First track day: Streets of Willow
#1
First track day: Streets of Willow
I had my very first road course experience at The Streets of Willow today, and it was a blast
I was one of three Acuras at the event (Acura #2 was an RSX type-s and Acura #3 was an Integra type-R), and man did I look out of place at the track haha. There were probably over 40 cars at the event, all very respectable sport cars ranging from Civics to STIs and EVOS to 370zs to F430s and GT3s.
Everybody who came up to me was excited to see me get out there and they all seem to love the 3G type-s. I don't think anybody I met today has seen one at the track before, let alone a 6MT, so they all got really excited even though I was generally out-gunned by every other racer there. We need to make more of a showing at the track, guys!
Anyway, track conditions were horrendous today. It was hot. Very hot. I'm talking three digit ambient temps and 150+ surface temps. By noon everybody was losing grip due to the slick surface and it was difficult for most of the veterans to get anywhere near their best times.
We ran the full Streets of Willow 1.8 mile course counter-clockwise and the best time I could get was 1:43.6 I believe the 370z in my run group had a best run of a high 1:42.x and a new Scion FR-S had a best time of 1:43.x as well. The three of us were pulling better times than the first generation M5, but the s2000 guys and Miata guys were murdering us, and the EG/EK Civic guys were murdering THOSE guys
One guy driving an EG Civic pulled off 1:28.x for three laps consistently. That's an amazing time considering Keiichi Tsuchiya's best time in the TL type-s was 1:32.88 on Streets of Willow.
My type-s felt really responsive in the corners and it hugged the road very very well. The limiting factor for my poor times was not the car; it was me. I cannot stress to you how well the TL behaved in the corners; it was like glue once I learned to drive the car correctly. It's like the car knows exactly where to go on its own. Effortlessly. I'm sure that with experience, the 6MT type-s could pull much better times. I didn't go all out on the corners because I was scared, and I had the back end step out at least four times on the skid pad. It wasn't snap oversteer or anything, just oversteer, and that's with my Progress RSB on the "STREET" setting
I don't know how you guys are running that bar on the "TRACK" setting! But I can't blame the skid-pad incidents on the car; I know it was because I headed into the beast wayy too fast on the times that I did experience oversteer
On the times that I did to get it right, the skid-pad was a piece of cake! The TL has an AMAZING lateral grip!
The oversteer wasn't THAT scary though. It was actually pretty forgiving. I could actually feel the rear end begin to rotate, and it was surprisingly easy to control/correct. The only reason it was scary for me was because I'm a complete newb when it comes to driving the car hard and because this was the first time I've ever experienced oversteer at all haha. I'm sure a lot of you might actually get a kick out of that feeling. A simple steering correction and some gas got the rear end to stick, though.![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Oh, and I understand that nearly all cars come with a bit of understeer dialed in from the factory these days, but that doesn't necessarily mean you can't oversteer with those beasts either. My car almost got wrecked during my second run today. I was coming onto the back straight and signaling for the car behind me to pass. After he passed me, the is250 behind him decided to try to pass me as well, so I let off the gas to facilitate the pass. He got on the throttle a little too hard, though, and by the time he was at my rear quarter panel I saw him fish-tail about twice. It was at that time that I decided to book it, and I threw it in second and mashed on the throttle. Good thing I did, because the is250 fish-tailed one last time before completely spinning out. His rear end nearly clipped my rear end in the process; had I not acted quickly and gotten on the throttle, I don't think I would have had a car to drive home from the track![Why Me](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/whyme.gif)
I'm happy with my experience today because I walked away from the track feeling much more confident in my ability to handle the TL. I also got a kick out of being the underdog (probably the heaviest car there excluding the M5, and the only FWD 4-door for sure
). It was satisfying to know that we could pull similar times to beginner 370zs, s2000s, WRXs, FR-Ss and all those other more "sporty" cars
Sorry for the long long longggg post! I just wanted to share my complete experience with all of you on azine! Get out there and show everybody what our four-door front-wheel-drives are made of!
![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Everybody who came up to me was excited to see me get out there and they all seem to love the 3G type-s. I don't think anybody I met today has seen one at the track before, let alone a 6MT, so they all got really excited even though I was generally out-gunned by every other racer there. We need to make more of a showing at the track, guys!
Anyway, track conditions were horrendous today. It was hot. Very hot. I'm talking three digit ambient temps and 150+ surface temps. By noon everybody was losing grip due to the slick surface and it was difficult for most of the veterans to get anywhere near their best times.
We ran the full Streets of Willow 1.8 mile course counter-clockwise and the best time I could get was 1:43.6 I believe the 370z in my run group had a best run of a high 1:42.x and a new Scion FR-S had a best time of 1:43.x as well. The three of us were pulling better times than the first generation M5, but the s2000 guys and Miata guys were murdering us, and the EG/EK Civic guys were murdering THOSE guys
![rofl](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/rofl.gif)
My type-s felt really responsive in the corners and it hugged the road very very well. The limiting factor for my poor times was not the car; it was me. I cannot stress to you how well the TL behaved in the corners; it was like glue once I learned to drive the car correctly. It's like the car knows exactly where to go on its own. Effortlessly. I'm sure that with experience, the 6MT type-s could pull much better times. I didn't go all out on the corners because I was scared, and I had the back end step out at least four times on the skid pad. It wasn't snap oversteer or anything, just oversteer, and that's with my Progress RSB on the "STREET" setting
![what](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/what.gif)
![Smile](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
The oversteer wasn't THAT scary though. It was actually pretty forgiving. I could actually feel the rear end begin to rotate, and it was surprisingly easy to control/correct. The only reason it was scary for me was because I'm a complete newb when it comes to driving the car hard and because this was the first time I've ever experienced oversteer at all haha. I'm sure a lot of you might actually get a kick out of that feeling. A simple steering correction and some gas got the rear end to stick, though.
![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Oh, and I understand that nearly all cars come with a bit of understeer dialed in from the factory these days, but that doesn't necessarily mean you can't oversteer with those beasts either. My car almost got wrecked during my second run today. I was coming onto the back straight and signaling for the car behind me to pass. After he passed me, the is250 behind him decided to try to pass me as well, so I let off the gas to facilitate the pass. He got on the throttle a little too hard, though, and by the time he was at my rear quarter panel I saw him fish-tail about twice. It was at that time that I decided to book it, and I threw it in second and mashed on the throttle. Good thing I did, because the is250 fish-tailed one last time before completely spinning out. His rear end nearly clipped my rear end in the process; had I not acted quickly and gotten on the throttle, I don't think I would have had a car to drive home from the track
![Why Me](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/whyme.gif)
I'm happy with my experience today because I walked away from the track feeling much more confident in my ability to handle the TL. I also got a kick out of being the underdog (probably the heaviest car there excluding the M5, and the only FWD 4-door for sure
![Chuckle](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/chuckle.gif)
![Tongue](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Last edited by lumyeinjun; 08-13-2012 at 02:17 AM.
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FCVadi (10-31-2012)
#2
Fawkatitle.com
Good to hear you had fun man... I am also in that 1% that took the TLS out to the road course (when I owned it). I did it on stock suspension and also in full adjustable suspension. What suspension are you running? Tires?
#3
Great! What course did you run? I wish I could have run the car stock to know how it handles from the factory, but that ship sailed four years ago haha.
I'm running on H&R sport springs over Koni Sport SP3 dampers and a Progress RSB. I also have 16.75lb Enkei rpf1 wheels in 17x9 +22 wrapped in 245/40 potenza re760 sports (front) and Hankook Ventus V12 EVOs (rear).
I believe that the +22 offset gives me better road feel, which may be the reason why I knew exactly when I was going to break traction. The downside to that offset though, is the torque steer. I never noticed any torque steer at all with the honeycomb enkeis, but it is definitely noticeable with the rpf1s. No big deal though, as long as my throttle control is smooth
I'm running on H&R sport springs over Koni Sport SP3 dampers and a Progress RSB. I also have 16.75lb Enkei rpf1 wheels in 17x9 +22 wrapped in 245/40 potenza re760 sports (front) and Hankook Ventus V12 EVOs (rear).
I believe that the +22 offset gives me better road feel, which may be the reason why I knew exactly when I was going to break traction. The downside to that offset though, is the torque steer. I never noticed any torque steer at all with the honeycomb enkeis, but it is definitely noticeable with the rpf1s. No big deal though, as long as my throttle control is smooth
![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
#4
Fawkatitle.com
I did autox in FL @ the pbir when thye hosted some events... there is no real dedicated autox course that I know of in SFL like there is in cali... you have a decent setup just get more time behind the wheel you'll be fine and will keep surprising guys out there.
I recently this year tried my Maxima out (its on stock sport suspension) and the rear of this car is so light that it would come around from time to time... if this car was rwd it'd be a fun ride, I surprised a couple of ppl there; most ppl look at the car and say wtf? isnt that heavy? but the car is actually light, weights about the same as the 3g.
I recently this year tried my Maxima out (its on stock sport suspension) and the rear of this car is so light that it would come around from time to time... if this car was rwd it'd be a fun ride, I surprised a couple of ppl there; most ppl look at the car and say wtf? isnt that heavy? but the car is actually light, weights about the same as the 3g.
#5
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How did they assign the groups, by experience & car potential or just experience?
#6
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Great post Randy....am glad you had fun....one day I shall hit the track
![Nod](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/nod.gif)
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#8
Suzuka Master
iTrader: (2)
Sounds like fun, even in a TL. We've got similar suspension setups, and I can't believe how much better my car handles compared to when it was stock, especially now that I have the Conti DW summer tires. I love leaving people who are riding my ass on sweeping exit ramps. 2.5x the posted limit is so easy now. I'm tempted to start messing with the Koni settings a little more.
BTW, I never knew an IS 250 had the balls to spin out, lol.
BTW, I never knew an IS 250 had the balls to spin out, lol.
#9
I did autox in FL @ the pbir when thye hosted some events... there is no real dedicated autox course that I know of in SFL like there is in cali... you have a decent setup just get more time behind the wheel you'll be fine and will keep surprising guys out there.
I recently this year tried my Maxima out (its on stock sport suspension) and the rear of this car is so light that it would come around from time to time... if this car was rwd it'd be a fun ride, I surprised a couple of ppl there; most ppl look at the car and say wtf? isnt that heavy? but the car is actually light, weights about the same as the 3g.
I recently this year tried my Maxima out (its on stock sport suspension) and the rear of this car is so light that it would come around from time to time... if this car was rwd it'd be a fun ride, I surprised a couple of ppl there; most ppl look at the car and say wtf? isnt that heavy? but the car is actually light, weights about the same as the 3g.
![Tongue](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
![Smile](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
My run group (beginner) had two EvoXs, an S2000, an RX-8, FR-S, 370z, A3, GTI, a Jetta, an EG Civic, an ITR, and an RSX type-s. The other beginner run group had about 7 WRXs and STIs and a new BOSS 302 mustang lol. Oh and an older M5 and 3 series.
![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Are you in Cali? I've never done an autocross before, might give it a try next time! This road course was excellent though, I highly recommend it if you get the chance!
Sounds like fun, even in a TL. We've got similar suspension setups, and I can't believe how much better my car handles compared to when it was stock, especially now that I have the Conti DW summer tires. I love leaving people who are riding my ass on sweeping exit ramps. 2.5x the posted limit is so easy now. I'm tempted to start messing with the Koni settings a little more.
BTW, I never knew an IS 250 had the balls to spin out, lol.
BTW, I never knew an IS 250 had the balls to spin out, lol.
![ugh](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/ugh.gif)
_______________________________________
As an afterthought, my recent visit to the track does make me wish I had a lighter car though. The TL is amazing! But I could only imagine it being all the more fun tossing a car around that is... well, more toss-able lol.
Everybody at the track asked me "isn't that heavy?" And, I had to reply "well, yes, it is!" Although the lightest TL offered in 2008, at 3500lbs the 6MT type-s is still a heavy car. The S2000 is 2,800lbs and the Miata is 2,100lbs. I have had the opportunity of driving several S2000s and I must say, the car is much easier to toss around and it is no wonder that it is the Honda of choice at the track.
I'm still happy with my TL. It's comfy, safe, practical and it's fun at the track when I need it to be. One day I'll buy a featherweight dedicated "fun" car, but for now, let's try to make some compromises with the TL diet
![Tongue](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
Last edited by lumyeinjun; 08-14-2012 at 12:54 AM.
#10
Fawkatitle.com
Everybody at the track asked me "isn't that heavy?" And, I had to reply "well, yes, it is!" Although the lightest TL offered in 2008, at 3500lbs the 6MT type-s is still a heavy car. The S2000 is 2,800lbs and the Miata is 2,100lbs. I have had the opportunity of driving several S2000s and I must say, the car is much easier to toss around and it is no wonder that it is the Honda of choice at the track.
I'm still happy with my TL. It's comfy, safe, practical and it's fun at the track when I need it to be. One day I'll buy a featherweight dedicated "fun" car, but for now, let's try to make some compromises with the TL diet![Tongue](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
I'm still happy with my TL. It's comfy, safe, practical and it's fun at the track when I need it to be. One day I'll buy a featherweight dedicated "fun" car, but for now, let's try to make some compromises with the TL diet
![Tongue](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
#14
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Sounds like a really great day glad you enjoyed it. How did the Boss do?
#15
![ugh](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/ugh.gif)
![what](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/what.gif)
It's okay though, that thing is Built FORD Tough
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justnspace (08-14-2012)
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lumyeinjun (08-19-2012)
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Just imagine how scared the guy in the A4 behind must've been
That IS was all over the place.
Great to hear you had fun, though, and all the drivers were cool.
It sounds like a really addicting experience. Hope I get to try it out one day.
Have you considered a FSB to make the handling a little more neutral?
![what](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/what.gif)
Great to hear you had fun, though, and all the drivers were cool.
![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Have you considered a FSB to make the handling a little more neutral?
#22
Just imagine how scared the guy in the A4 behind must've been
That IS was all over the place.
Great to hear you had fun, though, and all the drivers were cool.
It sounds like a really addicting experience. Hope I get to try it out one day.
Have you considered a FSB to make the handling a little more neutral?
![what](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/what.gif)
Great to hear you had fun, though, and all the drivers were cool.
![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Have you considered a FSB to make the handling a little more neutral?
![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
I am pretty sure that I will never do the FSB because of the work involved (dropping the subframe). But I do have the type-s FSB so the handling is actually pretty balanced; I just kept taking the suspension to the limit because of my poor driving skills
![Tongue](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
#23
AZ Track Whore
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Missed this thread when it started but glad you had fun! I've had countless cars spin in front of me over the years and it's a rush everytime. I guess I can say that for YEARS now I've been saying the TL is a capable track car and seems like it's catching on. Now just imagine your TL on track and being 250lbs lighter than an S2K lol That's what I get everytime haha
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