JackOlsen

Yes, that's a wood bit.


I went to Thunderhill this weekend for NCRC's DE and ARC's races. I'd previously thought I was doing pretty well there. I have a 1972 911 with a stock 964 motor in it. My car weighs close to 2700 pounds with me in it, and I have some aluminum aero pieces that I bolt on at the track. I've driven a 2:04.5 with the CCW Cyclone configuration and a 2:01.5 with CCW Bypass. That had been on 275/315 Hoosiers.

I wanted to do better, and managed to get Mark Kibort to give me some advice that included using the race line through turn 2 instead of the more traditional DE line. Well, it worked. I had moved down a step on tires: to Toyo RA-1's in 255/275, but my lap times dropped down to 2:01.5 with the CCW Cyclone configuration and a 1:59.9 with CCW Bypass.

I also tried a new, much faster line through turn 9, where I get flat on the gas for the approach while I'm still in what is normally the braking zone. That helped as well, but I wanted to thank Mark. I won the time trial both days, qualified on pole for the Saturday race (although I had to drop out when my muffler came loose), and went on to win both my class and overall in Sunday's race.

And in Mark Kibort race-what-you-drive-and-drive-what-you-race fashion, I drove the car the 500 miles to Thunderhill from Los Angeles on Friday and then back again on Sunday night.

For those out there who know Thunderhill, here's a video of my best lap in each configuration. The one bummer is tha my microphone wasn't connected all weekend and I didn't know it. So I've added that durable old lap video cliche: blaring rock.


It was a perfect weekend. Thanks again, Mark.

Veloce Raptor

Good man, Jack! Great video!!!

genikz

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

IcemanG17

Nice.....thats a smoking time.....I was at www.gotgutsatthunderhill.com last Monday....got a ride in a 06 Viper GTS with 575hp & 295/345 sport cups.....he ran a bunch of 2:09's with me in the car.....so a 2:01.5 with the bypass is pretty good...especially on smaller tires!

JackOlsen

Thanks, but that's a 1:59.9 with the bypass.

I ran a 2:00.5 with a passenger. It was one of those days where everything just seemed to click.

Tom W

Not to denegrate the viper driver's ability, but Spec Miatas run faster than 2:09. A viper should run mid 1:56-ish (if not faster).

Jack, you know that it wouldn't take much to get your car to run in PRC's GTL class ... Congrats again on breaking the 2:00 barrier. I predict at least a week before you lose the smile.

purplehaze.

Damn, Jack. Excellent driving!

I'm moving to CA to run Thunderhill. That's an AMAZING track! I can't believe the length of some of those turns. You're just blasting along with the wheel at 3 or 9 oclock, and just keep hammering.

Thanks for sharing. I now can't wait to hit the track again. Bastard.

karlooz

no offense. 2:09 is slow for that amount of power. i'll do that in my 996 C2 with the cyclone, and i am slow. i'm leaving at least another 5 seconds on the table.

karlooz

great driving jack.

soon it will be <2:00 with the cyclone

IcemanG17

In defense of the Viper driver....he was taking it easy......lugging around in 3rd most of the time, where 2nd would give much more power....it also was a full weight car at about 3700lbs......I've ridden in cars that consistantly pull low 2:05's.....& this Viper is on a whole different level....I do not doubt with a clean run pushed to the limit it would pull mid 1:50's no problem...he did say his best time with turn 5 is a 2:00...& he is still learning......

MK ran a 2:01.7 there in traffic a while back...& his new splitter is working.....I'd guess with new tires and a clean run he would be right at 2:00 too....

stuttgart46

Smooth as always Jack.
I love the soundtrack but I miss hearing you make that 3.6 scream.

171mph

Jack, that is outstanding! I was there the same day (Blue Cayman S with Ra1s). I was in the time trial on Sat with you. I saw that 'Black Beauty' rapidly approaching in my rear view, swore a couple times, waved you by, swore at you some more and then proceeded to get a 2:07.1 (a full 7 seconds slower!).
How fast are you cresting turn 9 at? that speed seems unreal through there.
Next time i'm up there i'd love to do a lead-follow (if i can get in your group that is). right now i'm in point-by.
Well done!

Dave

FamilyCar

Yes, Dave you line up behind Jack, I'll line up behind you. Get yourself signed off for the open pass group. It's more fun. Pat. (black RSA)

171mph

Next time for sure Pat! See you at buttonwillow

JackOlsen

Dave, you were doing great. I commented to my friend in the other black 911 that somebody was out there kicking *** in a Cayman. Those are great cars, in my opinion. I think we're going to see more and more of them out on the track.

I haven't looked at my new data, so I can't say for sure what I'm cresting turn 9 at. Looking at the video in better resolution, it looks like I'm at about 4800 rpm in 4th at the top of the hill, which with my gearing translates to about 84 mph. I don't know how accurate that is, though. I'm sure I'm braking down to less than that in the braking zone, but I accelerate from the 1 marker up the hill.