Rode in a 997 GT2 at Willow Springs today !!
06-01-2008, 01:05 AM
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Rode in a 997 GT2 at Willow Springs today !!
I was fortunate enough to be able to ride in a fellow instructors 997 GT2 today. The car is unbelievable!!! 
The power is "Instant On". The difference between my 996 GT3 and the GT2 is unreal. My GT3 is a spinner with the brunt of the torque after 5000 RPM, but this thing started to pull from 2500 RPM. If your familiar with Willow Springs, there are 2 long straights, but it seem the mid section of these straight somehow disappear as we put down the throttle and through time warp were already in the braking zone.
The brakes of course are PCCBs and what stopping power. On one particular corner after the front straight, we went in a little hot, but after the initial bite, the car was very stable as if throwing out an anchor and then rolling on to the throttle to get back to speed the transition was very well balanced.
One unnerving thing we experienced was the rear end that seemed to be too stiffly sprung for the bumpy section between turn 8 and 9. My GT3 seem to absorb the bumps without fuss, but the GT2 it felt like the back end would lose grip.
We brought it into the garage to check out the sway bar setting and found the factory settings at 1 from full soft in the front and 1 from full soft in the rear. I suggested softening the rear fully and see if that helps or stiff the front. We'll see tomorrow how it feels.
The power is "Instant On". The difference between my 996 GT3 and the GT2 is unreal. My GT3 is a spinner with the brunt of the torque after 5000 RPM, but this thing started to pull from 2500 RPM. If your familiar with Willow Springs, there are 2 long straights, but it seem the mid section of these straight somehow disappear as we put down the throttle and through time warp were already in the braking zone.
The brakes of course are PCCBs and what stopping power. On one particular corner after the front straight, we went in a little hot, but after the initial bite, the car was very stable as if throwing out an anchor and then rolling on to the throttle to get back to speed the transition was very well balanced.
One unnerving thing we experienced was the rear end that seemed to be too stiffly sprung for the bumpy section between turn 8 and 9. My GT3 seem to absorb the bumps without fuss, but the GT2 it felt like the back end would lose grip.
We brought it into the garage to check out the sway bar setting and found the factory settings at 1 from full soft in the front and 1 from full soft in the rear. I suggested softening the rear fully and see if that helps or stiff the front. We'll see tomorrow how it feels.
06-01-2008, 01:33 AM
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VJ's car?
06-01-2008, 01:42 AM
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I don't think it's VJs although his RS has been for sale...the car was at BW yesterday with BMWCCA and I did not see VJ there...also Mark Dadger drove that GT2 and we talked about that car and we also talked about VJ but he didn't connect the two and I'm sure he would have if VJ had been the owner and at the track
06-01-2008, 02:37 AM
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The car was at Buttonwillow yesterday, Willow Springs this weekend. It's not VJs. VJ was driving a 1 series down to Willow Springs for the club race this weekend (VJ and Sofronas had a great race going on today, but once VJ got by, he pulled away and was the overall race winner today in his M3).
The car is owned by another instructor from Santa Cruz area.
I didn't get a chance to ride in it at BW, but it's not as bumpy as it is at Willow Springs anyway.
Mooty, I got the pads from Mark, thanks!
The car is owned by another instructor from Santa Cruz area.
I didn't get a chance to ride in it at BW, but it's not as bumpy as it is at Willow Springs anyway.
Mooty, I got the pads from Mark, thanks!
06-01-2008, 10:21 AM
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I don't think it's VJs although his RS has been for sale...the car was at BW yesterday with BMWCCA and I did not see VJ there...also Mark Dadger drove that GT2 and we talked about that car and we also talked about VJ but he didn't connect the two and I'm sure he would have if VJ had been the owner and at the track
tell him john said "CAN I DROVE GT2"... he'll get it.
i just had lunch with him last week, didnt' know you were gonna be there too.
06-01-2008, 10:23 AM
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The car was at Buttonwillow yesterday, Willow Springs this weekend. It's not VJs. VJ was driving a 1 series down to Willow Springs for the club race this weekend (VJ and Sofronas had a great race going on today, but once VJ got by, he pulled away and was the overall race winner today in his M3).
The car is owned by another instructor from Santa Cruz area.
I didn't get a chance to ride in it at BW, but it's not as bumpy as it is at Willow Springs anyway.
Mooty, I got the pads from Mark, thanks!
The car is owned by another instructor from Santa Cruz area.
I didn't get a chance to ride in it at BW, but it's not as bumpy as it is at Willow Springs anyway.
Mooty, I got the pads from Mark, thanks!
06-01-2008, 02:06 PM
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ah, the infamous Ghetto Racer reference...I was lucky enough to have Mark in my car all day...we had a great time and he really helped me with some fine points...the first thing he told me was "can I drove your car" although he used some excuse that all the instructors drive the first two laps...then he asked me if Tony had done my belts...I told him no but the car had just been at Tony's for drop links, toe links, rear upper links, cb and alignment...thanks to Tony and Joe the car was a huge improvement...then he told me that was his red BMW club racer at Tony's shop...we talked a lot about VJ and a couple of other drovers here in Fresno but I should have known that you two would be friends....it's a small world John
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06-01-2008, 05:03 PM
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john how are things ... all good???
the 996 gt2 just abuses the 996 cups by the way been having some fun in it
wondering how the 997 will really be like thanks for posting mine will be here in aug
the 996 gt2 just abuses the 996 cups by the way been having some fun in it
wondering how the 997 will really be like thanks for posting mine will be here in aug
06-01-2008, 08:36 PM
#9
Very nice man thanks for sharing with us.... I can't wait to get behind the wheels of the new GT2 to compare to mine 
Matt glad to see you are loving the car and beating up on those cups... You doing Mid Ohio?
Matt glad to see you are loving the car and beating up on those cups... You doing Mid Ohio?
06-01-2008, 08:53 PM
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ah, the infamous Ghetto Racer reference...I was lucky enough to have Mark in my car all day...we had a great time and he really helped me with some fine points...the first thing he told me was "can I drove your car" although he used some excuse that all the instructors drive the first two laps...then he asked me if Tony had done my belts...I told him no but the car had just been at Tony's for drop links, toe links, rear upper links, cb and alignment...thanks to Tony and Joe the car was a huge improvement...then he told me that was his red BMW club racer at Tony's shop...we talked a lot about VJ and a couple of other drovers here in Fresno but I should have known that you two would be friends....it's a small world John
oh... you mean the BMW tub that's seeking a few parts, like seats, roll cage, engine, suspension, instrument panel, exhaust... among other parts...
i saw a white gt3 at TC a few weeks back. that must have been your car.
06-01-2008, 09:20 PM
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06-01-2008, 10:50 PM
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kidding aside, you should ask mark about PDC day.
it's late august for PDC members only. since you know him, he'll let you in.
it's 7 hours of track time, no run groups. most are bmw club racers. you drive 'til you drop. i did 310+ miles until another PDC superman rewrote my record at close to 400 miles.
it's late august for PDC members only. since you know him, he'll let you in.
it's 7 hours of track time, no run groups. most are bmw club racers. you drive 'til you drop. i did 310+ miles until another PDC superman rewrote my record at close to 400 miles.
06-02-2008, 08:32 AM
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oh nothing just having some fun ... i have been running my 996 GT2 at the track and it has been kind of fun to stick my nose all over the 996 cups at local DE events.. been playing with some 997 cups also ... but the sequential shifters and down force gets me in some places... but hell still have my AC and carpet and drove it to a black tie function last week... give me a lil more seat time im sure the car will be where it needs to be only 6 days on track so far ..