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Just happened to miss the Hershey Autocross event last weekend and it got me thinking that although I know the F-Type isn't made for full-on track usage, I'd still like to get it out and push it hard into some corners. Not interested in 1/4 racing, etc. Also for surrounding PA folks, I've heard of groups renting Pocono Raceway for testing some high speed fun on their actual race track, the "Tricky Triangle."
My son autocrosses his WRX and has begged me to run my F-Type R. After completing the Jaguar Driving Academy, I think I'm going to take him up and give it a try.
As for Pocono, I used to track a modified Nissan 350Z on the NOrth Course at Pocono. There are a few local car clubs that rent out the track on a regular basis and provide HPDE days. I'd personally recommend the North course as opposed to the entire tri-oval, as the road course is so much more fun. (I still hit 130+ mph through the banked turn 3 in the Z, so the Jag should be a real blast!)
Here are a few clubs you might look at tagging along with if you're ever interested
Wow, good to know. Sounds like a blast. Maybe we can coordinate something in the bear future. Any idea where I could find info on the clubs that rent it out?
Wow, good to know. Sounds like a blast. Maybe we can coordinate something in the bear future. Any idea where I could find info on the clubs that rent it out?
I edited my post while you replied. Check the BMW club, that's who I ran with many years ago. I think the Audi club also let's "guests" run if they have room.
There used to be a Mazda Miata club that ran frequently as well. (They also allowed guests and many Porsche and Corvette owners tagged along...)
Close. I don't think it's technically autocross, but just spent a day at Buttonwillow last Tuesday with about 10 other cars. One was a Porsche 918, another the N-Attack GT-R in North America.
I was heavily into autocross for most of the mid-00s. My weapon of choice was my '05 Lotus Elise, although I also ran my '06 C6 Z06. Those two cars traded places during that time period as the model winning the SCCA national championship in the "super sport" stock class.
Can't really see the F-Type in that environment because it's too heavy, but just for fun, why not?
Close. I don't think it's technically autocross, but just spent a day at Buttonwillow last Tuesday with about 10 other cars. One was a Porsche 918, another the N-Attack GT-R in North America.
I was heavily into autocross for most of the mid-00s. My weapon of choice was my '05 Lotus Elise, although I also ran my '06 C6 Z06. Those two cars traded places during that time period as the model winning the SCCA national championship in the "super sport" stock class.
Can't really see the F-Type in that environment because it's too heavy, but just for fun, why not?
Exactly. Totally aware of its limitations and even though its not quite built for track abuse like this, it still as you said, should be fun regardless.
You know it. Ridiculous go and stop. Guy driving it has a history in carts, and knows how to drive. Brake timing was basically at the last warning cone. Managed to get off track, but then we all did. Lots of GT-Rs, an Audi R8 V10, Subaru, me and a C6 Corvette. Everything out there was tuned, but me...
I've done 2 autox in the F-Type. The key is to find an event with a fast layout. I got lucky, the 1st one I went to was setup by the corvette guys so it fit the f-type well, where I could use the power. The 2nd one I went to with tighter. Still fun but the R didn't suite it as well.
I went with the lotus crew once. It was pretty fun and I was going to do again this weekend, but had to back out.
The f type is definitely too heavy, but it was still fun, and I was only a couple seconds behind the lotus cars.
Looks like you doubled the weight of the Elise with tape.
LOL . . . Yea, but I learned the hard way after previously going tapeless that those well-used cones have a lot of tar and rubber on them as a result of getting pummeled so many times. That was a pain to get off and scuffed the paint. In addition, the parking/turn signal lamps on the Lotus had a tendency to pop out if you hit a cone, so most of the Lotus crowd taped them up.
If you don't hit cones every now and then, you aren't driving aggressively enough!
I went with the lotus crew once. It was pretty fun and I was going to do again this weekend, but had to back out.
The f type is definitely too heavy, but it was still fun, and I was only a couple seconds behind the lotus cars.
LOL . . . on an autocross course a couple of seconds is almost like getting lapped.
After running in the Level 1 and 2 Jaguar driving deal, I'm hooked.
Keeping an eye out for F-Type that I can make a track car out of, maybe a wrecked car. The R is great, but the 6 would work well the track due to its excellent balance.
I was 2 seconds off the lead on the AutoX which essentially meant that the fast driver was already eating a hot dog.lol.
LOL . . . on an autocross course a couple of seconds is almost like getting lapped.
Haha...true
Given the weight challenges on a tight course, and my lack of experience, I felt pretty good about it though. Especially since I shaved a few seconds from my first runs.
10-29-2015, 06:03 PM
Anybody involved in the autocross scene?
