dmichaels

Just got back from a great 2 days at Watkins Glen. Significant driver mod since last year and I was able to knock off about 6 seconds (!) off my previous best time. Still got some soft brake pedal, but the brakes were strong otherwise just had a bit more pedal travel which made heel-toeing hard.

I seem to be destroying rear brake pads... looks like I need to replace them again after a total of about 325 track miles. Driving harder = braking harder = chewing thru pads quicker...

I'm currently using Pagid RS56 on the rears and I had put 7 track days on them last set, but only got 3 on the latest set. I am driving the car significantly harder, so I know that's part of the "problem" - anyone have good luck with a longer lasting rear pad?

Anyways, here's my quick lap of the 2 day event.

Do me a favor and click the advertisement (takes like 10 seconds) - gets me money to fund track days and parts!!!!

70monte

Pretty cool. Are you going to post the results from the RX catch can usage during this run?


Wayne

PJRManagement

Amazing video, great track day. 142MPH on the back straight? Fantastic!

dmichaels

Yep. Had no time to monitor during the event. Car is all cooled off now and will check things out later

silverstate777

Derek, looks like you had a great time at the track and the video says it all.

Have you looked into cryogenically treated brake rotors? I don’t know how well this works on a mustang, but this mod extended the pad/rotor life on my former ‘06 crown vic.

Here’s the idea: http://www.frozenrotors.com/markets/race/

13GetThere

Holy Christmas! That was impressive.

dmichaels

Yes, I've looked into cryo treated rotors. It is definitely applicable to extending rotor life - that doesn't seem to be my problem at present. I'm going to start playing around with other pad options. I think not having front SS lines is actually biasing my braking to the rear (more pressure in the rear than the front when the front brake lines heat and expand... my theory at least). That's the next add-on... we'll see if it works for Thompson next month

SilrBult

Very nice. I see you have front brake ducts, ever consider rears? I know the fronts do the bulk of the work, but since you're eating up rear pads it might be worth trying. What tires/wheels are you using?

dmichaels

Yeah, I have been thinking about rear cooling. Need to draw up some NACA ducts and backing plates to have my friend with a 3D printer make the ducts. And then weld up backing plates. It's probably going to be a winter project.

I'm currently running 09 era GT500 wheels (18x9.5) with Sumitomo HTR Z III tires. Purposely bought them because low cost and high treadwear. They are the only part I have that is not wearing quickly

13GetThere

Hmm, I'm really interested in your solution to rear break cooling ducting.

dmichaels

If I do get something worked, I'll certainly post. If I can get something pretty "official" looking, I might try to sell some kits too. Winter project...

JoeMidnight

what version of Harry's lap timer is that? am I correct? is that video animation emulation of you going around the track?

dmichaels

I use Harry's Lap Timer - Grand Prix edition. I use it in combination with the GoPoint BT1 OBDII interface. Makes for pretty impressive video and data collection...

The video is real life driving. That was me, in my car, at Watkins Glen. It sort of looks like a video game....

JoeMidnight

very cool! i have the Petrol head version of Harry's lap timer. I haven't driven on a track yet... just wanted to try it out, seemed really cool!

and that's interesting. I was pretty confused. Some aspects of the video (hood,reflections, sky) looked real and then the grass looked like it was a cartoon world!

thanks, i'm going to look at that OBDII interface as well

dmichaels

Highly recommend the OBDII gizmo. There are a couple that work as I understand, but I've only used the GoPoint one and I've had excellent luck with it thus far. it also reads and clears CEL codes in all cars. And I can use it to monitor my Jeep ECU parameters while towing the Mustang to events. It's worth its weight in gold to me!

Yeah, I understand the confusion on the Harry's - some of the video does look very much like modern driving simulations. I guess that's a big "well done" to the folks that write that software as it is so good it truly looks almost real. But I only do the real life stuff - simulation has it's purpose and fun, but nothing beats getting out there and pulling 1.2+ laternal g's and hitting a heel-toe perfect right before nailing an apex... that all said, i could save myself a boat load of money by just driving simulation games

lakeguy77

Great vid man. I noticed this time around you were pretty much always high up in the rev range in 4th and 5th, whereas in some of your previous ones at Thompson you spend most of your time in 3rd and 4th, some 5th on the odd straight. Watkins Glen must be a lot more wide open...I know I see it all the time on Speed Channel in sports car racing, is it more setup for real fast racecar type stuff?

dmichaels

Yes the Glen is a much faster track and high HP cars do very well there.

OnceYouGoBlack

So freaking cool! I wish I could see the whole run!

Mustang Freak

Josh is that your car in your avatar? If so you now have my favorite avatar! :rock:

dmichaels

Here's a little more video if you're interested... chasing a NSX and E92 M3