What times are you running at Laguna Seca? Options

[SirAndy]

What times are you guys running at Laguna Seca?

Is a 1:40 possible in a 914 with good tires and power to spare?
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) Andy

[grantsfo]

What times are you guys running at Laguna Seca?

Is a 1:40 possible in a 914 with good tires and power to spare?
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) Andy

With your car on fresh slicks 1:40 should be attainable Andy. I was turning 1:41's in my little 2.5. But once you get in that 1:40 territory your hauling balls in a sub 300 hp car. Your using every inch of the track too.

I know my little 2.5 Boxster will do similar times once I'm finished with it.

[SirAndy]

What times are you guys running at Laguna Seca?
Is a 1:40 possible in a 914 with good tires and power to spare?
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) Andy

With your car on fresh slicks 1:40 should be attainable Andy. I was turning 1:41's in my little 2.5. But once you get in that 1:40 territory your hauling balls in a sub 300 hp car. Your using every inch of the track too.
I know my little 2.5 Boxster will do similar times once I'm finished with it.

That's kind of what i figured. Not a walk in the park, but do-able ...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) Andy

[DanT]

Andy, your car has the motor and tires...not sure on what you are running for suspension...

My 914-6 with the 2.7RS motor ran 1:48s at Laguna on 205s and this was years ago in the mid '90s when the DOT R tire tech was probably about what a good 200WR street tire is today.

Drove BillPs 914-6 in its early itteration on cantilevers and did 1:46s with Doris on board and didn't want to scare her too bad (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Also ran 1:50 in the Puttputt a couple of years ago on 205 710s...and that was just a little 2056 running stock Djet...a lot of that time was experience at Laguna along with more modern tire technology...

You have to push very hard, hit every apex and use every inch of the track to get into the 1:40 territory..

but your car has some of the makings to do it....

got some plans? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[race914]

I was turning 1:41's in my little 2.5.

1:41 is a really outstanding time at Laguna. Here are some benchmarks for comparison:

Kevin Voight, in the Tom & Johannes VanOverbeek's old silver 914 with the 2.8, only runs 43s, and the majority of 911s running 2.8s are also running 43s...

Checkout the PCA-GGR KM class for times: http://www.pca-ggr.org/files/htm/5-31-04-tt-ls.htm

Rich Bontempi in his 3.0 914 (Vetteater) ran 1:50s, similar to Dan's 914-6 times noted above:
http://www.pca-ggr.org/node/567
that was in a full street legal car running 205s.
Rich's yellow EP class 914 ran around 1:41s. Similar to this 914 (rich is mentioned) http://bringatrailer.com/2010/02/02/bat-ex...sche-914-racer/

A 1:41 would have also won the 2009 small bore production SCCA Vintage event at Laguna: http://www.mylaps.com/results/showrun.jsp?id=1083228

and would have also placed 4th in the 2009 Big Block Production class running with the Shelby GT-350s, Cobras and Vettes: http://www.mylaps.com/results/showrun.jsp?id=1083244

Anyone remember Dave Ferguson and his irish green 914 2.8? I know Dan does. Here's a quote from Dave:
"<in 2000> my GT-2 legal 914-6 set the PCA (Class U) track record at 1:37.8"
http://sccaforums.com/forums/thread/99937.aspx

Here's Laguna Seca SCCA race results with Dave Ferguson and Kevin Buckler when he was campaigning the old TOGOs 911. http://www.sfrscca.org/content/view/3673/

Running 1:41s is a great accomplishment at Laguna.

Andy,
Dave owns Veracity Racing Data http://www.veracitydata.com/ and I would bet he would enjoy talking to you about his 914-6. Contact info is on his site. Or, stop in and meet Dave next time you are down this way, Roger Sheridan is also in Paso Robles, and GPR is right over the hill in SLO along with SWW914s shop http://protonmotorsports.com/ and last but not least Capt Krusty is a few miles away in Santa Maria so you could make it a 914 field trip...

[grantsfo]

I was pretty fast on Laguna in that 2.5 liter car - I cant claim that on other tracks. My little twin plug 2.5 was also a screamer with perfect gearing for Laguna Seca. Probably a lot lighter than those vitange spec cars as mine only weighhed 1750 lbs. My 2.5 was about as fast as a heavier 2.8 car at speed. Only disavantage I had was lack of grunt off slow speed turns. I had drag races down start finish with a nice 2.8 liter 914 and he could put a car length on me but my cars braking and turn speeds were far better and I could pass him and never see him again.

And tough to compare Riches times on old track to the new one. Think everyone agrees its much faster out there now.

I think Albert C was running low 1:4X in his poorly prepared FP car when he was out there. That to me is amazing stuff!

Take a look at spec miata record times on the new track surface. All of a sudden 1:41 doesnt look so fast!

This post has been edited by grantsfo: Feb 5 2010, 07:12 PM

[DanT]

I agree that the track layout, track surface and mostly tire technology have changed the target number at Laguna....
but a 1:41 is still really flying.
Yes I remember Dave and his wife's British Racing Green 914-6. That car could move and Dave was a very talented driver.
He was one of the first to run programable EFI on his car. After every run he was downloading data and making tweeks to the program.

Hi Greg....how are you and Tricia doing....going to make it to some GGR CR events this year? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

[race914]

I agree that the track layout, track surface and mostly tire technology have changed the target number at Laguna....
but a 1:41 is still really flying.
Yes I remember Dave and his wife's British Racing Green 914-6. That car could move and Dave was a very talented driver.
He was one of the first to run programable EFI on his car. After every run he was downloading data and making tweeks to the program.

Hi Greg....how are you and Tricia doing....going to make it to some GGR CR events this year? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

Hi Dan,

I deserve the poke, we haven't been out since September (Cherry's Jubilee at Laguna). We hope to at least make Buttonwillow with GGR and hopefully Laguna Seca with Coastal Driving and also SCCA Vintage. It will be good to get out!

When Dave sold his car, I snagged some of his spare parts, like a set of Bremteks and some fiberglass parts. I couldn't believe all the trick parts he had. Dave & Ellen were both really good people. I've got to run up to Paso and see his shop.

Hey, I can't believe I forgot to mention another 1:40 914-4... Newlin's. From your post: http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...mp;#entry924219

Boy we had some nice 914s in GGR back then. And also A LOT of them!



Only a few were running 1:40s at Laguna though.. I know I'll never get down there with my 4. My target is to break 1:50 this year.

I bet Andy will make a good run at 1:40.

[DanT]

yes, depending on Andy's suspension he definitely has the other parts of the puzzle to push 1:40 at Laguna...
I love that pic from TH....that is my old 914-6 on the left of the pic. Second car from the front...White #81....man I wish I still had that car (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[grantsfo]

Once you get Laguna down its all about power. I have caught 500 HP cars going into slow turn onto start finish straight and literally lost sight of them as they hit the little T1 hump. Powerful cars can make tons of time out there. Going uphill is similar as well. You can only do so much with momentum out there. Thats why I think Andy's car with 3.6 if driven well could get down into low 1.4X territory. Certainly not easy but something that a smooth fast driver could get to.

And me touching 1.41 was a one time event with clear track and a much faster pacer car in front of me - I tend to go faster if I can find someone fast to follow. My average lap time with traffic was around 1.43/1.44. And if I wasnt focused it was pretty easy to slip into 1.45 to 1.47

This post has been edited by grantsfo: Feb 7 2010, 02:12 PM

[SirAndy]

Well, it looks like i'll have some time and money this year to go out and play and the 1:40 was thrown at me by a friend who is looking to buy a Mercedes SLS AMG.

http://www.fastestlaps.com/article_Mercede...aguna_Seca.html

I told him he could run similar laptimes at Laguna for a fraction of the price of the AMG. He didn't believe me ...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) Andy

[grantsfo]

Well, it looks like i'll have some time and money this year to go out and play and the 1:40 was thrown at me by a friend who is looking to buy a Mercedes SLS AMG.

http://www.fastestlaps.com/article_Mercede...aguna_Seca.html

I told him he could run similar laptimes at Laguna for a fraction of the price of the AMG. He didn't believe me ...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) Andy

Production Viper ARC did 1.33.9 ...Makes that spendy Merc look like a down right slow poke.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhQE4XfDitg

This post has been edited by grantsfo: Feb 7 2010, 11:58 PM

[grantsfo]

..and I think this gives best perspective of all on 1.40 lap times. ITE cars on fairly skinny DOT r's lapping at 1.39. Those touring cars are fairly intact cars all metal body work. Old generation M3's, RX7's, Supercharged SK2's and a 928 all clicking off sub 1.40 laps.

Lots of fairly cheap metal lapping at times faster than that Merc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBGz3PD75hQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAC6sTKREkg...feature=related

[grantsfo]

Little better video of the 1.33 by the Viper. Damn that car is quick!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjU0MyL10cg