[cdrptrks]

I packed the Camaro back up and drove over 700 miles to New York (with some stops along the way). Watkins Glen is my second favorite track out of 24 (just slightly behind Daytona); too bad it is over 1,500 miles away from home! The uphill esses are quite an experience and the corners have a nice amount of banking. Thanks to the local BMW Club for letting me sign up for a 3rd consecutive day the evening beforehand since I only found out about it while I was packing up after the Chin event the previous 2 days!

Shortly before this lap, I hit the bus stop curbs so hard that I got a check engine light! Thankfully I had my Bluetooth OBD scanner in the car so I was able to read the code in the hot pit (P0326 Knock Sensor 1 Circuit Range/Performance), clear it, and go right back out; it has never come back since then. I also ordered spare knock sensors that night just to be safe haha.

Other highlights were a scary moment driving through a smokescreen & my favorite lap of day 2 chasing a Porsche 911 GT3.

I would have liked to try some different lines if my lap times plateaued but I kept improving right through my last session so I didn't. Most of the videos I've watched show people taking more conventional lines instead of the late apexes I was using in many corners but I don't know if one approach was better or not. Ambient temperature was significantly cooler the 3rd day (52°F) which definitely helped lap times and top speeds.

Track = Watkins Glen International - Grand Prix
Time = 2:07.00
Year/Model/Trim/Trans = 2017 1SS 1LE M6
Date = 5/17/23
Tires = OE SC3
Mods = Track alignment, SPL Rear Toe Links + Eccentric Lockout, BMR BK063 Diff Lockout, FEA front lower front control arms, 2021 SS 1LE EBCM, SRF, GM track brake cooling kit

[cdrptrks]

I had a few days to drive from New York to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for PittRace. Unfortunately it rained hard all morning on Saturday and on Sunday afternoon it got hot and my tires started cording so my best lap was from the 3rd/final Sunday morning session. This was the only track of the trip where I never got comfortable and I'm disappointed with the lap time. The car always felt unsettled in turns 5-14. Afterwards I realized there was some lap time in using 2nd gear instead of 3rd but it caused significant power on oversteer so I had stopped doing it. I still enjoyed chasing a ZLE, Mustang Mach 1, & C8 Vette. I was still pushing all of the way through the last session but called it after a big oversteer moment in turn 4: https://youtu.be/nUxW18W3eOk

Turn 16 was my favorite because it is very high speed but there was usually too much traffic to go as fast as I wanted to and the closing speed on less experienced drivers in that area was quite alarming during the combined sessions:
https://youtu.be/J3gHqR8t2nI

Turn 11 exit was a frequent oversteer spot for me and the very experienced driver I rode with in his race prepped Corvette...not very confidence inspiring with the limited runoff and tire wall. After the trip YouTube happened to recommend this T11 crash video to me:
https://youtu.be/V5ccO9Zc6rs&t=73s

Track = PittRace - Full Course (Pittsburgh International Race Complex)
Time = 2:00.20
Year/Model/Trim/Trans = 2017 1SS 1LE M6
Date = 5/21/23
Tires = OE SC3
Mods = Track alignment, SPL Rear Toe Links + Eccentric Lockout, BMR BK063 Diff Lockout, FEA front lower front control arms, 2021 SS 1LE EBCM, SRF, GM track brake cooling kit

[cdrptrks]

Next I drove the Camaro to Mid-Ohio. I switched to the 2nd set of stock wheels/tires because I corded the first set at PittRace. I got there the afternoon before my event to watch a NASA race and rode along with someone in one of the DE sessions to help familiarize myself with the track. It is a fun and challenging track. It was fully repaved after I went; I imagine that probably helped lap times but I'm not sure.

Towards the end of the first day, I snapped an axle shaft and was left with a car that couldn't move and an event at Nelson Ledges coming up in a few days. I missed the whole 2nd day of track time but thankfully was able to get a ride to my hotel and picked up a rental car the next day and drove a little over an hour to Akron to buy a used axle shaft and installed it in the paddock so I was back in business! I ended up having to remove most of the suspension links since I didn't want to drop the exhaust; I should have bought and installed a new hub preventatively while I was in there and it was frustrating to hear the cars on track while I was stuck fixing mine. But I was fortunate because the next closest axle shaft I could find was in Texas and would have taken a few days to ship to Ohio plus it would have been more expensive because it was new.

I scared myself with entry oversteer when I tried turning into turn 12 from the yellow curb on the left...didn't try that again:
https://youtu.be/AxvuYPG4-vw

I saw there was an afternoon event held by the track on Thursday so I signed up for it at the last minute and got 3 more sessions to improve and test to make sure everything was good with the car. I'm happy with my lap time considering it was 85°F outside.

Track = Mid-Ohio - Club Course
Time = 1:40.81
Year/Model/Trim/Trans = 2017 1SS 1LE M6
Date = 6/1/23
Tires = OE SC3
Mods = Track alignment, SPL Rear Toe Links + Eccentric Lockout, BMR BK063 Diff Lockout, FEA front lower front control arms, 2021 SS 1LE EBCM, SRF, GM track brake cooling kit



I was a few tenths faster on a later lap before I caught traffic: https://youtu.be/gcmp82t-3f4

[cdrptrks]

On Friday I drove the 2 hours to Nelson Ledges for the weekend event there. I enjoyed the track a lot more than I was expecting (I think because of the high average speed and some banked corners) but I was nervous because I had been warned by several people earlier in the the trip who had crashed there that there's not a lot of runoff before you reach the tire barriers and you can flip your car if you go off wrong. Thankfully I kept it on the pavement. I got 4 windshield rock chips in 1 day, more than I got in the previous 2 years. Others I talked with reported similar problems and I read the same type of complaints online. My windshield was already in bad shape so it wasn't a big deal but put some protection film over your windshield before visiting this track if you care about your windshield. I've heard Stek is a good brand but it is not cheap.

Signs your road trip is too long:
Before Nelson Ledges I did an oil change with Mobil1 0W-40 ESP X2 that I picked up from AutoZone. And replaced the front brake rotors because they had reached minimum thickness. And found a local tire shop to install the set of takeoff SC3 tires I had shipped myself to a nearby UPS store so my spare set was not corded. On Saturday after the last session I changed my transmission fluid in the paddock since it was due based on the number of track hours although I had just changed it right before the trip started.

On Sunday morning the weather was cooler and I went full send on the one clean lap I was able to get during the first session, shaving a second off of my best time from Saturday. I scared myself going back to full throttle for a moment in the carousel because I had overslowed and then wondered if I was going to understeer off of the track...thankfully I didn't. I didn't try that again. I was quite happy with my lap time although I went a few tenths faster in the first few corners during the next session with another SS 1LE driver as my passenger but I left some margin in the higher risk areas that session because of the passenger. After that I packed up the Camaro and left early at lunch to make the 400 mile, 6 hour drive to Autobahn for the event on Monday.

Track = Nelson Ledges Race Course
Time = 1:12.81
Year/Model/Trim/Trans = 2017 1SS 1LE M6
Date = 6/4/23
Tires = OE SC3
Mods = Track alignment, SPL Rear Toe Links + Eccentric Lockout, BMR BK063 Diff Lockout, FEA front lower front control arms, 2021 SS 1LE EBCM, SRF, GM track brake cooling kit



After my trip I found an extremely fast driver who's not on this forum that went 2 seconds faster than me:
https://youtu.be/7te8WNEJ0Dw
He took turn 11 much faster but there's a bump near that apex so I was not comfortable trying to go that fast because I was afraid of ending up like this or worse: https://youtu.be/v-g9V3X77Nw&t=10m28s

[cdrptrks]

I left Nelson Ledges early at lunch to make the 400 mile, 6 hour drive to Autobahn. I planned the whole trip around this date because there were only a few days per year offering the full 3.56 mile course at this track. The large amount of flat grass runoff encouraged me to push the limits after several previous tracks on the trip had many barriers close to the edge of the track. It reminded me of some of the Texas tracks because of this. I met another SS 1LE driver who had been to Autobahn before and he had added some power with mods; I enjoyed chasing him during the last 2 sessions.

I happened to park next to a C7 Corvette driver in the morning who somehow lost his oil cap. I was able to help him out by lending him my spare so he didn't miss any track time. I was also able to lend out my Motive brake bleeder to help another driver who had boiled his brake fluid during one of the morning sessions.

I was surprised at how low I got my lap time considering it was my first day at this track and the length makes it hard to put together a full lap without mistakes/traffic. Unfortunately I forgot to downshift from 4th gear to 3rd before turn 2 on this lap which cost me some time. I went 0.44sec faster through there on this lap: https://youtu.be/g-OckXxbJ00

Track = Autobahn Country Club - Full
Time = 2:43.09
Year/Model/Trim/Trans = 2017 1SS 1LE M6
Date = 6/5/23
Tires = OE SC3
Mods = Track alignment, SPL Rear Toe Links + Eccentric Lockout, BMR BK063 Diff Lockout, FEA front lower front control arms, 2021 SS 1LE EBCM, SRF, GM track brake cooling kit



Note: Start/finish line was adjusted in Cosworth Toolbox to minimize the impact of traffic on this lap but that doesn't change the overlay. See lap time screenshot below:

[cdrptrks]

I made the 2 hour drive from Autobahn to Blackhawk Farms for the SCCA Track Night event on Wednesday. I found the track unremarkable but I'm really glad I went because I got to chase a McLaren 720S! It was cool seeing the airbrake do its thing: https://youtu.be/D3JAFsa2Sw0

There was a black flag all thrown as I was approaching the final corner (by the pit entrance). After sitting in line for a little while waiting for the session to resume, my hot brakes literally started smoking so I had to leave and go drive around the paddock to cool them along with a few others haha.

I probably would have sailed off into the grass at the end of the straightaway(s) because of the bumpy braking zones due to Ice Mode at least once if I didn't have the newer 2019+ ABS module (EBCM) with improved calibration. The exit curbs are more like ramps in some places and they're unpainted; I wasn't able to consistently place the car accurately enough to avoid them every time and they upset the car's balance on corner exits.

It think I could have gotten into the 1:17s with another session by braking a bit later before turn 1, carrying a bit more speed through turn 1, and braking a bit later before turn 7.

Track = Blackhawk Farms
Time = 1:18.13
Year/Model/Trim/Trans = 2017 1SS 1LE M6
Date = 6/7/23
Tires = OE SC3
Mods = Track alignment, SPL Rear Toe Links + Eccentric Lockout, BMR BK063 Diff Lockout, FEA front lower front control arms, 2021 SS 1LE EBCM, SRF, GM track brake cooling kit



On the way to my hotel, I had a close call with a pair of deer. I was watching the first one and didn't even see the second one until it ran onto the road in front of me:
https://youtu.be/10ICvvjU0vo

PDR overlay timer got messed up after the first session and I didn't notice. Below is the Cosworth Toolbox screenshot. Harry's Lap Timer with 10Hz GPS was a bit more optimistic showing 1:18.05; the start/finish lines were in different spots on the same straightaway.

[cdrptrks]

I covered the 2.5 hour distance from Blackhawk Farms to Road America for the trip's grand finale on Saturday & Sunday! It is a great track that's well-suited to the Camaro. It rained a lot on Saturday night and Sunday morning, but thankfully the track dried out and in the final session I managed to execute on all of the improvements I was trying to make, exceeding my expectations and skipping over the 2:30s straight into the 2:29s! I was quite nervous because I knew the grass runoff was still wet/muddy so if I made a mistake and went off there was not much chance of avoiding a crash in many places. Looking at it more afterwards, there is some lap time in the carousel and by using the full runoff to the left of the red/yellow exit curbing of the final corner.

Thanks to FollowMyLine for giving me the inside scoop on the line beforehand!

It was nice to meet ZL1 driver Slurpee and chat with him throughout the weekend.

I really enjoyed chasing this GT-R the first day:
https://youtu.be/iMAdPPIUcuQ
I think I distracted him as I got closer and he went 2 off into the grass exiting carousel at about 100mph in front of me but thankfully he kept it under control:
https://youtu.be/j7t9-zQnRRI

I ran my rear brake pads 1 session too long on each side on Sunday and got some high speed tail wag when I started braking 2 different times...highly not recommended! This track wore brakes faster than most others I've driven and I did a brake fluid flush with fresh Castrol SRF on Friday night as a precaution although I had no issue with the older SRF that was in the system at any of the previous tracks. I had partially used spare rear pads that I installed each time since I didn't want to deal with possible decreased performance from bedding in brand new pads during my final 2 sessions.

A full repave of the track was completed in November 2022. That made it significantly faster so all times set before then on the old surface are not directly comparable.

Note: There is only 1 gas station in the area that sells 93 octane gas (the others max out at 91). It is this BP: Co Rd O, 1232 Fairview Dr, Plymouth, WI 53073
They have higher octane race gas at the track but it is very expensive.

Track = Road America
Time = 2:29.75
Year/Model/Trim/Trans = 2017 1SS 1LE M6
Date = 6/11/23
Tires = OE SC3
Mods = Track alignment, SPL Rear Toe Links + Eccentric Lockout, BMR BK063 Diff Lockout, FEA front lower front control arms, 2021 SS 1LE EBCM, SRF, GM track brake cooling kit



Over the next few days, I drove the Camaro about 1,200 miles to get back home. The pace the car can achieve on the track while still being perfectly reasonable to drive for long distances on the road with the same tires/brakes while packed full with a complete set of spare wheels/tires, tools, spare parts, and luggage is really incredible!

[cdrptrks]

My friend invited me to a member day at Cresson 3.1mi, my favorite track layout in Texas and one of my favorites overall. Unfortunately the number of public events on this layout decreased after 2022. This was my 3rd day driving this layout with about a year between each day. Hopefully I can make it back there again sometime next year.

I think I could get into the 2:24s next time if I put together an optimal lap. This lap was almost half a second faster during the first part until turn 9. It was tough getting back up to speed here in a single day; on the 1.3 section of the track where there are lots of elevation changes you need to be consistent through the blind sections and the turn 5 apex bump to carry good speed without going off track.

I had a close call when the car in front of me braked hard in a corner because of the Miata that spun in front of him but thankfully there was no incident:
https://youtu.be/3VU7qZNG1c8

Track = MSR Cresson - 3.1 Config
Time = 2:25.69
Year/Model/Trim/Trans = 2017 1SS 1LE M6
Date = 1/14/23
Tires = OE SC3
Mods = Track alignment, BMR BK063 Diff Lockout, FEA front lower front control arms, 2021 SS 1LE EBCM, SRF, GM track brake cooling kit

[cdrptrks]

Last year I made a last-minute decision to go back to ECR, so I did a lot less video review beforehand than I usually do which might have contributed to this mistake where I went off track at 90mph for a wild ride through the grass on my first hot lap attempt: https://youtu.be/SA1Kad6joss

I still have work to do at this track to fully utilize the car's capabilities as shown by the traction circle graph in the lower left corner and the faster times others have set here previously with the same car/tires.

Track = Eagles Canyon Raceway - 2.7 CCW
Time = 2:11.51
Year/Model/Trim/Trans = 2017 1SS 1LE M6
Date = 3/21/23
Tires = OE SC3
Mods = Track alignment, BMR BK063 Diff Lockout, FEA front lower front control arms, 2021 SS 1LE EBCM, SRF, GM track brake cooling kit

[cdrptrks]

I exceeded my own expectations on this one, shaving about 1.4 seconds off of my previous personal best! It looks like I have more lap time to gain in the future by braking later before turn 1 and turn 3. I was leaning on PTM Race more than I ever have at any track during this session...you can see it activating on the PDR video in almost every turn! I didn't actually feel or hear the intervention during the lap but I did feel the back end moving around quite a bit which likely would have been worse without PTM.

Track = NOLA Motorsports Park
Time = 1:55.62
Year/Model/Trim/Trans = 2017 1SS 1LE M6
Date = 3/10/24
Tires = OE SC3
Mods = Track alignment, SPL Rear Toe Links + Eccentric Lockout, BMR BK063 Diff Lockout, FEA front lower front control arms, 2021 SS 1LE EBCM, SRF, GM track brake cooling kit



The Porsche 911 GT3 that happened to be behind me on this lap was recording video, so there is chase footage too which is cool:
https://youtu.be/ifGT8nzeY_0&t=578s

[FollowMyLine]

Originally Posted by cdrptrks

I covered the 2.5 hour distance from Blackhawk Farms to Road America for the trip's grand finale on Saturday & Sunday! It is a great track that's well-suited to the Camaro. It rained a lot on Saturday night and Sunday morning, but thankfully the track dried out and in the final session I managed to execute on all of the improvements I was trying to make, exceeding my expectations and skipping over the 2:30s straight into the 2:29s! I was quite nervous because I knew the grass runoff was still wet/muddy so if I made a mistake and went off there was not much chance of avoiding a crash in many places. Looking at it more afterwards, there is some lap time in the carousel and by using the full runoff to the left of the red/yellow exit curbing of the final corner.

Thanks to FollowMyLine for giving me the inside scoop on the line beforehand!

It was nice to meet ZL1 driver Slurpee and chat with him throughout the weekend.

I really enjoyed chasing this GT-R the first day:
https://youtu.be/iMAdPPIUcuQ
I think I distracted him as I got closer and he went 2 off into the grass exiting carousel at about 100mph in front of me but thankfully he kept it under control:
https://youtu.be/j7t9-zQnRRI

I ran my rear brake pads 1 session too long on each side on Sunday and got some high speed tail wag when I started braking 2 different times...highly not recommended! This track wore brakes faster than most others I've driven and I did a brake fluid flush with fresh Castrol SRF on Friday night as a precaution although I had no issue with the older SRF that was in the system at any of the previous tracks. I had partially used spare rear pads that I installed each time since I didn't want to deal with possible decreased performance from bedding in brand new pads during my final 2 sessions.

A full repave of the track was completed in November 2022. That made it significantly faster so all times set before then on the old surface are not directly comparable.

Note: There is only 1 gas station in the area that sells 93 octane gas (the others max out at 91). It is this BP: Co Rd O, 1232 Fairview Dr, Plymouth, WI 53073
They have higher octane race gas at the track but it is very expensive.

Track = Road America
Time = 2:29.75
Year/Model/Trim/Trans = 2017 1SS 1LE M6
Date = 6/11/23
Tires = OE SC3
Mods = Track alignment, SPL Rear Toe Links + Eccentric Lockout, BMR BK063 Diff Lockout, FEA front lower front control arms, 2021 SS 1LE EBCM, SRF, GM track brake cooling kit



Over the next few days, I drove the Camaro about 1,200 miles to get back home. The pace the car can achieve on the track while still being perfectly reasonable to drive for long distances on the road with the same tires/brakes while packed full with a complete set of spare wheels/tires, tools, spare parts, and luggage is really incredible!

All times updated!

Hell of a road trip cdprtrks! Also, thanks for giving me a new goal to shoot for at Road America! Great time.

[Samfisheryu]

Track = Watkins Glen
Time = 2:02.3
Year/Model/Trim/Trans = '22 1SS1LE M6
Date = 10/25/24
Tires = Toyo R 315/30/18 square
Mods = Nine Lives Racing Wing and Splitter, Apex Vs5rs, DTC70
Link: https://youtu.be/jnUYR7exmSc?si=0KNCZVhC5ttB4sJ7

Track = New Jersey Lightning
Time = 1:11.5
Year/Model/Trim/Trans = '22 1SS1LE M6
Date = 9/29/24
Tires = Toyo RR 315/30/18 square
Mods = Nine Lives Racing Wing and Splitter, Apex Vs5rs, DTC70
Link: https://youtu.be/HkO0zj4nY4c?si=_FK_nzf9o80a2EeU

Track = New Jersey Thunderbolt
Time = 1:25.1
Year/Model/Trim/Trans = '22 1SS1LE M6
Date = 11/04/24
Tires = Toyo R 315/30/18 square
Mods = Nine Lives Racing Wing and Splitter, Apex Vs5rs, DTC70
Link: https://www.racebox.pro/webapp/sessi...00b4f42430c92e

[FollowMyLine]

All times updated!

[gbeaty]

Originally Posted by gbeaty

New record:

Track = The Firm
Time = 1:14.29
Year/Model/Trim/Trans = '23 1SS 1LE 6MT
Date = 2023-10-22
Tires = 305/30-19 Nankang CR-Ses
Mods = -3.5/-2 camber, 19x11 Apex SM-10s, Vorshlag camber plates, Hotchkis FSB, J6H brakes with Gyrodisc front rotors.



It had a high 1:13 in it in the morning when temps were cooler and the tires were fresher (my ideal was 1:13.60), but traffic got in the way.

I went quicker.

Track = The Firm
Time = 1:13.54
Year/Model/Trim/Trans = '23 1SS 1LE 6MT
Date = 2023-01-25
Tires = 305/30-19 Goodyear Supercar 3Rs
Mods = -3.5/-2 camber, 19x11 Apex VS-5RSs, Vorshlag camber plates, Hotchkis FSB, J6H brakes with Gyrodisc front rotors.



I think this is quicker than the fastest any Mustang has gone around the Firm by over a second. That's a low bar, I know