Hi Bob, I was at Mid-Ohio this weekend and it should be on your list of tracks to drive some time. I first raced there 16 years ago and it is still very much a treat to drive. More like a roller coaster than many of our race tracks, it continually loads and unloads suspension and really works the vehicle dynamics.
Mid-Ohio has 14 turns, just like Road America, but it also is only 2.2 miles long instead of 4. So, imagine packing the same number of turns and elevation change into a track half as long! It's one of the best rhythm tracks ever. Even as short as it is, it allows me to fully exercise 4th gear.
The best lap times I had at M-O in my Jag and in my A-H Sprite were about 2:00 with neither car having an advantage over the other in that regard. The difference was that in the Sprite I could drive it two abreast through many of the turns in the small bore classes. The 2900# Jag required more room on the track!
Even on street compound tires the FFR Cobra managed a 1:51+ as it handles about like the Sprite and weighs about the midpoint between the Sprite and Jag. The FFR Cobras that were there for competition and on 275/40-17 Kumho Victoracer 710s were able to run between 5 and 10 seconds a lap faster than me. That fits well with what I remember about the Sprite. It was 6 seconds a lap faster on race Hoosiers than on BFG Radial TAs with street compound. So, if I ever want to go faster, I guess I could always buy some race tires!!!
I'm glad to hear the new car is being exercised well and is performing up to your expectations. I'd guess that race rubber and higher torque brake pads will make a huge difference. You might want to do one at a time to see how much is gained by each. I'd do the brakes first, personally. You'll still be limited by the adhesion of the tires in the corners and you'll also be limited on threshold braking. But you'll not have any fade issues and should be able to brake a little later. When you switch to race rubber then you'll see the effect. Your best times on the race rubber then can be used as a judgement for when they are geing "tired" so to speak! When they start to show signs of work hardening and too many heat cycles, your lap times will start to fade.
Sorry to hear those batteries have gone off already. Hate to think of the replacement bill. I have a bad alternator on the Jag so haven't been driving. It's stuck on full output. Maybe I should send it to you for your batteries!!!
Best regards, Tom
Port Washington, WI 53074
