I Tracked My 4500 LB CTS-V Wagon for the First Time This Weekend

"MrZoglog" (MrZoglog)
01/24/2014 at 15:16 • Filed to: Oppositelock CTS-V Wagon Track Day Bro Yokohama Bro Streets of Willow

A couple of buddies convinced me to go tracking at Streets of Willow, despite my hesitation (I still have 2 years of payments on the car.) I didn't decide to really go until 4 days before the event. I promptly paid for 1 day shipping for my helmet from Amazon (thankfully it fit) and got my brake fluid changed on the day before. I have mixed feelings of fear and excitement after the event but overall it was quite fun.

I've never tracked my own car, so of course super nervous about trying it. Streets of willow seemed like a good start ,because of the low speed in case I ran off or spun (which I did once.) Of course the v wagon isn't well suited for this type of track but it was fun nevertheless.

Started at 1:40.4 in the beginner group and ended up at 1:35.6 by end of day in the intermediate group with much better consistency. Spinning out was actually a great lesson but scared me quite a bit. I'm glad I didn't turn Traction Control back on after the spin out. I cycled the modes about 3 times during the following session in the pit.

At the end of the day:
1) I used less tire than I thought I would (Though they certainly melted in a way I never witnessed from street driving)
2) I used less brake pad than I thought I would
3) I used way more gas than I thought I would (entire tank almost, maybe averaging around 4-5mpg)

DISCUSSION (25)

awe46m3zcp > MrZoglog
01/23/2014 at 23:08

After their first track day most people ask, "when is the next one?"

Bandit > MrZoglog
01/23/2014 at 23:12

Kinja'd!!!

Tape?

It's a "Porch-uh" > MrZoglog
01/23/2014 at 23:14

Glad you had fun! I've only done Streets on the motorcycle, never the car. Is passing okay there? It just seems too tight to pass anywhere but the front straight in a car (on the bike I'd pass in any corner).

Next time try the big track. Coming up through 4a/b and down the hill through 7 is a blast. 8/9 is at high speed and it's bumpy (so sometimes it's better to stay off-line depending on the car and your confidence).

Hell, go to all the SoCal tracks. Buttonwillow is my favorite, but Chuckwalla is also great. Auto Club (Grand Am setup, never bother with the infield only) is the bottom of my list, but it's the closest for me and it's still a track day.

Also glad to see that car get some track time! I keep thinking of taking out my M5 when my Spec944 is broken (all the time).

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > MrZoglog
01/23/2014 at 23:14

you just proved Miata isn't the answer in one short video. Thankyou.

Nibby > MrZoglog
01/23/2014 at 23:14

man I should rest. I was thinking "Where are you shipping a CTS-V wagon?"

dogisbadob > MrZoglog
01/23/2014 at 23:15

WOW that's awesome that you have a CTS-V wagon! Awesome that you only have 2 years of payments left on it! (the fact you can actually pay that much in a 4-5 year loan is awesome)

Does it have a sunroof, manual transmission, and the magnetic shocks?

It's a "Porch-uh" > Bandit
01/23/2014 at 23:15

Helps protect against rock chips and errant tire rubber.

Slow4o > MrZoglog
01/23/2014 at 23:30

At my track day last weekend I was following a STS-V which was like a limo. Yours looks much quicker! But seriously, put an exhaust on that bad boy. So jealous.

MrZoglog > Slow4o
01/24/2014 at 00:08

I did put a Stainless Works Catback on it but it was built like crap and didn't fit right. Also the Drone was unbearable (much like their customer service.... or lack of.) Good sound at WOT. I do plan on installing Corsa Axlebacks though eventually.

MrZoglog > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard
01/24/2014 at 00:08

haha I love the miata as well. That one was a mazdaspeed miata. Very awesome car in the corners.

MrZoglog > awe46m3zcp
01/24/2014 at 00:09

I was thinking "That was fun. I'm glad I didn't crash it...."

After all that's what happened in my "Forza Training" ;)

Kinja'd!!!

MrZoglog > It's a "Porch-uh"
01/24/2014 at 00:13

Yeah, not much passing room. In our group we were instructed to only pass on the straights which were quite short and only point by passing.

I did drive this car before I bought it on the Roval track at the autoclub at the Cadillac Vlabs event. It was interesting to see the difference between tracking a car and doing it only for the limited time they let you drive on the track during an event.

Still debating on whether or not i'll track this car in the future. Like I mentioned, I still have 1-2 years of payments on the car and I don't want to ruin it given how rare they are. I really like it as a road tripping and touring car. Plus tracking this car can get expensive given the weight and consumables.

MrZoglog > dogisbadob
01/24/2014 at 00:15

I actually bought it used and got a loan from a 3rd party for 3 years and 0.8% interest.

It's not manual since my wife does drive the car occasionally (like on the way back home from the track). All V's have the magnetic shocks standard. Other than that it's got pretty much all the available options (recaros, sunroof, black rims, etc)

MrZoglog > It's a "Porch-uh"
01/24/2014 at 00:18

I actually didn't do it, my wife insisted.... Was probably a good idea though.

Manuél Ferrari > MrZoglog
01/24/2014 at 00:48

You sir kick some serious ass.

That is one mean ride.

Congrats on the purchase and pushing it on the track!

Saracen > Bandit
01/24/2014 at 15:48

Common at the track.

It's a "Porch-uh" > MrZoglog
01/24/2014 at 16:49

Any dings in the front? Most of the time you'll get them there (from other cars) and the rear arches (from your front tires). Some of the guys run either clear bras (more permanent) or "Track Tape" (clear, temporary plastic film in big rolls).

MrZoglog > It's a "Porch-uh"
01/24/2014 at 17:02

I actually have Xpel Ultimate Clear bra in the front so everything seemed OK (stuff is amazing by the way and leaps and bounds better from previous 3m clearbras from what I heard). Granted I probably will find some scratches when I clean and detail my car this weekend. But then again I always do.

It's a "Porch-uh" > MrZoglog
01/24/2014 at 17:18

I just noticed you've rocking a transponder on the front. Not sure what they charged for the rental (with NASA it's about $45 for the weekend), but check out Harry's Lap Timer if you have an iPhone (there's something else for Android that I hear is pretty good). It's about $25, plus the cost of a good iPhone mount (need to hold your phone securely to get good G-readings). I have a RAM mount that can stick to my windshield. On top of the cool lap timer functions, you can export to Google Earth (showing your acceleration/breaking/lateral Gs) and (if you mount on your windshield and your camera faces out) it will do video with data overlay. I added an extra GPS dongle for $90 and compared it to what the transponder reported - only about 5/100th of a second difference (usually due to Harry's reading to the 10th while the transponder reports to the 100th).

Another fun expenditure if you decide to do this again.

Timmy - MINI With a Big Blower > MrZoglog
01/24/2014 at 18:59

Jesus, you freight rained that (miata?) in that short video! Sick car man.

MrZoglog > Timmy - MINI With a Big Blower
01/24/2014 at 20:10

It's point by passing on that track since the straights are so small and he pointed me by. He certainly didn't slow down though. That mazdaspeed miata was awesome in the corners though. It took me about 3 laps or so to get close enough to pass.

MrZoglog > It's a "Porch-uh"
01/24/2014 at 20:11

transponder for timing was actually free that day. Thanks for the advice, I was actually wondering about telemetry data and dash cams for the future.

MrZoglog > Manuél Ferrari
01/24/2014 at 20:14

Thanks for the compliments. Honestly online is the only place people seem to know what this car is. People just give me a puzzled look most of the time. Sleeper car for sure :D

Manuél Ferrari > MrZoglog
01/24/2014 at 20:48

You're welcome!

Where do you live? I am in So Cal and the last time I went to the local track to spectate there were actually two CTS-V wagons and 2-3 CTS-V coupes.

They were so awesome. Lots of speed and lots of noise. The track has a long banked straight where the CTS-V cars made lunch meat of all the little cars

Timmy - MINI With a Big Blower > MrZoglog
01/24/2014 at 21:12

I've longed for a mazdaspeed miata for a while now. Fun little cars, however I feel I would enjoy that CTS much more. Is it a six speed manual?