Holy S****, Daytona is something else!
I watched a lot of video on u-tube and from the "Boxing Cat" in preparation - but the first time I hit the banking and my world went 30 degrees, I had a life changing experience!
The engine is screaming "up-shift fool", but the brain is saying "hell no, we won't let go"
That feeling lasted about the first session or two. Then it was pretty much ballz out W.O.T. looking for the high line!

 

On the flip side of the Daytona DRIVING high, INSTRUCTING is completely terrifying.
On Saturday I was assigned to ride along with a very seasoned driver in a 996 TT. Being turned 30 degrees on the high banks at over 140 in a "street car" with street tires, in a street seat and a 3 point belt is sheer terror. Give me something with a cage and proper restraints and I'll gladly instruct - but I have no stomach for that in a "fast" street car - no thank you.

 

Terry:
Can't believe that you or anyone insturcts on this track and not sure about others. I think I put dents in my stearing wheel the first session and am sure it did not help the car bouncing around. Truly scary until you get somewhat used to the feeling. Had a very hard time on the banking looking forward. I have a new respect for Nascar Drivers on banking at 200 plus!!
Boyd

 

I didn't find it terrifying at all. 150 in the M5 felt like a drive in the park. Even after we hit the wall in 1 (in the rain). His wife gave me a hard time this morning but she was smiling while she did it. Coming out of the bus stop on the previous lap the computer gave us a Traction Control Error message. "stability control is reduced" or something like that. It was right.

The seats in that thing are amazing. Latch the seat belt and the side bolsters grab you and pull you into the seat. For such a heavy pig it doesn't under steer nearly as bad as I though it would and he could rotate it nicely. A little too much once. In the dry, it would have been nice to dial back the nannies so we could get a better jump out of the horseshoes but it would have been even nicer if it wouldn't have failed where we needed it.


Next time I'm going to pull up and draft when you come flying by in 1-2. After the appropriate hand signal anyway!

 

I enjoyed the seat time in my students car although it was a bit scary only going 60 or so on the banking in the pouring rain last session on Sunday. I thought we were going to slide off the track.

 

Tom will beat you with a torque wrench if his MMA submission skills don't take you out first


Tom decided to play Austin Powers "Gold Member" for Halloween


...no Bob, the other left!


ViperBob will fix anything for standard labor rates.


Chad & Bruce hanging in the pits


Kevin pulling into his pits


...damn Tire Fairy took my wheels and left a quarter under my seat


Broke ***

 

Group Photo

 

I would expect nothing less from you!

 

Great shots, crap now I have to send some $$$ for the sponsor shot.

 

That's bad news Jeff - sorry to hear that. I won't be at the Suncoast event - Me and Christian are going to Barber with Bob N for his racing debut.

 

YES! That was pretty hairy.

 

I saw the M5 - looked like he just scuffed his bumper covers. I think you guys got off easy. So what happened? You guys come off the tri-oval and enter one too hot? Then what, he tried to make the corner instead of heading for the run off area?

Kevin tried that move on me! I was driving Bob N's car (Winterfest enduro preparation) and K comes screaming by me on the high side of one. Looking at his entry speed I knew there was no way he was gonna make it! He went off into the run off area and gathered it back up. I was bumming because there's no video in Bob's car when I was driving - we only have K's video.

 

No not at all. We were taking it pretty easy through 1 but I think he got used to the amount power that the car would let him put down coming out of the turn. When it failed, he lost the back end after apex and it spun like a top hitting first the pass side rear and then front corners. The front may be fixable with a good buffing and some touch up. The rear is going to require a new skin but yes, we got off really easy. I couldn't believe how little damage there was (all of it cosmetic), it felt like a good hit. The bumpers really did their job. Glad it wasn't armco or it would have been torn up much worse. I know all of the escape routes in that part of the track by heart now after I lost my transmission there last year.

 

I will have to go thru my video of the weekend, I think I have that on video since I was right behind Kevin. I even waived at him while going thru 1 when he was sitting on the side.

 

The first video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw59-H3d2BI