Rumble in Mission
SpeedFanatics' Parc Ferme Special, Jun. 10. 2022
Setup
A forecasted downpour in Mission turned into a sunny day, better for lap times but probably less fun. Learning from our lack of hospitality equipment at VIMC, the canopy and lawn chairs were brought out and the camp was set up. A discount at this Speed Fanatics hosted track day meant that there were a lot of entries, some of which were preparing for the race the next day. Although GT3s and GT2s usually top the leader boards, the fastest car today was a Formula 4 car that was tested during the lunch break.
MR Rockets
There were a few mid-engine entries today, including a few 911s and GT3s, all of which were too serious compared to the K swapped MR-S that mandated attention from spectators as it riots to redline. I’ve yet to ride along in a mid-engine car on track and want to experience it someday, I’d also like to own an MR-S one day so I can snap oversteer to the bottom of the ocean driving on s2s.
FR Population
The majority of the entries were front-engine rear wheel drive, the standard layout for most driving-oriented cars. There was healthy representation for the Japanese, Euros, and Americans.
The less polished track surface allowed me to chuck my BRZ into slides and jumps to cut corners, terrible for tire life but quite fun. I could rotate the car under braking and slip angle around certain corners, but hard braking at the end of the front straight cooked my rotors to the same color as my car. I had to back off for the majority of the laps, but I was still able to set a reasonable lap time.
FF Crew
Although not as popular as FR, there was still a healthy amount of front-engine front wheel drive cars today. Civics, Fits, and (I’m counting Haldex as FWD because it drives the same) Golfs, were popular choices. Had a deer not been on a certain road in Abbotsford about one year ago, I may have been in one of these cars.
Happy Hunting
The best part of driving a stock car is that you have nothing to lose. Can’t chase down a built car? It’s because you’re stock. However, it’s even better when you can pull lengths on cars with thousands of dollars’ worth of upgraded parts.
Next
Front right rotor after the last session
Overall, running with 3 friends in the session while was legendary. Speed Fanatics Raceway was a fun track but tighter and harder on the car than VIMC. Camber bolts did help with understeer, but the OEM suspension was too soft and made the car unpredictable at times. The car would fall into over or under steer throughout the corner while the suspension struggled to collect itself, I don’t see how this problem can be solved without upgrading to after market parts. As of right now, the brakes are a mere suggestion to stopping the car, I pull the hand brake to stop at red lights to not risk hitting the car in front. The BRZ will need new slotted rotors, better brake pads, and a brake bleed before the next running session, looking forward to eating bumpers and burning tires.
Damage report:
Front rotors replaced
Front brake pads replaced
Brake fluid flushed
3 lug nuts welded onto studs on the front left wheel, 5 studs replaced
