[Howard Jones]

SOOOOO How was it? First again thanks to Dwayne and his crew. This event in the highlight of my hobby each year.

The track at Fernley Nevada is a 4+ mile long track with two levels, one down on the pit straight the first few turns and the last few turns. I will guess that about 1.5 miles are at the pit level. The rest of the track is slightly higher. Maybe something like a 100 ft in elevation or so.

It can be configured many ways. From as short as 1.5 miles to full length. We ran a 2.5 mile track that included the longest straight and the three fastest corners. All that is on the lower portion of the track. The other mile or so is a series of connector links tying the ends of the lower area together but up on the "mesa".

The thing I was most concerned about on setup was all three 3rd gear corners are lefts as well as the 4th gear 1st turn. The very fast 1st turn leads into a set of esses. The first two are VERY fast and the third must be entered after a short brake application and then on exit back to full power in forth. This series is so fast I never really gave it all it was worth. Far to much risk for a fun weekend. I would guess however that at the end of the straight I was pulling right at 6000 in 4th (130). I was getting the shift light right as I went for the brakes.

The first L turn was at about 4800, roughly 105 or so holding that speed through the first L then R and light tap on brakes through the next L thereupon full power back to about a 110 or so before a very hard brake application for the next left taken in 3rd.

This series had me spooked so I put in some under-steer so at least the car would go straight as it neared the limmit. Good choice in hindsight. Full stiff front roll bar and about 60% stiff rear bar. I also set the front shocks to about 80% stiff and the rears to about 70%.

First tire pressures were 27F 28R.

The last two corners on the track are banked to the left and taken it 3rd. I soon found that if I went as hard as I could through the last turn onto the front straight I would need to change to 5th at the end of the straight then downshift to 4th. I didn't want that much monkey motion at a 135MPH AND brake and turn the car into 1 so I took it easy in that last L so as not to get too much speed down the straight.

First session. 4 laps warm-up. Track VERY dirty and slick as snot. This track is out in the desert and there is a lot of windblown sand all over the place. It was so bad that I couldn't get any rear grip. I even thought about going even more soft at the rear of the car but decided to leave it as is for the next session and hope that the dirt got blown off.

Tire temps at end of session 1, RF31 LF29 RR32 LR29. Only 4 laps in the morning, 77F air temp and cold track, and the right side of the car is already gaining pressure.

Second session. Rob on this forum came all the way down from Montana for a ride and so he got one. 10 Laps this time. I was surprised that the extra weight didn't really change the ballance all that much.

Reset air pressures to F27 R28 Air temp now about 82F. Hit it a little harder towards the end of the session and was now getting about 5500 (120) at the end of the straight. I don't think that I have anything to prove about my manhood so I did lift a little earlier all the way around in deference to my passenger. Still the tires gained quite a bit of pressure. RF32 LF30 RR33 LR30.

Wear pattern on the rears wasn't showing that the tire was getting used all the way across the tread with the rears leaving about 1/2 in of the outboard out of the game. TOO much pressure.

Car did have a little bit more push into the really fast turns and I went the other way in my thinking. Considered tightening up the rear bar but didn't do it.

Third session. Alone in car. Going for it this time. Tire pressures back down to LF27 RF26 RR25 LR27. 2 laps easy to warm up tires. Got a little room and went hard 3 laps. Shift light blinking at end of straight. Car feels very good now. Nice and neutral where there was a lot of push before but not much over-steer except coming down the hill off camber to the right. I really hate that turn. Never did get it right.

There is a turn to the right on the "back straight" that is really a kink. I am getting throught there flat in 4th now. Maybe a 115 or so. REALLY REALLY FUN!!! Then down to 3rd hard on brakes for the second to last L.

Tires are all hot again RR up to 36 and RF33. Hummmmmm.....

Returned tire pressures to LF26 RF25 RR25 LR27.

Last session, Gave a friend a ride who instucks at Thunderhill. I really went for it and saw the highest speeds down the straight. Full on shift light and rev limmiter taking a hit (6200 @ 134) BIG BRAKES NOW BOYS!!!! YA FUCKIN WHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! Water temp finally got hot @ 210F. Oil temp 180F gearbox temp 190F with pump on. Works!! Tires were all above 33.

I had a really good time. Car runs very hard.

I did have one moment, The last session only had three cars on track. Me, spec FF Cobra and a spec miaida on slicks. He spun in right in front of me at about 70 or so and I had to take to the dirt, All well, went on without any issues.