RX-7 Focus Day @ Motor Sports Ranch

11/30/2002 - Cresson, Tx

Write Up | Video | Pictures

Write Up

This was another spectacular event organized by Eric Michel. I've been looking forward to another day at MSR since I got off the track last time. The track is still spectacular and the weather was absolutely perfect. The high was around 70 with near 0 humidity. It was perfect weather for a turbo car.

Alex accompanied me to help with the driving, filming and taking pictures. Ivan carpooled with us in his quicksilver 1998 supra. We left Houston at about 4:00 AM and arrived at MSR at 9:45 AM. Other cars began arriving around 10:30.

I built an in car camera platform that mounts in the passenger's seat for the event . The video is (or soon will be rather) available for download below. I captured video during the second lead follow and during both the hot sessions. Alex taped from the side line with another video camera.

The WRX was prepped with my Falken Azenis Sport track tires, ATE racing blue fluid and nothing else - bone stock. As I have some experience, through AutoX and other track days, I was put in the experienced group of drivers. There were 12 of us. The other ground had about 16 cars.

My car was the least powerful of the group by about 100 fly wheel horse power. The WRX is 227 fly wheel horse power. The stock 3rd generation turbo RX-7s having around 320 flywheel was the next more powerful car in the group. The most powerful car in the group was Ivan's BPUed 1998 Supra Turbo. I estimate he is putting around 410 horse power to the ground.

We began with 2 lead follow sessions. Then, the main event - hot laps. The first session was a bit of a disappointment. On the second lap, the RX-7 directly in front of me spun off the track and got stuck in the dry dirt (I got it on film). This ended the first session on the 4th lap, about 5 minutes in, so that they could retrieve the stuck car. Scratch the first session.

The second session was much better. It was a full session, right at sunset. This made for some spectacular scenes and some blind corners (particularly big bend onto the front straight). The WRX's brakes were not working as good as I would like. I did not replace the brake fluid for this event, but I think I will change it right before the next event. Despite my power deficit, I managed to keep up and even close to passing range of 2 RX-7s. They both let me by on the front straight. There was no way I could have passed them on the straight down 100+ horse power unless they let me by or spun off. By the end of the session, I felt much better about following the racing line around the track. I got better through rattle snake and around the horse shoe.

Now the second disappointment of the day occurred. Because of the early sunset, our third session was questionable. At the end of the other group's second session, one of the supra lost an oil plug, oiling down the track and ending the days runs. We got 1 20 minute session for a 10 hour round trip and $95 dollars. That is the way it goes. Nothing we could do. Disappointments aside, I would do it again in a heart beat.

After changing the tires and loading the wagon, we enjoyed a BBQ dinner provided by the RX-7 club of Dallas and then drove back to Houston. We arrived home at about midnight. Total trip time: 21 hours.

Video

All in car video was shot with a mount that placed the camera in approximately the same position as the passenger's head.

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