Epic track day at Laguna Seca

7522 Views 51 Replies 20 Participants Last post by McDc, Mar 8, 2012

HyperMac954

Discussion Starter · Mar 3, 2012

Wow... that's all I can start with. The car is amazing in every conceivable way.

I did about 160 miles on track at Laguna Seca yesterday with the Apple Auto Club (not at all Apple only - just started by Apple guys). There were some serious toys out there. Aventador, FOUR 12Cs, all manner of Ferrari and Porsche, track only toys, etc.

All four 12Cs yesterday were running the steel brakes, and no one had any issues at all. We all averaged 24-28 mpg on the drive to the track, and all averaged around 4-5 on track. HAH! As to the amazing comfort of the 12C - British Motorcars/Luxury Autos brought down about a dozen amazing cars for us to test drive around town (mostly not on track) - including a Bentley Continental GT. I took it out for a spin around main roads, and then hopped in my 12C for my first session of the day. The 12C felt just as comfortable on the track at 75% lunacy as the Bentley did rolling around town - I'd even hazzard to say that the 12C handled bumpy roads noticeably better. That said, the 12C, even in normal/normal, is substantially louder. That Bentley is a great place to be.

As I'd never tracked the 12C, and never driven a car around Laguna, I started in the B group (intermediate)... that was a mistake. Even with limited experience, the only car that could keep up (or rather not get lapped in a 15 minute session) was another 12C being driven by the dealer. Porsches, Ferraris, Corvetters, Boss 302 Mustangs... all fell before the unstoppable Brit! I actually spent the first session in normal/normal and was still smoking people in fast cars.

The power of the car through the straights was unmatchable - even the Aventador on track had trouble keeping up (mostly because he couldn't hold nearly as much speed through the corners). And the brakes! Wow! Even under hard stop after hard stop, the steel brakes never faded, and I was outbraking anyone and everyone, in some cases (...cough... F430 Scud... cough...) by as much 35 yards. The instructors were also amazed by how hard the car could brake - my first few laps with one he couldn't perceive just how easily it could scrub speed, to the point where he was using the markers he uses in his race car instead of his street car!

Yea, I'm rambling now. It was a truly epic day. I'll post pics later, and I had pro video shot which I'll post next week.

PS: The dealer had "HAHA!" taped to the bottom of his airbrake!

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andy c

· #2 · Mar 3, 2012 (Edited)

Sounds great Hyper,looking forward to your vid of you passing all those cars!Interesting that you could out do an Aventador

Also sounds like your dealer watches our comments on here,but has to be a little conserative with his airbrake skicker,still good on him!

6th element

· #3 · Mar 3, 2012

oooooooooh! Laguna Seca!! You lucky ba$tard, I didn't know you were doing Laguna... what an amazing track I was there a few years ago with Skip Barber. How did the 12C handle the Corkscrew?

TAG

· #4 · Mar 3, 2012

Mercedes Benz AMG -SLS

1:16.3 min lap around Dunsfold Aerodrome.. wonder what David Coulthard could have done with a MP4-12C on that very same day...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PcqP85xZqs

bruce

· #5 · Mar 3, 2012

great post Hyper. I am doing a trackday at Brands Hatch on the 14th March.

I have never had a car I enjoy taking on track so much before

MP4ME

· #6 · Mar 3, 2012

Laguna Seca ! very cool, i have never driven a car a round there, but have raced bikes, great track, must have been a blast in the 12C ! how was the cork screw ? how did the suspension react to such a dramatic change of elevation and direction ?
Interested to hear that even the steal brakes out perform a scud, thats impressive. I have tracked a scud at california speedway, and am going to try a 12C there in the next few weeks for a comparo before i finally pull the trigger.

6th element

· #7 · Mar 3, 2012

TAG said:
1:16.3 min lap around Dunsfold Aerodrome.. wonder what David Coulthard could have done with a MP4-12C on that very same day...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PcqP85xZqs

Probably a flying start to DC's lap, but a very cool competition. Big Merc looks good out there.

TAG

· #8 · Mar 3, 2012

HS Version

6th element said:
Probably a flying start to DC's lap, but a very cool competition. Big Merc looks good out there.

I doubt about a flying start, but one never know.. Yes i agree it's a lovely car that one. Anyone heard about anyone who have testdriven an MP4-12C HS version??

dennis

· #9 · Mar 3, 2012

Wow, I'm really sorry I couldn't be there. I raced two seasons of Skip Barber and love driving Laguna Seca. Two questions:

Did you lift going over the blind crest on the front straight?

What sort of speed did you achieve before braking for Turn 2?

6th element

· #10 · Mar 3, 2012

TAG said:
I doubt about a flying start, but one never know.. Yes i agree it's a lovely car that one. Anyone heard about anyone who have testdriven an MP4-12C HS version??

Why would you doubt it? It's pretty clear that he did several laps in a row, as did the gamers, without stopping. I'm fairly certain his first lap from a standing start would not have been his quickest. If you have different logic, please share.

6th element

· #11 · Mar 3, 2012

dennis said:
Wow, I'm really sorry I couldn't be there. I raced two seasons of Skip Barber and love driving Laguna Seca. Two questions:

Did you lift going over the blind crest on the front straight?

What sort of speed did you achieve before braking for Turn 2?

Also hyper- could you feel Brake Steer in turn 2 and the final corner? Seems it would be working overtime in those two spots, especially turn 2.

Marin 12C

· #12 · Mar 3, 2012

I too am very disappointed to have been out of town for this one as well. Can't wait for the video.

Now that Dennis has his car, we have to plan a drive out to Pt. Reyes with the three grey cars.

falb

· #13 · Mar 3, 2012

Wow! Thats sounds like a tremendous day. We really need to see videos

gallardo62

· #14 · Mar 3, 2012

"was still smoking people in fast cars"

ok i record that sentence for later (hard to find english "racy" vocabulary !)

Sanguru

· #15 · Mar 3, 2012

good seeing you out there! the meatball police were out in force so a lot of guys were really taking it easy out there unfortunately! The good news is none of the 12c's got meatballed.. My friend's Aventador came through the sound traps at 98 decibels and he was taking it easy!

Tony's volcano red car was crazy fast!

couple pics.. can't wait to get mine!

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Sanguru

· #16 · Mar 3, 2012

especially if they are double apexing!

6th element said:
Also hyper- could you feel Brake Steer in turn 2 and the final corner? Seems it would be working overtime in those two spots, especially turn 2.

HyperMac954

Discussion Starter · #17 · Mar 3, 2012

The suspension handled the corkscrew immensely well. I'm trying to upload pics, but I keep timing out - need to resize them first. I actually have a shot of me chasing a Porsche C4S through the corkscrew, and you can see you compressed his suspension is, whereas there's still light under mine.

I lifted many times into turn 1, out of personal gutlessness... But the few times I was able to hold steady, I was hitting 133-134mph.

I could feel the brake steer hard out of turn one and two, and through 3 and 4.

The car definitely had tons left in it in all regards!

Peloton25

· #18 · Mar 4, 2012

Wonderful to hear your track report. Hitting Laguna Seca in a car like this would be a fantastic dream realized - so happy to know it performed above your expectations.

In for the video!

>8^)
ER

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HyperMac954

Discussion Starter · #19 · Mar 4, 2012

Peloton25 said:
In for the video!

>8^)
ER

Was told he'd have a link for me in about 10 days! Cannot wait!

docapl

· #20 · Mar 4, 2012 (Edited)

Laguna Lap Video

Great to see the McLaren owners again and very cool to see all these fantastic cars. Near perfect day at Laguna!

Here is link to a lap video:

http://vimeo.com/37896866

Overall car was great, but felt light over the crest at turn 1 compared to other cars I have had at this track. I am sure a GT3 wing would fix this. The brakes (standard) will be checked by the dealer as wear appears greater than expected. I am pretty sure I am going to regret not ordering carbon ceramics....

Thanks to eGarage for the photos

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