Lime Rock May 2 with SCDA
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From: Berkshires, MA
Lime Rock May 2 with SCDA
Hey all,
I'll be at Lime Rock with SCDA on Thursday May 2. According to the website only the advanced group is currently full at this time. Derek, (suspension) from Albany is planning to bring his RX8 as well. If you can make it that would be great. Ian has confirmed me in group INT2.
www.scda1.com to register.
-Mike
I'll be at Lime Rock with SCDA on Thursday May 2. According to the website only the advanced group is currently full at this time. Derek, (suspension) from Albany is planning to bring his RX8 as well. If you can make it that would be great. Ian has confirmed me in group INT2.
www.scda1.com to register.
-Mike
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Long Beach, CA
I literally just signed up. Waiting on confirmation. I asked for INT 1 as I'd like to slow down a bit and the car has stock pads (fresh Motul RBF 600, though). Pic and video from last year in my s2000 to get more people interested:
Video, Mike is in front of me at the very beginning
Sliding through turn 1
The car I'll be bringing:
Video, Mike is in front of me at the very beginning
Sliding through turn 1
The car I'll be bringing:
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Long Beach, CA
I guess it's just you and me, Mike. I am planning on getting there around 7:30 or 8 in the morning. I finally finished all the car prep tonight...still need to wash it, though, to make it look pretty. New spark plugs do wonders for a rotary engine!
I am in INT 1, so we won't be running together but I am still looking forward to it!
I am in INT 1, so we won't be running together but I am still looking forward to it!
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Wilton, NY, formerly New Milford, CT
I think I saw that Greg G. was planning on this event, maybe as an instructor.
Weather is supposed to be nice. So I may be tempted to head up there before work and make a pass through the paddock to say good morning. My car is a mess though, as I haven't touched it since the March 30th track day.
If I don't show, have a good day and stay safe.
I'm not doing this event since I'll be at Lime Rock Friday and Saturday with the MGA. Mike's fried Jeff D. should be with me. Sadly, my mentor, Glenn, sold his car and his racing days at Lime Rock are over.
Weather is supposed to be nice. So I may be tempted to head up there before work and make a pass through the paddock to say good morning. My car is a mess though, as I haven't touched it since the March 30th track day.
If I don't show, have a good day and stay safe.
I'm not doing this event since I'll be at Lime Rock Friday and Saturday with the MGA. Mike's fried Jeff D. should be with me. Sadly, my mentor, Glenn, sold his car and his racing days at Lime Rock are over.
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From: Berkshires, MA
Yes Jeff, weather looks beautiful. My car is still nasty from the skidpad at LRP, if I have time to clean it I will, otherwise I'll just clean the glass real well. Looking forward to a day at LRP with Greg, Derek, and many others I've met over the years that seem to show up.
-Mike
-Mike
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From: Berkshires, MA
Thanks Paul. First track day of the year always gets me pumped! Excited to see how my driving is with the new seat. I no longer have to brace my body in the corners!
-Mike
-Mike
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From: Berkshires, MA
Here's my report. I will touch on three areas.
1) My driving progression
2) Greg's Hoosiers vs. my RS3's.
3) The new bucket seat / HANS
1) My driving: I try to come into each track day with a goal, and focus on improving that skill of mine. For this day my goal was to trust the car's absolute grip level. I have never had the balls to trust the car, knowing full well that when I feel like I'm at the limit, the car easily has 15-20% more in it. I know the car doesn't need modification, just more bonding time with me as a driver. I generally try to pick a 'safe' turn to push it (the downhill is not a place I want to push the car just yet). I picked the uphill following no-name straight as my turn of chase. It's relatively low speed (~70 mph) and being uphill provides a ton of grip. The goal was for a late turn in, leaving me plenty of room to track out if I came out hot.
In the first session I was pretty leisurely, getting used to the car again, the new modifications to the car, and just getting the tires up to temp. Last year I spun on my 1st session of the day/year from the simplest of driver mistakes. By session 2 I was used to the car and able to get into it a little. My entry speed into the uphill was 71 MPH, and by the turn in for west bend I was redlining in 3rd. This was my baseline to improve on. During the second session I experimented with using more of the track on the uphill. I am usually so worried about cresting the hill at a straight line, that I throw away the corner and get the car pointed straight in the middle of the track. I knew that I could dive deeper into the corner, increasing the radius, and thus my speed while still getting the car straight for the crest. Session 2 was spent going deeper into the corner, later in the day I would try to bring my speed up.
Session 3 I was on Greg's slicks and experimenting with them so I didn't push my luck in the uphill. Session 4 I was back on my RS3's and going 10/10s through the uphill. I was turning in at 78 mph and using the whole corner. I found so much grip right as the car enters the hill that I would go in to that corner WOT and the hill just plants the car, giving me just enough time to straighten up as I crest the hill. By the end of the 4th session I was tracking out of the uphill at 82 MPH and into 4th well before West Bend, a huge improvement over the beginning of the day.
Did I learn to trust the car? Yes. So much in fact that I began to push it a little harder around the entire track. I picked up 4 MPH in the downhill, 6 MPH in big bend, and 4-5 MPH entering the back straight. Huge improvements. Watching the video last night I could see myself counter steering in turn 1, 2, 3, 4, and the downhill. That makes me feel good knowing I'm comfortable near the limits of the tires.
2) Hoosier A6 vs Hankook RS3: Keep in mind that my RS3's are well worn and heat cycled, although the keep impressing me. They seemed similarly sticky to the A6 to the touch. Driving impressions were that extreme lateral grip was very equal in both tires. I was able to put the car in a 4 wheel slide during turn 3 at the same speed and line on both tires. Braking was much better on the A6. The car can sometimes get squirrely with max braking at the end of the front straight on the RS3's. Braking confidence with the A6 was much nicer. I felt that the turn-in was slightly better on the A6. With a good amount of time on these tires I could most definitely drive faster. The important thing to note was that the RS3 is an extremely capable tire of holding heat and extreme grip. I could not say with confidence that the difference was "night and day". What was noticeable was the lack of balance on the wheels/tires. At 115 on the front straight I felt like I was on a test track going down a cobblestone road!
3) The new bucket seat / HANS: I must say, I put this modification off way too long. My driving is so much more focused without having to brace my body. I'm used to getting in and out of the car, and putting the 6 point on and off so there's no more burden there. I love the HANS, it makes harness wearing so much more comfortable. Turning the head is a non issue on the track. I could easily navigate the paddock safely, as well as the entire road course. Not only can I drive better, I'm much safer should I be put in a situation where I need the protection. The driving position was great, visibility and heel/toe were as good or better than with OEM seat and BYS rail.
All and all, a great day! Can't wait to get back there on the 30th.
Thank you to Greg for the advice, tires, and tools. I was in and out of the trailer for tools and shade all day.
Derek, great to see you. Glad you enjoyed the car even at a reduced pace. Sometimes low blood pressure is worth the tradeoff of absolute speed.
-Mike
1) My driving progression
2) Greg's Hoosiers vs. my RS3's.
3) The new bucket seat / HANS
1) My driving: I try to come into each track day with a goal, and focus on improving that skill of mine. For this day my goal was to trust the car's absolute grip level. I have never had the balls to trust the car, knowing full well that when I feel like I'm at the limit, the car easily has 15-20% more in it. I know the car doesn't need modification, just more bonding time with me as a driver. I generally try to pick a 'safe' turn to push it (the downhill is not a place I want to push the car just yet). I picked the uphill following no-name straight as my turn of chase. It's relatively low speed (~70 mph) and being uphill provides a ton of grip. The goal was for a late turn in, leaving me plenty of room to track out if I came out hot.
In the first session I was pretty leisurely, getting used to the car again, the new modifications to the car, and just getting the tires up to temp. Last year I spun on my 1st session of the day/year from the simplest of driver mistakes. By session 2 I was used to the car and able to get into it a little. My entry speed into the uphill was 71 MPH, and by the turn in for west bend I was redlining in 3rd. This was my baseline to improve on. During the second session I experimented with using more of the track on the uphill. I am usually so worried about cresting the hill at a straight line, that I throw away the corner and get the car pointed straight in the middle of the track. I knew that I could dive deeper into the corner, increasing the radius, and thus my speed while still getting the car straight for the crest. Session 2 was spent going deeper into the corner, later in the day I would try to bring my speed up.
Session 3 I was on Greg's slicks and experimenting with them so I didn't push my luck in the uphill. Session 4 I was back on my RS3's and going 10/10s through the uphill. I was turning in at 78 mph and using the whole corner. I found so much grip right as the car enters the hill that I would go in to that corner WOT and the hill just plants the car, giving me just enough time to straighten up as I crest the hill. By the end of the 4th session I was tracking out of the uphill at 82 MPH and into 4th well before West Bend, a huge improvement over the beginning of the day.
Did I learn to trust the car? Yes. So much in fact that I began to push it a little harder around the entire track. I picked up 4 MPH in the downhill, 6 MPH in big bend, and 4-5 MPH entering the back straight. Huge improvements. Watching the video last night I could see myself counter steering in turn 1, 2, 3, 4, and the downhill. That makes me feel good knowing I'm comfortable near the limits of the tires.
2) Hoosier A6 vs Hankook RS3: Keep in mind that my RS3's are well worn and heat cycled, although the keep impressing me. They seemed similarly sticky to the A6 to the touch. Driving impressions were that extreme lateral grip was very equal in both tires. I was able to put the car in a 4 wheel slide during turn 3 at the same speed and line on both tires. Braking was much better on the A6. The car can sometimes get squirrely with max braking at the end of the front straight on the RS3's. Braking confidence with the A6 was much nicer. I felt that the turn-in was slightly better on the A6. With a good amount of time on these tires I could most definitely drive faster. The important thing to note was that the RS3 is an extremely capable tire of holding heat and extreme grip. I could not say with confidence that the difference was "night and day". What was noticeable was the lack of balance on the wheels/tires. At 115 on the front straight I felt like I was on a test track going down a cobblestone road!
3) The new bucket seat / HANS: I must say, I put this modification off way too long. My driving is so much more focused without having to brace my body. I'm used to getting in and out of the car, and putting the 6 point on and off so there's no more burden there. I love the HANS, it makes harness wearing so much more comfortable. Turning the head is a non issue on the track. I could easily navigate the paddock safely, as well as the entire road course. Not only can I drive better, I'm much safer should I be put in a situation where I need the protection. The driving position was great, visibility and heel/toe were as good or better than with OEM seat and BYS rail.
All and all, a great day! Can't wait to get back there on the 30th.
Thank you to Greg for the advice, tires, and tools. I was in and out of the trailer for tools and shade all day.
Derek, great to see you. Glad you enjoyed the car even at a reduced pace. Sometimes low blood pressure is worth the tradeoff of absolute speed.
-Mike