ITS at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), 1st event

[StingertimeNC]

Hey team, thought I would post this up for everyone's enjoyment. This was the best lap I put down at this event.

I ran a 2:19 with my Stinger GT but had lots more time at the track with it. I was taking it pretty easy and it was my first time at a track with a manual trans. Those of you who know this track will know it's painfully slow. Early turn in, late turn in, coasting, early braking, not accelerating full throttle, etc. I was doing it all, LOL!

As a frame of reference, on the grand course, Car and driver put down a 2:58 last year with the FL5 on sport cup 2's. Of course I was stock on PS4S. My best Grand Course time was 3:32 at this event.

This lap is the "Full Course" configuration with is almost a mile shorter. First day was grand course, second day was full course.

Oh, I'm running in intermediate group, no instructor. I advanced from Novice with my previous car. On my you tube channel I have several laps with the Stinger as well. Stinger was heavily modified with roughly 475 WHP, lowering springs, sway bars, wider wheels, etc. RWD, not AWD. I carried more speed basically everywhere on the track.

The ITS/FL5 Platform should run 8+ seconds faster than the stinger in the hands of a good driver. So here you go...go easy on me with the commentary, LOL.

One note, the speed is GPS based using Track Addict, so speed is a little laggy. It's accurate, just doesn't keep up during hard acceleration or braking.

 

[QUIKAG]

What did you do for brake pads, brake fluid, and/or alignment?

 

[StingertimeNC]

What did you do for brake pads, brake fluid, and/or alignment?

Stock alignment/suspension. Hawk DTC-60 front pads, Hawk DTC-30 rear pads, Motul RBF 660 brake fluid. Otherwise stock.

Brake pads and fluid were fine for track duty. I'm sure there are tons of ways to skin this cat, but what I went with was fine and not terribly expensive. I put the stock pads back on the front when I got home, and switched the rears to Hawk HPS 5.0. I'll probably switch the front pads to HPS 5.0's also.

 

[QUIKAG]

Thanks for the info!! Enjoy your car!

 

[evanescent03]

I love VIR.. was just there in my C8 Z06. I had buddies there with an FL5 and FK8.

I’m trying to decide if i should take out my ITS periodically to give the C8 a break… did you have any issues at all with the car? FL5 for my friends have done really well….

 

[StingertimeNC]

You should definitely take ITS to the track! What a difference from a RWD high power car. I was used to 500 HP RWD with springs and sways, so this was a big change for me. Since I last went I dropped the car, added apex rims, and rear sway bar. hoping it feels a bit more stable on track.
You will have a blast with it. You would probablky be fine with just pads and fluid. nothing more.

 

[StingertimeNC]

Headed back to VIR in three weeks! Can't wait. Had my first oil change today (Mobil 1- 0W20, full synthetic) and checked all suspension bolts for proper torque, while it was up on the alignment rack. Also removed guide pins from the front dampers to tweak the camber a bit. All we could muster up was -2.1 left and -2.2 right.

Rears are stuck at -2.2. Nothing I can do about that at this point.

Hopefully the Eibach springs and rear sway, along with the 275/30 Conti's will help with body control. Looking for some confidence!!

Anybody else want to meet me at the track???? Would be fun to have more than one ITS in attendance.

 

[NoVA_Teggy]

Anybody else want to meet me at the track???? Would be fun to have more than one ITS in attendance.

I'll be there in my MBP ITS. I'm driving down from NoVA Tuesday evening so I don't have to get up early Wednesday morning to get there.

 

[StingertimeNC]

Nice. We have to hook up for sure.
what run group are you in? Have you been to VIR before? I’ll come in Wednesday around 5 or so for tech check in.

 

[NoVA_Teggy]

Nice. We have to hook up for sure.
what run group are you in? Have you been to VIR before? I’ll come in Wednesday around 5 or so for tech check in.

I'm in the Enthusiast group. It's been a while since I've had any track time. Haven't been to VIR before.

 

[StingertimeNC]

Enthusiast? you're going with Trackdaze right? Driving on Thursday/Friday?

Same as Novice group?

Just looked at their calendar. You're going on Wednesday for the Car and Driver Lightning lap day aren't you? You should stay Thursday also and do first day of Trackdaze event. what's another $400 right??

 

[NoVA_Teggy]

Enthusiast? you're going with Trackdaze right? Driving on Thursday/Friday?

Same as Novice group?

Just looked at their calendar. You're going on Wednesday for the Car and Driver Lightning lap day aren't you? You should stay Thursday also and do first day of Trackdaze event. what's another $400 right??

I'll be there all day Wednesday. Depending on what I have going on at work this week, I may stay Thursday. I'm took off Tuesday through Thursday but I'm working this weekend so I don't get hit with an onslaught of work when I go in on Friday.

 

[StingertimeNC]

cool, add to this post if you stay and we'll keep an eye out for each other. The track is awesome by the way. drive safe!

 

[Krazydan19]

Post some cool pics so the rest of us and feel like we are there too

 

[StingertimeNC]

Post some cool pics so the rest of us and feel like we are there too

Absolutely! Pray for good weather.