My First Track Day ...
 

Had my first ever track experience the other day, and I had an absolute blast. It was at Summit Point in West Virginia on the main course. Met up with ResIpsa who was kind enough to jockey around a few cars so we could park next to him. I was amazed at how many cars were there, empty spots close to the pits were non-existent so props to him for doing that. I have VBD Graphics doing some things for the car, but for now I just had them do number placards. They told me they would send them down to the track with Greg Shaffer, so to look for him when I got to the track on Saturday morning. Didn't dawn on me at the time that it was the same Greg Shaffer who drives the #52 370Z in the GT World Challenge Series. He was there driving a VW R32 in I think the ITA class.

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Got there and took the car to the tech inspection with no problems, and then tracked down Greg Shaffer to get my numbers and put them on. I learned alot of stuff that day, one of which is I have no future career in applying vinyl graphics to cars. Close up photos would reveal what I mean, but it doesn't look bad from far away. I asked if he would mind getting a photo taken with me and my car, and he volunteered to put on his Nissan driving suit for the shot which I thought was cool.

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At 10:00 was about a half hour driver meeting, and by the time I left there I was already confused on what side I was supposed to point by in the passing zones. The easiest way for me to remember, after worrying about it for an hour or so, was that it would always be the opposite of the race line. They covered alot of stuff in that brief time, and information overload was already creeping into my old brain.

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Got called to grid, and was nervous as all get out. I thought I had counted 16 individuals in the room at the meeting, so my plan was to hang back and when I counted 15 cars go by me, I was going to present my grid entry card and go out there. There must have been more though, as when I got into position on the grid, it seemed like an army of cars was lining up behind me. I know I didn't want to be in the front because I was going to be incredibly slow, so wanted to be in the back.

I spent way too much time worrying about my rear view mirrors, I have to work on that. It took too much away from me focusing on the important stuff, which was what lay ahead of me, not behind me. I also struggled with looking farther down the track than just what was in front of me. I also did I terrible job of at least a quick cursory look at the flag stands each time by ... I would guess I was only about 50% which is rather pathetic, so need to focus on that for next time. There was just so much stuff going through my mind during the parade lap that I was not sure if I was coming or going. My instructor was younger fellow who drives in the NASA Spec Miata Series, so he wasn't used to a heavier RWD car with alot more power, but I think he did an excellent job helping me. Probably his biggest thing was telling me to go faster. I was reluctant to trust my grip and brakes for the first couple of laps, but I think I got a little better with each lap.

Towards the end I was getting a little bit of wheel hop in the front going into turn 5, I asked him about that when we were done and he said it felt to him like I was losing the left front under hard braking, but I am not really sure what that is telling me. Like go slower ? Or don't brake as hard ? Or is it an equipment thing that can be remedied with like a sway bar ?

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I never once felt like the rear was getting away, but that could be partly due to first time out and the fact that I intentionally left my rear camber at -2.7. I felt like the rear would be like my training wheels that way. Need to get the lead out and put my rear links on and I think I am going to got -2.2 all around for next time.

The car did very well, even though I did not. I was worried about the brakes and not too worried about overheating. Especially considering it was very cool out. The opposite actually happened. The brakes held up fine, though it looks like my stock pads in the front are about 60% gone and they were brand new. My second to last lap the car went into limp mode. I nailed the gas and the car lugged it's way to about 60 MPH and then I looked at the oil temperature and it was pegged at 260. Just nursed it a little bit and the temperature dropped enough the throttle came back. I took it easy the rest of the way, but it was close to the last race speed lap anyway. So anyway, an oil cooler is next up, but I knew that. Just figured stock would hold up better than it did. I think being 7AT and my stupidity didn't help, as I was so focused on other things that it didn't dawn in me until we were done that I probably should have paddle shifted up a gear coming out of the corners instead of letting the AT wind itself out and do it for me. Just guessing though, but seems like a good analysis. I think we ended up getting 13 hot laps, not counting parade and cool down.

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I had my coilovers set to 4 in the front and 2 in the rear. I don't think I will mess with that any for next time.

My little in car camera set up with the IPhone 4S and Track Addict HD worked real well...though I am running into some problems doing anything with the file from my phone due to it's file size. But I am close to overcoming that. I can watch it, I just can't export anywhere yet.

Drifting back into the racing line after completing a point by pass...

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Just need to get my brakes situated to be better and do an oil cooler. I am also going to make a splitter and a rear diffuser. Would love to steal ResIpsa's design, and take it to a fabricator and get one made if it is not too expensive. But I think the front splitter is a bigger priority. Maybe the added downforce will help with the wheel hop I experienced, but I think that has more to do with the stock tires. I dunno, I am not an expert and am just trying to learn.

He looked real good out there in HPDE-3...I would be scared to death to roll with those guys though they all seem to be interested in passing anything that is ahead of them and are going alot faster than I was.

Met tons of friendly folks in the NASA community, it was very well run and organized.

So, I am definitely going back. Besides getting shot at, it was the most intense thing I have ever done in my life. I need more now. :tup:

sounds like you had a great time and will be hooked now! Welcome to the club. Everything will come with additional experience.

Wheel hop sounds like tires getting hot and too hard, looks like you have the right sways.. What tires? Recommended hot pressure is around 35 psi- did you measure before/after?

...sway bar is not put on yet. Stock tires that come with the 18" Touring model with 7,000 easy miles on them. I think ResIpsa was measuring tire pressure but I could be wrong and I never asked him.

I'm surprised with all the mods you have done so far you haven't added the oil cooler. You'll need that for the track.

My signature is rather dumb I guess ... red I have just haven't put on yet ... blue is wishful thinking ... aero stuff I change my mind every 8 hours so have not bought any of that ... oil cooler I am going to buy the next day or so and get that squared away. I think fear of the unknown up to this point, and the feeling that I wanted to at least try the track thing once to make sure it was something I even wanted to do before I started throwing money at that type of stuff. I am rather unorthodox, but I get there. :tup:

Thanks Mike ! I am indeed "hooked".

Sounds like a lot of fun. Can't wait till I get out there at Summit Point too :tup:

You will have a great time !

Just need to get my oil cooler and brake pads/fluid now.

...video of a a few laps...the wind sound suxors but overall happy with how my little video capture setup worked.

Nice vid. Seems like a pushy instructor, but I guess that's his job. Looks like a blast!

Congratulations! Reading what you said had me right back there at Summit for my first Hyperdrive. Its awesome fun. Now you're hooked!

I don't have anything to compare it to as it was my first time, but I kinda liked him. Young fella that drives in Spec Miata ...

It was everything you said it would be and more ! :tup:

Glad you had a blast. Tracking is about the best high you can get. In quick due time it will all come together and you'll be blasting away at the track.

Repped.

Great writeup! Sounds like a blast!

Great fun!

The first time out there is very overwhelming. Was this a single session hyper-drive thing? The more sessions you do the easier it gets and you can start focusing on the individual things such as braking, turn-in, balance, gear selection, mirrors, flag stations etc. First time out the instructor is going to be talking to you continuously and focusing on car position. When the instructor isn't talking any more that means you are doing really well :)

I'm guessing the wheel hop was actually the rear end locking up under braking, a sign that your front pads were overheating slightly. Real pads in the front are probably all you need for now.

If you or anybody else that area is interested I will be there on Monday with COMSCC. There will be some great instructors available and you are assigned a single instructor for the entire day. Just drop my name in the comment box as referred by and I might be able to steer an appropriate instructor your way (no guarantee's). We will also be doing hot lap ride-alongs, where you ride passenger with an instructor in his race-car for several full-speed laps. Ride-along's are $35 and come with free club membership.

Today is the last day to sign up before you have to beg and plead your way in.
COMSCC Registration

P.S. There is a Time Trial on the afternoon of the 2nd day which is optional, solo'd students may compete. The first day is practice sessions and students (separate run groups for students of course).

Nice to meet you.
 

I’m glad you had fun. You had a great instructor. He really wanted to make sure that you got a real sense of what it is like on the track. You will find out that as you gain experience and start moving up groups every driver is always pushing their car. It actually makes things safer because you can anticipate when a car is going to close on you.

If I see a Porsche GT3 in my rear view I know that he will be on top of me in a second. And I will start positioning my car on the track to allow him as uninterrupted pass as I can manage.

If I see a Miata, I know that he is faster in the corners and give him the point bye in turns 5 or 6.

If there is a comparable car such as a S2000 or 3 series BMW, I will wait for the most awkward off line pass and see how good he is.:D

I watched your video and you were not experiencing limp home mode. That was fuel starvation. That is the reason I bring gas cans so I can top off my gas to the point of having fuel in the filler neck. Normal gas pumps will not allow you to fill your tank really to the top.

Even with my method, I would start getting fuel starvation out of turn 2 after 20 minutes.

It was great meeting you and thanks for everything ! Sorry we bolted but the wife was getting kind of cranky on account of the weather. I was hoping to hang out awhile more and try to catch a ride with you, but maybe next time. I figured it was oil on account of my gauge was at 260 and when I tromped on the gas it bogged down and didn't want to go anywhere.

Thanks Spohn !

Thanks ! It was a little scary but well worth it !

Indeed it was a single session Hyperdrive. Interesting on the wheel hop. I will check out the COMSCC ... thanks for the input !

Stage-1 limp mode will give you full power but restrict you to 5000 rpm, it feels exactly like someone played with the redline setting. The bogging down is fuel starvation as ResIpsa pointed out. I do the same as him and just top off using fuel cans before each session, especially since my fuel gauge is broken - ha!

I also thought your instructor was really good, he was focused and energetic.

would a LSD prevent the wheel hop?

If his brakes are causing this and most likely it is then no LSD is going to help. Bt he has wheel hop in the front. Even though LSD does help tremendously under braking loads. But if your having brake fade from the front due to not so great pads the rear load is going to act up on our cars causing some issue all around. The LSD only works at it's best if brakes are working at there best in the rear as it slows the drivetrain.

:iagree:

...my front's were hopping a little. I would imagine the LSD has nothing to do with the front wheels.

I liked my instructor... was a young kid who races Spec Miata's.

I filled up before I got to the track, but ResIspa suggested I should top off at the race track and we were parked like 50 feet away from the pumps, so I did so.

It's weird it's like I can't even really remember how it all exactly went down. I see in my video I was trying to point to the oil temp gauge to let the instructor know and I was freaking out because cars were behind me and I didn't want to get run over ... it never dawned on me it was fuel starvation, I figured I was going way too slow for that to happen. 1:47 to 1:52 laps around there is pretty slow. :tup:

Don’t worry about it. It started raining pretty hard before the third session. I swapped back to my RE-11’s but, as you saw, they are pretty worn.

The session was a little scary. I don’t have much seat time in the rain and every time I tried to determine the limits I exceeded them. I basically tip toed around the track while Miata’s swarmed me.

I used to drive in the rain on RE-11's but they can be pretty scary, damp is okay but wet they suck :) Just bought my first set of Hoosier Wet's, I think they come with a guarantee that it won't rain for at least 2 years!

Make a trip out to a 3Balls event and it will rain. :)

I've only done one 3Balls event and it was blazing hot, guess I got lucky! I'll be up your way on July 30th - 31st with COMSCC at Mosport, you're more than welcome to join us.

Damn! I would come up there but I'll be at Grattan with 3balls July 28-29... probably be wiped out (and broke since we're having a charity auction! : )

I drove them im pouring rain. They werent great, but it could be worse. I hit close to 120 at lrp with th em .

LOL ... sounds like some chit that would happen to me. I could buy an ice scraper on sale and it wouldn't snow again until the following year. :icon18:

Btw how small did you go on your wets? I am thinking about 245 all around

I wanted to go to summit, but wife says no and I have no backup tires....

I was running Hoosier R-6’s for the event. My RE-11’s are what I drove to the track with and are about 2/32nds in the rear. And they are 305/30/19’s…

Yes, very scary in the rain.

I ran Road Atlanta on AD-08s in the rain. Car was very squirrely. Narrow probably would be better.

I went 245 square on base 18's.

Any kind of standing water is instant loss of traction, so as long as the drainage is okay they are acceptable. Nothing beats real wets though, it's worth 10 seconds on a short track, more on a longer one.