[MAZOC] Official "Off-Topic" Discussion Thread

[MightyBobo]

Originally Posted by Crux

Constructive criticism is welcome and encouraged!

The Z couldn't keep up with the 600+rwhp E85 mustang in the straights, but I made up some of the distance in turns 4+5. You can see him get nervous around carousel, and his line approaching 9 is sloppy.

The instructor had me calling out each flag station. It was a cool drill that helped me look further and further up the track and not focus on whats in front of me.

When I was off line or turn in/apex/brake point were off, I made mention of it, and thats why when you see me miss the line by 3+ feet, the instructor gives me thumbs up.

First thing first, I strongly recommend a new camera mount. You can barely see the road at all. A good spot that will show both yourself, and the wheel, is actually OUTSIDE of the car on the driver side. The tiny window behind the side window. Throw the camera there, and you'll see most everything...

I'll watch when I get home, though.

[Crux]

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

First thing first, I strongly recommend a new camera mount. You can barely see the road at all. A good spot that will show both yourself, and the wheel, is actually OUTSIDE of the car on the driver side. The tiny window behind the side window. Throw the camera there, and you'll see most everything...

I'll watch when I get home, though.

I was worried about the suction cup getting loose and flying off lol. It's never been tested above 50 mph, and I wasn't trying to test it on summit's main straight at WOT lol.

Are there any specific mounts you would recommend that'll hold under those conditions?

[MightyBobo]

Originally Posted by Crux

I was worried about the suction cup getting loose and flying off lol. It's never been tested above 50 mph, and I wasn't trying to test it on summit's main straight at WOT lol.

Are there any specific mounts you would recommend that'll hold under those conditions?

Is this not a GoPro? The stock GoPro mount will work up to...really high speeds, assuming you mount it properly (not to waxed paint, for instance).

Amazon.com : Fat Gecko Mini Camera and Camcorder Mount : Photo Mounting Supplies : Camera & Photo

I use that mount for my microphone, but it'll work on a "normal" point-and-shoot camera as well. It's suction cup is very similar to the GoPro mount. It's also extremely sturdy.

Also, I apologize - didnt get a chance to watch last night. I'll try to make some time tonight. Thanks for trimming it down lol - I have a bad habit of throwing my whole videos up and not caring about editing.

[b1adesofcha0s]

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

Is this not a GoPro? The stock GoPro mount will work up to...really high speeds, assuming you mount it properly (not to waxed paint, for instance).

Amazon.com : Fat Gecko Mini Camera and Camcorder Mount : Photo Mounting Supplies : Camera & Photo

I use that mount for my microphone, but it'll work on a "normal" point-and-shoot camera as well. It's suction cup is very similar to the GoPro mount. It's also extremely sturdy.

Also, I apologize - didnt get a chance to watch last night. I'll try to make some time tonight. Thanks for trimming it down lol - I have a bad habit of throwing my whole videos up and not caring about editing.

Just ordered that same mount for the go pro I just ordered. Should have it by Saturday.

[FPenvy]

Originally Posted by b1adesofcha0s

Just ordered that same mount for the go pro I just ordered. Should have it by Saturday.

I need to check out mounts for zdayz

[Crux]

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

Is this not a GoPro? The stock GoPro mount will work up to...really high speeds, assuming you mount it properly (not to waxed paint, for instance).

Amazon.com : Fat Gecko Mini Camera and Camcorder Mount : Photo Mounting Supplies : Camera & Photo

I use that mount for my microphone, but it'll work on a "normal" point-and-shoot camera as well. It's suction cup is very similar to the GoPro mount. It's also extremely sturdy.

Also, I apologize - didnt get a chance to watch last night. I'll try to make some time tonight. Thanks for trimming it down lol - I have a bad habit of throwing my whole videos up and not caring about editing.

No problem!

Yes, it's a go pro hero 2 (I want to get a 4 before zdayz) that I have mounted via gopro suction mount on the inside of the hatch window.

I trimmed it down a lot. After the mustang passes me, it gets a little slow, but you can see the line the instructor had me take. When I catch up to the back of the pack is when it gets better to watch.

After seeing photos that Khoi took, I'm at least 3' off of turn in, so I really need to learn the car's profile. It's just difficult to look up track and keep turn in, brake points, and apex (basically the whole line lol) in your peripheral vision while balancing the car and trying to keep it smooth.

I had the chance to sit down and speak with Grand Am driver Liam Dwyer (awesome - awesome guy, by the way) and I told him its like high speed problem solving. He agreed and added that its high speed problem solving while keeping the car on edge.

[MightyBobo]

Originally Posted by Crux

No problem!

Yes, it's a go pro hero 2 (I want to get a 4 before zdayz) that I have mounted via gopro suction mount on the inside of the hatch window.

I trimmed it down a lot. After the mustang passes me, it gets a little slow, but you can see the line the instructor had me take. When I catch up to the back of the pack is when it gets better to watch.

After seeing photos that Khoi took, I'm at least 3' off of turn in, so I really need to learn the car's profile. It's just difficult to look up track and keep turn in, brake points, and apex (basically the whole line lol) in your peripheral vision while balancing the car and trying to keep it smooth.

I had the chance to sit down and speak with Grand Am driver Liam Dwyer (awesome - awesome guy, by the way) and I told him its like high speed problem solving. He agreed and added that its high speed problem solving while keeping the car on edge.

Then yes, your GoPro mount is solid as a rock, as long as you dont stick it to something overly waxed. Glass works dandy, it's extremely sturdy.

I PROMISE I'll watch this tonight lol. Last night was busy again.

That being said, it sounds like you're describing typical newbie mistakes: not hitting the right turn-in points, not utilizing the whole width of the track, and managing throttle and all the other goodies simultaneously. This isn't uncommon at all, but you'll quickly get better. This is why I say, you just aren't ready to move up yet...MAYBE to the next level of novice, but otherwise, just stay where you're at and take it in for another weekend or two, at least.

You know you're getting there when you start to feel more "one" with the car, I feel. And, rather than feeling unsure as to what is going to happen at times, you are confident in yourself and your vehicle's capabilities, and are more inclined to experiment.

Actually, the moment I felt I was starting to get it, was when I felt my instructor was giving me an awful line to follow around the track, and that my line was superior. I later found that my line was, indeed, faster.

[jpkirk]

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

That being said, it sounds like you're describing typical newbie mistakes: not hitting the right turn-in points, not utilizing the whole width of the track, and managing throttle and all the other goodies simultaneously. This isn't uncommon at all, but you'll quickly get better. This is why I say, you just aren't ready to move up yet...MAYBE to the next level of novice, but otherwise, just stay where you're at and take it in for another weekend or two, at least.

You know you're getting there when you start to feel more "one" with the car, I feel. And, rather than feeling unsure as to what is going to happen at times, you are confident in yourself and your vehicle's capabilities, and are more inclined to experiment.

Actually, the moment I felt I was starting to get it, was when I felt my instructor was giving me an awful line to follow around the track, and that my line was superior. I later found that my line was, indeed, faster.

So I have been reading this recently and have found it entertaining. He talks about all the points you have made, especially the last one, and more. Get's good reviews. This focuses on autocross but the process extends across to driving track as well. There are several in the series. He spends some time on the idea of visualization as well. I thought it was a good read.

Speed Secrets, Winning Autocross Techniques

[MightyBobo]

Originally Posted by jpkirk

So I have been reading this recently and have found it entertaining. He talks about all the points you have made, especially the last one, and more. Get's good reviews. This focuses on autocross but the process extends across to driving track as well. There are several in the series. He spends some time on the idea of visualization as well. I thought it was a good read.

Speed Secrets, Winning Autocross Techniques

Interesting, which points that I made were in there? I really just was drawing off of my own experience, so I'll take that as somewhat of a compliment :-p

[Crux]

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

Then yes, your GoPro mount is solid as a rock, as long as you dont stick it to something overly waxed. Glass works dandy, it's extremely sturdy.

I PROMISE I'll watch this tonight lol. Last night was busy again.

That being said, it sounds like you're describing typical newbie mistakes: not hitting the right turn-in points, not utilizing the whole width of the track, and managing throttle and all the other goodies simultaneously. This isn't uncommon at all, but you'll quickly get better. This is why I say, you just aren't ready to move up yet...MAYBE to the next level of novice, but otherwise, just stay where you're at and take it in for another weekend or two, at least.

You know you're getting there when you start to feel more "one" with the car, I feel. And, rather than feeling unsure as to what is going to happen at times, you are confident in yourself and your vehicle's capabilities, and are more inclined to experiment.

Actually, the moment I felt I was starting to get it, was when I felt my instructor was giving me an awful line to follow around the track, and that my line was superior. I later found that my line was, indeed, faster.

I felt towards the 7th session I was beginning to experiment how deep I could brake, how I could smooth out turn in, messing around with different gear selections, and different lines (like you said).

My instructor specifically told me to stay to the outside on the approach to turn 10 (under the bridge), but I found that if I drove a straight line from 9's exit to 10 turn in, it took me to the inside of the track, and was a bit faster. He showed me his summit main videos in his vette and he took the same approach as I did into 10 lol. He said "do as I say, not as I do" but never elaborated. Maybe staying outside is faster?

If the instructor believes I'm good enough for HPDE2, then I am good enough for HPDE1 again

[MightyBobo]

Originally Posted by Crux

I felt towards the 7th session I was beginning to experiment how deep I could brake, how I could smooth out turn in, messing around with different gear selections, and different lines (like you said).

My instructor specifically told me to stay to the outside on the approach to turn 10 (under the bridge), but I found that if I drove a straight line from 9's exit to 10 turn in, it took me to the inside of the track, and was a bit faster. He showed me his summit main videos in his vette and he took the same approach as I did into 10 lol. He said "do as I say, not as I do" but never elaborated. Maybe staying outside is faster?

If the instructor believes I'm good enough for HPDE2, then I am good enough for HPDE1 again

You definitely want to stay on the outside there, going under the bridge. Staying inside gives you a bad approach angle, because of the slight right turn. You'd go just as fast or faster if you faded out wide to the outside. Typical reason for not doing this? Pucker factor. Them walls look real close...

1) @1:20 - very early braking. Use more pressure, less time on the brakes. You got better about it throughout the video though.

2) @1:40 - you kinda meander about on the track here. Stay right, no reason to be center, you just had to get back right again to set yourself up for the left. In reality, you'd probably have faded out left as you exited the corner, and slowly brought yourself back to track-right.

3) @1:58 - I dont like how you take this corner at all - it's a throw-away corner, and shouldnt be handled like the final corner. was your instructor teaching it this way to you? Seemed very odd to me, and almost every other car took it how I'd take it: approximately mid-track, or to the right. When you exit the first corner, you could easily have just kept turning and stayed track-right, creating a better setup for the left.

4) @2:42 - Good - use that run-off area. That's why he gave you the thumbs up...

5) @3:02 - your throttle input here was very abrupt mid-corner. Careful with that, you may upset the balance of the car if you were at the limit...

6) Throughout - you tend to adjust your steering input mid-corner a lot. Try to focus on not moving your hands, and using your throttle to adjust your turn...

7) Your Point-by's - need to be SIGNIFICANTLY more deliberate. Your arm should be at full extension out of the window, be it to the left, or over the roof. Don't half-*** it, and risk someone mis-reading your intentions because "well, he never really gave a good signal so I just went for it..."

8) When given a point - wave once you pass. Just common courtesy for a good point.

I had more, but I need to hit the sack. That is the majority of stuff I noticed. You know most of your problems: not utilizing the full width of the track and your turn-in's need work. These all come with more seat time. Being in "HPD2" only means you'll be with other faster people. It's hardly a reflection of your own skill at driving, so you could be in HPD1 for many weekends and still be improving

Other than that, looked like a solid first effort, and you kept it shiny still, so great job.