First 2011 Track Day Event

[Sleeper_08]

We today was my first track day of 2011. Car prep consisted of new ATE fluid, Type 200 Amber this time, stock rotors and new Carbotech XP10 pads F/R. Last year I ran XP10/XP8. I also had the Nitto NT01s flipped on the rims to let me get a few more days out of them.

The event was held at Toronto Motorsports Park and hosted by the GTA Mustang Club. At $80 for the road course from 9 to 5 it was a good deal.

http://www.torontomotorsportspark.com/raceway/index.html

The forecast was initially for thunder showers but there was nary a cloud in the sky and with the humidex it felt like 91F which is way too hot for me.

After bedding the pads the brakes felt good. I gave one fellow a ride and he was impressed at how well the car stopped compared to his son's older Mustang.

The NT01s felt good and this is their 11th track day.

At one point I was running with the AC on and the temp idiot gauge actually crept slightly above the middle - the first time I've seen that. It may be time for a good coolant flush and new fluid in both the rad and intercooler systems.

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful except I found that with the heat I was not able to stay on the track for more that about 15 minutes or I overheated.

On one run I started smelling gas and decided that it was time to come in. It turned out that the smell was coming from the car ahead of me - he was really running rich!

If any of my video turns out I'll post it.

 

[Sharad]

Sounds like a good day at the track! I'm interested to hear that you like the NT01s. I ordered a set of 18x9.5s for my '06 GT and I'm planning to install them at Sebring in two weeks. Thing is, I don't know if they're sending NT05s or NT01s. (long story) I wasn't excited about the NT01s because I'm planning to daily drive on these wheels after the Sebring event... but we'll see how it all works out.

 

[Sleeper_08]

Sounds like a good day at the track! I'm interested to hear that you like the NT01s. I ordered a set of 18x9.5s for my '06 GT and I'm planning to install them at Sebring in two weeks. Thing is, I don't know if they're sending NT05s or NT01s. (long story) I wasn't excited about the NT01s because I'm planning to daily drive on these wheels after the Sebring event... but we'll see how it all works out.

The NT01s are really only a track tire as far as I am concerned. Mine are now nicely worn to the point they are nearly slicks and in any kind of wet weather would hdroplane too easily.

They don't grip as well as Hoosiers but last a lot longer and wear out before you run out of heat cycles.

 

[Sharad]

The NT01s are really only a track tire as far as I am concerned. Mine are now nicely worn to the point they are nearly slicks and in any kind of wet weather would hdroplane too easily.

They don't grip as well as Hoosiers but last a lot longer and wear out before you run out of heat cycles.

Yeah, that's what I thought too. (NT01s are track only) That's why I requested NT05s, but the wheels & tires are part of a tech article I'm writing about the Track Guys event at Sebring in a couple weeks. I don't get to make the final decision on which tires I'll run. I requested 18x9.5 GT500 wheels with 275/40-18 NT05s, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I have an appointment Tuesday morning at Steeda in Pompano Beach to install new OEM brakes, align the car, possibly install some suspension compenents [?], and inspect everything to make sure it's track-ready.

I can't wait!!

 

[Sleeper_08]

Yeah, that's what I thought too. (NT01s are track only) That's why I requested NT05s, but the wheels & tires are part of a tech article I'm writing about the Track Guys event at Sebring in a couple weeks. I don't get to make the final decision on which tires I'll run. I requested 18x9.5 GT500 wheels with 275/40-18 NT05s, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I have an appointment Tuesday morning at Steeda in Pompano Beach to install new OEM brakes, align the car, possibly install some suspension compenents [?], and inspect everything to make sure it's track-ready.

I can't wait!!

Sounds like it is going to be a fun time.

 

[argonaut]

So Colin - I tried the Toyo 888s for the first time this weekend at Shenandoah. As you know, I have a lot of NT01 experience. I have to say I'm impressed with the Toyo. Not only was I able to click off some pretty quick times but, when it started raining really hard I just kept going and they were ok. I was expecting them to suck in the rain but they didn't - I can't say I felt that way with NT01s last year. At the end of the day, it was raining so hard I didn't want to change to my street tires, so I just loaded up and went home on the Toyos. No problem doing 70 down the highway.

 

[Sleeper_08]

So Colin - I tried the Toyo 888s for the first time this weekend at Shenandoah. As you know, I have a lot of NT01 experience. I have to say I'm impressed with the Toyo. Not only was I able to click off some pretty quick times but, when it started raining really hard I just kept going and they were ok. I was expecting them to suck in the rain but they didn't - I can't say I felt that way with NT01s last year. At the end of the day, it was raining so hard I didn't want to change to my street tires, so I just loaded up and went home on the Toyos. No problem doing 70 down the highway.

You anticipated a question I was pondering - is there a tire that is almost as good as the NT01s on the track but that I can also safely drive all summer, including in the rain.

Swapping tires on and off in what feels like 90+ heat is getting to be a bit much for an old guy like me.

 

[Sleeper_08]

Finally got some video made

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSynS8-4c1Y

 

[Sleeper_08]

Another video from the same event

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjFhX6Oi6hg

My car and I appear briefly at the 3:20 mark