| Our local chapter of the
SCCA has initiated "Street Car Lapping" as a part of the Wheel
to Wheel program held at Hawaii Raceway Park. This gives drivers a
chance to sample speeds quite a bit higher than we usually achieve at an
Autocross event.
I
have had a desire to take the Honda S2000 to the track for as long as I
have owned it. For some reason, the opportunity has never properly
presented itself. My desire for higher speeds is tempered by the
fact that HRP has very little runoff areas. The turns are lined with
tire barriers, guard rails, street lamps, and concrete barriers.
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The
lapping session was run on the "short course" and did not use
the whole length of the 1/4 mile dragstrip. For the S2000, this was
a 2nd gear course with two sections needing 3rd gear.
The other cars participating in the
lapping session were two Miatas that are regular autocrossers, our RE in
his Neon, and a VW Rabbit. We were released onto the course at
intervals to keep us from bunching up, and the only allowable place to
pass was on the main straight.
Figuring the S2000 would be the
fastest (the car not the driver), I was sent out first. As I worked
my way around the track, I slowly built speed as I learned the line from
my ride along instructor.
After a few laps we started to catch
up with the other cars. The S2000 had a large horsepower advantage
over the other cars, but it was still difficult to get around them on the
front straight. In hindsight, I understand why. The two
Miata's were running their "sticky" race rubber, whereas I was
using my regular Kumho street tires. |
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Click
above to see the track layout. We were using the Short Course. |
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This
traction advantage allowed them to carry more speed through the sweeping
turn that leads up to the only passing area. Getting close enough to
pass sometimes took two laps of following then through the slower parts
leading up the the sweeper and then tucking in right behind them so the
starter would give the car in front the blue flag.
I got by the Rabbit, Neon and one of
the Miatas when the disaster illustrated on the left occurred. Quite
simply, I got on the brakes too hard, too late and the tail just came
around. There was no wiggle and very little warning when the back
let go. It all happened fast, but I clearly remember actively
steering to avoid the light pole and all the stacked up tires. It
looks closer in the pictures than it actually was...but it as close enough
that's for sure!
Before the event I changed the brake
fluid to a higher temp DOT 4 and I think this helped me avoid brake
fade. Unfortunately this did not prevent the rear brakes from
getting very hot. In fact they were smokin' hot!
Hopefully a set of Porterfield R4-Ss
will solve that problem for the next track event on the 11th. I
can't wait! |
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