The new Ridge Motorsports Park in a total blast

[FrenchBoy]

As some of you already know, we have a brand new track in the Pacific Northwest: The Ridge Motorsports Park. I had written a little preview about it a while back. See this thread:
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...ighlight=ridge

A few M3post members had already visited it and loved it. Well, it was my turn last week. And boy, was it worth the wait. The new track is phenomenal. Nice flowing sections, wide track, elevation changes, amazing grippy surface. It's going to be fun getting comfortable with this track.

The weather was so-so with a bit of rain in the morning. Which was not that big of a deal since I was discovering the track for the first time and the new pavement grip level, even in the rain, is quite good. Surprisingly good I might add. Plus, we did get a couple of dry sessions in the pm which made the day just perfect. I am going back next week and I cannot wait for it.

Here are a couple of videos which I hope you'll enjoy.

Afternoon session mostly in the dry on NT-01s chasing my good buddy's Audi R8 V10. The video was taken from my iPhone using Larry's Lap Timer and all the overlays. It was my first time trying the video portion of the app. Came out pretty cool.
This is not my best lap of the day (I recorded another one a couple of seconds faster) but I thought you guys would enjoy the R8 on track:

In-car video of my second session of the day: Dry-damp pavement, on my street tires (Michelin Pilot Super Sport)

[RussRamz]

That is a nice looking and flowing track. Looks like a lot of fun! Great video by the way. I particularly like the lap timer in the first video.

[dawgdog]

Nice videos and driving as per usual French Boy. See you next Saturday. Can't wait.

[CanAutM3]

Such a nice track , it's a shame it is so far away for me .

Nice driving and thanks for sharing !!

[FrenchBoy]

Thanks guys. I am heading back there this Sat (along with a few other M3post members) and the forecast is looking great so far. I can't wait!

[1MOREMOD]

nice work nik. i gotta get out there soon.

[paradocs98]

Great video. Thanks for posting. I recognize that pickup-truck knobby-tire sound of the NT01s anywhere--I use them too and love 'em.

[OC3]

Smooth driving and nice track. One of the best inside-cabin camera positioning/coverage-angle/brightness.

[FrenchBoy]

UPDATE: I went back to the Ridge on 5/12 along with a couple of M3post members. The day was beautiful, sunny and in the high 70s, and the on-track traffic fairly light. Perfect to learn the track a bit more and push a little.

I wrote a little summary, along with new videos and photos, on OneHotLap.com about the track. Hope you enjoy it

http://www.onehotlap.com/2012/05/one...idge.html#more

As a preview, here is my best time of the day. About 4 sec faster than the first time I went there. Woohoo!

[klammer]

Man that track looks awesome! Nice driving/video

[Porschefile]

Does the app have android support? I just searched the market and can't find it. How do you mount a phone securely like that? Looks very cool.

Edit: Oops, meant to post this in the harry's lap timer thread, forgot I was in the vid thread linked from it.

[FrenchBoy]

Thanks guys for the nice comments.

With respect to Harry's Laptimer, most answers are on the other thread. It's on iPhone only and this is the suction cup I use:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o05_s03_i00

[MTROIS]

Great write up, vids and driving!!

Thanks for sharing with us...

[von_zoom]

Nice video - I just got Harrys Lap Timer, have experimented with it a little around the neighborhood, and look forward to taking it to the track (VIR) next week end. Bummer about only publishing one lap at a time. I have used Windows Movie Maker to join the laps, but I need to get better at the video editing thing.
vz

[FrenchBoy]

Well, a few of us M3Post members (KM3, Dawgdog, Illcomm & I) went back to the Ridge last Monday for another glorious day organized by Turn2 Lapping. Some good friends came along: One with the Audi R8 (from the video above) and another with new to him 2011 GT3RS. What a beauty.

First are a couple of photos of our paddock line-up. Then here's a video of me following Dawgdog and his very well setup E92 M3. These were our best laps at the Ridge so far. The car felt great and I think "the chase" triggered some good driving and some fast laps. Fun times!

The 3 laps in the video are respectively (from LapTimer) 1:57.41, 1:57:77 & 1:56.91.

[dawgdog]

Nice video Nicolas. Actually, one of the laps I timed on my Aim Sola in the 155s. Shortly after the video ends I went into what I now know is fuel starvation mode. The engine started sputtering and the car barely ran and CEL came on. Everything was fine once I limped off the track, shut the engine down and restarted. Discovered the cause when I went to the dealership and they cleared the codes. Moral for me is to not go out on a half hour session with less than 1/2 tank of gas.

[ILLCOMM]

That overlay is really awesome. When are you uploading videos from today's burner!?

[FrenchBoy]

Originally Posted by ILLCOMM

That overlay is really awesome. When are you uploading videos from today's burner!?

I didn't make any video from yesterday pitiful track day. I am trying to forget about it... Karting was fun though.

[dawgdog]

Originally Posted by FrenchBoy

I didn't make any video from yesterday pitiful track day. I am trying to forget about it... Karting was fun though.

Friday at Pacific was like driving on a lake. My top speed on my one and only time out was 60 and with NT 01s feared hydroplaning into the wall. I don't mind driving on a wet track, but with that much standing water it is insane.

[Amnizu]

Great lap, anything under 2 minutes out there is fast!

[jetbill]

Just downloaded the standard version, thought it had video but doesn't?

Is there an upgrade feature or am I out the ten bucks to get PRO?

[FrenchBoy]

A few of use were back at the Ridge on Aug 22 with Turn2 lapping. It was just about the perfect day and temperature for track driving. We all had such a good time. It was my last day the Ridge this year but I am looking forward to next year already.

Here is a nice video of an afternoon session, playing with a GT3 from British Columbia and an E46 M3 racecar from Oregon. I placed the Contour under the windshield which helps a lot with wind buffeting. The sound of the engine/exhaust comes out nicely.

You can also skip to 7:40 for some nice save from a Miata which was probably a bit intimidating and riding its mirrors a bit too much :-)