Mid-Ohio Track Report!

[HondaScott]

I took my 07 Civic Si to Mid-Ohio for a NASA event. This was my first time tracking a light FWD car, and I must say it was an amazing weekend.

Preparation:

I did this modification before going to the track because I didn’t want to completely ruin my all season tires:

DIY (sort of) SPC Camber Bolts Install

I lucked out and did not have to touch my alignment at all as the tires were wearing very nicely.

I had left the brakes alone as I was not for sure in the HPDE 1-2 class (but first on the waiting list). I didn’t find out I could actually drive until 9:00am, which left me 45 minutes to get teched/registered before the first track session. I drove the first session on completely stock brakes, and it wasn’t a problem. I was hardly driving aggressively as I had not studied the track, but the brakes did feel a little spongy after a while. In preparation for the next session I switched to HFP brake pads (the ones for an RSX-s). After that the brakes were perfect.

Here are some pictures/vids of the weekend:











http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ivicVideo1.flv

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...t=DSCF1773.flv

My Advice to prepare for your first track day:

1) Do the camber mod I link to. The stock camber amount of zero degrees will terrorize your front tires and make you under steer.

2) Change your driving positions so you are more upright. You should be able to have your wrists over the top of your steering wheel with your shoulders all the way back in your seat.

3) Practice heel toe breaking. It will be hard on the street because the gas pedal is so far forward, but it is good to practice the timing. On the track it is MUCH easier as you will be pushing the brake pedal much further down, so the gas will be right where it needs to be.

You don’t need/want to modify your car for your first track day. It will be safer/easier to drive stock, as things happen slower then will stiff springs/dampers. I had an amazing time pushing the car in the corners. If driven correctly it is a very neutral car, which you can manipulate easily with the throttle. The LSD is a gift from heaven, and it’s nice to finally put it to work.

I was driving the stock all season tires, and you can hear them screaming for mercy in the videos. They are a great tire to learn on because they are very audible, and have a HUGE slip angle. They were grippy enough to keep up, and hardly wore at all.

Thanks for checking this out,
Scott

[exhaust_note]

thats awesome.. im signing up for ITR Expo this weekend once i get that paycheck.

[tundra]

Nice thread and good advice bro!

For the past 3-4 years I've been doing the NASA track weekends in the midwest also, fun aren't they? Mid-Ohio is one of my favorite tracks, although it also has the most walls to hit too lol. You should goto the Putnam Park weekend also, that track is uber-fun and there's only one corner on the entire track that can really get you into trouble (this is a good quality of a track when you're driving your personal car :) ).

A few other mods I'd do for your next track day: Get some good racing brake fluid (like Motul, SuperBlue, etc), SS lines, some track pads, and bleed the brakes very well. This will make a huge difference in combating brake fade, which is usually your worst enemy when you take a street car on the track. It sound like you had a blast! Keep her shiny side up :)

-Matt

[Nomar06]

Nice! I will be at the ITR event in June. Looking forward to it and some brake upgrades. Maybe some tires aswell.

[White05X3]

Excellent! It looks like a great time! Thanks for sharing the experience and the camber mod!

[HondaScott]

Originally Posted by tundra

Nice thread and good advice bro!

For the past 3-4 years I've been doing the NASA track weekends in the midwest also, fun aren't they? Mid-Ohio is one of my favorite tracks, although it also has the most walls to hit too lol. You should goto the Putnam Park weekend also, that track is uber-fun and there's only one corner on the entire track that can really get you into trouble (this is a good quality of a track when you're driving your personal car :) ).

A few other mods I'd do for your next track day: Get some good racing brake fluid (like Motul, SuperBlue, etc), SS lines, some track pads, and bleed the brakes very well. This will make a huge difference in combating brake fade, which is usually your worst enemy when you take a street car on the track. It sound like you had a blast! Keep her shiny side up :)

-Matt

Yeah, I think I may do the brake fluid just for piece of mind. I don't mind if my pads fade a bit, but boiling my fluid is not something I look forward to.

Putnam is in two weekends with BMW club right? I'm thinking about it, but I may save my money for VIR or gingerman.

Is there enough interest for me to put more videos up?

[John DiFool]

I was out on Mid-Ohio last summer, and my experience pretty much jibes with yours. I know if I go out again I will need to do more mods than I did last time, but alas other priorities take precedence.

[Sirbelch]

HELLA JEALOUS. Seen/played (video games) sooooooo many races on The Mid Ohio Sports Car Corse. Its a hoot on the computer, but the real thing, HELLA JELAOUS.