Is pulling the fuse that controls the aero hydraulic pump and unplugging the actuator connectors sufficient? Should I have a shop fabricate pins or brackets? What’s the path here?
One of the instructors at the PCA event at Mid Ohio told me that I should change my line and cheat right towards the flag station after the exit in Keyhole because it shortens the track by a few feet and therefore is quicker. I’ve always stayed left until approaching the kink. I ran this by my buddy who used to race F1 and is probably one of the fastest ever at Mid Ohio and he said, and I quote,
“Some people do that line There is no difference in time and in a racing situation it would be easier to get passed. Also if you were racing in a pro race you would definitely stand out 🏁As you would be the only one on that line 😂”
I’m assuming the instructor was wrong based on the pedigree comparisons of both drivers. But what do you guys think?
Another great weekend in the books at Mid-Ohio. I’m getting very comfortable through madness/the esses and able to finally carry good speed into Thunder valley. Took me a few weekends to really grasp how one slight mistake in that sequence of turns can affect your time so much. So much fun.
I am at a PCA event at Mid-Ohio and running my RS. I’ve been talking to MULTIPLE guys who are pretty fast and have ran for years and, when talking about which gear they like into Turn 1, I’ve been shocked by how many people tell me they just run in auto mode. These aren’t beginners either. Is this a common thing that PDK people do on the track?
New 180TW Troffeo RS’s put on the car but the weather-map shows there will definitely be some wet sessions this weekend. Should be .. interesting.
Here is my 2026 F250 Platinum Plus extremely stuck trying to pull my race trailer out of the upper grass paddock at Mid Ohio after a rain soaked weekend of racing. Spilled alert: a Toyota had to pull me out 🫤
One of the most common pieces of advice I see is, “Learn to drive a slow car fast.”
I understand the reasoning. Momentum cars punish mistakes. They teach you to carry speed, focus on corner exit, and maximize every tenth. I get it. I have ran enough MX5 races on iRacing to actually believe that.
But here’s my confession: I have absolutely zero interest in driving a slow car fast.
I’m 40 years old. I spent my teens, 20s, and most of my 30s being reckless and also building multiple businesses. It took me until now to be in a position where I can really dedicate time and money to track driving. And now that I’m here, I don’t dream about wringing the neck of a Miata. I want to drive a GT3RS as fast as I possibly can.
I don’t mean I want to skip learning fundamentals. Quite the opposite. I want to become the best driver I can be. I just want to learn those skills in the cars that genuinely excite me. Maybe it’ll take me longer. Maybe it’s not the optimal development path. Maybe I’d become a faster driver sooner in a Spec Miata. But every time I walk into the garage and see the RS, I want to go drive it. Every time I watch onboard footage, I want to learn how to extract more from that car. That’s what motivates me to spend weekends at the track.
So I’m curious. For those of you who started in slower cars and moved up, do you think it was absolutely necessary?
Or could a motivated driver learn just as well by spending that same seat time in the fast car they actually want to drive?
I can’t be the only person who waited decades for the chance to drive something special and doesn’t want to spend the next few years pretending they don’t.
In a couple weeks, I am back on track for the weekend. I normally run my GT3RS (obviously), but I think I may try out my 992.2 Touring on the track to see how fun it is in a GT car with way less aero. Does anyone in here have any experience running laps with rev matching/auto-blip on? Curious to hear how people feel like it works on a proper lap compared to heel/toe shifting.
I’ve never drove with the Porsche guys before, was just curious about if that typically goes like I imagine it does in my head.
Every time I finish a weekend track session, I get so mad that my parents had me playing baseball, football, etc instead of putting me in a kart at 7 years old. I’m so delusional that I genuinely feel like I would have been racing in Detroit this weekend if they would have just put me in a kart when I was young. 😂
I thought I’d miss the Raptor R. I do not. I love this truck.
Everybody loves talking about the GT3RS in perfect conditions. Warm track, perfect tires, sunny day, hero laps. Nobody talks enough about taking one out at Mid-Ohio in the pouring rain while the entire track turns into what feels like an elevated concrete slip and slide through the woods.
I genuinely think Mid-Ohio might be one of the slickest tracks in America when it’s wet. The elevation changes make everything feel worse. Water pools in weird places. The curbs become landmines. The braking zones stop existing. Every corner feels like it’s waiting to humiliate you.
And somehow the GT3RS still feels unbelievable.
The car is constantly saving you while simultaneously reminding you that you are one bad input away from becoming a YouTube clip titled “wealthy amateur loses Porsche in Thunder Valley.”
The craziest part was realizing how useless my normal references became. Brake markers changed. Turn in points changed. Grip patches changed lap to lap. Half the corners became “maybe.” The dry line meant nothing. Even the sound of the car felt different bouncing through the trees in the rain.
I’ve done a lot of laps at Mid-Ohio in sims and thought I knew that track pretty well. The rain immediately informs you that you actually don’t know anything.
Absolutely one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had in a car!!!
Things got a little spicy while finding the rain line at Mid Ohio over the weekend. Had a blast!
Had a blast in wet conditions this weekend at Mid Ohio. Even burying my truck in the upper grass paddock was a blast, honestly. NASA just has such a cool culture compared to other events I’ve been to. I got to meet some of the guys on this sub and they were so solid and helpful. Over all, the community is just top tier all the way around. I plan on sticking around for a long time.
I went with a lot of recommendations from my thread here asking this amazing community which way to go. I dumped my 2025 Raptor R for a 2026 F250 Platinum Plus long bed. Then, I scooped up a new 24 foot ATC with what I believe is all I need inside. Escape door. Coin floor. Upper cabinets (I’ll secure my own tool bench to the front wall). Went with 7 foot race ramps and they worked like a charm with the help of FAL. And after effortlessly pulling this around while my seats gave my back a deep tissue massage, I don’t think I’ll miss the Raptor R one bit.
As someone just starting to really get into racing, I can’t stress enough about how helpful all of you have been. Thank you. Now, let’s see how dicey Mid Ohio is in the rain for a complete rookie like me this weekend!!!
I am grabbing a trailer this week. I would love input from the community.
- Trying to stay away from brands bought out by private equity and quality suffered
- I can easily scoop up a diesel F250 Platinum or Ram 2500 and get a check back. But I would much prefer towing with my 2025 Raptor R for a while, so weight matters.
- Aluminum, not only for weight, but for longevity etc.
- My mind says go 24 foot, but my heart says I’ll outgrow it quick and wish I went 28.
- How hard is adding AC at a later date?
- Is a standard spring assist ramp door fine for a 911 with FAL?
- ATC feels like the best built ones that I’ve looked at so far this week.
- Any other input welcomed, as I am a complete newbie to any trailers other than for hauling my dirt bikes and quads.
Looking at getting into wheel-to-wheel racing in the Great Lakes/Mid-Ohio region over the next year or so. Trying to decide between Spec Miata, Spec MX-5, or Spec E46. I feel like I will enjoy the E46 the most. But I also think that the Miata will teach me the most and have the most participation, by far. But my questions aren’t only about the cars, it’s the following and the best way to find the answers to my questions (I don’t use Facebook, hoping there are other answers lol)
- Average grid sizes locally
- Which class has the healthiest participation other than Spec Miata
- How competitive the fields are
- Which has the better long-term future in the region other than Miata
- Would mostly be running Mid-Ohio but also Pitt Race, Nelson Ledges, etc. Appreciate any insight from people actively racing in the area.
A nice calm little Sunday drive.
If you allow another person to wash your 911’s, you should be forced to surrender them.