Phil Wicks
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 696
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From: Reno
5th Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 784
Likes: 3
From: SE FL (Hell Disguised as Paradise)
It was a fun day, Pep'r and I were the corner workers on turn #3. It was the best seats in the house next to the seat behind the wheel.
There were a couple of knuckle heads that did not understand the passing rules. As the day went on and a few black flags later they got the point. FWIW....not one Mini got a black flag.
I wonder if they are going to drive today? As I type we have rain.
There were a couple of knuckle heads that did not understand the passing rules. As the day went on and a few black flags later they got the point. FWIW....not one Mini got a black flag.
I wonder if they are going to drive today? As I type we have rain.
I was working corner #7 on Saturday, and I was driving my MCS Sunday.
Saturday started off great. There was a lot of action on the track (and a lot of cars) Drivers rotate in 15 minute sessions. There are the experts, Intermeidate, and Novice. By the afternoon it started getting hot at the corner. But it was a lot of fun. It is a great way to see a race.
Sunday started of with rain. Lots of rain. My first few laps were in the rain, but I was learning the track anyway. By late morning the rain stopped, but the track was still wet. Tire pressure is key here. My 3rd session I had too much air in the tires, and the car kept trying to slide out from under me.
After lunch the track dried out and I was able to start pushing harder. As my skills grew, my speeds kept increasing. I was able to find better lines and hold more speed. Push the little MINIs and they will hold a lot more speed than you think. I was one of the fastest in the Novice group. I passed quite a few cars, and only had to let a Corvette and a Mercedes AMG pass me. I could keep up with them in the twisties, but they had much more raw power down the straight.
On the main straight, I was just able to tap the rev limiter in 4th gear, which is about 105 mph. Then hard braking into turn 1, and very hard braking into turn 2 (shifting down to 3rd). Then you pick up some speed, and brake into 3 for the esses. I could carry through 3, 4, 5, and into 6 going about 60-70 mph. Turn 6 is a nasty decreasing radius turn that you have to apex very late. Then around 7 and back to the straight.
When you are on the track, you have to concentrate on what you are doing, and not everybody else. I followed many people taking bad lines. You have to take your own line and worry about yourself. Also, remember the rules. In the early afternoon, I was 3rd onto the track. The 1st car was slower, but the yellow flag is out the entire first lap (which means no passing). But the guy in the lead car motioned to let cars pass. The 2nd car passed in a turn (big, big no no), and the next car passed too. He waved me on, but I slowed down behind him. All 3 of them were black flagged and I had the front of the pack all to myself.
Saturday started off great. There was a lot of action on the track (and a lot of cars) Drivers rotate in 15 minute sessions. There are the experts, Intermeidate, and Novice. By the afternoon it started getting hot at the corner. But it was a lot of fun. It is a great way to see a race.
Sunday started of with rain. Lots of rain. My first few laps were in the rain, but I was learning the track anyway. By late morning the rain stopped, but the track was still wet. Tire pressure is key here. My 3rd session I had too much air in the tires, and the car kept trying to slide out from under me.
After lunch the track dried out and I was able to start pushing harder. As my skills grew, my speeds kept increasing. I was able to find better lines and hold more speed. Push the little MINIs and they will hold a lot more speed than you think. I was one of the fastest in the Novice group. I passed quite a few cars, and only had to let a Corvette and a Mercedes AMG pass me. I could keep up with them in the twisties, but they had much more raw power down the straight.
On the main straight, I was just able to tap the rev limiter in 4th gear, which is about 105 mph. Then hard braking into turn 1, and very hard braking into turn 2 (shifting down to 3rd). Then you pick up some speed, and brake into 3 for the esses. I could carry through 3, 4, 5, and into 6 going about 60-70 mph. Turn 6 is a nasty decreasing radius turn that you have to apex very late. Then around 7 and back to the straight.
When you are on the track, you have to concentrate on what you are doing, and not everybody else. I followed many people taking bad lines. You have to take your own line and worry about yourself. Also, remember the rules. In the early afternoon, I was 3rd onto the track. The 1st car was slower, but the yellow flag is out the entire first lap (which means no passing). But the guy in the lead car motioned to let cars pass. The 2nd car passed in a turn (big, big no no), and the next car passed too. He waved me on, but I slowed down behind him. All 3 of them were black flagged and I had the front of the pack all to myself.
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