The 1:37 is very respectable at this track for a novice in a $180k supercar. The fear factor of damage alone will slow you down some:thumbsup.
The 1:32 Kent posted is a smokin fast time on this track for a car with only a set of Hoosiers. :eek
After driving other peoples cars at track days you tend to run a notch lower than your caged factory racer. A 31 in a street driven car is almost heroic for an instructor. If with passenger, figure about 1-2 seconds faster without.
The biggest time differences on this track seam to be in turns 2, 8 and 9. And to some extent how fast you get back on the gas out of 1.
I do not know how much seat time you have, but my guess is that you will best your old times by at least 3 seconds this time out. Great times require lots of courage through 8. The track has gotten very bumpy here over the last few years. Some lanes feel better than others. This is also a difficult turn because it is hard to get any good reference points for the set up to 9. This causes you to lift too early in an effort to find the proper turn in point.
I have yet to run this track in the GT, but this is thee track where it should shine. The fastest track in the West. Easy on brakes and you can use the torque without having to max rpms. Nice long back straight and long front. You should be just topping 150 on the front if you exit 9 correctly, maybe more in the GT.
That said, I have maybe 50 days on this track over the years and and ran about what you ran in my C5 ZO6 on Eagles, the first time out in it. On Nittos I have run a best of 1:29:19. I really don't think I have the courage to go any faster here in that car. But, one of the C5R team drivers posted a high 1:26 on showroom stock Goodyears for a magazine test. Rupert Bragg Smith ran a low 28 something in a C5Z with a set of slicks and some minor chassis mods. He also managed to go off at 9 that day. But dusted off and went right back at it.
There are plenty of POC members running 27-28 here in race prepared cars on full slicks.
It all comes down to seat time and courage. The car is way faster than the C5 Z06. But the extra power is only usable on certain parts of the track.
The numbers posted do not always tell the story of the car, the rubber they run, cage vs. no cage. You are doing great!. Just drive at your comfort level here and notch it up a little at a time. Getting a good reference point for 8 is key. Get Neil to help you through here. Remember every confidence lift is 1 second. Count them back when you pit. I will bet if you are like most you will find the following.
Turn 1 brake zone =1, Turn two, if you have to correct = 1, Turn 6 bottom of the hill late on the gas=1, Turn 8 entry lift and brake tap=1 - 2. There are the 4-6 seconds that would normally show up if data logged for most any novice driver on this track.
Keep the shiny side up:thumbsup
