VIR track experience with my Cobalt
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From: NC
VIR track experience with my Cobalt
I went to my first track event in 3 years last weekend at VIR (full course) for 2 days with Audi Club NA. The last time I was at a track was at NJ Motorsports Park in 2009 with my old C6 Z06. It was a great weekend for being on a track, mid 70s and clear the whole time.
Tires: Mirada Sport GTX High-Perf All-Season (Yokohama brand, came on the car when I bought it). 30 psi cold
Brakes: Front - PowerSlot slotted rotors, CarboTech XP10 pads. Rear - stock. Fluid - Motul RBF600
Rest of car (other than headlights): Stock
I was impressed, and so were a number of other people. I was told by more than a few instructors that I was fast. I felt fast. The biggest and most expected obstacle was getting the car to turn more in tight turns. Being a FWD car, you just can't make it turn with your right foot. Once I figured out my entry speeds for the turns, I was able to enter smoothly without having to make corrections. The car was predictable, which I think is all you can ask of any car. I was able to use trailbraking a few times on slow turns to aid in rotation, but didn't focus too much on that. I got the feeling that there is a lot of potential with trailbraking on this car, which I'll explore later.
Like with any car, you don't want to have to use the steering wheel AND the brakes at the same time while at high speed. There were a few times when I'd carry a little brake into high speed turns (80+MPH) and the rear wanted to come around. I decided to wait until after this event before buying a rear sway bar and I'm glad I did. I think this car rotates enough as it is if you use the brakes properly.
Tires: Mirada Sport GTX High-Perf All-Season (Yokohama brand, came on the car when I bought it). 30 psi cold
Brakes: Front - PowerSlot slotted rotors, CarboTech XP10 pads. Rear - stock. Fluid - Motul RBF600
Rest of car (other than headlights): Stock
I was impressed, and so were a number of other people. I was told by more than a few instructors that I was fast. I felt fast. The biggest and most expected obstacle was getting the car to turn more in tight turns. Being a FWD car, you just can't make it turn with your right foot. Once I figured out my entry speeds for the turns, I was able to enter smoothly without having to make corrections. The car was predictable, which I think is all you can ask of any car. I was able to use trailbraking a few times on slow turns to aid in rotation, but didn't focus too much on that. I got the feeling that there is a lot of potential with trailbraking on this car, which I'll explore later.
Like with any car, you don't want to have to use the steering wheel AND the brakes at the same time while at high speed. There were a few times when I'd carry a little brake into high speed turns (80+MPH) and the rear wanted to come around. I decided to wait until after this event before buying a rear sway bar and I'm glad I did. I think this car rotates enough as it is if you use the brakes properly.
Last edited by Solaris99; Nov 19, 2012 at 07:01 PM.
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VIR is a great track. It's just over 3 miles on the full course, but it doesn't feel that long. I hit about 125MPH on the back and front straights. I was entering the "S"es at 90-95MPH confidently. That was actually my strongest part of the track. At one point, with an RS5 in front of me there, my instructor said "You can catch that RS5. Get him.". Sure enough, I was able to catch him by the exit of the turns.
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From: Halifax, NS
VIR is a great track. It's just over 3 miles on the full course, but it doesn't feel that long. I hit about 125MPH on the back and front straights. I was entering the "S"es at 90-95MPH confidently. That was actually my strongest part of the track. At one point, with an RS5 in front of me there, my instructor said "You can catch that RS5. Get him.". Sure enough, I was able to catch him by the exit of the turns.
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From: STL
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From: Kathmandu
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From: Tejas
I went to my first track event in 3 years last weekend at VIR (full course) for 2 days with Audi Club NA. The last time I was at a track was at NJ Motorsports Park in 2009 with my old C6 Z06. It was a great weekend for being on a track, mid 70s and clear the whole time.
Tires: Mirada Sport GTX High-Perf All-Season (Yokohama brand, came on the car when I bought it). 30 psi cold
Brakes: Front - PowerSlot slotted rotors, CarboTech XP10 pads. Rear - stock. Fluid - Motul RBF600
Rest of car (other than headlights): Stock
I was impressed, and so were a number of other people. I was told by more than a few instructors that I was fast. I felt fast. The biggest and most expected obstacle was getting the car to turn more in tight turns. Being a FWD car, you just can't make it turn with your right foot. Once I figured out my entry speeds for the turns, I was able to enter smoothly without having to make corrections. The car was predictable, which I think is all you can ask of any car. I was able to use trailbraking a few times on slow turns to aid in rotation, but didn't focus too much on that. I got the feeling that there is a lot of potential with trailbraking on this car, which I'll explore later.
Like with any car, you don't want to have to use the steering wheel AND the brakes at the same time while at high speed. There were a few times when I'd carry a little brake into high speed turns (80+MPH) and the rear wanted to come around. I decided to wait until after this event before buying a rear sway bar and I'm glad I did. I think this car rotates enough as it is if you use the brakes properly.
I don't have the high-res pics yet, but I'll post back to this when I do.
Tires: Mirada Sport GTX High-Perf All-Season (Yokohama brand, came on the car when I bought it). 30 psi cold
Brakes: Front - PowerSlot slotted rotors, CarboTech XP10 pads. Rear - stock. Fluid - Motul RBF600
Rest of car (other than headlights): Stock
I was impressed, and so were a number of other people. I was told by more than a few instructors that I was fast. I felt fast. The biggest and most expected obstacle was getting the car to turn more in tight turns. Being a FWD car, you just can't make it turn with your right foot. Once I figured out my entry speeds for the turns, I was able to enter smoothly without having to make corrections. The car was predictable, which I think is all you can ask of any car. I was able to use trailbraking a few times on slow turns to aid in rotation, but didn't focus too much on that. I got the feeling that there is a lot of potential with trailbraking on this car, which I'll explore later.
Like with any car, you don't want to have to use the steering wheel AND the brakes at the same time while at high speed. There were a few times when I'd carry a little brake into high speed turns (80+MPH) and the rear wanted to come around. I decided to wait until after this event before buying a rear sway bar and I'm glad I did. I think this car rotates enough as it is if you use the brakes properly.
I don't have the high-res pics yet, but I'll post back to this when I do.
Out with the story. The car in the pic above versus the video, as well as the video's title and Cobalt in the video gave it away.
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From: Fort Campbell, KY
Time to fess up... Out with the story.
The car in the pic above versus the video, as well as the video's title and Cobalt in the video gave it away.
SolarisSpin D2S2 - YouTube
Out with the story. The car in the pic above versus the video, as well as the video's title and Cobalt in the video gave it away.
SolarisSpin D2S2 - YouTube
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From: NC
The tire size is 225/40.
Yes, that's me in the video spinning. I was focusing too much on making the pass and didn't plan for an offline entry, so I went in too fast. Then I had to get on the brakes with the wheel slightly turned. No damage, just went offtrack.
Yes, that's me in the video spinning. I was focusing too much on making the pass and didn't plan for an offline entry, so I went in too fast. Then I had to get on the brakes with the wheel slightly turned. No damage, just went offtrack.
Heard you were at the Audi event. I was instructing at the Trackdaze event which immediately follows. One day of full and one day of Grand. Not too many of us Cobalts on track so folks tend to notice 
Glad you had fun in the car. I agree that it's generally very easy to get the car to go where you want it. Let me know if you want any pointers about VIR or car setup.
Glad you had fun in the car. I agree that it's generally very easy to get the car to go where you want it. Let me know if you want any pointers about VIR or car setup.
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As has been said before, this is what these cars were made for. Main reason I picked the Cobalt. I don't make it out to the track nearly as often as I would like, but it's a blast every time. It's just too much fun surprising people in fast Audis, Porsches and the like
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Joined: 07-01-12
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From: NC
Somebody at the Audi Club event said something similar, you just don't see Cobalts at their events.