EDK's Real Life Racing Exploits
- Thread starter EDK
- 303 comments
- 39,135 views
- 7,207
- Ostend, Belgium
- Speedy6543
Nice! *Very nice! 👍
- 2,114
- England
- NINE_HUNDRED
He gave your brakes a test going into the first corner around 7:20, bit cheeky? You got in him the end though 👍
- 2,809
- LoomRock, CA
- GTP_LeftyWright
Great job Kevin, was that a play day or was it a full blown race?
- 16,269
- Boise, ID
- GTP_EDK
Going for the outside in turn 1 must have psyched out the opponent for next turn /GT5 T1.
Thanks for fixing the link, it was the darn underscore that was messing me up.
Yeah, I just figured I would go for it, we make passes in some unconventional places at times in Chumpcar.
Yeah, I'm not sure what that was about, but that driver was clearly not their best. I'm not sure if he thought he was defending lines, or if he was just bad.
That car finished the race in 3rd, but their best driver and the car owner finished the race, he was running 51's like a wristwatch and AVERAGED 53.2 for this stint.
The guy who I was battling had best laps of 54's BEFORE I passed him, then I think I showed him the error of his ways in turn 6 and he managed to get a couple of 53.5's after I had wrapped up my stint.
Was a full blown race, the field at Laguna is capped at 35 cars, but we only had about 25 at the race start.
- 16,269
- Boise, ID
- GTP_EDK
Racing has been a bit tough so far this year. We've run 2 races in the MR2, and our reliability struggles have continued.
In February, we ran an exent at Pacific Raceway road course in the Seattle area. We had what turned out to be ECU issues, but could not figure them out on race day. I ran the car through an entire tank of fuel in 1 hour, 2 hours or so being the norm. We had raw fuel dripping out the tailpipe. Also had many issues with intercooler hoses popping off, with zip ties being the eventual solution, making an ad hoc support bracket.
After that race, it was decided to put the car back to NA, with a fresh build.
The car was slapped together for Laguna Seca on Easter Sunday, but the new motor had a bearing failure and catostrophic blowup 1.5 hours into the race.
3 months later, we have another fresh NA build, with 1,500 road breakin miles. The car is back to being a daily driver for shakedown reasons, and it should pay off nicely.
I'm participating in an absolutely crazy race this weekend. I'm at the airport now, flying to Portland. Tomorrow, I'll be driving the racecar 6 hours to Spokane, Washington.
Tomorrow night at 10 pm, we'll begin an epic adventure, a race of 36 consecutive (non-stop) hours. The green drops at 10 pm Friday night, the checkered at 10 am Sunday morning.
We have 5 drivers, and will be running 6-8 hours each. I have 4 stints of 2 hours each, my first is at 2 am Sunday, and I've never driven on this track!
Wish us luck, we are going to need it. I will report back here as able, probably not until Sunday or Monday.
In February, we ran an exent at Pacific Raceway road course in the Seattle area. We had what turned out to be ECU issues, but could not figure them out on race day. I ran the car through an entire tank of fuel in 1 hour, 2 hours or so being the norm. We had raw fuel dripping out the tailpipe. Also had many issues with intercooler hoses popping off, with zip ties being the eventual solution, making an ad hoc support bracket.
After that race, it was decided to put the car back to NA, with a fresh build.
The car was slapped together for Laguna Seca on Easter Sunday, but the new motor had a bearing failure and catostrophic blowup 1.5 hours into the race.
3 months later, we have another fresh NA build, with 1,500 road breakin miles. The car is back to being a daily driver for shakedown reasons, and it should pay off nicely.
I'm participating in an absolutely crazy race this weekend. I'm at the airport now, flying to Portland. Tomorrow, I'll be driving the racecar 6 hours to Spokane, Washington.
Tomorrow night at 10 pm, we'll begin an epic adventure, a race of 36 consecutive (non-stop) hours. The green drops at 10 pm Friday night, the checkered at 10 am Sunday morning.
We have 5 drivers, and will be running 6-8 hours each. I have 4 stints of 2 hours each, my first is at 2 am Sunday, and I've never driven on this track!
Wish us luck, we are going to need it. I will report back here as able, probably not until Sunday or Monday.
- 4,757
- Wpg / Canada
- Allibubba99
Sweet! Good luck to you and your team!
- 16,269
- Boise, ID
- GTP_EDK
Yes, I do. I also did at Laguna, but I did a suction cup mount in the back window, and the light reflection ended up messing up the video.
This time, I put it on the passenger side "opera" window. You can see me driving and the road ahead, although there are a few pillars in view. Overall, a good perspective.
It rained this morning. I have video of one wet session and another session was so wet I did not go out. I think it rained more than 1 inch in an hour. Isn't this NorCal in September?
My last session was dry with a warm track, and I ran a 2:07.0xx on the carousel layout.
In mixed conditions in my 2nd session, I passed an Audi R8 and a Ferrari F430. And a few Porches as well.
Video coming soon.
- 16,269
- Boise, ID
- GTP_EDK
We'll start with the fastest stuff. The group I ran in is "High Intermediate". I have enough experience to run in higher groups, but I prefer all mandatory point by rules for my street car. I had more pace than my car should warrant, a reflection of experience, I think.
I did not pass anyone in this session, and was not passed by anyone. I was hanging pretty closely with an E36 and E92 M3 that were directly in front of me at the start. Not bad.
The brakes did better than at Laguna, but the pedal still was getting soft as the session wore on. I could not heel toe, the brake was too far below the gas pedal. I missed some shifts as well. 3rd to 4th exiting carousel, as well as mis shifts to 5th rather than 3rd at end of main straight going up hill.
There was dirt on track in a few places, including the apex of the kink at end of main straight, so had to adjust to that and could not maintain full throttle there. You'll notice the car tracked out on it's own to the exit rumbles at turn 2 (off camber right after bridge) and the carousel. So while I was not pushing 100% at end of main straight or entering carousel, mainly due to dirt and brakes, I only lost the speed during those turns, I did not give away exit speed.
Final comments. Camera position is still not optimum, and I probably should have used the full case, rather than skeleton. It was getting a lot of wind whip sounds at speed. And there are of course visual obstructions. With no roll bar to mount to, my options are limited. But this was better than using the back window. Nice to be able to see both my driving and the track.
I did not pass anyone in this session, and was not passed by anyone. I was hanging pretty closely with an E36 and E92 M3 that were directly in front of me at the start. Not bad.
The brakes did better than at Laguna, but the pedal still was getting soft as the session wore on. I could not heel toe, the brake was too far below the gas pedal. I missed some shifts as well. 3rd to 4th exiting carousel, as well as mis shifts to 5th rather than 3rd at end of main straight going up hill.
There was dirt on track in a few places, including the apex of the kink at end of main straight, so had to adjust to that and could not maintain full throttle there. You'll notice the car tracked out on it's own to the exit rumbles at turn 2 (off camber right after bridge) and the carousel. So while I was not pushing 100% at end of main straight or entering carousel, mainly due to dirt and brakes, I only lost the speed during those turns, I did not give away exit speed.
Final comments. Camera position is still not optimum, and I probably should have used the full case, rather than skeleton. It was getting a lot of wind whip sounds at speed. And there are of course visual obstructions. With no roll bar to mount to, my options are limited. But this was better than using the back window. Nice to be able to see both my driving and the track.
- 1,909
- Sherbrooke, QC
- GTP_AspecBob
Great stuff, Kev 👍
Do you use your everyday tires for these events, or do you have a special set? Also, what is that thing hanging behind/below your rear-view mirror?
About the camera position: although a lot of the view is obstructed, I found it was a lot more tolerable to watch if the video is in full screen mode.
Do you use your everyday tires for these events, or do you have a special set? Also, what is that thing hanging behind/below your rear-view mirror?
About the camera position: although a lot of the view is obstructed, I found it was a lot more tolerable to watch if the video is in full screen mode.
- 16,269
- Boise, ID
- GTP_EDK
I have Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercars that I put on before my Laguna track day. They are a 220 treadwear "Max Performance Summer" tire.
I use those on the street and at the track. Keep in mind, it's a low mile car, I only have about 11,500 on it. The stock tires were terrible, the tires I have now are stock on the SRT. They probably have about the same amount of grip as S1's on GT5.
I'm normally not a fan of Goodyear tires, but I got a great price on these, and they've turned out to be very nice.
Escort Solo cordless Radar Detector with a Blend Mount.
My car is purple, I need all the help I can get.
I noticed the same, thanks for pointing that out.
As I said, it's not optimum, but I like to be able to see my driving, not just the road ahead, which is what would come with a Windshield mount.
BTW - Video of second session in drying conditions is working on the save/publishing process. It takes a good couple of hours, though.
Will post it when available.
- 16,269
- Boise, ID
- GTP_EDK
Second session video. This is where I pass a bunch of Supercars that cost 3 or 4 (or 5) times as much as my car. 
The track was still sketchy in places. The carousel exit had a bit of water in the middle of the track, and when I tried to take it flat out, the car stepped out a bit. Turn 10 and the approach to it were still wet. That's the fastest part of the track in my dry sessions, so lots of time to gain (or lose) there.
The track was still sketchy in places. The carousel exit had a bit of water in the middle of the track, and when I tried to take it flat out, the car stepped out a bit. Turn 10 and the approach to it were still wet. That's the fastest part of the track in my dry sessions, so lots of time to gain (or lose) there.
- 16,269
- Boise, ID
- GTP_EDK
Finally, first session. Very sketchy track. Some rain falling, you can see I'm using the wipers. Big time standing water in turn 10.
Was passed by one car, Audi RS5. He was next to me in the paddock, and said it was crazy in his car as well, even with the AWD. Lot's of ABS coming on, and still stepping out in places.
Was passed by one car, Audi RS5. He was next to me in the paddock, and said it was crazy in his car as well, even with the AWD. Lot's of ABS coming on, and still stepping out in places.
- 17,335
- Seattle
- GTP_Gravitron
Nice work, Kev, looks like a ton of fun, and a great way to learn a lot. 👍
I can proudly say that I've ridden in that passenger seat.
Did you figure out how your mpg differed from normal driving? And could you tell the difference between full fuel and low fuel in the handling?
I can proudly say that I've ridden in that passenger seat.
Did you figure out how your mpg differed from normal driving? And could you tell the difference between full fuel and low fuel in the handling?
- 16,269
- Boise, ID
- GTP_EDK
Nice work, Kev, looks like a ton of fun, and a great way to learn a lot. 👍
I can proudly say that I've ridden in that passenger seat.
Did you figure out how your mpg differed from normal driving? And could you tell the difference between full fuel and low fuel in the handling?
I reset mileage before my second session. Last 2 sessions were 50 miles total. Averaged 9.7 mpg.
Track conditions were too much of a factor to know how fuel load affected handling. In the MR2, I almost always set fastest laps 2/3 of way through my stint, so I'm sure it's a factor for laptime. And that fuel tank is in the tunnel, challenger is on drivers side, I'm sure there are balance issues.
- 16,269
- Boise, ID
- GTP_EDK
I ordered new rotors and pads for my car today.
EBC 3GD Rotors.
EBC Bluestuff Pads.
Rotors are also larger, SRT size in the front, and Police Package Charger in the rear.
Probably will not run at the track again until next spring, but got a great price on the rotors on Amazon, could not pass it up.
EBC 3GD Rotors.
EBC Bluestuff Pads.
Rotors are also larger, SRT size in the front, and Police Package Charger in the rear.
Probably will not run at the track again until next spring, but got a great price on the rotors on Amazon, could not pass it up.
- 3,094
- USA
- ItsAllAboutWins
EDK
When you're racing, you still get better mpg than my f150 on the interstate. LoL but those videos look great. I've always thought it was bogus how the camera takes away from the sense of speed. Camera looks slow but when you're racing it, you're flying.
I love your car (for the thousandth time) but I'd be to afraid of wrecking it since I'm assuming its your out of pocket car. I can't remember if you've mentioned it but does she got a hemi and what's her name?
- 16,269
- Boise, ID
- GTP_EDK
Yeah, slowest speed on track was ~35 MPH, I hit 100 or near 100 in 3 places on track. It does not feel slow, will tell you that much. The brakes should help give some confidence to push it a bit deeper as well.
It's the 5.7 Liter Hemi, so something like 382 HP and 400 ft. Lbs. of torque. Most of my upgrades have been suspension/chassis related. It had plenty of motor.
Maybe not a name, but this is my personalized plate, combining EDK and Plum Crazy.
- 3,094
- USA
- ItsAllAboutWins
EDK
Lol you're pushing more hp and a bigger engine but still getting better mpg!!! I guess weight and oversized tyres/rims are the 5.4 tritons downfall.
That plate is great. Youre my hero now 👍
- 17,335
- Seattle
- GTP_Gravitron
Or maybe Fords just suck big time. 
I can say that, my family has owned plenty of Fords. All of 'em sucked, from the '78 Granada to the '80 Econoline van to the '95 Towncar (still a Ford). OK, their trucks are maybe...OK...
EDIT: Yes, this is an attempt to goad you out of playing Diablo 3 and come run some laps with us.
I can say that, my family has owned plenty of Fords. All of 'em sucked, from the '78 Granada to the '80 Econoline van to the '95 Towncar (still a Ford). OK, their trucks are maybe...OK...EDIT: Yes, this is an attempt to goad you out of playing Diablo 3 and come run some laps with us.
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