Boxster S: DE at BIR...with spin :(

[J-rad]

From the Nord Stern DE last weekend (Sunday's sessions). For you sadists, the spin is at the end.

[Warpedcow]

If you're gonna spin, that's a good way to do it. I wish my car rotated that easily

[billy]

Yep
There have been worse spins in 3 usually ending up on the other side of the track badly.

[J-rad]

Originally Posted by Warpedcow

If you're gonna spin, that's a good way to do it.

I suppose. All things being equal, I'd rather not spin at all. ...maybe I should re-read the quote in my signature.

I don't know who it was but someone driving a yellow 911 RS-look had their window blow out causing them to spin in 2 on Saturday. Now, that, boys and girls, is not for the faint of heart.

BTW, weren't you registered for last weekend? I thought I saw an S60R on the roster and was looking forward to seeing it.

[Warpedcow]

Originally Posted by J-rad

BTW, weren't you registered for last weekend? I thought I saw an S60R on the roster and was looking forward to seeing it.

Yep, but I got email about 10 days before the event that they were heavily overbooked, even without the non-PCA members.

[CarreraRS]

Nice Video Jrad!!

Hey, I've spun more than most on that track and at least two in turn 3!
(attached image of me spinning in my in my old 996 in turn 3!)

Will you be up for the final PCA event of 2007 in September?

[J-rad]

Yes, I'm registered and plan to attend.

[TailWagger]

So what did you learn? (difficult from the video to see and hear what happened given the engine is muted and we cant see much of your hands. I've theories, but I'd enjoy hearing what you think went wrong).

[J-rad]

Originally Posted by TailWagger

So what did you learn?

Great question! Prior to answering, I'll give you a bit more info and then I'd love to hear your theories (and those of anyone else - I'm here to learn too):
The spin occured near the end of the second to last lap session on the second day.

My basic thought is that I simply came in too hot (not enough middle pedal). This could possibly be due a combination of over-confidence and potentially even a bit of fatigue (after a day and a half of driving). I haven't analyzed the video real closely yet but I think my line and turn in point was OK (for a slightly slower speed). I recall my exit speed from the preceeding corner (#2) being a few mph higher than what it probably is typically but I don't think I really adjusted my braking points to compensate accordingly.

I also learned when to let her go. For a moment I thought I could save it but then said forget it and put both feet in.

[TailWagger]

Originally Posted by J-rad

Great question! Prior to answering, I'll give you a bit more info and then I'd love to hear your theories (and those of anyone else - I'm here to learn too):
The spin occured near the end of the second to last lap session on the second day.

My basic thought is that I simply came in too hot (not enough left pedal). This could possibly be due a combination of over-confidence and potentially even a bit of fatigue (after a day and a half of driving). I haven't analyzed the video real closely yet but I think my line and turn in point was OK (for a slightly slower speed). I recall my exit speed from the preceding corner (#2) being a few mph higher than what it probably is typically but I don't think I really adjusted my braking points to compensate accordingly.

I also learned when to let her go. For a moment I thought I could save it but then said forget it and put both feet in.

So, and the way you did the video was a clue, I suspected you were a bit fatigued and that this was a late lap. I really can't tell if you were back on the gas after turn in, but I doubt it as the rear end seemed to slide continuing to lose grip. Given you were largely off gas, I found it interesting that the car ultimately behaved as if you we're in a classic novice understeer situation, i.e come in too hot, apply too much lock to compensate for understeer, recognize the line is going wide, followed with a throttle lift loading the front wheels which ends in a rapid rotation of the rear followed by a spin. Clearly thats not what happened here, in fact I think you entered the turn a tick too late which caused you to compensate by moving too quickly and too far with the steering wheel. I'll add at this point that most DE turn-in cones are intentionally set late, if your adjudicating your turn in point by them, just bear this in mind. By my reckoning, and feel free to think me a buffoon, the late turn in point coupled with what appears to be a very rapid initial steering input that added too much lock caused the problem.

The car drifts as a result very briefly and then the front seems to take hold, there's too much lock applied and the rear comes around. There was but a brief moment to counter steer to get the car back on a reasonable line, but you were caught out and failed to react in time, perhaps just being tired and reacting too slowly. I dunno if theres any contributing camber in this particular turn that might aid that scenario, but, I found the sequence interesting for what its worth. Don't know if that analysis rings true to you, but perhaps it fit the facts. If it does ring true, I suspect in the corner of you mind somewhere, you might have had the thought, I'm late, I need to get back into the apex and then forced the situation as I described. If that is the case, log it! Never compound the first mistake by making a second. Instead, recognize that the correct apex was no longer available to you and find the next best line around the corner. So, and this again is serious speculation, although it holds true regardless, if you hear yourself thinking, I'm late, the next thought should be where is the new true path through the corner, not how do I get back to the apex.

Free spins are a thing of joy, make sure you spend sufficient time mulling it over to profit from it. They're not always so inexpensive! Best of luck to you and I truly hope this helps, if not being correct than in stimulating you to understand the true contributing factors.