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[MSR Houston] First Track Day impressions from a novice driver

johnny.silva7

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Jonathan
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Austin
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(FL5) Civic Type R, Viper TA
Track Details: MSR Houston. 17 turns. 2.4 miles.54-70 degF and sunny. 2 track days with Driver's Edge. 4 15-minute sessions/day. Event is called Driver's Edge.

Over the weekend, I took the FL5 for it's first track event. Zero mods - only a brake flush with Castrol SRF. Purposely did this to get a baseline of the R's attributes. The end result: I had the most fun I've ever had on a track. It's such an incredible feeling especially considering how ready it is right out of the factory.

Day 1, I ran a couple sessions to feel the overall driving characteristics. My times improved by seconds each session as I moved from 7/10 to 8/10, etc. Day 2, I finished with 2 1:53's back-to-back. After some sessions, some other drivers came by to ask what mods the R has. They were shocked to find out it was 100% stock. This always leaves a positive feeling when you consider the bang-for-the-buck you get in the FL5.

Overall impression: The steering is precise and direct. The FWD was incredibly adaptable. It felt easy yet engaging through each segment. I would almost say just as fun and rewarding as my RWD car. The seats are incredible - cushioned in the right spots but bolstered aggressively for these occasions. Regarding cooling, I didn't experience any throttle or overheating issues the entire track weekend. I didn't see anything above the 250's the entire weekend. It could be that I'm a novice driver, and I didn't push the car to the limits. Who knows.

Minor complaint: The OEM exhaust is VERY quiet. When you have high winds, a helmet, and a headset, It becomes tough to gauge where you are on the RPM range without looking down at the LED's or dash. I mistakenly disconnected the pumped-in engine audio prior to the track event.

11th Gen Honda Civic [MSR Houston] First Track Day impressions from a novice driver IMG_10280.JPG

11th Gen Honda Civic [MSR Houston] First Track Day impressions from a novice driver IMG_11871.JPG

11th Gen Honda Civic [MSR Houston] First Track Day impressions from a novice driver IMG_11176.JPG

In a couple days, I'll take a look at all the tire wear, brake wear, and oil results (Blackstone), and I'll update this thread.

*Note: Unfortunately, I procrastinated and couldn't get my Honda data logger to save anything while I ran on the track. Thankfully I still got some Catalyst footage posted below.

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yeaitsahonda

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David
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Glad you enjoyed it! The FL5 is right at home doing track days. I agree with you about the exhaust level with a helmet on. The fake engine noise is almost a necessity on track with a factory exhaust.
 

Fanatic

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Sonny
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Plano, Texas
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'23 Civic Type R and many more...
Thanks for sharing, Johnny. I used to attend with The Driver's Edge events all over Texas some years ago. That's a great group to tag along and grow with. Glad you had a positive experience.
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