Test Drive New FB in CT? Asphalt Lot?

[RobLav]

Anyone have any ideas on where I can test my newly built FB car around north central CT before heading to the track mid-April? I want to make sure the car turns, accelerates, stops, shifts, etc.

[RussMcB]

Woo hoo! Take a friend with a digital video camera.

In another thread there's talk of people testing on local karting tracks.

I'm considering doing an autocross with my car before I go back to the track. But, that would mean spending a whole day there for a few seconds of driving.

Glad to hear you're seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

[Mike B]

Screw it, Rob. Just pack up your recently completed car and drive 15 hours to Road Atlanta for the first shakedown. That's what I did!

Seriously, the kart track is the best bet. If you pick the right day, you can have the track to yourself and run as much as you want, cheaply. Second choice would be an autocross but the timing may not work out and as Russ pointed out, actual run time is pretty sparse.

[Sean Maisey]

What's wrong with your neighborhood streets?

Post a couple of kids on lookout with Family radios, and go for it.

Oh yea, make sure you wear a helmet to set a good example...

Sean

[SteveG]

Oh yea, make sure you wear a helmet to set a good example...

Sean

And to keep the bugs out of your teeth...

[ghickman]

What's wrong with your neighborhood streets?

Post a couple of kids on lookout with Family radios, and go for it.

Oh yea, make sure you wear a helmet to set a good example...

Sean

My first test was on a Sunday morning last Sept. with Tony standing lookout at the 4 way intersection of Prospect & Bond Ave and another lookout about 1/4 mile up at the next intersection. We didn't have our radios in the car at the time so we worked out hand signals before I rolled out. You can image the look on drivers faces as I came smokin around the corner on a green light in a F1000 @ 100mph....made 3 laps and shut it down before Deputy Dog showed up.

Good Times....

GH

[stonebridge20]

Rob, some foot work on your part. Local industrial parks on a Sunday about 11am work very well as the local police are usually on church detail. I just hang my repair plate off one gearbox stud or tywrap it to a wing mount. I usually go out around 4-5pm on Saturdays. 1/2 mile down the road from my shop is an industrial park with a 2 mile loop. It's very handy for "testing" purposes or to just blow off some pi$$ and vinagar!

[problemchild]

Watch out for motorcycle cops. One got me in my FV years ago. I never saw him till he was 50 ft away. Even though I was only 100 yards from the shop, I was about 100 miles away from my home address. He asked me if I had driven all that way. I had some fast talkin to do.

[RobLav]

Great suggestions... Deputy Dawg is probably not the main problem in my town, since we do not have town police. Problem is my driveway and the roads here. Long dirt and gravel driveway that has sunk from all the FEDEX and UPS trucks bringing racecar parts, welders, and other stuff! And the roads out here in the boonies are full of some major bumps and potholes. I could probably put the car in the trailer and bring it to the street, then go down another sidestreet which dead ends at a large farm. But there's no corners.

On my first test drive of my first racecar, I went up and down my long driveway (at another house), which was hilly and curvy - hit the gas too hard on cold tires and spun out into the woods. Knocked off the right rear corner and bent an OZ. Don't want to replicate that debacle.

[butch deer]

Many local short tracks rent test time by the hour at very reasonable rates. Check out any near you.
Butch

[Beartrax]

Rob, I know how rural it is in your neck of the woods (and I mean woods!) so I was going to suggest a quiet backroad, but I completely see your point. Also consider the toll the winter takes on CT roads!

You could park your rig in the commuter lot off Rt 14 and take it up I-395! That would be smooth.

No big parking lots around you? How about Thompson or Waterford (when the snow melts...)?

[Dano]

Rob,

You may want to take a drive over to the Windham Airport and ask if you can run it up and down the taxi way. If you pick a windy day and have a radio they may just let you.

Just a thought.

Dan

[Jim Garry]

You might be able to find an autocross test and tune day. Entry is usually very limited resulting in many runs. At the ones my region runs, a typical day will consist of up to 40 runs. Even a short 40 second course would result in plenty of time to analyze your car.

[captaineddie1975]

Rob
Beartrax had a good idea that I had been thinking of doing also. How about Waterford Speedway? They are bordering on bankruptcy and might like a chance to get a few more bucks for some rental time. Since it is only about 20 minutes from me I could come and assist you or maybe split the cost and test my car too.We might even get some other formula cars to join in and split the costs even more.

[racer27]

If you do waterford and want another pair of hands, let me know...

[rmccown]

I'd be interested in a test/tune day/afternoon at Waterford, too. Late March/Early April, before FRCCA school on the 11th.

[RobLav]

Good comments all - thanks. I'm in work - will respond more later.

[lex123]

Rob, dont forget to attach the snowplow to the front wing.

[RobLav]

Waterford is a good idea. Let's look into it.

Thompson's website says you can rent the track for 6 hours during the week for something like $2400 - too much time and too much money in my view.

So yeah - Waterford - I'll give them a call. Maybe they need a new road course there that we could build!

Windham airport is not too friendly... I tried getting AVGAS there and they talked to me like I was an idiot for even asking. So it might be the back roads of Scotland first then maybe Waterford. An hour would be plenty of time.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Rob