Yes folks, another track day has been here and gone way too fast. All went well with the new tire and brake pad setup (Falken 615s and Hawk HT-10s (front) and Blues (rear)). I must say, these pads took off a couple hundred feet to my distance needs for breaking. I'd say half of that was the pads, the other half was the confidence they give by being there every time. Right around 300-400 feet I could burry that sucker to the ground and be more than ready for my turn-in. Conjoined with the new tires, I was a happy camper...until my brake fluid decided to take a vacation and my brakes got too squishy. Nothing like pressing the pedal to the floor and having NOTHING happen:) Good times.

The R8...WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He came out of nowhere. No one said anything about him being there, or why. He just rolled in off the street, with his "Manufacturer" tags on, and stole the friggin' show! No one cared about any of the 5 or 6 Lotus (or Loti?), the half dozen Lambos and Ferraris, nor any of the other "regular" exotics. No my friends, EVERYONE was focused on the R8. As well they should be...that car is sex on wheels. Pure, unadulterated fornication on 295 R19s. I was in love:)

One sad note: my best friend's Rally Golf (which was a full frame-off custom rebuild with multiple upgrades and custom engine/performance mods) seized it's motor:( He was having a voltage issue at the very end of his lapping, as he was pulling off onto the paddock, and about 15 feet rolling off the track the engine seized and shut down:( Very sad for such an amazing limited build one of a kind car. Especially since he was running it VERY well on the track all day too. So we'll see what happens here in the next couple days after we cool our heals from today and let our heads wrap around what to do with her. Very sad.

Anyway, just thought I'd let you all know the TT did great yet again. Successfully held off an M6 and kept pace with a number of the Ferraris and 911 in the corners. The straights are another story for my sad little stock turbo:( She tries really hard though:) Those Loti eat everyone alive out there though. Those little bastards are fast!

BTW, be careful with the Hawk Blues. They're awesome pads for the track, but don't drive with them on the street. If they don't get up to temp (and they won't with normal city/freeway driving), they are worse than sandpaper on your rotors... they'll eat your rotors up. And they are also very corrosive.... make sure to clean off any brake dust from your wheels, or else they'll destroy your finish.

mofo, but they are my track-only pads. They come off tonight as soon as I can get a nap after my double-header.

Decent day though all in all. The drive back to Seattle is a bit draininig though. Wish I had room for my EZ up for this one. It was hot. The Panoz was fast. Running in the advanced group was very nice. No trains; small group; many many laps in the clear.

because it definitely is much nicer than the Intermediate. MOST advanced groups run well like that, but these guys seem to run very well (especially the Lotus groups).

I'll try to post those in a bit if they're any good. Captured video too, but posting a lap might not be worth the effort.

Engine oil temps got a little high, but not intolerable all things considered. Tires got greasy late during p.m. sessions. Lower tire pressures => better. The Nitto NT01s are very nice. They really hold up well.

You don't usually see this many Lamborghinis at a track day...

<img src="http://shim1.shutterfly.com/procgserv/47b7d623b3127cce98548ae5edab00000027100ZasmbFixk">


Or this kind of attire:

<img src="http://shim1.shutterfly.com/procgserv/47b7d623b3127cce98548ae3edad00000027100ZasmbFixk">

I wonder what's going on in that Bentley. Sorry, that's the only pic of the "models" I snapped.<ul><li><a href="http://mysvtftoy.shutterfly.com/action/slideshow?a=67b0de21b35125144524&amp;auto=1&amp;idx=-1&amp;m=1&amp;d=1186119975290">Link to a few more paddock pics.</a></li></ul>

fine picture of his white calves standing by the S2000:) He needs a tan.

The models weren't much honestly. Total Monet's. The girls from my client's show last weekend in Vegas were 1000x hotter and in much better shape. These girls really wouldn't turn too many heads I don't think, except they kept falling out of their tops getting in and out of the cars (and mounting the respective interiors).

Pretty funny how much attention those big money cars bring from the ladies. I was happier peeking over as I flew by down the front straight while those $100K+ cars sat on the paddock:) I guarantee I put more miles on my car today than they did.

dammnnn lambos' models and chicks oh my!

He has a story to tell about the tire wall beyond the T11 exit. The wing he's putting on his car in the picture is from his buddy Pong (red S2000 with gold rims) who corded his tires and was done by midday. Kind of amazing how quick you can swap the trunk lid.

No models though I bet. Just old dudes and flat sixes.

it's my bank account that has lost interest :(

timing belt, water pump, gauge pod from Schwing, harnesses, exhaust build, harness cage build...the list goes on. My money hates me, so it does everything it can to leave me and hide in the car:) But I don't drink or go out ever, so I guess it balances out (sort of...least that's what I tell myself to feel better).

During the last session, the point control put your TT out right in front of me as I was rounding T12. Now, I saw you and was able to manuever around you, but I think that was very bad judgement on his part. I might post a short video showing it. I've never seen Sean do that.

Here's why it's bad: It forced me to pinch that turn a little bit so I could come inside of you. You never want to pinch exiting 12. The other option was to go completely off throttle to line up behind you. That was not going to happen as you were just not making enough speed coming out of the paddock.

regarding race gas availability...<ul><li><a href="http://forums.audiworld.com/pacificnw/msgs/129556.phtml">http://forums.audiworld.com/pacificnw/msgs/129556.phtml</a</li></ul>

tire. I have no problem with people working on their cars at the track, but PLEASE clean up your mess after you are done (especially considering the safety issue of blowing a tire on the track). I was lucky that we were shutting down for a while and I didn't pick it just prior to going out. Would have been BAD.