As my forum name suggests, I am new to Honda & the forum. I have an '07 Accord 4 cyl that I took to Putnam Park race track last weekend for a track day. The car did very well, given it's essentially a 3 speed + 2 useless (for the track)overdrive gears & I was running stock all-season radials (205x60x16).

The car is very neutral, no push/oversteer. I ran 41 lbs pressure front/39 back, cold. The front driver's side tire was shot at the end of the day (badly chunked).

The car was really a pleasant surprise. While obviously no "Vette or S2000, it held its own and then some against a variety of theorectically better cars (1st generation Miatas, V8Jags, Pontiac G6, low end BMW's) etc., etc.

Top speed at the end of the straight was 100 mph (95 in my old Miata , 120 in my old Evo). I stayed with a Miata lap after lapthat was timed at 1' 29", which is pretty amazing for that track. I would have been happy with a 1'40". The car could outbrake almost everything, body lean was quite manageable and as long as rev's were over 5K, power was adequate.

My only issue was that the car didn't like to be manually shifted. So, it would stay in 2nd, even tho I pushed the lever to 3rd, or even on to drive. That meant I hit the rev limiter and the engine shut down @ 70 mph (top speed in 2nd) instead of 100 mph (top speed in 3rd). When I put it in 3rd & let it shift itself, it shifted fine (but that meant I was at 4K in 3rdat various spots on the track and out of the powerband).

All in all, it was a blast. I am swapping the tires for some Goodyear 225x55x16's as I type this which will help a lot. If I can get the shifter to allow manual shifting that will also help.

BTW-I averaged 7-8 mpg on the track

 

Sounds like a lot of fun! Welcome to the forum......! I'm curious though about why you would buy an automatic if you planned on testing it/using it on the track?

 

I swore off track days as they were so expensive and, for me, addicting. After a 2 year break I was raring to go again and the Accord, which had been purchased as a sensible family car, was pressed into service. It was a classic "run-what-you-brung" deal.

 

*L* that's great.... I know that feeling all to well.... I ran a few auto x races and I used to race an oval track as well and it's VERY addicting/expensive.... that run what you brung type of deal is how I ended up racing an OLD ford fairmont with a 200hp straight 6 against a bunch of V8's.... as for the shifting aspect of it I don't know if you'd have to get a chip to change how it shifts or what but I'm sure you could modify it...

 

thats awsome, where did you go to this track?

 

Putnam Park race track,. It's about 45' southwest of Indy. A supercharged 'Vette was hitting 150 mph at the spot I was maxing out at 100 mph. Fortunately he was in a different run group.

 

I also welcome you to the forums and Im glad that your going to jump right in with interesting post's like this one..
Thank you!

WheelBrokerAng [sm=americanasmiley.gif]