Macca

Saturday at Johns is good for me if its good for John. Just name a time and Ill bring the car and the gear over. I really need to understand the system better.

I had what appears to be an SD card corrupt in the SmartyCam at Manfield but we managed to restore all the files, thanks to Matt B, which was lucky. We used a fresh formatted SD for Taupo, got the warm up and first session on film then nothing after that. No idea why. I did a software update on the SmartyCam before I left home and that may have been the reason. Bit upset as to date its been faultless. The Aim DL I have never bothered to download the trace data from. I drove Taupo to Auckland with the system running as I wanted to test the SmartyCam was recording properly. It was but perhaps the size of the data on the DL started scrubbing old files. I looked at the spec and it only holds 16MB! Im sure John will know the answer but with additional data streams/channels from OBD2 I suspect the Aim Head unit is really only good for holding around 2 hours of usage? I have over 70 sessions using the T number file index on the DL as a reference but only the last 7 of them seem to be on the unit (total run time around 3 hrs). I have never downloaded data from the unit as I was mainly just using it to collect the overlay data for the SmartyCam videos which happens automatically. Ive gotten used to just popping the card from the camera and watching the videos with overlay rather than look at the traces (the traces are more useful for comparing between dates and sessions but Ive rarely run the same track twice in the same car with the same data acquisition system!). Lots of learning and I have obviously stuffed up. Id like to get it right and try it again at HD on Sunday to make sure its working ok for SITT etc.

Taupo is mean on brakes. The GT3 didnt miss a beat but the Endless MX72 compound pads were not faultless or endless. They were starting to rumble coming into the clubhouse hairpin and also end of back straight. After talking to Pete about the Cayman braking point at the 100m mark I thought Id try it. Worked well, but then I got greddy. I did not factor that the GT3 is travelling 20kmph faster at that point and carrying almost 200kg more weight (for the physics type Im sure the math has a square function LOL!). Lets just say that I do not think you can brake the 991 GT3 at the 90m mark from 225kmph. I tried and couldnt make the turn! Lets just say i dont think theres much left on the table here and that the 120m mark is the sweet spot carrying that speed and weight for the 991 GT3!

So I returned home with 40% front worn pads and rotors that make a pulsing through the pad on 50%+ application. Ill need to get the pad transfer removed at some stage in the next few weeks. In hindsight the OEM pads were better even if they would have worn as quickly and dusted up more. the MX72 do not squeal but they are more a street compound than a road one and the ME20 would be the way to go - but Im keeping the car 100% stock Ive decided so will just stick with factory.

My discs have 13,000km on them including 5 track days (3 dry and fast and 2 wet/damp and slower). The car has seen plenty of high speed back road twisty stuff too. The rears are 65% left with no cracks. The fronts however are showing some (largeish) cracks and are over 50% used up. The cracks started a while back but they do not run to each other. The thermal loads at the pace I was doing at HD and Manfield (largely with 100kg passenger ballast) really punished them. Taupo definitely expanded the length of the bigger cracks. The guys in the USA say you canget 12 good hard track days from the front rotors and over 24 for the rears. I dont think I will see much more than 6-7 for the fronts although Ive done much more fast road work than they do. At $2500 NZD a set of fronts lets just say Ill be hanging back for as long as I can!

I had a new set of MPSC2 fitted before NITT. My original ones were from the factory and almost 2 years old. Manfield scuffed them up a bit but Taupo started to really punish them. With stock -1.30 geo Ive given the outside blocks a real hammering. It will need 5000km road driving just to even up the wear rate. Most say they are good for 6-8 track days before they go off. Thats with more negative camber. I think with this set they will need to be replaced before SITT or risk running out half way through that event. A bit of a shame as I hoped to time the useage better. Its a great all round tyre (has a 140 treadwear rating so lasts a long time too). Gives away some grip for durability and a bit better wet weather performance.

Theres no doubt the car is more capable than the driver. If Taupo was our local Im sure circulating consistently around 1.40-1.41 would be the norm in the GT3 but I dont think Id be breaking below that. The mechanical and thermal loads on running 60-70 of these types of laps a day would be immense. I have no doubt the car could handle it but you would need a considerable budget for tyres, pads, rotors and fuel. Too rich for me. Id love to try the Trofeo R out there as its a stickier compound but I think I would get frustrated with setting it up as it doesnt have as much heat latitude. Id really love a set of Z221 for the car as they are my favouirte and I think they would be quick. I understand Hoosier are making R7 & R6 20" for the GT3 from 2016 and the other brands will hopefully follow suit. Maybe there will be more choices next year, though the cost of importing could be interesting...

Macca

I suspect Tony may have plans to build an apartment complex at the other end of the track once the extension is completed. There is space for this. He didn't buy the existing apartments as part of the deal. Hes a very tough and canny business operator is Tony and he will not turn down an opportunity to prosper if one is evident/obvious. read into that what you will...

John McM

Saturday afternoon is best for me.

As for the apartments, the track is already used 350 days per year, so if the value comes down to income from the rental pool then I don't see much upside even if Quinn increases demand with new events.

Also as Macca alluded to, Quinn owes nothing to the existing apartment owners and may build more in a possibly different configuration with better views. I suspect the impact on current apartment values will be negligible, but I wouldn't buy speculatively. I might be interested though if there is more focus on car storage and less on accomodation with the new properties, especially if it comes with track access.

Macca

Sat arvo works for me. It would be good to update the software too as Im sure a new revision is available. Id also like to know how you calibrate the unit (I assume in car with Aim solo in place). We can discuss then...

Pel

Limited info but this things getting pretty cheap now

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/spec...-949179761.htm

John McM

That's exactly the type of car I would store at HD. Without on track storage i'd rather drive a Honda than buy another de-reg car.

Maxem

Might be time for a lowball. The webbers would be interesting and I guess it comes down to sortedness, general condition and what's ahead in terms of consumables. But for a track hack it looks pretty good.

Kiwi Carguy

Anyone after a manual 996 Turbo? http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used...-950469511.htm

You have to love green tho

savantx

That looks like pretty good buying - or is the green really that off putting?

Macca

Looks like excellent buying given mileage, condition, exterior colour and what looks to be NZ new. I think for 55k I could get my head around the green. Buying a set of black rear seats, front leather dash and black three spoke wheel would calm it down a bit and these parts are common used and could be purchased under 3k?

993 Targa

Does anyone happen to have a pair of Porsche seatbelt clips (the male metal part that goes into the release) they'd be willing to part with by any chance? Alternatively anyone know of anyone wrecking a relatively modern 911/Boxster (assuming they are all the same?).

Pel

I'm going to check it out tomorrow morning

savantx

International Motorsports in Grey Lynn have a heap of parts from a couple of 996's (GT3 and Turbo). Might be worth a try.

pcarplayer

I couldn't live with the green. I'd feel a bit ill every time i got in the car

Geesus

Looks like a good car, manual and my favourite 996 colour too!
But that green! It's everywhere too, there's no escaping it.
For $60,000 I'm guessing the green interior has knocked $10,000 off what he could be asking had it had a black interior. (Going by what the last 2/3 NZ new 996 Turbos have sold for)

Does anyone know what the full service history consists of? Contis/Giltraps or a garage/specialist?