Sixtieth track day! Kind of a major bummer... My first mechanical issue ever at the track and a tow home for me (aside from my half-blown clutch, still made it home that day tho). First time back to east on a cool day since November of 2023.

Was the first track day of the year and everyone and their mother showed up. The weather was absolutely perfect. Entire event was sold out and 35+ cars in open passing group... Quite a bit of traffic the first few laps of each session.

My pace was very very slow for such a perfect day. Car felt off but could never put my finger on it. Figured my 17hc RE71 were getting worn out.
Near the end of session 3, braking into turn 14. There was a loud pop sound. (At the time - I thought I popped the front right tire).
Luckily it happened right at the pit entrance. Get out and inspect the area. Did not see anything out of place at the time.
I'm not sure why, I decided to go back out on track. (Did a few slaloms before getting on track and everything felt ok)
The second I crossed the blend line and gunned it to try and chase Ioannis in the white M3. I felt that things were not right and instantly slowed pace and brought the car back in.

Jacked the wheel up and noticed the top nut that holds the damper to the camber plate came loose and fell off... The damper collapsed in the wheel well. Super lucky nothing else appears to be broken and I got away scott free. Had potential to be really bad. Tried to go to a few hardware stores but never found the proper nut.
Defeated, it was time to use that fancy AAA tow ive never had to use over the last 5 years.

Couple cheap parts from Ground Control for camber plate and a new damper nut will have me back up and running. Hoping nothing else was damaged.

Next event is Sonoma. Next weekend I will be doing 125cc karting for the first time over there. Then on Feb 1, M Day event at Sonoma. Might take a small break after that. Went suuuuper hard the last 6 months.

Thunderill East 1/11/2025 hosted by SpeedSF. Red group (Open Passing 1)

Highlights:
01:51 - Conga line
06:24 - Attempt #1 to let corvette pass...
06:35 - Attempt #2 to let corvette pass...
06:44 - Attempt #3 to let corvette pass... Learn to take a pass.
07:48 - Gary on my ass better let him pass before he hurts me
20:32 - Can actually hear the damper nut clanking at this point from my engine bay mic (Was not audible in the car)
21:44 - Conga Line
32:10 - Almost lose it on T15
39:32 - Chasing Hackmenate S2K for half the session
44:20 - Car was not feeling great through T3-T7. Basically, from this point onward it got bad.
49:49 - Damper nut departs chat in braking zone of T14. Listen for it.
50:07 - Back to pit to inspect (Didn't see anything obvious)
51:42 - Couple slaloms to feel it out. (Felt ok)
52:14 - Gun out of pits to chase M3 and instantly feel something is off and abort. RIP.

00:00 Catalyst Overview
00:06 Session 1
20:56 Session 2
39:17 Session 3

Suspension:
- TC Kline D/A coilovers 550/700
- Ground Control camber plates
- Bimmerworld sway bar links
- Hotchkis front sway bar
- Rogue Engineering strut bar

Brakes:
- AP Racing 9660 front bbk
- Stoptech slotted rear rotors
- Project MU H21 front pads (don't recommend)
- Raybestos ST43 rear pads
- ECS brake lines
- Bimmerworld brass brake bushings

Wheels:
- Apex EC-7 18x10et25 wheels
- Bridgestone RE71RS 265 (Day 4)

Engine:
- Beisan VANOS
- BE/ARP rod bearings
- Radium oil catch can
- Eventuri carbon intake
- DO88 radiator

Chassis:
- 3370lbs full tank
- RTD REVO1 reverse lockout shifter
- OMP WRC-R XL bucket seat
- Brey Krause seat mounts
- SCHROTH Flexi 6-point harness
- Autopower roll bar
- Rogue Engineering transmission bushings
- Powerflex diff/rtab/subframe bushings
- Turner subframe reinforcement
- DIY rear seat delete
- Full interior
- Garmin Catalyst lap timer