Lotus Exige track killer - Tuner-Junction

apexinghonda · #1 (**permalink**) April 16th, 2006, 07:43 PM

On Saturday, my SCCA region had a one day track event at Barber Motorsports Park. I was the assistant chair of the event so needless to say I was busy. I only had one student and because I missed my first instructor session, I went out in advanced one time.

In front of me on the grid first in line was a sp 57 (I think) boostlogic single turbo Supra, next car was a gray Lotus Exige, next car was a uber supercharged miata (300hp), me in my nasty CRX, and behind me a yellow modified Lotus Exige with a even lower splitter, bigger rear wing and a louder engine than stock (don't know what mods). This was the advanced group and everone in that class has a LOT of track time (I know because I help class everyone and looked at all the driver's track histories).

When the track went hot, the miata waved me around for some reason and the yellow Lotus Exige went with me. Because of the miata not moving initially the gray Exige and the Supra put some distance on me but it was the warm up lap. I have a habit of being kind of spirited on the warm up lap but then I want to get my tire temps up and know how to do it without looping the car. I worked my way up to the back end of the gray Exige and the next to the last corner before the front straight (which would be green and time to go) the Supra and the Lotus took (in my opinion) the wrong high line and I came up under them but still behind them hotter than hell up the middle of the track. The car rotates big time in that turn the way that I do it (I am trail braking big time on the limit in a long arc and then do a big steering input with still on the brakes, immediately release release the brake after input and get on the throttle). You can noticeably see the rear rotating around pointing the front end into the apex quickly which then allowed me get into the throttle early on the Lotus. I was up his ass on on the throttle even earlier coming out of the last turn onto the front straight which is "officially" time to put the hammer down. I was not 100 feet out of that turn onto the front straight when I was pulling the gray Exige and he pointed me by (in the advance group our rules were if you can take them on the straight you don't need permission, no point by). Well WITH a passenger mind you I pulled the gray Exige coming down the front straight in front of a pretty good little crowd spectating on the third floor observation deck on top of Race Control.

Next up was the single turbo supra which I managed to gain ground on him under braking (with a heat spotted right front rotor- shaka shaka). The supra went missed the apex by a few feet, I nailed it right and got on the throttle. The Supra then went through the turn 2,3 complex a little too wide for my tastes and again I was able to get a earlier throttle application on the car just hugging the FIA curbing and tracking out to within an inch of the grass all over the curbing on track out (I have been blacked flagged for hitting the cone in the grass next to the curbing before). We came up the hill out of four (2,3, and 4 are all interconnected in a fairly short distance down a pretty steep incline except 4 is a short steep car unloading uphill blind apex), I had a run on the Supra and went by. Then I went bye bye.

I dumped the modded yellow Exige like a cheap suit also. Was not passed the whole session. Actually the only car to pass me that day was a very experienced SCCA club racer in a very well set up T1 Vette Z06 so I don't feel any shame in that.

The gray Exige also showed up in the instructor group and as luck would have it (again with a passenger), I nailed him coming out of the last turn onto the straight and ran away from him.

I have wanted to stack my car (and me) up to the Lotus Elise or Exige. I am happy to report that the ugly, faded yellow, CRX with greasy hand prints, ran away from some expensive machinery.

I switched out my gauge water temp sensor, my water temp sensor for the ECU, and my water sensor for the fan. I bleed the coolant system trying to get rid of my "mystery temp spike" discussed on a prior thread. It stayed away for two full sessions this time with me running the car hard. It reappeared the last two session but never got to hot (nor would I let it). Still scratching my head on this one. I think the electric pump just comes off and a mechanical one goes on. And to those thinking it, no I don't have a blown head gasket. No steam out the back, no fouled plug initially on start up, no milky oil.

The car did great this weekend. I still had more oversteer later in the day than I really wanted but not by much. It was tricky in the first two turns off the back straight which is a slight "throw away" left hand slightly downhill turn immediately followed by a slightly bank at the apex to a blind hill flattening out right hander (it takes a little guts to take it all the way out to the edge of the track there. You don't see the curbing until your throttle has been committed for some time). Anyhow I trail brake coming into the first lefthander (so the car is already a little on edge) and when I finish and go to set up for the right hander you could just feel the car's rear take a very quick set but would feel twitchy. That is with me ending up full soft on my Koni yellows over the course of the day. (made three adjustments). But it stuck every time. Sloppy steering inputs at that moment was be a big spin.

The CRX makes a awesome track car. It was a big surprise to some. I have some in-car footage now on video tape. It was not my camera, mine had issues so it is not wide angle. Maybe I can get a DVD made and somebody can edit and upload the thing.

Barry H.

88 rex · #2 (**permalink**) April 16th, 2006, 09:42 PM

I love those Lotus'! Did you happen to get a chance to take one for a spin? Or maybe ride as a passenger?

apexinghonda · #3 (**permalink**) April 16th, 2006, 09:45 PM

No I didn't but I would like too. I saw the gray Exige owner looking at me and my car after the session but he didn't look like he wanted to come up and talk to me. 18 year old economy car versus brand new semi-exotic track car with a racing heritage.

barry h.

hcarcrx · #4 (**permalink**) April 16th, 2006, 10:11 PM

Barry, I love a good kill story!!!
I can't wait to see some footage!!!!
Glad to see you had fun!
Todd

xTimx · #5 (**permalink**) April 17th, 2006, 12:46 AM

NICE STORY!
and ya c'mon pics, footage or BAN! lol

XLR8 · #6 (**permalink**) April 17th, 2006, 02:12 AM

Man that was a wicked story. I LOVE Lotus, and the Exige is my favourite!! I am thoroughly impressed. Our old scraggly shoe box CR-X's never cease to amaze me. Barry you need to mount a camera in your CR-X. I think we could all benefit and learn a lot from just watching you drive.

Oh and Tim you ain't no mod, quit sayin' you gonna ban people foo.

xTimx · #7 (**permalink**) April 17th, 2006, 02:41 AM

lolol.....ehhh (shrugs) i'm bored

88 rex · #8 (**permalink**) April 17th, 2006, 06:35 AM

I wonder if there are any Lotus forums where they are talking about this event.

apexinghonda · #9 (**permalink**) April 17th, 2006, 08:26 AM

My brother-in-law took some pictures of me on track. One of them show me close to the supra and the gray exige and one of them shows me closed up on the gray exige in the next to the last turn. I will scan and post them but that only proves I was behind them.

I do have an in-car camcorder mounted on a IO Port camera mount. My four hour battery crapped out early on me (I think the outlet I used to charge it was a "switched" outlet & when I turned out the lights to go to bed, yep, quit charging). When I got home to show my brother in law footage, my camera would not play and more importantly would not eject the frickin tape. ARgghh, no warranty on the two year old camcorder either. I don't know if car vibration/harsh enviroment killed it or what. So I screwed my brother in laws camcorder onto the IO port when I noticed at the track that my camera would not turn on. My camera has a wide angle lens, his does not (100mph looks like 50mph with a regular lens set up and not as good a view) but yes, I do have it on tape. I am going to get it transferred onto DVD. Anybody able to load it up onto a website for me?

My joke is the CRX is a Honda "Erise" (get it?). Think about it. Lotus about 1950lbs. My car about 1950lbs EXCEPT I had about a 189lb. passenger with me and I know the Lotus did not in the Advanced group (because the rules don't allow it). Lotus about 180something in crank horsepower. My car 193fwhp. I am running fresh Kumho V710 race rubber and have the Type R brake upgrade and the proper suspension upgrades so the car has the cornering g capability along with pretty hellish stopping power. So then it just boils down to the driver. The driver in the yellow Exige just didn't have the skills to match his car's capabilities yet in that I just pulled away from him too easy.

Barry H.

A_White_Gs-R · #10 (**permalink**) April 17th, 2006, 10:29 AM

Very good driving and im just in love with that crx.

hcarcrx · #11 (**permalink**) April 18th, 2006, 09:37 PM

is the video up yet?????

scottigee · #12 (**permalink**) April 18th, 2006, 11:55 PM

Barry it's a real pleasure to read about your races - you've got real driving talent and you're staying true to the potential of a Honda.
Nothing flashy, no gloating, just genuinely showing people what's up on the track.
I dig it

psyched to see the vid.

apexinghonda · #13 (**permalink**) April 19th, 2006, 05:58 PM

I found someone on another forum I go to that is going to edit and host my video. Yippee! I hope to mail it to him next week on DVD so maybe in two weeks it will be up. Here are some pictures taken of the event

The single turbo Supra

The Yellow Exige behind me that I walked away from (nice damn car):

The gray one I passed at the end of the first lap onto the front straight and walked pulled away from by a large margin. Did him the same way twice that day:

The turn I am talking about where cars go up too high.The black Z is doing the high line in the picture:

The very fun blind hill on track out turn leading up to a downhill then uphill sweeper. The apex (right outside of the picture frame) is actually banked and the corner flattens out on track out so it is tricky under throttle. Have to be confident of you throttle application because if you are too hard when you see the FIA curbing coming it is too late:

The fast yellow exige (drool) with a driver not guite up to his car's capabilities yet on the back straight esse:

The Back Esse, wide variety of cars in the novie group from vettes to Taurus SHO. I am instructing the dark green mini:

$20,000 Virtual GT simulator with Barber track on it we used for a virtual drive around for novices and intermediate prior to them going on the track and for them to use between sessions. Pretty cool huh.

Novice group 600hp mustang with a driver who made the mistake of "punching" the throttle over the short but steep uphill rise coming out of turn 4, got into the marbles, when the car loaded back down after the rise it took a vector, swerved, hith the tire wall and then the gaurdrail. Ouch.

The front of the mustang:

No pictures of my car in that it is not "photo op" worthy. I have one with me behind the Lotus and the supra which I will scan (brother in law took film photos).

Barry H.

88 rex · #14 (**permalink**) April 19th, 2006, 07:27 PM

I have to admit that if I had the money, the rex would be gone and the Exige/Elise would be in my garage. I'm liking the Exige more, but like the targa top of the Elise. If they had a K20a then they would be the completel package. (And yes, I know they make kits to drop one in

)

apexinghonda · #15 (**permalink**) April 19th, 2006, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88 rex

I have to admit that if I had the money, the rex would be gone and the Exige/Elise would be in my garage. I'm liking the Exige more, but like the targa top of the Elise. If they had a K20a then they would be the completel package. (And yes, I know they make kits to drop one in

)

If I was looking to build/buy another track car (being the cheap bastard that I am) I am curious about the LS1 V8 power RX7. I had a last gen. RX7 for about two weeks before I made the dealer buy it back (motor was going south being a lawyer has its advantages) and then went with the bullet proof tt supra. For about 20K I think you can build a LS1 RX7 and the fabricator is close to me in Alabama. I would strip the interior completely out like I have my CRX, lexan some windows. That would be serious power AND torque in a light body with great handling. Check it out:

http://www.hinsonsupercars.com/faqFD.htm

Barry H.

88 rex · #16 (**permalink**) April 19th, 2006, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apexinghonda

If I was looking to build/buy another track car (being the cheap bastard that I am) I am curious about the LS1 V8 power RX7. I had a last gen. RX7 for about two weeks before I made the dealer buy it back (motor was going south being a lawyer has its advantages) and then went with the bullet proof tt supra. For about 20K I think you can build a LS1 RX7 and the fabricator is close to me in Alabama. I would strip the interior completely out like I have my CRX, lexan some windows. That would be serious power AND torque in a light body with great handling. Check it out:

http://www.hinsonsupercars.com/faqFD.htm

Barry H.

That RX7 looks nice! I would like to have a nice domestic V8 powered car one day just to go rumbling down the road.

Hopefully, if all goes well, I wold like to build a factory five replica with my father in law. That is my/our ultimate goal.

www.factoryfive.com

But in a metallic red.

hcarcrx · #17 (**permalink**) April 19th, 2006, 10:54 PM

Barry nice pics, great explantions and once again i cant wait to see the in car footage!!! Just wondering, was the instructor in the mustang when it hit the tyre wall???

apexinghonda · #18 (**permalink**) April 19th, 2006, 11:39 PM

Yes there was an instructor with the student in the mustang. It was the novice class. That was simply too much car for the student. It was a drag car/show car with drag shocks and the guy simply got carried away after a few laps and decided it was time to put the hammer down, over a steep uphill turn. You are track out right to left there and the car unloads significantly coming out of turn four. I tell my students to "let the car run" where it wants to go when you come over the rise. If you "pinch it up" (a big no no) especially too much you can lose it but usually driver's right not left. I can't say the instructor was at error. The student made a split second decision to apply more power than previous laps. Actually the instructor in the accident sequence physically reached over to turn the wheel to keep the car from hitting the guardrail but the student did not have situational awareness to not fight/death grip the wheel so he could not turn the car away from impact.

I have been known to grab the wheel at times too. I try to avoid it but sometimes you just gotta. The other day I drove a whole lap from the passenger side because the student just was not getting what I was saying (way too late apex and then pinching up after the apex) so I showed him.

Barry H.

hcarcrx · #19 (**permalink**) April 20th, 2006, 08:08 AM

I wsnt knocking a instructor or anything. I know from my past experinces with track days, after you get signed off, you feel you can push it more here or more there, untill you get into trouble!! Its a damn shame about the mustang!!

DXE · #20 (**permalink**) April 20th, 2006, 10:07 AM

tana- na -na -na na...

and another one bites the dust....

you familiar with that song?