MarkPcar

I ran my first day ever in a Cup car yesterday at a Thunderhill test day – what a blast!

I was a bit nervous beforehand as I’d never driven a car with this much power or speed. I found it to be pretty easy to drive and very stable at high speed – nothing to be too concerned about. Things just happen faster, brake points, turn in marks, etc. all come up much faster than other cars I’ve driven here. I was exhausted at the end of the day. Note to self - workout more!

In my 356 race car it gets light and floaty at top speed. In the Cup car you can feel the down force, it squats and sticks. The back end was stepping out a small bit in the higher speed corners (easy to catch it), we did a rear sway bar adjustment and it balanced the car more.

My fast lap was a 1:59.9 (3.0 mile track), the fastest Cup car yesterday ran in the mid 1:54’s – so I’m slow, but happy with the first day! We have the day off today and then race this weekend with NASA/PRC.

Thanks all for the help!

Mark

Dr.Porsche

Congrats on your first event.

analogmike

Awesome! Sounds like you are starting to feel the car already if you noticed a slight sway bar tweek.

Once you get the hang of it more, you will want to put the rear sway bar back stiffer again, took me a while before I could, but when you get up to speed you'll be a lot faster that way.

Oh and try to RELAX in the car, it's got power steering and brakes and a good seat so make sure to relax your grip on the straights and don't work too hard, it should not tire you out too much once you are used to it (took me many races to get used to the sometimes violent things the car can do).

Have fun!!

JackOlsen

Cracking 2:00 at Thunderhill is not a bad way to spend a day, ever.

Tom W

1:59 on your first outing isn't bad (as in it's pretty good - I assume you've run TH in the past). Have fun this weekend. When my car gets the engine back in, I'll be back out having fun.

Who was running 1:54's? (was it a GTC cup or GTA cup?) Last years March/April races had the GTC cups running about 2:00 and 1:58-1:59 in August (IIRC). I think the expectation is that cups would normally run about 1:57.

jrgordonsenior

FWIW, down here in lala land the thought is to set the front bar at 1-off full stiff, and work your way to full stiff in the rear.... Tires make a HUGE difference in cups but since their aren't any Michelins around we're stuck with Yokes for now. Reminder previously discussed: Do not buy the 7a/8a Michelins....

MarkPcar

The guy who ran the 1:54's was named Tim (don't know his last name, red Fireside driving suit) he was doing some driver coaching for two guys who are new to Cup cars - both cars are GTC's.

Thanks JR, I think the two sets I have on order are the 7a/8a, I will check.

Veloce Raptor

Congrats & good going! I am jealous.

RSRRacer

Full stiff front, full soft rear. It works

Rick DeMan

Oh ya...!! Full stiff in front for sure.....I was tempted to drill another hole in the bar to make it stiffer....the more the better on these cars..

mpaton

Don't be jealous, just dump that big Fiat (before your hair turns that color :-)) and get yourself a Cup car. Then you can be a real PCA Advanced Instructor drover.

Michael

Sean F

Vapid racedrover doesn't believe in P-cars. He prefers to drive propeller cars that require a pooper scooper on national tv.

Veloce Raptor

Hahahaha! I will be happy if I actually have hair when I am old enough for it to be that color!

Besides, the Fiat is a LOT less maintenance intensive than a Cup car, and thus more affordable.

If I were to ever get a Porsche, it would probably be something like an RS America race car.

Oh, and Sean is 100% correct.

A.Wayne

Fiat , who said Fiat , Hmmm A tony cheaper to run than a P -car i find that hard to believe

Larry Herman

I knew that there was some good way down inside of you!