First time "racing" at High Performance driving at ThunderHill this Friday.

[YLW DRM2]

Hey guys, I am planning to go to a high speed driving - race track event this Friday. It is in Thunder Hill. First time to take my Viper on the track. Looking for a Viper freind to join me so I don't feel so lonely.
Also, if you have a tips for the first time track driving of Viper please post it here.
I've raced C5 many times including THill, but such powerfull car as Viper first time.
What tire pressure should I be running? 30PSI when tires are hot?

If you want any additional info on the race day PM me and I will provide you with the link.

 

[FrankBarba]

Don't you mean...First Time attending a High Speed driving event ? Don't race if it is your first time on the track...i am told that you need a liscense to race.

what type of sneakers will your viper be using ?

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

No herky-jerky moves. Smooth is fast. Squeeze the pedals and steady steering wheel movement. Not much different than any other high powered car, just moreso.

And if you're used to traction control the Viper doesn't have it thank Gawd. So it's just you and the car. Enjoy. It will be the most fun you've ever had tracking anthing short of a full out racecar.

 

[YLW DRM2]

Don't you mean...First Time attending a High Speed driving event ? Don't race if it is your first time on the track...i am told that you need a liscense to race.

what type of sneakers will your viper be using ?

Well it is my first time attending HS driving event in a while and in a Viper. I "raced" C5 a while ago, but that thing had an active handeling support that made me look like a very good driver. I have to say that with only 400HP in my C5 I participated in few Viper days at THill and was usually running in the pack of first cars in advanced group (no SRTs at the time though). I must say I felt confident with C5 due to the AH.
Viper scares the heck out of me. First when I purchased it I drove it for good 6 months (I only have it for a year) on a crapflats and everytime I was making a turn I was waiting for my Viper rear to go around me. Now I have Kumho and really like it, but running on runcrapms really imprinted in my mind .
So yes, I intend to take it slow and learn my way up. In these weather conditions I think the best PSI to start with is 29 all around? Check after every session to make sure it is not over 37PSI?

 

[JonB]

Hey guys, I am planning to go to a high speed driving - race track event this Friday. It is in Thunder Hill. First time to take my Viper on the track. Looking for a Viper freind to join me so I don't feel so lonely.
Also, if you have a tips for the first time track driving of Viper please post it here.
I've raced C5 many times including THill, but such powerfull car as Viper first time.
What tire pressure should I be running? 30PSI when tires are hot?

If you want any additional info on the race day PM me and I will provide you with the link.

What tires are you running? Stock alignment? 29-29 is a good starting point COLD.

If you have 'raced' T-hill before, you know the drill: Take T1 WIDE......and Turn 2 never ends.....be patient. The apex is 75% of the way thru 2! T 3-4 is tilted off-camber, be careful.

Assume you are running the Hill vs the bypass? Treat the Hill as a 2nd gear hard-flat-left, tho it is NOT flat..all you see is sky! Look at the apex....and then look waaaay off at the distant power poles as a reference, so you 'land' on-track! I hate the bypass format, its off-camber too. Flat and fast 6.5-9....

And at T-9, the water tank on the horizon is your friend. Point your left headlite AT IT and the sky.....Be careful at 10 and 14-15, narrow and can be slippery.....

HAVE FUN and BE SAFE...

 

[Leslie]

hands always on the wheel except for when you are shifting
always look ahead
listen to your instructor
don't forget to breathe
there should be a direct correlation between the wheel and your right foot haha, 'wheel it out' or straighten the wheel slooowwly as you sqeeeze on the throttle, as said above, every movement should be smoooooth
check your 'seat guage' regularly, learn to know when your car is 'settled' and when it's not
drink lots of water and get a good night's sleep

have fun!

 

[GTS-R 001]

leave the car in 4th the whole track until you get used to it, the hill especially, it is easy to over power yourself there

 

[YLW DRM2]

Thank you guys for all the tips!

 

[Catwood]

The throttle is not a switch. If your on stock tires and the oem sized fronts, don't trail brake and get it straight before you roll on the gas. Especially at first. If stock tires and alignment it's going to push.

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

If your tires are stock I would probably do a 2-3 lb differential ( more in front ) , as you are going to have push in a couple of corners at Thunderhill. Dang tires up front really need to be 295s to 315s in my estimation.

Have fun and treat your Viper like a lady --- squeeze her , do not slap her around, as many have suggested.

 

[Leslie]

If your tires are stock I would probably do a 2-3 lb differential ( more in front ) , as you are going to have push in a couple of corners at Thunderhill. Dang tires up front really need to be 295s to 315s in my estimation.

Have fun and treat your Viper like a lady --- squeeze her , do not slap her around, as many have suggested.

VERY true on the 'push', I run a 295 up front now, you can just adjust the tire pressure check them as quickly as you can after each session, keep in mind your 'cool down' lap and getting to your parking spot the psi goes down about 3-4 psi.

air is FREE haha

 

[YLW DRM2]

So I was going to THill until on Thursday morning friend of mine told me about Speedventure club that hold event at Sears point. Ummm Sears point is only 45 min from my house, but so dam dangerous track with all its walls. THill is 2.5 hours away, but much easy to learn new car on.... Well couldn't decide for a while, but ended up going to Searpoint thinking that I will take it easy on the car.
Well, I made it to the track and safely back !
I had a blast today, at first session I was taking it very slow driving it mostly in 4th gear. However, as the day progressed and track heat up I started to feel car much better and I must say I was surprised that with such amount of HP this car still very good and predictable race track car, if you are not too rough with it. My worries of not having assistance of handeling control that my old C5 provided me was overcomed mid of the day. I ran in the Intermediate group and I must say I've passed any car that was ahead of me and no car overtook me .

Oh and in regards of tires I am running on stock size tires, but Kumho rubber. I loved these Kumho tires, they really hold the car well, the difference between stock tires that came with the car and Kumho is night and day...

Now looking forward to possibly going to the next event at Thill on November 14th.

P.S. We have a very powerfull car, limits of which scares most of us, but I think taking your car to the track is the best investment to your car you can do - learn your limits on this beast...

 

[cash84]

and get a good night's sleep

I had trouble sleeping that night because of a horriable hang over from a Wedding lol then at the same time excited. Probably 4hrs of sleep. I was wide awake

 

[Leslie]

I had trouble sleeping that night because of a horriable hang over from a Wedding lol then at the same time excited. Probably 4hrs of sleep. I was wide awake

I have the same problem when I go to the track, after 6 yrs and I STILL get excited about runningbut not the hangover part....wellll, sometimes haha

 

[escapedan]

I'll be taking my 06 coupe to Thunderhill with NCRC on Friday 11/6 - anyone going to be there?

 

[deadman]

me!

 

[escapedan]

Nice! I'll send you my contact info.

 

[YLW DRM2]

I'll be taking my 06 coupe to Thunderhill with NCRC on Friday 11/6 - anyone going to be there?

I would really love to, but can't take another Friday off. I plan on running THill with Hood on Driving on Saturday 11/14.

 

[escapedan]

I understand about the weekday events being tough. I'll check into the HOD event and see if I can make that as well.

 

[YLW DRM2]

I understand about the weekday events being tough. I'll check into the HOD event and see if I can make that as well.

Yep, lets do 11/14, I know SFViper is going to go to so that already will make 3 Vipers .