SCDA HPDE Schedule
How about May 20 Sunday. Let's get lunch as well to talk track. Veggi, Eddie, s-driver, GKP, can you make it. I think there is a place near my home where we can practice vegganism for a meal. Veggi must know the place in Bridgeport.
I think the 20th is good for me. Email us the address as to where to meet.
Say, did my first autoX today and I really like the Sport suspension. The car is more balanced then what I achieved with my last S. It still understeers, but it points better. Some might want it to rotate more readily, but it is more to my liking.
Say, did my first autoX today and I really like the Sport suspension. The car is more balanced then what I achieved with my last S. It still understeers, but it points better. Some might want it to rotate more readily, but it is more to my liking.
Guys, I am glad to hear you guys are having lots of dunno the track and off. This year will be too busy for me and my move is coming quite soon.
S-driver, veggi, Eddie, GKP, suss et al., not sure if you guys want to come on over to my mini parts garage sale. Lots of tires, rims, filters, tools and misc garage things must be liquidated. Maybe around the end of may timeframe. What do you guys think? We can grab lunch around here as well.
S-driver, veggi, Eddie, GKP, suss et al., not sure if you guys want to come on over to my mini parts garage sale. Lots of tires, rims, filters, tools and misc garage things must be liquidated. Maybe around the end of may timeframe. What do you guys think? We can grab lunch around here as well.
2 days on NJMP Lightning Track
2 beautiful, warm days at NJMP with TrackDaze. This was the first time that TrackDaze ran an event there and did a pretty good job of it. My impression is that if you are an advance driver, you will like these guys. They attracted a great group of people from NJ and places south, mostly. One other Mini was there for a day. The advance group had a good mix of cars, from a VW bug and the JCW Mini to an E30 with a 427 Vet engine (race car out for a little test and tune turning ~1:16). The guy who drove this car was really smooth and fast.
The downside (if it was a downside – more on that) was that TrackDaze didn’t attract enough instructors. So the novice group, as well as some of the intermediate driver, made out. I was left to go out on my own. So, armed with several hours of watching S-Driver’s great video, I took a deep breath and let out the clutch. By the end of the first session I had a line down that was working pretty well for me. By the end of second session an instructor who followed me for several laps with his student said, when asked afterwards, that I had a good line and just needed to fine tune it. I spent the rest of the day working on the entrance to each of the corners and kept getting quicker. By the end of the first day, I was feeling good about being back on the track and actually happy I didn’t have an instructor. I used my knowledge of driving and talking to people who knew the track, like the guy who races Miatas there, to work up a good line. The one downside of the day was the Yellow stuff brake pads. They didn’t fade; they were not linear. You have to press on the peddle hard to develop good torque and then as they heated up they grabbed a lot more and you had to release the brake to keep the deceleration rate constant. So I put in my used Carbtechs XP 10s for day 2.
Day two started with that nice comfortable feeling of a really good race brake pad and the day improved from there; continued to work on my line. Changed my timing on turns 3, 4 and 5 (found that these are all connected) to be a little later turn-in on each. I also worked on making turns 2 to 3 a constant arc with one apex, late in 3. I was surprised to hear the classroom instructor suggesting that same line through turns 2 and 3 that I worked out. The brakes, for me, became scary good as the laps built up. I also tried my data logger (Harry’s lap timer on the iPhone). What fun that was. While not a very high sample rate (that can be improved with add-ons), it does show what is going on in a very nice fashion. Best lap – 1.27.01.
At the end of the day, I was happy to be able to “ride the horse” again. I was glad I was forced to figure out the track on my own. I learned a lot. Not having an instructor; not a downside in my mind. I am very happy with the car. The suspension is really good for me and the traction control helped with a couple of oopses without being interfering the rest of the time. Tires and wheels are well match and loved the brakes by the end of the second day.
On the unnerving side was a guy who left the track on the 1st day at about 120 mph coming out of turn 10 and onto the front straight. He went off on the left side and then back across the track. He went backwards into the trees at the beginning of pit lane. When done, a tree was up against the back of the passenger seat. This was a one of a kind TransAm Firebird made the last year they were made that car and the owner had a huge emotional investment in it. I felt bad for him. He may never know what caused him to lose control in the first place. Personally I think he lost the nut holding on a rear shock which upset the car. I pieced my assessment together the next day after having seen the car (looking under it) and talking to people who saw what happened. From my own experience, I can empathize with him. It makes me think hard about continuing to do this sort of thing. But, for now I am enjoying the videos I too and will post one soon for you all to critique.
The downside (if it was a downside – more on that) was that TrackDaze didn’t attract enough instructors. So the novice group, as well as some of the intermediate driver, made out. I was left to go out on my own. So, armed with several hours of watching S-Driver’s great video, I took a deep breath and let out the clutch. By the end of the first session I had a line down that was working pretty well for me. By the end of second session an instructor who followed me for several laps with his student said, when asked afterwards, that I had a good line and just needed to fine tune it. I spent the rest of the day working on the entrance to each of the corners and kept getting quicker. By the end of the first day, I was feeling good about being back on the track and actually happy I didn’t have an instructor. I used my knowledge of driving and talking to people who knew the track, like the guy who races Miatas there, to work up a good line. The one downside of the day was the Yellow stuff brake pads. They didn’t fade; they were not linear. You have to press on the peddle hard to develop good torque and then as they heated up they grabbed a lot more and you had to release the brake to keep the deceleration rate constant. So I put in my used Carbtechs XP 10s for day 2.
Day two started with that nice comfortable feeling of a really good race brake pad and the day improved from there; continued to work on my line. Changed my timing on turns 3, 4 and 5 (found that these are all connected) to be a little later turn-in on each. I also worked on making turns 2 to 3 a constant arc with one apex, late in 3. I was surprised to hear the classroom instructor suggesting that same line through turns 2 and 3 that I worked out. The brakes, for me, became scary good as the laps built up. I also tried my data logger (Harry’s lap timer on the iPhone). What fun that was. While not a very high sample rate (that can be improved with add-ons), it does show what is going on in a very nice fashion. Best lap – 1.27.01.
At the end of the day, I was happy to be able to “ride the horse” again. I was glad I was forced to figure out the track on my own. I learned a lot. Not having an instructor; not a downside in my mind. I am very happy with the car. The suspension is really good for me and the traction control helped with a couple of oopses without being interfering the rest of the time. Tires and wheels are well match and loved the brakes by the end of the second day.
On the unnerving side was a guy who left the track on the 1st day at about 120 mph coming out of turn 10 and onto the front straight. He went off on the left side and then back across the track. He went backwards into the trees at the beginning of pit lane. When done, a tree was up against the back of the passenger seat. This was a one of a kind TransAm Firebird made the last year they were made that car and the owner had a huge emotional investment in it. I felt bad for him. He may never know what caused him to lose control in the first place. Personally I think he lost the nut holding on a rear shock which upset the car. I pieced my assessment together the next day after having seen the car (looking under it) and talking to people who saw what happened. From my own experience, I can empathize with him. It makes me think hard about continuing to do this sort of thing. But, for now I am enjoying the videos I too and will post one soon for you all to critique.
lol...
Eddie,
I think lightning is more a Mini track than Thunderbolt. Glad you had two gorgeous wethaer days to run there. And you had a good time.
I have not done trackdaze before so that impormation is important.
I think lightning is more a Mini track than Thunderbolt. Glad you had two gorgeous wethaer days to run there. And you had a good time.
I have not done trackdaze before so that impormation is important.
Here is video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rXHP...ature=youtu.be
It does not show my best line; a little early on some of the turns that I worked on the following sessions. However it does have my fastest lap. This was Sunday the 24th not the 23rd. Will need to correct that. BTW The video date has been corrected to be Sunday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rXHP...ature=youtu.be
It does not show my best line; a little early on some of the turns that I worked on the following sessions. However it does have my fastest lap. This was Sunday the 24th not the 23rd. Will need to correct that. BTW The video date has been corrected to be Sunday.
Last edited by Eddie07S; Jun 28, 2012 at 08:45 AM. Reason: Typos
Veggi is still around. Getting ready for Lime Rock on Monday, July 2nd with the Justa. He did fine last time out while the S is at the body shop. Lap times obviously not as fast, but the rhythm is smoother without the supercharger under the bonnet. Forecast looks good for the slicks. I'll have the S back in time for the next event, July 16th, also at Lime Rock. Going to the time trials for ALMS on Friday, July 6th, if anybody wants to join in. Same cars, same track, less people and less $$ compared to race day on Saturday.
Veggi, are you around July 20? I might be in your neck of the woods during lunch time. Still in the planning stage.
Looks like you have a busy track season planned. Only Eddie has a couple of days out.
Looks like you have a busy track season planned. Only Eddie has a couple of days out.
Say, I am planning a WGI event...Aug 22 and 23 (Wed and Thurs)...with BMW CCA - Genesee Valley Chapter. Good price.
Anyone interested...S-Driver, that might be a good test and tune for your "new" track car...
Anyone interested...S-Driver, that might be a good test and tune for your "new" track car...
Yes it would be if it was even nearly done. I'm not expecting to be out this year.....if I am that's great but not counting on it. When I get it back it still will have to be caged..