optronix
Senior Member
Good stuff, thanks for the detailed updates. As you point out, and as I just detailed in the thread I wish I didn't have to make yesterday, the most "fun" to be had at these events is the drive home, with your car in one piece.
And another great point about being honest and realistic about your fatigue and focus as sessions/days start to wear you down. I know I'm no spring chicken anymore- maybe in my 20s I could maintain the level of mental and physical awareness you need to stay focused during a 20+ minute session on a racetrack for a full 8 hour day or longer... but I'm just not there anymore. I'm usually content to leave at lunchtime on 1 day events. And while I used to think I was cheating myself, I've since pretty much doubled down on this philosophy. I won't even consider multi-day events, not anytime soon at least.
The only "criticism" you'll get from me is I think I've also doubled down on my concept of minimal modifications. Your experience is starting to echo mine from when I had a 2015 STI. It seemed that the more I tried to make the car "better", the more problems cropped up that I feel never would have been a problem had I just left it alone in the first place. I know there's a certain amount of "necessary" modification for things to survive on track- brakes being one- but I can't help but feel all of your issues could be attributed to things you've done to the car since delivery.
Also- when it starts to feel like work is the line I draw where it starts severely stripping the fun away. I personally don't feel like I have the time or energy to swap pads and bleed lines before every event. So I've come to the conclusion that autocross (as dangerous as it's become lately...) is almost just as enjoyable, far less expensive and far less headache than "big boy" track days.
My time at Dominion last year was fun. I called it quits at 2 sessions and the car survived beautifully. It was a legit good time. That's all I need out of this thing. I'll probably try Summit again at some point, but driving 6 hours out to VIR I just don't think is ever gonna be in the cards for me.
And another great point about being honest and realistic about your fatigue and focus as sessions/days start to wear you down. I know I'm no spring chicken anymore- maybe in my 20s I could maintain the level of mental and physical awareness you need to stay focused during a 20+ minute session on a racetrack for a full 8 hour day or longer... but I'm just not there anymore. I'm usually content to leave at lunchtime on 1 day events. And while I used to think I was cheating myself, I've since pretty much doubled down on this philosophy. I won't even consider multi-day events, not anytime soon at least.
The only "criticism" you'll get from me is I think I've also doubled down on my concept of minimal modifications. Your experience is starting to echo mine from when I had a 2015 STI. It seemed that the more I tried to make the car "better", the more problems cropped up that I feel never would have been a problem had I just left it alone in the first place. I know there's a certain amount of "necessary" modification for things to survive on track- brakes being one- but I can't help but feel all of your issues could be attributed to things you've done to the car since delivery.
Also- when it starts to feel like work is the line I draw where it starts severely stripping the fun away. I personally don't feel like I have the time or energy to swap pads and bleed lines before every event. So I've come to the conclusion that autocross (as dangerous as it's become lately...) is almost just as enjoyable, far less expensive and far less headache than "big boy" track days.
My time at Dominion last year was fun. I called it quits at 2 sessions and the car survived beautifully. It was a legit good time. That's all I need out of this thing. I'll probably try Summit again at some point, but driving 6 hours out to VIR I just don't think is ever gonna be in the cards for me.
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