"Mr. Toad" at The Streets of Willow Springs (5 February 2022)"Mr. Toad" at The Streets of Willow Springs (5 February 2022)
 Mr. Toad at The Streets of Willow Springs |
 Jeremiah was a bullfrog Joshua met a Toad |
 Friday afernoon at Helming's: brakes done barely in time |
 Lotus and Mr. Toad outside hotel |
 Mr. Toad and Papi outside hotel |
 Frozen windscreen washer |
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| Hanging out in the paddock | |
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| Lucy Lu, a 2-year old Golden Retriever | |
 With the snowy San Gabriel Mountains |
 Friends at day's end |
 Sunset |
Afternoon wasn't looking any better until the next-to-last session when my friend Greg Epstein started catching up with me. That gave me the push that I needed to pull in an even faster lap, 1:33.210, which was over one second better than my previous best from last year. (Greg still got past me during the next lap.)
There was more to come. During the last session, I saw a trio of Miatas
ahead of me and went hunting, knowing that I'd have to work in the turns
to make up for their superior handling even though I'd be far faster in
the straights. That chase resulted in a 1:31.247 lap, an improvement of
nearly three seconds over my best lap last year and close to two seconds
faster than playing keep-away with Greg.
 Best lap of the morning (1:33.982) |
 Almost best lap (goaded by Greg) (1:33.210) |
 Best lap of the day (1:31.247) |
The following table summarizes tire pressures throughout the day, in PSI, along with front-brake temperatures, as measured with a pyrometer after each session:
rotor caliper Description Time Ambient LF RF RR LR LF RF LF RF before session 1 0837 51°F 27 28 30 28 sun on right 31 31 31 31 reset after session 1 0903 41°F 38 36 34 36 36 36 34 34 reset after session 2 1023 52°F 36 35 34 34 sun on left after session 3 1102 55°F 40 38 34 36 150°F 155°F 112°F 118°F (lunch break) after session 4 1303 61°F 39.5 38 36 36.5 288°F 299°F 227°F 235°F after session 5 1404 62°F 39.5 39 35 35.5 286°F 304°F 214°F 240°F 38 38 34 34 reset after session 6 1524 61°F 38 38 34 34 291°F 318°F 220°F 258°F after session 7 1617 64°F 36 36 33 34
Before this track day I installed new front-brake rotors and pads, and had the calipers rebuilt. Although this track is easier on brakes than Laguna Seca they still suffered some heat damage. I've learned that brakes are a consumable on the racetrack, along with tires and petrol.
The first photograph shows the new brake rotor on the left front wheel. I switched to Girotech rotors from StopTech because they are more readily available, cost less, and are at least as good if not better. The two studs to the left of the rotor are where the caliper goes. (It was still out being rebuilt.) The orange tube wrapped with duct tape that's behind the upper caliper stud is part of the cooling duct, fed from the "fog darks."
 New Girotech brake rotor |
The next photographs show the right front brake at the beginning of the track day, with just a few hours of highway use, and again at the end of the day (minus the 20-mm spacer need for clearance with the stock wheels that I use on the street).
 Brakes at the day's start (with 20-mm spacer for stock wheels) |
 Brakes at the day's end |
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Copyright © 2022 Karl L. Swartz. All rights reserved. |
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