First Circuit day in my XR8

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I reckon I will have this grin for at least one week.

Had a sprint day at Baskerville raceway (in Tas) and it was the most fun I have ever had in one day, in a car any way. My car destroyed a set of tires in 28 hot laps and used 3/4 of a tank of juice in the process. Economy....... 38 lt per 100 km according to the trip computer.

Brakes were brilliant, can't say enough about the performance of the AP's and big rotors, no fade, the pedal went a little longer in travel, but they hauled the car down from speeds (and short in distance) like Ive never dreamt of on the road. I was a bit worried to begin with due to the creaking that was going on between sprints (I'm guessing from the rotors ??), but no cracks visible, just a lot of dust on the calipers / wheels. I was running a set of Ferrodo Race Pads.

The suspension proved better than I thought 'road suspension' would be, seemed too loose in the rear end, but turned in really well. Which is great due to all the 'lead tipped arrow crap' that gets slung at Ford V8's. I held it in some long over steer angles, on one corner (second gear, 60 kmph and up a fairly steep hill) for around 100m up the hill. Bloody fun, heaps slow..............

Saw 180 kmh down the back straight (limiter in 4th) which wasn't too bad, mind you there was a heavily modded REX pulling nearly 200 !!!! There was even a Mini that cracked damn near 180 (175), and had corner speeds that my big bad warbling XR8 couldn't even dream of.

Pulled a OMG see the whites of my eyes 360 deg spin at 110kmph in front of most onlookers, came to a dusty stop around 1.5m from a nasty bastard tire wall. All good, and smoked em up proper once I'd bulldozed my way back to the track.

Times started out at 1.12's/ 13's, ended up with a best in last session of 1.08 odd. (actually closer to 09, but 08 sounds better.This was with four shagged tires, rears absolutely buggered, wore about 4mm of tread, and both have had 10C piece size lumps of rubber ripped from all the way around inner tread, you can put your thumb in some.

Reallity check is, said fast REX did 60 seconds, Torana XU1 did 1.06, Mini on on steroids was slightly faster than Rana, GTR did 1.03, but XR8 did beat a few. We won't mention all were 4 Cyl, bar one immaculate VL Commo with trick suspension and BIG wheels / tires.

Intersesting that more than half the field turned up on a trailer. Great to be able to drive to and from the day in your 'race car'.

My 8 will never be quick around a circuit, but Jeez it's fun, and from the after race feedback, it sure was one of the crowd favorites. Why was the driver was so enthusiastic ........... he like smokem signals.

I learnt lots of things today, feeling slower is often faster, less power applied can be quicker, and semi slick tires shat on road rubber.

My Ventus Sport (245 45 17) got rooted, I will need to get a new set of tires, and they were (at a guess) only 50 percent worn yesturday. Add that to the cost of entry etc, and it is not cheap.

But I don't care, and I didn't get put in jail or lose my car, or bend it and I drove harder, braked later than I ever thought my 8 would / could do.

I am now converted to going fast through corners, not just on the way out. Feeling like Mr Master Card could get some use before the next sprint.......