Close Call at South Bend

[Dell]

I'm actually watching ESPN right now listening to it as a nice diversion from work. However, the diversion is a bunch of contradiction. You are allowed to go to work but the doors are locked or all the staff has been sent home. How y'all keep your heads screwed on right is beyond me. Hang in there.

[FTS]

I'm not even going to ask...

[jenk12m]

Originally Posted by FTS

I'm not even going to ask...

Please do, no worries

[FTS]

Originally Posted by bman

For T10, are you fully off the brake (and on the gas) before adding ANY steering? Or do you have a touch of brake as you begin turn in?

Talking with Peter Krouse on this about my driving, he recommended starting the braking at the turn-in. I told him I'd rather play with smaller balls...

Originally Posted by bman

I must be running with the wrong people....I've never WooHoo'd chasing FTS around

Of course you are running with the wrong people, I should say "were." I WooHoo'd chasing you

Originally Posted by jenk12m

Please do, no worries

I won't here. Hopefully I'll see you and Dell at VIR next month and we'll make a dinner conversation

[jenk12m]

Don't know if I will make it next month but I do plan on attending the PCA zone 2 club race in June. I had a blast last year and had more track time than I could handle

[FTS]

There is track time during the club race, I assume for advanced drivers?

Never mind, found the info, I will put it in the calendar. Btw, if any one has events to advertise, I cannot keep up with all the track and social events that PCA puts out, let alone other clubs, please feel free to add them to the Register's calendar.

[TRAKCAR]

I'll give my 2 cents:

• T1: I don't think you are trailing the brakes enough and missed the apex on both of your fast laps. On the first lap, you also turned in too late IMHO. In my experience turning in early with very slight steering while trailing the brakes until the car attitude is right for throttle nets as much as 0.7 seconds just on the braking zone alone.
• T2: for some reason you short shift to 4th gear and probably lost 0.5 secs because of that. Stay on 3rd.
• T3: as others mentioned, you can turn in earlier and let it drift with speed with less steering.
• T6-6a: I'd stay off the curbs there. Our friend hit the bridge during Zone 2 event, because he put the left rear on dirt on 6a and lost the control. Going over the curbs really does not add to speed or take less time that has any significance.
• UpHill eSess: I used to take your line, albeit much slower. Although it is counter intuitive, adding some curves to your line while avoiding all the curbs makes the car feel more settled and much more confidence inspiring. Just wait a split sec more before your turn ins. Just like Dell describes, it works much better.
• I was criticized for taking Oak Tree similar to you because I was abusing the tires and sliding the car too much for that turn. I was told by a coach to brake later after T10 and trail the brakes until the attitude of the car at Oak Tree is right and then get on gas hard. Something for you think about and to work on for me
• We can all brake later into T14 as Dell mentions.

Thanks Fatih!
I will try to post this years lap. Slower but I think I drove better and did some of what you mention above.

[Dell]

No worries disagreeing. The discussion is what fosters the best result for everybody.

Keep in mind all of my comments and suggestions are based on my 996 GT3 so it might be different for y'all with higher redline and a significant amount of more power.

As far as the 2nd versus 3rd gear I would have to find the data files but I tried it both ways and the data clearly showed I was faster. The delta between accel in 2nd + shift 3rd is faster than just accel in 3rd. There is no low end power in the GT3 and falling outside the meat of the power (up at top) you are really giving back time.

There is no way for me to take 2nd to T6 or I'd be bouncing off the rev limiter.

The T4->T5 transition was also faster in 2nd versus 3rd.

With all of that said, it is easier to take 3rd instead of 2nd in those spots since you can be WOT without all the torque of the top of the power band. But make no mistake, your accel is slower in 3rd.

Again with T14a->T15 taking 2nd is faster. I didn't believe it and had to run it both ways with data to show the time I was picking up.

I'd have to find the data files but I have countless files from VIR and finding that test file would be like finding a needle in a haystack. At least I have a project for this event!

[jenk12m]

dell, did you have shorter gearing in your 996 like the current RS does. the .2RS gearing is a lot shorter than the .2 non RS.

[FTS]

Man, finally someone who keeps data files and actually looks at them! It would be great to compare some data, even if it is 996. May be we can look at data together next month when we find the time.

I found a geek! I found a geek!

[jenk12m]

i like me some curbs

[jenk12m]

been known to scare people some times too. lol

[FTS]

naughty naughty!

[jenk12m]

haha, i didnt do it on purpose...

with all this info, i cant wait to get back to VIR

[Dell]

Originally Posted by jenk12m

dell, did you have shorter gearing in your 996 like the current RS does. the .2RS gearing is a lot shorter than the .2 non RS.

1st and 2nd were stock. 3rd-6th were shorter.

Originally Posted by FTS

Man, finally someone who keeps data files and actually looks at them! It would be great to compare some data, even if it is 996. May be we can look at data together next month when we find the time.

I found a geek! I found a geek!

I am a total stats geek. The only way I got faster was data analysis

Originally Posted by jenk12m

i like me some curbs

Nice!