Traction Inc.

Scratch one more off the bucket list
Mixing it up in the Rotary Racing RX-7 at this weekend’s ChumpCar World Series double-header at Road Atlanta.

Successful Chumpcar debut at Road Atlanta

“I need more practice strapping into a race car.”

That was one of a hundred nagging doubts going through my mind yeserday morning. Not only was I climbing behind the wheel of a car that I was completely unfamiliar with, but I was preparing drive it in my first ChumpCar race. I was about race side-by-side with more than 60 other cars, on one of the most intimidating road courses in America.

Luckily I found that I was able to get comfortable quickly and was soon turning competitive lap times. When the checkered flag waved after ten hours of racing on Saturday, we had placed a solid 26th of 63 cars — not bad considering that of the five drivers on the team, I was the only one who had previously driven this track and three of us had no prior seat time in the car.

Sunday’s race ended in a DNF when the RX-7’s motor siezed, but by then each of us had driven two stints. We were more than happy with our weekend. Unlike many of our competitors, there were no tire rings worn into our doors or crushed fenders from hitting other cars or running off track. We had raced hard and raced clean. Now it’s time for a beer.

Thanks to Rick Halston at MotorSportMedia for taking such great photos this weekend.

that911 asked: The DBS was very impressive, but not very fast. I drove an e46 M3 that was built to my specs (my friends car) and was about 2 seconds quick in that. The power and stability of the AM was amazing though. It was very confidence inspiring and felt like it had grip for days. You could definitely feel the weight. The brakes were very good, you don't really need them for that track however. All in all a good time!

I had a similar experience with the V8 Vantage.  It’s a very pretty car, it’s reasonably quick and it sounds nice, but the driving experience didn’t quite measure up to my E36 M3.  In terms of speed and driving dynamics, it couldn’t touch a late-model M3 or 911.  Despite the class and pedigree, it seems that Aston’s are more show than go.

99op:

Top Gear edit fail.  Hammond clearly doing 123mph on a two lane road in America.  Okay, maybe not a fail, they just didn’t give a shit!

Hitting those speeds is surprisingly easy to do in a 997 Turbo - put your foot to the floor and almost immediately the speedo races into the triple digits as the car just pulls and pulls.  I can’t imagine that Hammond’s 997 GT3 RS was any less willing.  These cars just beg to go fast.

Autocross
“Often seen as an entry level motorsports racing event. However, the race is between drivers of street cars and a clock, and as anyone that has done this before knows, the clock always wins.” — Uncyclopedia

Helmet hair after flogging the Ferrari 360 and Audi R8

I drove my first supercar track day yesterday. The way the cars handled was really eye-opening — very neutral, nearly no brake dive, imperceptible body roll. I’ve got a new benchmark target for my own cars now.

Fireworks close the Petit Le Mans

Spectating at the Petit Le Mans

Me and the Porsche 911 Turbo
So, so, so biblically fast.

Ready to try out the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster