I picked up my 2003 SRT10 Vert last week and took it out for a track day at Sebring raceway in Florida today. I had never ran a track day with automobiles before (I have race motorcycles in the past), so I was a novice, both to my SRT10 and to racing in general. I have owned two Gen 2s in the past.
Anyway, I had a really great time at the track today. Chin Motorsports ran the track day and they had three categories, which I was in Novice. In Novice you have to have an instructor ride with you during the day.
My first track session (30 minutes) I was getting used to the track. I found that I could leave the Viper in 3rd gear throughout the track, which allowed me to concentrate on learning the corners rather then shifting. I actually ran in third gear for most of the first two sessions. There was always plenty of torque to get me out of the corners, and I really didn't feel like going faster then 120ish on the straights anyway.
The Viper provided me with quite an advantage over the other novice drivers, with the massive amount of speed I could get on the straights I passed driver after driver (which made for a fun day). Through the corners, I thought the car held fairly well. I was careful coming out of turns with the throttle, and never got close to breaking the rear free.
I did notice that I had to be careful with the throttle on long sweepers. I let up on the throttle once through a long series of turns and the back end got quite squirrelly on me. I easily corrected for it, however, but I was much more careful with the throttle from then on out.
I ran 4 sessions total, and was only passed one time, by a fast driver in a Porsche targa. I did catch and pass him a bit later in the session as he almost spun his car and slowed down quite a bit
I thought the suspension was nice, the PS2 tires held well, and the brakes never developed any fading feeling. I would like to have a bit more downforce on the rear wheels to give myself a bit more confidence that the rear wouldn't kick out on me.
Can't wait to go again!
Shawn
Anyway, I had a really great time at the track today. Chin Motorsports ran the track day and they had three categories, which I was in Novice. In Novice you have to have an instructor ride with you during the day.
My first track session (30 minutes) I was getting used to the track. I found that I could leave the Viper in 3rd gear throughout the track, which allowed me to concentrate on learning the corners rather then shifting. I actually ran in third gear for most of the first two sessions. There was always plenty of torque to get me out of the corners, and I really didn't feel like going faster then 120ish on the straights anyway.
The Viper provided me with quite an advantage over the other novice drivers, with the massive amount of speed I could get on the straights I passed driver after driver (which made for a fun day). Through the corners, I thought the car held fairly well. I was careful coming out of turns with the throttle, and never got close to breaking the rear free.
I did notice that I had to be careful with the throttle on long sweepers. I let up on the throttle once through a long series of turns and the back end got quite squirrelly on me. I easily corrected for it, however, but I was much more careful with the throttle from then on out.
I ran 4 sessions total, and was only passed one time, by a fast driver in a Porsche targa. I did catch and pass him a bit later in the session as he almost spun his car and slowed down quite a bit
I thought the suspension was nice, the PS2 tires held well, and the brakes never developed any fading feeling. I would like to have a bit more downforce on the rear wheels to give myself a bit more confidence that the rear wouldn't kick out on me.
Can't wait to go again!
Shawn
