I finally watched your video Deep.

Whoever you were running with didn't do you any favors. First an instructor for only one of your runs. Did they even give you any classroom sessions where they discussed vehicle dynamics? Second, no cones at turn in, apex or track out. Very technical track. There is no way that any novice or intermediate without substantial experience on that track could be expected to find their marks without some visual cue.

Spin caused when you turned in while still on the brakes. Weight of the car was still on the nose. Instructor's explanation was correct.

For some corners, you will eventually learn to trail brake - that is where you are braking after turn in, usually down to the apex. But you can't do that on a tight 90 degree turn.

The same spin dynamic that you experienced can happen if you lift once you are in the corner. This is a lousy video because camera pointed too low, but I went into a spin for the same basic reason when coming up on a slower car. Lifted, weight went to the front, and I was just along for the ride. A friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) totaled a car this summer (fortunately he was driving a Miata, not the S). In a momentary confusion, he lifted coming out of a high speed corner and ended up in the wall. The moral of the story is to keep at least maintenance throttle once you turn in so that weight stays on the rear tires.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PK9PfOjr3U

 

^ Agree completely. A good driver in a slow car is faster than a bad driver in a fast car. Besides, it's more fun passing people in a car that looks stock.

 

Great advice, thank you.

 

I just had my first track day too. It's an amazing experience isn't it? Glad you had fun!

 

Ha! A little deja vu to my first track day. I made the exact same mistake. I was carrying more speed than normal into a braking zone, but didn't adjust my braking point accordingly. When I got to the turn in point, I was carrying too much speed, but I just went for it (exactly as your instructor said). No maintenance throttle, might even have been trailing the brake as I turned in. Surprise, surprise, it didn't stick. I hung the tail way out, but somehow held on to it. Great learning experience in what NOT to do.

I also agree that an instructor makes all the difference. The club that I run with won't let a novice onto the track without an instructor in the passenger seat. It generally takes several events to get cleared for solo.

 

Thanks for being so honest OP makes a change from the usual bravado!

Some great contributions too, interesting reading as I'm planning to go on track next year also

 

First off I'll say that your instructor makes a big difference. It sounds like your instructor may have been a little too chatty, but maybe not, it's hard to tell from a video. My instructor at my last event this past fall at Summit Main, my first session out and first time on this track the guy was talking my ear off the whole time. I found it very irritating and distracting as I was trying to learn the track/just get a feel for it, and hearing advice about how to make sure to get up on X curbing and do XYZ to a degree goes in one ear and out the other. By the second session I felt quite a bit more comfortable and he was much quieter as it takes me a session or so to orient myself. If it was your first time at a track ever then it's even worse. Just some advice for instructors, try to remember what it was like being a newb.

Hopefully next time out you'll have a better instructor for you. I'm quite surprised as well that they allowed you to go out solo w/o an instructor, that sounds like a bad idea. On your first track day ever an instructor will help with everything since it'll be overwhelming. I'd sign up with an organization where your instructor will be with you the whole event. My first ever event I was lucky to have a really good instructor who didn't talk my ear off and let me get upto speed at my own pace.

 

X2 I had an instructor starting out that was spending time telling me about the history of racing (not really), but he was very talkative about things which made it hard to focus. My favorite instructors have been those that

1) Use hand motions to encourage me to go faster (sometimes shouting Go! Go! Go!)
2) Use hand motions to tell me when I should brake, to work on my threshold braking and consistency (hold up a fist in my peripheral and then open the hand when it's time to brake)
3) Say simply whether I was a bit early, late, or pretty good on corner entry after each turn

That being said, I appreciate each and every instructor out there (esp the ones motivated by the joy of sharing knowledge more than the discounted track time ) and respect the fact I have them in the car. Thanks to all the instructors

 

Paul posted this in Upstate, copying here.

Here is a good deal on the 3 day skippy school. Blueosprey Jeff, A2 and I have all attended different versions at different tracks but it is a very good school at a major discount from the regular price. Still pricy but if you are a track junky or a wana be track junky well worth it

800.221.1131 - book today!
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I think I'm the only one (of the guy's mentioned) who has done the formula school. Car handles a bit differently because engine is to the rear. I found that I needed to tap the brakes just prior to turn-in to get some better grip on the front tires. I sometimes can take a corner without braking or lifting, but didn't like the feel of that in the formula car. Otherwise the school program is the same. When you consider that you are beating on the school's car, say three r four instructors and maybe 3 track workers, well worth the price if you can swing it.

A description of my 3 day school in the Miata is here, starting at post 11: https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/852...prey-season-2/

 

Welcome to the dark side and I'm so sorry that you are not addicted. Say bye bye to seeing money in your savings account . I'm sure most of the track guys will agree with me on that part. I haven't done much track days either but one thing I'll tell you is that my first time out wasn't all that great either so don't feel too bad. I had a fwd tsx and my first session after the warm up lap behind the instructor was disaster. I thought I had a go kart or something going into the first corner and that's when the reality of understeer kicked in and I went off. I was addicted since then