First time to Watkins Glen

cossie1600

I now have the ability to carry tires, but I am not sure if I am ready for another set of tires or track days. I am starting to have real fear of the track If I can get my mojo back, I will see what I can do on R6 as I am getting that regardless

ChrisSlicks

Fear is a part of getting older and being responsible. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but you can't let it overcome you. You can still be very fast while being mindful and responsible, you just have to be very calculated. The best drivers in our club are 40+, they can beat just about anyone in their own car.

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Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms

cossie1600

Very true. I am not so much afraid of the danger, I just don't want to be stuck with a $20k repair bill!! Plus I have had instances of mechanical breakdown and other drivers breaking down in front of me.

Oh yeah, the next time someone post about the best mod. I think the video says it all.

ChrisSlicks

HPDE Track insurance. It's a little steep, but you can buy it for the year at a substantial discount for a given number of events.

To put that into perspective that people here can relate to. I was 0.6 seconds slower than the GT-R during the time trial, and he is a very good experienced driver. He was running tired R888's vs my V710's - I think that shows what tires are worth.

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Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms

wh1te370z

You looked awesome out there. I wish i had more track time w the tires i had on my car. i think i could have been in the high teens. Couple things i learned from that track. If you take turn 8 wide you can come out onto the last straight faster putting you drivers side tires off to the left of the cememt. Seems slower but it is actually faster. Also in turn 10 in you turn in a little later it feels a little smother and you can gain a mph or two. This is what i found in my car with tires and stock susp. Porb a lot different w coil and what not. But it might help you next time

qustion. going through the esses what gear where u in?

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1998 BMW 328is... Track Build
2010 White 370z.... sold

ChrisSlicks

Slow in fast out is almost always quicker, but if you check the video you'll see that I'm on the gas before the apex in every corner so I don't think going any wider would help my particular setup. I'll try to get a video up with telemetry so you can see my corner speed and acceleration points.

I was in 4th gear from T1 all the way to the top of the esses where I had to grab 5th. These tires are kind of tall though, on the shorter Nitto's I had to change to 5th 2/3rds of the way up.

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Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms

wh1te370z

I agree you have a MUCH different set up then me haha. plus im not that experianced. Id love to see a video like that. It could def show me where i could improve.

Thats what i was doing. I was grabbing 5th onto of the hill right before the right hander to the back straight. i would just let off right before the esses and have it floored all the way though. Id be interested in seein what u did.

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1998 BMW 328is... Track Build
2010 White 370z.... sold

cossie1600

I usually only run time trial, insurance is probably not going to work. I wish I don't have a mortgage, stupid house.

Tires definitely make a huge difference, especially at the Glen where most corners are sweepers. I was expecting a 6 sec difference, I didn't expect 10 sec. Of course outside of the tires, I am not sure if your suspension/power/driver mods added any or not. It's tough to say, but you said you were 8 sec quicker on the 710s over the RE11 with the same driver and car. I have done similar tests before, but the difference was closer to 3 sec at VIR, but that was against some older R888s.

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ChrisSlicks

When I checked the insurance company recognizes our TT club, you just aren't covered in the actual TT event itself. An accident is far more likely in the longer practice sessions than it is in the 3 lap TT when you are out there by yourself. Besides the reality is they don't really know when the actual accident occurred, it's not like there is a police report.

Take the tire times with a grain of salt as the RE-11's I only ran in the very first session while I was still learning the track. Each time out I was going faster as I figured the track out.

As far as mods go I think suspension is the next biggest mod after tires. BC ER coilovers and Hotchkis sway bars. Exhaust and test-pipes might give a little boost but I keep blowing out the exhaust gaskets which makes the car run rich and I actually lose power. No driver mods (no professional training), just iRacing and some other sims.

__________________
Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms

Methodical4u

So how was your time in comparison to similar cars or even "better" cars? (nevermind... didn't read the whole thread lol)

Cool video though... definitely looks fun!