'16 SQ5 getting some Track time in - NewJersey Motorsports Park - Thunderbolt

**gasparm** · 07-03-2016 01:41 PM

I had a great Mon/Tue with the NY Metro PCA group hosting a DE Event at New Jersey Motorsports Park (Thunderbolt Track). I was able to get a few sessions recorded and just wanted to share. Hope everyone enjoys the video as much as I did making it. Thanks to AWE for such an awesome exhaust and APR for the Stage 2 upgrade.

**VroomVroom** · 07-03-2016 04:42 PM

That was fun...and educational. Thanks very much for sharing this. Sounds like you had a blast!

**ThunderDent** · 07-03-2016 06:08 PM

Awesome video!

**agautohaus** · 07-03-2016 06:09 PM

"Squeal like a pig, bitch!" Hahahahaha died laughing. Looks like a blast, instructor sounded pretty good too!

**Drichardson72** · 07-03-2016 10:43 PM

Very cool! Thanks for the post!

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**riceboy22** · 07-04-2016 06:52 AM

Awesome! Looks like a great time.

**SQive** · 07-04-2016 11:09 PM

Welcome to the SQ5 Track Club!
Fun, ain't it??

**gasparm** · 07-05-2016 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by SQive

Welcome to the SQ5 Track Club!
Fun, ain't it??

This is my second DE event. Love them. Amazing how well the stock wheels/tires and brakes hold up though. A ton of instructors and a few inspection guys at the event thought for sure the morning of the first tech that I'd burn up the pads and/or rotors for sure. Still have close to 50% on original pads after two DE events and 15600 miles. And I don't go light on the brakes when at the DE events. Scary enough trying to stop a 4200lb vehicle at high speed, but doing it at over 125mph in less then a few hundred feet you really have to get on the brakes.

Curious though, what wheel/tire combo & brake setup are you running for Track time?

**SQive** · 07-05-2016 09:27 AM

This is the second SQ5 I have tracked. The brakes have held up fine on both of them with no fading. I have good street tires, so I track them. I'm using Vredestein Ultrac Vorti 295/35ZR21 on Statis SE12's, which are 10"+30. I have a whole 'nuther set of the same tires in the garage that I was going to swap after that last track day, but the ones on there are still good. You must have a long straight to get up to 125. My longest straight is only good for 110, unless you want to go off-roading.

**gasparm** · 07-05-2016 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by SQive

This is the second SQ5 I have tracked. The brakes have held up fine on both of them with no fading. I have good street tires, so I track them. I'm using Vredestein Ultrac Vorti 295/35ZR21 on Statis SE12's, which are 10"+30. I have a whole 'nuther set of the same tires in the garage that I was going to swap after that last track day, but the ones on there are still good. You must have a long straight to get up to 125. My longest straight is only good for 110, unless you want to go off-roading.

So you're using the stock pads and rotors; cool. The last turn #12 goes into a 1/2 mile straightaway. Coming out of turn #12 I was getting around high 90mph to 105 mph which set me up for that straight away decent. Right before turn #1 though you have a 500 foot marker that counts down to 100 feet and then right before turn #1 there is a run off if you come into it to hot. When I was getting on the straight away and right around the 500 foot marker I was hitting as high as 127mph before hitting the brakes at about a level 9, just enough so ABS wouldn't kick in. Here's a cool picture of the track.

**SQive** · 07-05-2016 01:50 PM

We have two tracks within 75 miles. This is Motorsport Ranch Cresson:

Coming out of turn #1, CCW, is where I can hit 110. It's less than a quarter-mile.

Here is the other one. Eagle's Canyon Raceway:

It's not as big, and has been described as straight, u-turn, straight, repeat.
Still, it's inexpensive track with a laid-back atmosphere. This was my first solo track.

Which reminds me. . .I figured out the best way to improve your lap times. Using your right hand as quickly as possible, release the passenger seat belt clasp, open the passenger door, and make a very sharp left. You'll drop about 190 pounds and then it will really fly!

**gasparm** · 07-05-2016 07:48 PM

Professional Photos are in all.

@SQive: here is that 1/2 mile stretch @ 127mph (I forgot to mention it's a downhill too), but hey there's a run off at the end...lol

Audi shark coming up on prey

Passing 2, ready for the final catch

Instructor giving thumbs up

On Day two it rained in the morning, but hey that's why we have Quattro love right, I was sliding about 2 to 3 feet every time around this turn and the instructor loved it to

Just a great picture coming out of turn #3 for a short straight

**MacFiend** · 07-06-2016 08:17 PM

Love it!

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**Lavoisier** · 07-06-2016 08:59 PM

This. is. F'ing. awesome!

**Drichardson72** · 07-07-2016 08:22 AM

So awesome! Can't wait to give this a try.

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**R y an** · 07-07-2016 08:43 AM

Awesome Photos.

did you notice tire wear after the assault on those big wheels?

**SQive** · 07-07-2016 10:03 AM

If he did it right, they're probably pretty chewed up after two track days. . .of course, it was raining.

**gasparm** · 07-07-2016 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by R y an

Awesome Photos.

did you notice tire wear after the assault on those big wheels?

Day1 Tires getting heated up

After Day 2 event tire chunks that melted off got on the inside wheel areas

Cleaned up the wheel/andtires after the event and there is about 4mm of tread left. I’ve run these tires since the day I bought the car and officially have 2 DE events (4 track days) and 15500 miles on them.

I am going to get them replaced at the end of this month though.