Got up early this morning to head over to Miller Motorsports Park in the city of Tooele (that's Two-ella) just east of Salt Lake City. We've seen this relatively new track on TV a few times before, but not even a good HD telecast could do justice to the almost surreal facility in the Utah desert. It's easily the most modern, well thought out race track we've ever seen.
John Gardner, Media Manager for Miller Motorsports Park, invited us over to stretch the legs of the GT-R around the West Loop. It's just over two miles long and features 10 turns. John then introduced us to Mitch Wright, Director of Racing, who gave us a few tips on the correct lines before letting us loose at full speed.
It didn't take long to figure out that I could pretty much leave it in third gear most of the time. The GT-R had plenty of torque to power out of the medium speed corners and it's so fast that I'd be up to the next turn before even thinking about fourth.
That gave me time to think more about the lines and how the GT-R suspension felt in "race" mode. Big surprise, it's dead flat, with almost no front to rear pitching and barely discernable body roll. The brakes are about as good as it gets for a street car and the steering is quick enough to keep from having to make any big hand movements.
After I finished my "mild" laps, Mitch took the helm for some true hot laps. A former SCCA National Champion, Mitch settled in quickly and was pushing the GT-R hard. He left the VDC in "race" mode which allows for aggressive driving without shutting down the system completely. Mitch noted how well the GT-R turns on the brakes, but did mention that the VDC system will cut in if you're too aggressive about it. He turned a lap of 1:44:81, but said he could probably shave several seconds off that time by shutting down the VDC completely and getting more time with the car. "It's about as fast as a Ford GT around the same loop," Mitch noted.
That gave me time to think more about the lines and how the GT-R suspension felt in "race" mode. Big surprise, it's dead flat, with almost no front to rear pitching and barely discernable body roll. The brakes are about as good as it gets for a street car and the steering is quick enough to keep from having to make any big hand movements.
After I finished my "mild" laps, Mitch took the helm for some true hot laps. A former SCCA National Champion, Mitch settled in quickly and was pushing the GT-R hard. He left the VDC in "race" mode which allows for aggressive driving without shutting down the system completely. Mitch noted how well the GT-R turns on the brakes, but did mention that the VDC system will cut in if you're too aggressive about it. He turned a lap of 1:44:81, but said he could probably shave several seconds off that time by shutting down the VDC completely and getting more time with the car. "It's about as fast as a Ford GT around the same loop," Mitch noted.
spdracerut says:
09:37 PM, 03/28/08
Hmm... about as fast as a supercharged mid-engine, 2-seater, super car that cost about twice as much. Not bad...
bluelaguna says:
10:08 PM, 03/28/08
Sounds like a deal to me. And then Nissan is coming out with the lighter more powerful GT-R in 2010, so imagine what that one is going to be like.
trackwrex says:
09:50 AM, 03/29/08
i'm absolutely LOVING this road trip. ed, scott: great plan! miller motorsports park was shown to me (via google maps) by sean bakken at work since he has raced sidecar there and i agree with your statement, "It's easily the most modern, well thought out race track we've ever seen." can we get an edmunds group event there? now THAT would be fun!
anywho. these numbers are fantastic and i'm happy to see that you guys got footage of ed taking a drive on the track in the gt-r (great job ed!). another statement that i'm thoroughly ecstatic to see is, "almost no front to rear pitching and barely discernable body roll". so that "cruel joke" "comfort" suspension pays off on the twisties (haha! no surprise there). it's also good to see that in-dash graphic analyzer, done by the guys who did Gran Turismo, working in real-time.
bluelaguna: yes, i really can't wait for the spec-v. this car is going to be our generation's (the playstation generation) "ideal" car. if it hasn't been already since the r34... i mean, think of the performance, gadgetry, racing technology, etc. for the money!!! this is tops on my list alongside the vaunted z06!!! don't get me wrong, i LOVE the exotics (vantage, f430, exige s, etc.) but, if you had the money, this car is hard to pass up.
kurtamaxxxguy says:
11:41 AM, 03/29/08
Let's hope Nissan finds more production capacity so people can actually buy this and the 2010 version at reasonable (not gouged) prices?
Also, perhaps ways can be found to fund/build more race venues or more autobahn style roads in the USA?
SubyTrojan says:
10:14 PM, 03/29/08
Glad to see you turned some laps, Ed! :o)
rkr says:
10:15 AM, 03/30/08
Ed, Scott great run! Not that I am bias when it comes to US tracks, but I think you picked the best one to let the GT-R stretch it’s legs. So jealous..
You guys have done a great job. How many times people have made bonsai runs here or there, but to see it done in a new super car that’s not even out yet. Brilliant!
I’m sadden as I know the road trip can’t go on for ever, but since it was already announced that Edmunds is buying a GT-R. The warm joy of more road trips, beef jerky and more track time! Although I think we should start a new editor fundraiser. You need a new radar detector!!!!
Rex, Edmunds-Miller run??? YES. I’ll passenger in your Legacy if you’ll passenger on my F1 sidecar. Ha Ha.