Topic: First circuit in Romania - Opel GT

[Kelu]

Until now, Romania didn't have a circuit and the roads are kind of dangerous, this was my reason to stop riding bikes.

Some passionate guys got together and built a circuit close to capital city, about 30 miles away, is not officially open because they finished only the track (temporary configuration) even so they did a kind of preview this autumn organizing some "private" events for cars and bikes.
Here are some pictures how is it now:
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Here is the layout:
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There were like 20 cars (Porsche 997 GT3, BMW M3, M4, M5, Miata, RX8, Audi S3, Nissan 350Z, EVOs, etc).

I went there only to learn my car, first 2-3 session I drove with TC full on and the car was jerking, I thought I have issues with spark plugs or ignition but once I put off the TC the car drove very smooth. Also I didn't setup the car especially for this, I drove it with street settings (suspension KW V3, aligment, boost controller off doing maximum 15psi only on wastegate spring). I did like 5-6 session of 4-7 laps per session and it was FUUUNNN 

After learning the circuit and the car a little bit, I started to feel a lot of understeer in 2 slow corners where I used 2nd gear, most of the track is in 3rd gear, except 3 corners (4, 10 and 11) and the straight line where I put 4th and I feel like somebody pulled the e-brake

I was very happy to see that I'm one of the few cars without issues with brakes, thank you Dave@DDM and all the others on this forum who helped me to choose best parts: J-grooved discs, Porterfield R4S Brake Pads, DDM brained lines and DOT5.1 Motul fluid. The cars stops great and I didn't felt any kind of fading.

Here are some pictures:
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This time the boxes were for free  I payed 100Euro ($130) for full day (5-7 sessions)
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I have to learn a lot to drive the Kappa at its potential, I have to learn to setup my car for track day (suspension settings, alignment, tire pressure, etc), I need to learn the track and the lines.

Any suggestions would be more than welcome.

I can't wait the spring for new sessions of track time.

[Critterman]

Looks like a great track and you are a lucky man to get the chance to learn your car.  How long is the track? 

[Sol Asylum]

Elff looks like we are going to have to go back to Romania and help Kelu out, I hope he appreciates all we do for him.  GJ you better plan on going too, the ants aren't going to feed themselves.

[Kelu]

Looks like a great track and you are a lucky man to get the chance to learn your car.  How long is the track? 

The final version will have 2.8miles (4.5 km), for the moment is 2.3 miles if I remember correctly.

Elff looks like we are going to have to go back to Romania and help Kelu out, I hope he appreciates all we do for him.  GJ you better plan on going too, the ants aren't going to feed themselves.

You are more than welcome, you have to teach GJ how to feed the ants.

Guess who was with me at the track?
Hint: This is actually his wife's car  traded that blue EVO9 which you saw at your gypsy hosts, of course now he regrets it.
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[kennysabarese]

Wooo!

T1 looks like T1 at Suzuka. Looks like a decent circuit.

[Sol Asylum]

Kelu are you saying that's Laura's (hope I remember her name correctly) Audi?

[Kelu]

Wooo!

T1 looks like T1 at Suzuka. Looks like a decent circuit.

Indeed, it is more than decent circuit for me  I'm still struggling to find best lanes to the following corners:
T1 - very late turning
T2 & T3 - not sure when to step on the gas, when/if to brake or just release gas
T9 - very late turning
T10 - understeers like a pig not matter how I enter in that corner
T11 - a lot of work when getting out of that turn

Kelu are you saying that's Laura's (hope I remember her name correctly) Audi?

You are correct about her name and spelling

[roxer]

Seriously awesome Kelu. That is open to the public there? Did you have to do any training before they let you drive? Safety equipment? Not meant to hijack the thread, but is there someplace in the states where someone can do something similar without having to put in a roll bar? Someplace near Charlotte maybe?

[ihawk95]

Looks like a fun one Kelu!  2.3-2.8 miles is a long track!  It's different with an NA so I'm not sure I can be of much help.  I was braking later and less than the turbos on the road course.

[ihawk95]

Seriously awesome Kelu. That is open to the public there? Did you have to do any training before they let you drive? Safety equipment? Not meant to hijack the thread, but is there someplace in the states where someone can do something similar without having to put in a roll bar? Someplace near Charlotte maybe?

Yeah.  We did this at Nationals at Pocono this year.  1 mile road course, but it was enough.  All day long.  I think I got in 6 or 7 sessions.  Three 30 minute sessions in the morning and four 20 minute sessions in the afternoon.  Actually, I may have gotten in one more session late in the day.

I plan to join the Miatas again during their 2 day event in July.  I need to contact them and make my reservation!

[Kelu]

Seriously awesome Kelu. That is open to the public there? Did you have to do any training before they let you drive? Safety equipment?

That day was the first "public" track day, almost anyone could come and drive some laps. No training, 1st session was kind of discover the track and it was lead by safety car and overtaking was not allowed but mostly because it was very foggy at that time.

Except helmet and requests not to have leaks and to try not to go out of the track, nothing else. Because it doesn't have sand/grass around the tarmac going out of the track means a lot of downtime because you have to stay put until the trailer comes and picks you up directly from the dirt in order not to bring garbage in the tarmac area.

Looks like a fun one Kelu!  2.3-2.8 miles is a long track!  It's different with an NA so I'm not sure I can be of much help.  I was braking later and less than the turbos on the road course.

Yeah, NA is a different animal 

I forgot some more pictures:
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Also I found an aerial video made 2-3 weeks ago from that track during a bike stage, it gives a better view about the pit area and under construction status of it 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh1GtSSdvSo

[Sol Asylum]

Kelu were they working on building that when we were there?  I seem to remember Kenny or Elff asking about seeing a track when we flew in.

[roxer]

Yeah.  We did this at Nationals at Pocono this year.  1 mile road course, but it was enough.  All day long.  I think I got in 6 or 7 sessions.  Three 30 minute sessions in the morning and four 20 minute sessions in the afternoon.  Actually, I may have gotten in one more session late in the day.

I plan to join the Miatas again during their 2 day event in July.  I need to contact them and make my reservation!

Looks like everywhere around here requires a roll bar in the car - sucks.   

[Kelu]

Kelu were they working on building that when we were there?  I seem to remember Kenny or Elff asking about seeing a track when we flew in.

They started working on it on 2012, you flew from NW towards SE and this was 20-30 miles NE from your landing point, depends, could be the one which you saw

Looks like everywhere around here requires a roll bar in the car - sucks.   

Around here only Time Attack events require rollcage.

[Gentleman Jack]

GJ does not need lessons on how to feed ants, however, it is a rarity.

I hereby Challenge Kelu, and the other three members of the Wild Hogs to a time trial race at this track in Kelu's car!

[Sol Asylum]

Kelu you ever hear from Gypsy Joe anymore?

[Gentleman Jack]

Gypsy Joe better watch out... Using my initials and all.

[Kelu]

GJ does not need lessons on how to feed ants, however, it is a rarity.

See, being a rarity means you are far away from mastering the skill.

I hereby Challenge Kelu, and the other three members of the Wild Hogs to a time trial race at this track in Kelu's car!

Challenge accepted. (Remote driving is not allowed)

Kelu you ever hear from Gypsy Joe anymore?

I talk with him from time to time, seems like he is doing pretty good.

Gypsy Joe better watch out... Using my initials and all.

He might be useful, he knows some romanian, but I wouldn't use that as a leverage 

[Sol Asylum]

His Romanian might not be so good considering how the Romanian girls reacted to him.

[Kelu]

Wasn't about his romanian .... .. i'm gonna send him the link to this topic

[Sol Asylum]

If only he didn't look like a gypsy.

[jmendozatx]

Don't talk to girls at night on the street in any country... lesson learned!

Also, in my defense - I got us to our destination!

[Sol Asylum]

 Seeing that one wave her finger at you was too funny.

How have you been?  Survived the "Scotch" or have you even had any?

[Gentleman Jack]

I speak Romanian (Spanish) so I'll be fine.

[Kelu]

They announced a new track day for the 1st of November     

Anybody has any info about good iOS apps for tracking the time with video and position on the track?