davearm

I was at VIR this past weekend for the First Settlers DE. Have never run my 944 there before and was wondering what most people with a basicly stock 944 turbo were hitting on the back straight. My car is a 1989 944 turbo, stock except for Vitesse chip, 3bfr, and boost enhancer. I was averaging between 120-125.
Just curious as to whether this equates to a decent state of tune for this car, or should I expect something more.

Thanks,

Dave

renvagn

Sounds about right. Remember these are 3,000 pound cars. Great track. I think if you arc into 12, vs taking it deep and straight, I feel it gives you and earlier chance to get into the throttle while unwinding the wheel. You might get 130-135 out of the back but no more unless you shed weight. Think about this... you were maybe going 115 thru the climbing esses, the DP cars were doing 150 mph +. Light weight, 500 hp and ground effects......what a combo.

Chris White

The street car has run up to 154 (GPS data logging confirmed).
Having track tires coming out of the Oak Tree is a very big plus.

If you don’t have LSD Oak Tree sucks, - lots of speed is lost at the exit.

With a little practice I would think you could get into the 130s with your car.

Chris White

Blitzen

The key is to stay in the gas long enough! That straight is deceptive - even though it falls away a bit, you can stay in the gas well past the crest of the hill. I would think a street car on R compounds should be able to see into the 130s fairly easily (presuming an experienced driver). And Yeah, getting the power down after Oak Tree is a challenge....

jerome951

I top out just around 130 running Hoosiers and a stock car except for suspension mods and exhaust, but that is short-shifting into 5th up the hill. At Oak Tree, you've got to be in 2nd gear and have your right foot planted just after you turn in.

There are 2 lines for the turn at the end of the back straight; the DE line and the (fast) racing line. For your first couple days at the track just use the DE line.

And renvagn, I will bow down to anyone who can run a stockish TurboS at 115 through the climbing Ss. I run right around 100 with little room to spare.

renvagn

If you noticed I didn't state I was obtaining that speed. If stockish means Rothman's Cup Suspension without weight reduction, Yeah. I took Tom Diamond, a long time RTR instructor who knows 951's and has a wicked fast cup car powered 993 out with me and we fine tuned this area as well as 14 & 15. We were going in at 115+ backing out for the first S and back into it thru the rest. We were in the + or - 110-115 range. Since then I have finally gotten the control arms upgraded and added the Bray Krauss castor brace and have a fresh alignment with a ride height drop as low as the Bilsteins allow. The S'es should be more comfortable next go around.

jerome951

As I said, I bow in your direction (whichever way that is)... ;-)

Highly doubtful Dave was doing 115 there at his first weekend at VIR. If so, I bow in his direction as well...

davearm

I had no idea what speed I was at approaching the climbing ess's, I was to busy trying keep it smooth, but with street tires and stock suspension I bet I was lucky to doing 100.
Thanks for all the feedback, heading to the Alabama PCA DE/Race at Barbers next month for some more seat time.

Dave

renvagn

Let us know how you like Barber. I hear it is beautiful. In the future if you decide to do mods, you need to touch base with Pete at the RS Barn. (www.rsbarn.com) He really knows these cars as well as 968's. You can check out the Jan 05 Excellence article about him and his Rothmans Cup car and this past weekend he hosted the annual 96 celebration. A real nice guy as well.

Modena 1

My 240hp E36 M3 with suspension would hit 135mph in the back straight. My friends E46 M3 hits 145mph.

You're not going fast enough.

davearm

I think my basic problem is my exit speed at Oak Tree. Took a while to figure out how best to do Oak Tree, and still sure that I could do it much better. Street tires and stock suspension aside, driver inexperience was probably the single biggest factor.
Next time!!!

Dave

Blitzen

Okay, I can say that on a nice hot day, 110 MPH in a 951 up the esses means you've got to be running under 2:15/lap: crazy fast for one of these cars in anywhere near stock trim, and a very solid driver pilot running it. I was running 2:17-18 (Hoosier R3S04s, 225 & 245 on 8"&9"x16" D90s. full M030 suspension, maybe 150 lbs out of the car, MBC only holding about 12-13psi after brief 16psi spike), and I saw maybe 90ish going through there. with just a little lift before the lefthand entry at the beginning of the whole sequence.

At the end of the back straight (after going super deep into Oak Tree, throwing it away & hard on the gas), my speedo showed 145+, so I figure 137-138 (tough to tell-my speedo I know to be optimistic) . On the front straight, I think I was in the 130 territory, even coming thru hog pen fairly well and sliding around a bit.

What a great track - now I know why I towed 10 hrs to go run it! Gotta go back with a real suspension (anyone interested in my M030 bits?)

jerome951

Hey Blitzen,
The climbing Ss are even more of a blast with a non-stock suspension. I bolted on some good stuff and lost 4 secs at VIR.

I've run a 2:14.6 on a cold day and fresh Hoos (stock motor, boost, and weight), so it can be done, but doubtful on a stock suspension unless you've got other go-fast bits installed.

Next time you're at VIR, try your climbing Ss breathe of the throttle after the first left but before the first right. You can take the first slight left flat-out so lets you carry speed a little longer.

Blitzen

If I had a proper suspension, I could see going flat from all the way back from apex at turn 6, and perhaps even flat right thru 10; however, that would be a scary fast event. If I hadn't let off before 7, I would have bounced off Track Left into the woods, all the while trying to get my 951 going in the right direction.

I guess this is why we mod these cars?



The high speed curves at VIR require proper chassis control, for sure.

Chris Prack

I seriously doubt that no matter how prepared your car is you will go flat out up the climbing esses. I have seen Motec ADL data from GT3 Cup cars that have run there and they cannot go through there with the pedal all the way down.

Now if you're going really slow then......