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For me it was my 1980 Rx-7 and the track was Bryar (now NHMS) around 1981 with COM (then also called Corvettes of Massachusetts). My Rx-7 had lowered suspension, a Weber 42DCOE and exhaust. It was a pretty quick and very well balanced car. You can see in the pic that I also had sheepskin seat covers and rear window louvers - the car was period correct for sure.
Instruction consisted of following a senior member for a few laps. I was absolutely hooked and did more days at Bryar and an event at LRP with COM. I can recall the first day on track that my right foot was shaking at WOT. These days I shake my head if I’m not WOT!
The car had a removable sunroof. The paddock was dirt and I placed my sunroof, jack and loose items in front of my paddock space. Unfortunately I was so excited to get back on track that I drove right over that sunroof!
While I started my DE career early, I unfortunately sat dormant until about 2005 when I fired up again with PCA with a vengeance and never looked back. I love this hobby.
I currently own a different red 1980 Rx-7 which I have left bone stock. I love driving this car as it’s like a time machine for me.
Tell us about the car you had your first track experience in.
__________________ -Peter Krause www.peterkrause.net www.gofasternow.com
"Combining the Art and Science of Driving Fast!"
Specializing in Professional, Private Driver Performance Evaluation and Optimization
Consultation Available Remotely and at VIRginia International Raceway
1995 BMW 318ti hatchback bought new, the one that the US hated and the ROW loved.....built to a price (US$20k) with cheapie interior, E36 front suspension and E30 rear which everybody panned but every instructor I ever had in that car absolutely loved it for its controllable ease of rotation, and so did I to the tune of over 100k mostly track miles. M42 4-banger with forged crank, unlike the later M44, the thing just kept on keepin' on
Supercharged E90 M3 slicktop (God bless my instructor) that made it a few events before I wised up and got a 986 Boxster. That was quickly built into an SPB and I was Club Racing within the year.
Dave,
My first fun car was also a red 1980 RX7 which i kept for 10 years.I installed a Rotary Engineering 2 into 1 header and i lowered it with KYB shocks.I also modified that little Holley carburator as well, can’t remember exactly but something to do with the vacuum secondary .
That car sounded like a little buzzsaw at 8000 rpm , i wish i would have kept it … it was like driving a kart !
Do you still have the original sunroof cover/pouch ?
Dave,
My first fun car was also a red 1980 RX7 which i kept for 10 years.I installed a Rotary Engineering 2 into 1 header and i lowered it with KYB shocks.I also modified that little Holley carburator as well, can’t remember exactly but something to do with the vacuum secondary .
That car sounded like a little buzzsaw at 8000 rpm , i wish i would have kept it … it was like driving a kart !
Do you still have the original sunroof cover/pouch ?
Cheers
Phil
Wow Phil that's so cool. We're rotary brothers!
The 1980 I have now is an anniversary edition (10 years of selling Mazdas in the US) and it has a cool retro interior:
Dave,
My first fun car was also a red 1980 RX7 which i kept for 10 years.I installed a Rotary Engineering 2 into 1 header and i lowered it with KYB shocks.I also modified that little Holley carburator as well, can’t remember exactly but something to do with the vacuum secondary .
That car sounded like a little buzzsaw at 8000 rpm , i wish i would have kept it … it was like driving a kart !
Do you still have the original sunroof cover/pouch ?
Cheers
Phil
I just saw your question about the sunroof pouch. My car has two as it came with a sunroof and a moonroof. I might actually have a third one somewhere.
Lola T-592S. Here is a shot coming out from under the bridge at Road Atlanta with "gravity cavity" in the background. You stayed flat through gravity cavity, and used an uphill braking zone coming up to the bridge. Once I didn't quite finish my braking by the crest of the hill and went spinning like a top out from under the bridge. Good times!
In those days, no clubs I knew of did track days, so if you wanted to drive on a race track, you got some Nomex and went to a racing school. I still kind of think that's the best approach...
Lola T-592S. Here is a shot coming out from under the bridge at Road Atlanta with "gravity cavity" in the background. You stayed flat through gravity cavity, and used an uphill braking zone coming up to the bridge. Once I didn't quite finish my braking by the crest of the hill and went spinning like a top out from under the bridge. Good times!
In those days, no clubs I knew of did track days, so if you wanted to drive on a race track, you got some Nomex and went to a racing school. I still kind of think that's the best approach...
Sweet! Same here, but I ran Production cars for fifteen years before I got heavy into Sports 2000. Still running my Tiga!
My first race was at Road Atlanta. My National Championship winning instructor and mentor, Paul Spruell, told me I ought to be able to touch with my right mirror the bridge abutment, coming up from The Dip. Never touched it, but got darn close!
I remember at the RunOffs in 1993, eventual Indy 500 RotY Greg Ray went flat under the Bridge and through T1 in his Formula Atlantic. We were at Station 11, and you could’ve knocked us all over with a feather!
Sweet! Same here, but I ran Production cars for fifteen years before I got heavy into Sports 2000. Still running my Tiga!
My first race was at Road Atlanta. My National Championship winning instructor and mentor, Paul Spruell, told me I ought to be able to touch with my right mirror the bridge abutment, coming up from The Dip. Never touched it, but got darn close!
I remember at the RunOffs in 1993, eventual Indy 500 RotY Greg Ray went flat under the Bridge and through T1 in his Formula Atlantic. We were at Station 11, and you could’ve knocked us all over with a feather!
Nice car, nice pic!
Thanks. Yeah, my nemesis back in the day was Pete Harrison in a Tiga SC84. Great car and he was a great driver. Glad to see S2000 is still going strong - I may come out and play with you guys in one of Jack Velden's cars some day.
Thanks. Yeah, my nemesis back in the day was Pete Harrison in a Tiga SC84. Great car and he was a great driver. Glad to see S2000 is still going strong - I may come out and play with you guys in one of Jack Velden's cars some day.
Hah! I first met Pete at a SEDIV race in 1984 and bought one of his SC84 Tigas in 2001 as my first car!
I bought my current car, originally owned by Daytona 24 Hour winner Dick Greer, in 2007.
On the outside of the second row at VIR a few years ago. Good turnout. Jack is a gem, great guy and a heck of a driver!
12-23-2023, 12:39 PM
What was your first on track car?
