Nord Stern DE video - group 1 driver

[Tyro]

I shot only two in-car videos on Monday the 16th.

In this video (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8433294832720486720) I'm trying to see if I can make it around in 3 minutes or less (my camera only records 3 minutes at a time), but get held up in between 14-1 by a black 911 - I recall the license plate too: HART MD.

This video (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6546908310535492228) is a warm-up lap where I follow Rob and another 944 turbo.

Feel free to comment on my poor driving skills :)

[jstecher]

Hey Jess. Glad you got some vids buddy. :) I'll comment what little I can later on but I am sure that Mark, Brent or others will have some thoughts about the line you have as well.

[bbailey]

Have you tried going wider in the carosel, about middle of the track, then cutting down on to the rumble strips at full throttle? It may give you a little more exit speed.

[billy]

I've been thinking the same thing but it's closer to the gravel...

[Tyro]

Have you tried going wider in the carosel, about middle of the track, then cutting down on to the rumble strips at full throttle? It may give you a little more exit speed.

I started to do just that as I became comfortable with the track. This was my second time on a track - and I enjoyed every bit of it.

I don't think I ever got close to full throttle in the carousel, that seems like suicide with a limp suspension and street tires, don't you think?

By Tuesday I was going (what seemed to be) much faster - of course my camera was left behind.

[billy]

Noone is full throttle through the carousel, maybe at apex but no way for the rest of it. My trouble is I'm a gear too low :)

[Tyro]

Bret, maybe I misunderstood you..full throttle by the END of the carousel?

Oh..and Billy: F&^K OFF! :D

[TailWagger]

Feel free to comment on my poor driving skills :)
You asked. Here we go. :cheers: I can't/won't comment on line given I've never been to this track, but I do notice a number of general things, I would work on. Take it for what it's worth.

First, this is a very instructive video because we can see you head and sometimes even your eyes in the mirror. The first major thing I notice is that in most corners you start turning the wheel and then move you head. Thats backwards! Turn your head before you commit with the steering wheel, look as deep into the corner as you can and then you'll know exactly when to turn in. At the latest, once you've begun braking you should be looking into the corner. Force yourself to look further ahead, it will undoubtedly pay very large dividends.

Second, as you turn in, you appear physically lean heavily to the inside of the car on the right handers. Now I recognize your car probably leans a lot and perhaps your seat aren't as supportive as you like, but I'd encourage you to try to remain as vertical as you can by bracing with your left leg. You're ability to sense whats going on underneath you is compromised when your leaning over. Ever noticed a MotoGP rider in a corner? As they lean over they try to keep their head as upright as possible. Staying vertical improves your balance and enhances your ability to sense what the car is doing.

This is a little more personal, but I'd either shuffle steer or stay at 9&3 but I think you risk really crossing yourself up with the combination of both that you doing where one or the other would suffice. I know there have been debates on this here, but I'd like to see you perfect your technique before you shuffle and then steer. Finally, its not a big deal, just a bad habit, to have you hand off the wheel for seconds while anticipating a shift. Get in the habit of removing your hand from the steering wheel only when you are going to shift (or your about to hit something... surprising, even Hamilton didnt do that when he hit the tire wall last weekend.)

Best of luck to you, hope this helps! :cheers:

[Tyro]

Thanks for the advice.

Wow, I really do spend a lot of time shifting. I reviewed a couple videos from BIR, and it's the same thing unless I'm trying to accelerate like a madman.

The other stuff I really do know, but fail to practice.

I really have to brace myself in a stock seat and belt. Wanna buy me a Pro2000 and the shit that goes with it? :)

Cheers,

[bbailey]

Bret, maybe I misunderstood you..full throttle by the END of the carousel?


I don't know your car and I drive a rear engined 911 which requires me to accelerate in turns to keep the rear end behind me, so take this for what it is worth...

If I hold my throttle steady in the carosel, I lose 5 mph due to turning. So a slight increase in throttle can help to maintain a constant speed.

When I get towards past the middle of the corner, head for the apex rumble strips and I go full throttle. Because I am going faster, I drift towards the oustide of the track.

Looking at the data below, I may be able to go into the corner a bit faster. You can also see a small increase in lat G's as I pick up speed.

http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Road_America_Telemetry_for_1980s_Porsche_911 (http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Road_America_Telemetry_for_1980s_Porsche_911)

[mrepka]

Noone is full throttle through the carousel, maybe at apex but no way for the rest of it. My trouble is I'm a gear too low :)

Sorry billy, but in the SP1 you should be pretty much flat or damn near it the whole way round.

Perfect line, no traffic, hot tires, Exit T8 in 3rd, I like to short shift to 4th just before the snap on bridge so I'm not shifting mid corner. Flat in 4th until just about mid corner where the car wants to wash off the line, just a feather of the go pedal to keep it online until you can pick up the rumbles at the bottom of the hill drivers right, roll back into it and the car will rotate towards the rumbles, stay flat controlling the over steer on the way out, and you'll be at redline at the black patch at track out. Grab fifth and start clenching your cheeks for the kink. Take a look at the telemetry, you should see a fairly steady rise in MPH all the way around, with a little flat spot about mid corner. These cars like to go straight, and will scrub speed big time with neutral throttle in a corner. Flat all the way around... well no, I'm not anyway, but damn close.

[billy]

Ok,
Everyone except Mark :bow: Crap, what can you say. Jess probably knows what I'd normally say :) The bar goes higher. Gotta get video of you. I think we have video of you fron Erics car behind you.

But, Jess is also in a 250bhp 944 turbo so flat for him would probadly end in tears.

[mrepka]

Ok,
Everyone except Mark :bow: Crap, what can you say. Jess probably knows what I'd normally say :) The bar goes higher. Gotta get video of you. I think we have video of you fron Erics car behind you.

But, Jess is also in a 250bhp 944 turbo so flat for him would probadly end in tears.

oh stop with the :bow: crap... I've just been around the thing a couple times, and know what to expect. Bow to the fast guys on the forum, we have real racers about, I just play one on TV...

[f1rocks]

I was near flat out in the carousel in 4th also. I was taching out in third so first session Tuesday I shifted to 4th at the bridge and was well into full boost through the entire corner. This was a great place to terrorize the GT3's that had more to worry about if they wrecked so they were taking it easy.

I never did get the front to wash so I'm sure there is way way more that what I was doing. Course my fronts only have about 12 heat cycles instead of 30 for the rears.

Now if I could just leave my foot in it through the kink....

[TailWagger]

Thanks for the advice.

...Wanna buy me a Pro2000 and the shit that goes with it? :)

Cheers,
Your welcome. I'm a Cobra man myself. Tested to 70G... I need that ;)