NJMP Thunderbolt

Norm Peterson

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Thats one of my buddies in front of me in a GT 350. I was fine with riding behind him. :). Its about having fun and bringing your car home in one piece. And he did let me by a few laps later. lol. I need to buy RaceRender software so I can make videos longed than 3 minutes.
Was he holding back any thinking that running any faster would walk away from you, or was he mostly just new to NJMP?

There's a NY-based GT350 owner I know of elsewhere (a red car) who started out only running Thunderbolt laps in the low 1:4x range, so there's definitely an element of familiarity involved.


Norm
 
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Juice

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Was he holding back any thinking that running any faster would walk away from you, or was he mostly just new to NJMP?

There's a NY-based GT350 owner I know of elsewhere (a red car) who started out only running Thunderbolt laps in the low 1:4x range, so there's definitely an element of familiarity involved.


Norm
He doesn't drive as hard as I do. ;) My other friend with a GT500 walks away from me. He is also an instructor.
Wait, 1:4xs? for a GT350? I was running 1:38s that day, and dipped into the 37's once or twice.
 

Norm Peterson

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Pretty sure it was one of his first times there and he was still getting used to the car. Guessing he was taking it too easy through 3 and 12 in particular.

Haven't heard much about him lately except I think he lost an engine a while back.


Norm
 

Greg D

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Reporting back after my first track outing with Firestone Firehawk INDY500 tires. I had 4 sessions at Hallett MRC during the MidAmerica Ford/Shelby Nationals. The tires might be good for rain but not for best dry performance. With a treadwear rating of 320, they're way to hard for good grip. It'll be awhile but I'll be going to Bridgestone RE-71Rs or else I'll go all-in for race tires.
 

JJ427R

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Reporting back after my first track outing with Firestone Firehawk INDY500 tires. I had 4 sessions at Hallett MRC during the MidAmerica Ford/Shelby Nationals. The tires might be good for rain but not for best dry performance. With a treadwear rating of 320, they're way to hard for good grip. It'll be awhile but I'll be going to Bridgestone RE-71Rs or else I'll go all-in for race tires.

I'm quite surprised at that as I just ran them at Road America over the weekend on a very slick track and I had great traction with them, ran some of my best sessions there yet, even for how hot and slick it was. I had very little wear after 8 sessions. Running 34 psi on all 4 corners. I'll post some pics of tire wear on there shortly.
I have video here.
https://www.s197forum.com/threads/road-america-july-4-5-2020-with-northwoods-shelby.137934/
 

Juice

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Is that a Delaware PCA event?


Norm
Yes.
Great day so far. Matched laptimes from 2 years ago. Same tires, but 3.55 gears. (vs 3.73s last time). Still cant use 2nd, too low. lol Car is pretty 'free' on power/corner exits. These tires are just about toast. (NT 01)
 

Norm Peterson

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I hear you on the difficulty in using 2nd even with your higher redline than mine - that 2.10 in the wide ratio gearset is even shorter than the 2.00 in the TR3650 (and almost as far away from 3rd).

My opinion - gear spacings much above 1.4 to 1 can be somewhat cumbersome on the downshift, especially for those downshifts involving a dog-leg shifter motion (5-4, 3-2).


Norm
 

Norm Peterson

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Yes.
Great day so far. Matched laptimes from 2 years ago. Same tires, but 3.55 gears. (vs 3.73s last time). Still cant use 2nd, too low. lol Car is pretty 'free' on power/corner exits. These tires are just about toast. (NT 01)
Hoping to see some video.


Norm
 

Juice

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Hoping to see some video.


Norm
I got both afternoon sessions, last session was the most fun. I would be uploading them tonight, but I left my recorder in the car. lol, Realized it 10 min into the trip home. So hang tight, maybe monday. I am curious to see them myself! IMG_20211002_154543168.jpg
 

Juice

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I think my nt01 s are done, lol. Cant complain, still improved from yesterday!
IMG_20211003_100414886.jpg
 

Juice

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A LOT of heat cycles, 20 or more possible. Still no chording. lol Sure got my $$'s worth out of them.
 

Norm Peterson

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Looks like damage from "road" debris. I'd be uneasy about that as well.

For 20-ish heat cycles - is that 20 individual sessions, 20 track days, or something else (like 20 total mornings plus afternoons)?


NT01s seem to get decent reviews regarding lifespan. They're not on Terry Fair's list of good tires to use - but he's at a really serious time trialing level well above where most of the rest of us play. For the improving HPDE driver, they sound like a reasonable "learner R-comp tire" as long as your track days are dry.

(4) Tire Review Recommendations? | Page 2 | 2015+ S550 Mustang Forum (GT, EcoBoost, GT350, GT500, Bullitt, Mach 1) - Mustang6G.com

I don't know how much track experience Ewheels has under his belt, but that post is getting likes from at least one person of established credibility.


Norm
 

Juice

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That number of heat cycles is a total guess. Figure on 4 heat cycles per track day, and most of the ones I attend are two day events.

I just ran the R888Rs, pretty much the same feel as the NT01s, and on par with laptimes (1 38s). But these are just about smoked too, lol. W/dozen or more heat cycles.
 

Norm Peterson

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I should have asked this earlier - what size NT01s, and how wide are the wheels they're mounted on? This is more out of personal curiosity than any attempt to evaluate anything.

305/35-18s aren't exactly inexpensive, and 275/40-18 is a bit taller than I'd ever want to go (neither 275/35 nor 275/40 feels like enough tire durability-wise either even though 275/xx NT01 dry grip would still be better than that of 285/35 MPSS).


Norm
 
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Juice

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245/45 17s on 9" rims. If I go with NT01s on the 17s, I will get 275/40 17s.
 

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