The Unofficial Unremarkable Track Car Challenge on Paper.

So the Ultimate Track Car Challenge got me thinking we need a Ying to it's Yang

Here are the rules: List the car specs or mods and then compare it to the outright lap record and the Spec Miata lap record. To declare a winner I think it should be who's done the most mods and has the largest gap to the lap records.

Here is mine:

1972 Datsun 1200: 29% displacement increase, 2 ½ times the stock horsepower (99 whp), 1400 RPM higher redline, 20 mph top speed increase, 3 inches wider track, 4 inches lower, 60% increase in spring rates, Z car brakes, LSD and a 12% lower final gear ratio all on 40 treadware tire.

11 seconds a lap slower than Spec Miata lap record.

48 seconds a lap slower that the outright track record.

(yes, it's a slow day)

We don't have a SM time at our track, divide by zero error

In reply to Keith Tanner :

In the absence of SM then fastest stock ND Miata.

Hmm, we only had our ND stock for a day. Literally. But I'll see what I can dig up :)

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Keith's classic Mini??

My car is quite a bit better than its driver

2010 MX5 PRHT: MCS singles, 700/400 springs, Kaocepts sways, Giken diff, offset UCA bushings, intake/header/tune, 17x9 with 255 RE71R

Is there a single place to find lap records? I don't know if what I'm finding is current. But for comparison

• VIR - my best 2:23.18, SM record 2:14.42, ultimate record 1:57?
• Road Atlanta - my best 1:49.3 I think, SM record 1:41.2, ultimate record 1:24
• Lime Rock - my best 1:04.3, SM record 1:01.6, ultimate record 43.1 whaaaaaaat
• NCM - my best 2:29.9, SM record 2:25.6, ultimate record 2:02 but that actually sounds a little high

I'm not as far off of SM times as I thought, but then again I'm in something that's probably supposed to be faster than SM.

Oh I'm sure mines up there as underwhelming. Just a 1992 Miata with hawk hp pads, kosie K1s, and ECS tires...other than that it's a 308k Miata with a roll bar.

Claff said:

Is there a single place to find lap records? I don't know if what I'm finding is current. But for comparison

• Road Atlanta - my best 1:49.3 I think, SM record 1:41.2, ultimate record 1:24

The gap between a Spec Miata lap record and the absolute track lap record is going to depend on how "pro" the track is, and what series it can attract.  For example, the closest track to my house is Laguna Seca which is about a 1:45 Spec Miata record.  The official record is a 1:07 for Helio Castroneves in an IndyCar, but Ferrari has bought a 2003 F1 car for demonstration laps and done a 1:05.  (And the fastest I've gone in my M3 is a 1:39).

Looks like Christian Klein did a 1:09 at Road Atlanta in a Peugot LMP1 car a decade or so ago, BTW. :)

In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :

At Willow Springs the Datsun was a mere 62 seconds slower than Michael Andretti in an Indy car.

Gingerman Raceway

SM 1:48 

Track Record 1:26

Me, 08 Mustang 320WHP, Springs, dampers, swaybars, Hawk pads, 7 year old 340 TW tires.  1:53

Next round of upgrades = GT500 Brembos with cooling ducts, Torsen T2R diff, oil cooler, with all that I expect a 1:53. 

One time a Miata on coil-overs and very similar tires to mine was at Gingerman, He would just take me in the corners, I would pass him on the straights.   We stayed within earshot of each other the whole time, super fun. 

The SM record at CMP is 1:49.9 

My 1980s teutonic land yacht has turned a 2:16.1 after spending only about 2500$ on it, including cage. I only need to cut like 27 seconds more off...

VIR North:

Course Record: LMP HPD ARX-03a - 1.35

Spec Miata 1.46

Elantra Champ Car - 1.52
intake, muffler delete, cage, big brakes, coilovers and 215/45R16's....

codrus (Forum Supporter) said:

Claff said:

Is there a single place to find lap records? I don't know if what I'm finding is current. But for comparison

• Road Atlanta - my best 1:49.3 I think, SM record 1:41.2, ultimate record 1:24

The gap between a Spec Miata lap record and the absolute track lap record is going to depend on how "pro" the track is, and what series it can attract.  For example, the closest track to my house is Laguna Seca which is about a 1:45 Spec Miata record.  The official record is a 1:07 for Helio Castroneves in an IndyCar, but Ferrari has bought a 2003 F1 car for demonstration laps and done a 1:05.  (And the fastest I've gone in my M3 is a 1:39).

Looks like Christian Klein did a 1:09 at Road Atlanta in a Peugot LMP1 car a decade or so ago, BTW. :)

 

Don't forget that Porsche brought the 919 hybrid and basically said "we aren't going for a record here" and then ran a 1:07 with a driver that had only driven the car once before.

My '11 GTI. Struts, camber plates, sway bars, control arm mounts, Bremo BBK, stage 1  engine tune (aka no hardware changes), DSG tune. RS-4 tires. 1:49.18 at Laguna Seca pushing hard enough to chunk the outside of the tires.