So I had my first on-track session with the Cougar yesterday

[azbobbybooshay10]

After I got out of traffic school for my ticket I got a couple weeks ago, I went down to Firebird Raceway where several friends were driving in the NASA HPDE event. They were on the "Main" course at Firebird (it includes the dragstrip as part of the frontstretch. They were having several other events over on the "West" course at the same time, including an event called NASA Hyperdrive. It cost $40, and would give you 15 minutes of track-time with an instructor in the passenger seat. I made sure I got there on time to be sure to get a spot, but I got to tech late because I was watching the Focus guys run over on the Main course and ended up nearly at the tail-end of the 2nd group.

Just for reference, here is the "West" course.


We went out, and I just cruised for the first couple laps getting a feel for the track and the car (I put my new KDW T/A's on the night before). After a couple laps, I come off the corner onto the long straight, with a BMW and a Mustang GT in front and the instructor says "If you can pass them, go for it." I past the BMW right away, but I couldn't get the Mustang because of his straight-line speed. So I have to follow him for the rest of the lap, and I feel like I'm just creeping along because the Mustang is going so slow around the corners. We come off turn 4 again, and I have a run on him and pull out to pass, but his acceleration pulled away from me again before I could get by. So I had to follow him around AGAIN for a lap, but the next time we got on the straight, his instructor told him to let me go so I got in front of him and had a TON of open track ahead of me. I got probably 4 or 5 totally clean, unlimited laps before I caught more traffic. I passed an Integra, another BMW, and a couple other cars. I got out in open track again, and looked ahead of me down the straight to see what the next car was I might catch. And here is the car I saw ahead of me.



Yep, thats a real R32 Skyline GT-R. In another lap, I was right on his ass. We got into the technical part of the track, and I was so close to him it wasn't even funny. He would pull away down the straightaway, but through the corners I was all over him. Now I should clarify, this was supposed to be for people who have never done any sort of track action, so I am willing to bet he had never driven the car on a track like that and wasn't pushing too hard. Still though, just seeing myself catching a freaking Skyline was just amazing.

I couldn't pass him before the end of the session (which they let us run for nearly 30 minutes instead of 15 because they didn't have anyone else signed up), but I had an absolute blast.

I am working with Royce on trying to get a cheap Civic to start driving to work and stuff, and turning the Cougar into a weekend "play toy" and start running it on the bigger tracks like PIR and Firebird, instead of just doing autocross. I have a couple things that I need to upgrade to start running the bigger tracks, but I felt VERY comfortable and fast as the car sits now. Right now I'm going to wait until after Fest to start the transformation over, and I'm just looking at making my plans for how much I want to really do. I don't think I want to totally gut the car like my buddy Todd and his Focus (literally the top of the dash with the gauge cluster, 2 seats, and belts, and NOTHING else), but I might just pull the back seats out for good and some of the interior, IDK.

Irregardless (and yes BBOX, roll your eyes at me saying that word. ) I am absolutely hooked, and I had a GREAT time yesterday. Unfortunately I don't have any video because they wouldn't let my Sticky Pod be used, and I don't have a mount for the harness bar yet. I have requests out on alot of the local sites for pictures if anyone took them, nothing yet though.

[thousandlegs]

GD that sounds like a sweet time. I want to get my cat out and open her up...chase down a few foreigners.

[iceberg65]

sounds Like a blast, as odd as it sounds there are quite a few skylines around here, the import laws in canada arent as strict and alot of kids get them bought for em. most are gt-s' but there are a few gtr's ive seen too. they are very nice cars.

[BlackBetty]

wow that soounds awesome bobby good job out here. I'd love to do something like that.

Those Skyline are pretty quick too! well the GT-R's

[azbobbybooshay10]

That wasn't the Skyline everyone was watching for though. They all wanted to see how this one ran.

[Goldie]

moving to auto-x, as that's a closer fit than General Info.

[jaged]

not really. autox and open track days are totally different, but i digress.

how did the new skyline run?

[azbobbybooshay10]

Originally Posted by jaged

not really. autox and open track days are totally different, but i digress.

how did the new skyline run?

I never really saw it run, between running around watching my old 240SX guys drifting on the skidpad, and the Focus and Mazda guys running HPDE, I never could catch it on track. Some other people did though and said it was pretty quick, and sounded like pure sex at WOT down the drag strip.

And I agree with this having NOTHING to do with autocross, hence why I put it where I did in the first place...

General Info (1 Viewing)
General questions and comments relating to the Cougar that don't fit into other categories.

AutoCross
Discuss autocross events here.

[Goldie]

Originally Posted by azbobbybooshay10

And I agree with this having NOTHING to do with autocross, hence why I put it where I did in the first place...

ok - and I understand it's not autox - BUT you were not really even talking about YOUR car's, or other cougar's runs either. It was either here or garage talk, and if the mod over here wants to move it, fine with me but it's not general cougar info IMO.

[tnkgurl]

Yeah, it definitely doesn't belong here. Moving to Garage Tawk.