at the start of day.

This is the gravel from days past at Buttonwillow.This is the actual color of the "get off areas" at the track.

A good cleaning will be good for some extra power. Trimmed the filters for more clearance to the box too.

THIS is how I roll lately, street and track - with the stock spoiler in this position - all the time now. Need to black out the underside of spoiler ,NO? And this is the dirtiest my car has ever been.

... Hope you enjoy my efforts. Owning an R8 still rings my bell. Sure, I'm pedal to the metal most of the time . But this is fast enough for me. I guess I am a wuss to some. But NOT to most. Aaron Bitterman (head honcho at Speed Ventures) says I'll be able to shave another second off, by relaxing with a beer, before going out for a session again...HMMMM.

Even with ESP, ABS, EDS, EDL, ASR, etc. ... YOU cannot overcome the laws of physics. Being behind other cars that are just getting in over their heads is sure interesting. I have learned, not to intentionally push people to their limit and beyond, just to see them crash. I just need a clear track to "try and better my times". So...I am in a race against myself. To be smooth and go where no R8 has gone before.

**gazza1** · 08-02-2010, 01:37 AM

As always Harrison a entertaining post.

Congrats on the seconds shaved off.You certainly sound like you enjoy the 10/10ths on the loud pedal.

Carbontech pads sound as thou they do the business nicely.

Have you ever tried Padigs?and do you just slot pads in before and after yourself and do a bleed?

Coincidentally I was on the track yesterday in the R8 after a while and shaved over 2 seconds of my previous best.

Car was the same but the driver had obviously picked up some banzai skills with all the GT-R track time I have been having.

**harrison** · 08-02-2010, 09:43 AM

Sweet. The Carbotechs came prebedded. And swapping the R8s' pads is the easist of any car I've owned. Just pull the pins , pull the old ones out and drop the new ones in. Desparado runs the Padgids. I have not tried them. And he has been waiting for months to receive his new set from Craigs' brake company. Desparados' son Will likes his Carbotechs.

**OEMplus.com** · 08-02-2010, 10:10 AM

Nice job on the tires... wow...

**Bodhii** · 08-02-2010, 01:12 PM

Hey Harrison,
Do you remember this MSG that I sent you back when I was trying to convince you to start driving on a track?
I think this was maybe the birth of a true track MONSTER!

Congrats on busting the fun meter! That's really the only clock that really matters. Eh?

05-11-2009, 09:23 AM
Hey, I mention the track only because U seem to have so much energy and enjoyment for these hi performance cars. And the track is the place where all such good energies and reality meet the road in perfect union. I guess U are the type that maybe needs a helpful kick in the arse to make you take that leap. So I volunteer my foot!

Really, being a novice rookie is a very curable disease, and one that is most enjoyable to shed, I think!

Find a track DE at Infineon or another nearby track. It will change your look at driving forever, and in the very best way....