Report from Sebring HPDE 4/30/11-5/1/11

spearfish25 · 05-10-2011, 06:19 PM

Watch the video and listen. He lifted well before he spun. It was too much speed with an early apex that led to dropping the outside rear tire off and losing traction while turning that made him spin.

The best part of these underpants-ruining-moments is learning from the mistakes that caused them.

flashburn · 05-10-2011, 07:07 PM

Actually, I think I did worse than just lifting, my instructor went "brake, brake, brake" when he really just meant for me to ease off the throttle a bit once I hit the dirt. So I think it was the combination of hitting the dirt with two wheels and then braking that caused me to spin.

handyman · 05-10-2011, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashburn

Actually, I think I did worse than just lifting, my instructor went "brake, brake, brake" when he really just meant for me to ease off the throttle a bit once I hit the dirt. So I think it was the combination of hitting the dirt with two wheels and then braking that caused me to spin.

Ohh yea. Hitting the brakes while 2 wheels are in the dirt will spin you in a heartbeat.

As you've realized knowing the right thing to do and reacting the right way are two very different things. I made a similar mistake while road racing motorcycles which ended in a much more spectacular and painful way. One great tool to train you to react correctly are "simulator" video games (forza and gran tourismo). They do a surprisingly good job of recreating real physics, and if you use a wheel and pedals you can train yourself to react quickly and appropriately to these kinds of situations. Of course they aren't perfect and will never replace time behind a a real wheel, but they can definitely help.

ChrisSlicks · 05-10-2011, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashburn

Actually, I think I did worse than just lifting, my instructor went "brake, brake, brake" when he really just meant for me to ease off the throttle a bit once I hit the dirt. So I think it was the combination of hitting the dirt with two wheels and then braking that caused me to spin.

A friend of mine totaled his Z06 on track by doing that, at a similar speed. Never brake with 2 wheels in the dirt, that's an instant spin.

flashburn · 05-10-2011, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handyman

Ohh yea. Hitting the brakes while 2 wheels are in the dirt will spin you in a heartbeat.

As you've realized knowing the right thing to do and reacting the right way are two very different things. I made a similar mistake while road racing motorcycles which ended in a much more spectacular and painful way. One great tool to train you to react correctly are "simulator" video games (forza and gran tourismo). They do a surprisingly good job of recreating real physics, and if you use a wheel and pedals you can train yourself to react quickly and appropriately to these kinds of situations. Of course they aren't perfect and will never replace time behind a a real wheel, but they can definitely help.

Yeah, thanks guys. I appreciate all the feedback regarding the "incident", that was why I posted the video. Talking about it will just help drilling it into my head, so hopefully next time I do react correctly.

I just recently got a good wheel stand, currently using the Driving Force GT with GT5, and I'll be getting the Fanatec GT2 so I'll also be able to use a wheel in Forza as well. After starting to turn all of the assists off in the game, I've found that it's also starting to help me to react to various situations. I've also found that it's pretty hard to learn a track while driving a car @ 150+ mph with no assists on,

. Once I rebuild my HTPC, I'm going to try out iRacing as well, sounds like it is supposed to be a great sim.

ChrisSlicks · 05-10-2011, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashburn

Yeah, thanks guys. I appreciate all the feedback regarding the "incident", that was why I posted the video. Talking about it will just help drilling it into my head, so hopefully next time I do react correctly.

I just recently got a good wheel stand, currently using the Driving Force GT with GT5, and I'll be getting the Fanatec GT2 so I'll also be able to use a wheel in Forza as well. After starting to turn all of the assists off in the game, I've found that it's also starting to help me to react to various situations. I've also found that it's pretty hard to learn a track while driving a car @ 150+ mph with no assists on,

. Once I rebuild my HTPC, I'm going to try out iRacing as well, sounds like it is supposed to be a great sim.

Before going to iRacing try out GTR2. It is like $20 and is a great sim, a boat-load of 3rd party track and car downloads as well. It will probably need some updates to play online, check out www.northamericangp.com and www.nogrip.com for help. It made me a better driver for sure.

There is a demo link on this page.

flashburn · 05-10-2011, 08:28 PM

Will do, thanks.

flashburn · 05-10-2011, 08:31 PM

Also how does GTR2 compare to rFactor?

HoneyBadger · 05-10-2011, 08:36 PM

Good write up. Enjoyable read. Thanks .

ChrisSlicks · 05-10-2011, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashburn

Also how does GTR2 compare to rFactor?

They both have their pluses and minuses. For the current versions I find that GTR2 has a slightly better physics model. Both vendors are coming out with a new version later this year that will be very impressive. The Race 07 series (also by Simbin) is also pretty good but the cars are tamed a little bit (i.e. easier to drive).

cossie1600 · 05-10-2011, 11:43 PM

Sebring on IRacing is a blast, love it.

I didn't hear the audio of the video, but it looks like you put two wheels on the dirt as your steering wheel was still cranked. Good job not hitting stuff though!

I am with Mike, the VDC on the Z is suicidal to me, can't stand having it. The only thing that is more dangerous is the ABS. I had a C6 too, the system is better than the Z cars in regular mode! I never ran the car with the competition mode, so not sure how much more you get out of it. The C6 is a much much faster car, but god it was hard to drive fast.

SPOHN · 05-11-2011, 11:38 AM

Great read. Very informative.

05-10-2011, 06:19 PM	#16 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Watch the video and listen. He lifted well before he spun. It was too much speed with an early apex that led to dropping the outside rear tire off and losing traction while turning that made him spin. The best part of these underpants-ruining-moments is learning from the mistakes that caused them. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z Last edited by spearfish25; 05-10-2011 at 06:21 PM.

05-10-2011, 07:07 PM	#17 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 18	Actually, I think I did worse than just lifting, my instructor went "brake, brake, brake" when he really just meant for me to ease off the throttle a bit once I hit the dirt. So I think it was the combination of hitting the dirt with two wheels and then braking that caused me to spin. __________________ Current Ride: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Centennial Edition Carbon Flash 6M Previous Ride: 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport Platinum Graphite 7AT

05-10-2011, 08:28 PM	#22 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 18	Will do, thanks. __________________ Current Ride: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Centennial Edition Carbon Flash 6M Previous Ride: 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport Platinum Graphite 7AT

05-10-2011, 08:31 PM	#23 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 18	Also how does GTR2 compare to rFactor? __________________ Current Ride: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Centennial Edition Carbon Flash 6M Previous Ride: 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport Platinum Graphite 7AT

05-10-2011, 08:36 PM	#24 (permalink)
HoneyBadger Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 67 Drives: 2010 PG 370z Rep Power: 14	Good write up. Enjoyable read. Thanks . __________________ HoneyBadger don't care.

05-10-2011, 11:43 PM	#26 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 29	Sebring on IRacing is a blast, love it. I didn't hear the audio of the video, but it looks like you put two wheels on the dirt as your steering wheel was still cranked. Good job not hitting stuff though! I am with Mike, the VDC on the Z is suicidal to me, can't stand having it. The only thing that is more dangerous is the ABS. I had a C6 too, the system is better than the Z cars in regular mode! I never ran the car with the competition mode, so not sure how much more you get out of it. The C6 is a much much faster car, but god it was hard to drive fast.

05-11-2011, 11:38 AM	#27 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 45 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	Great read. Very informative. __________________

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