GST Motorsports heads East for GTA RD:2 New Jersey
08-08-2011, 07:43 AM
#1
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GST Motorsports heads East for GTA RD:2 New Jersey
This weekend we had the good fortune to be able to run our Time Attack car on the East Coast at New Jersey Motorsports Park on their Lightning Track, I now get why it's called the lightning track as this is one fast track with plenty of elevated high speed sweepers and some with slight banking built in.
Upon arriving at the track we really didn't know what to expect other than we knew nothing about the track except the few video's we had seen from others, our driver Jeff Westphal had not driven the track and we also had very few spares or tools!
Saturday morning with the car located (we were not even sure where the transporter had left it
) Earl got the car together and we sent Jeff out on track to do a couple of recon laps and get his bearings on some used up tires from our previous event. After 3 very low speed laps Jeff felt like pushing the car a little to see how the chassis was working, this lap was a 1:05.xx which apparently was good enough for a track record (old record was 1:06.7)
We were a little surprised and Jeff reported there was time everywhere as he was not even pushing.
In the afternoon session we sent Jeff out with some fresh tires and he managed a 1:03.3xx, this set the buzz around the paddock of everyone wanting us to push for a sub 1:00 (overall record for this track is a 58.6 set by a Formula Atlantic open wheel car)
The heavens opened up overnight and we all awoke to murky skies and wet cement but fortunately no rain, Our first session was set for 10:40am and the track looked to be drying out fast.
For our first session the track was in good shape but we were only able to knock a tenth off of our previous time and the driver was now reporting we had picked up a little push.
We made the decision for the final session of the day to rotate the tires from front to back to make the rear a little looser (we were out of new tires anyway!) After looking at the data I realized we still had another 500rpms to use on the motor but could not turn the car up to the kill map as we're running a new turbo and I had not had time to tune that map as the whole event was so last minute for us to be even going at all
With Jeff loaded in the car and some RPM's at his disposal we set off to the pit lane knowing that Chris Rado had us firmly in his sights (he had ran 1:05.4 earlier in the day with only 5 laps or so on track and his data showing he could do a 1:03.1)
On our first hot lap there was an off directly in front of us which caused Jeff to abort his flier and go round for another one, this would happen 3 times and Earl and I were now getting nervous regarding whether the tires would hold for another attempt or if we even had enough fuel in the car!
As the car came back on the front straight for a 4th attempt it was clear that Jeff had no intention of letting up as he was flying (braking into the first turn around 169mph) Earl and I paced around waiting for the car to come back round and when it did she was flying again with Jeff ripping off a 1:02.460!
All in all this was a great event put on very well by the guys at GTA and our hosts on the East coast were awesome to work with, everyone out here was great and we really hope we're able to come back out here again to see all of our new friends soon!
I'll get some pictures and in-car up when I get back as now I have to fly through like 4 airports to get home tonight
Upon arriving at the track we really didn't know what to expect other than we knew nothing about the track except the few video's we had seen from others, our driver Jeff Westphal had not driven the track and we also had very few spares or tools!
Saturday morning with the car located (we were not even sure where the transporter had left it
) Earl got the car together and we sent Jeff out on track to do a couple of recon laps and get his bearings on some used up tires from our previous event. After 3 very low speed laps Jeff felt like pushing the car a little to see how the chassis was working, this lap was a 1:05.xx which apparently was good enough for a track record (old record was 1:06.7)We were a little surprised and Jeff reported there was time everywhere as he was not even pushing.
In the afternoon session we sent Jeff out with some fresh tires and he managed a 1:03.3xx, this set the buzz around the paddock of everyone wanting us to push for a sub 1:00 (overall record for this track is a 58.6 set by a Formula Atlantic open wheel car)
The heavens opened up overnight and we all awoke to murky skies and wet cement but fortunately no rain, Our first session was set for 10:40am and the track looked to be drying out fast.
For our first session the track was in good shape but we were only able to knock a tenth off of our previous time and the driver was now reporting we had picked up a little push.
We made the decision for the final session of the day to rotate the tires from front to back to make the rear a little looser (we were out of new tires anyway!) After looking at the data I realized we still had another 500rpms to use on the motor but could not turn the car up to the kill map as we're running a new turbo and I had not had time to tune that map as the whole event was so last minute for us to be even going at all
With Jeff loaded in the car and some RPM's at his disposal we set off to the pit lane knowing that Chris Rado had us firmly in his sights (he had ran 1:05.4 earlier in the day with only 5 laps or so on track and his data showing he could do a 1:03.1)
On our first hot lap there was an off directly in front of us which caused Jeff to abort his flier and go round for another one, this would happen 3 times and Earl and I were now getting nervous regarding whether the tires would hold for another attempt or if we even had enough fuel in the car!
As the car came back on the front straight for a 4th attempt it was clear that Jeff had no intention of letting up as he was flying (braking into the first turn around 169mph) Earl and I paced around waiting for the car to come back round and when it did she was flying again with Jeff ripping off a 1:02.460!
All in all this was a great event put on very well by the guys at GTA and our hosts on the East coast were awesome to work with, everyone out here was great and we really hope we're able to come back out here again to see all of our new friends soon!
I'll get some pictures and in-car up when I get back as now I have to fly through like 4 airports to get home tonight
08-08-2011, 10:28 AM
#6
Man I just looked at the other class time. JEEBUS Mike. You guys STOMPED on the east coast.... like silly stomped.
A 1:10 was the next fastest AWD Unlimited time and Rado had the next fastest unlimited time and he was 3 seconds behind. 3 seconds is an eternity.
Stoked for you guys. Great job!
Really makes me wonder how you would have done in Aus. Next time!
Stoked for you bro!
A 1:10 was the next fastest AWD Unlimited time and Rado had the next fastest unlimited time and he was 3 seconds behind. 3 seconds is an eternity.
Stoked for you guys. Great job!
Really makes me wonder how you would have done in Aus. Next time!
Stoked for you bro!
