First real time out auto club interior course

[foolio2k4]

Had an absolute blast today at fontana interior road course. Had 4 30 min track sessions with a BMW club instructor.

This was a real eye opening experience. I didnt take your advice and kept with the hawk HPS's on. I took precautions(brake duct, fluid, etc) so that hopefully I wouldnt get brake fade. But NO WAY IN HELL. Time to upgrade to real race pads.

Instructor was absolutely great and my times kept coming down each session. Towards the end i was able to keep with a lotus elise in the twisties. But i wasnt able to pass because I was running low on fuel and was getting fuel cutoff.

just a couple pictures from the event. First is of my body roll. What are your thoughts, I think I could use more camber though. This corner is a hard braking zone from 100 mph and a right left transition.

straight line pic

Ill have an onboard video a little later. Maybe you guys can help me and critique me on my line and etc. Thanks!!

 

[foolio2k4]

BTW we had instructor run groups in their cars. Most of them had M3s (e46, E92, e36?) and a couple porsche 911 gt3s.

I ran straight to the guy with the GT3 and asked for a ride.

OMFG......This is my next car to get. I can finally understand why the GT3 is THE car to get.

He had Moton suspension, porsche motorsport suspension arms, tranny. stock engine.

I couldnt get a video of inboard because I wasnt even able to stay still.

 

[danbev07]

great! now you'll have to try streets sometime

i was going to try to make this event, but it ended up being on the first day of finals week

 

[FR500GT]

Looks like fun man. I gotta get my ass out there!!!

 

[SoundGuyDave]

Aaaaannnnnnndddddddd............. wait for it....................











(yank) SET THE HOOK!!


Congrats on getting out there and doing it for real! You've got to love it: one event and he's already talking about more camber and more brakes! I'd love to see the vids, it looks like you had a blast. Hanging with an Elise is no mean feat, our cars are quite literally TWICE as heavy...

A couple of quick bits of advice, now that you are leaning towards becoming a full-on track junkie, though. The BEST mod you can make is more seat time. Keep the car mods (outside of brakes and tires) mild, and let your personal learning curve dictate what and when to change something. Seriously, wait until you know for a fact that part "X" is what is holding you back, then just change that. In the mean time, use the money you WOULD have spent on more track time, and more instruction. That's what will get you around the track faster!

 

[Thinkkker]

A couple of quick bits of advice, now that you are leaning towards becoming a full-on track junkie, though. The BEST mod you can make is more seat time. Keep the car mods (outside of brakes and tires) mild, and let your personal learning curve dictate what and when to change something. Seriously, wait until you know for a fact that part "X" is what is holding you back, then just change that. In the mean time, use the money you WOULD have spent on more track time, and more instruction. That's what will get you around the track faster!

Most of the students I have ride through with me. At the end of a session the comment is always that they couldnt keep up since my car has so much power. I just told them the car dynoed under 280 at the wheels and I was sure they had a lot more than I did *modded GTO's, Corvette, M3's*

I am sure that many of them are near the same weight and a extra 50-100hp on my car. Suspension and stuff....welll....

 

[ArizonaGT]

Cool man, glad you had fun!

Time to bring a set of DTC60s or 70s to the track with you and swap em in there!

 

[SoundGuyDave]

Most of the students I have ride through with me. At the end of a session the comment is always that they couldnt keep up since my car has so much power. I just told them the car dynoed under 280 at the wheels and I was sure they had a lot more than I did *modded GTO's, Corvette, M3's*

I am sure that many of them are near the same weight and a extra 50-100hp on my car. Suspension and stuff....welll....

Yeah, and I'm *SURE* that they can drive as well as you do...

Seat time is where you learn threshold braking, trail-braking, corner-entry rotation, and how to get back on the gas sooner, and harder. NONE of the above contribute to faster laps, though... [/sarcasm]

Most of my students, after a ride, usually comment on the fact that I barely seem to turn the wheel, and they have a hard time feeling the transition between gas, brake, and back again...

Hardware isn't always the answer, most of the time, it's a matter of just clocking hours in the driver's seat. Eventually, yes, you'll find the weakest link. Fix it, and then re-learn the car, until the next weakest link becomes identifiable. Rinse. Repeat.

 

[Philostang]

WOO-HOO! I love it! Congrats on getting out there! I just did a family reunion out at the track this weekend, and its pretty awesome seeing folks get their first taste of real driving.

The car looks great, btw.

Of course, I'll +1 Dave's seat-time comment. The money is best spent there first (that rear wing is a serious piece of equipment...and there's an aero thread going on as of late). You've got plenty of machine to grow into.

Thanks for sharing the pics!

-j

 

[foolio2k4]

I got the rear wing (roush trak pak) for pretty cheap so I told myself why not haha.

Yeah I dont plan on spending any more money on parts besides the disposable stuff (brakes, rotors, fluids, etc).

But its so GOD DAMN TEMPTING.

The understeer is just killing me. Just makes me want to spend money to fix it.

Riding in the instructors porsche. Cornering speeds are amazing. The rear end just seems to slightly rotate and it just dives into the corners. Im amazed how awesome it is.

 

[ArizonaGT]

Welcome to the world of the front-engined, RWD car.

Put some practice in on trail-braking and throttle-steering and you'll be amazed what the car will do.

 

[Thinkkker]

Yeah, and I'm *SURE* that they can drive as well as you do...

No no no, you missed my point! They think that the car has WAY more power, suspension, tires all that than it does because I am faster. They are not thinking of the seat time aspect. *yes, its not stock now, but back then it was*