Upcoming DE event
05-01-2012, 02:03 PM
#16
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: NJ
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05-01-2012, 02:36 PM
#17
Three Wheelin'
Familiarize yourself with the track. Check out a map and watch some videos - when viewing the videos, don't expect to go anywhere near as fast. Just use them to learn the track.
05-01-2012, 04:13 PM
#18
Burning Brakes
05-01-2012, 05:02 PM
#19
Racer
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Houston, TX
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Don't worry about the driving right now, you and your instructor will take care of that on the track. Your progress as a beginner is entirely about safety. Car control comes after safety.
1. Study the track map. Know the corners by their number. Watch videos and identify the corners by number. Spot the corner workers.
2. Put the flags on flash cards and memorize the flags.
3. Practice moving your focal point as far down the road as possible.
1. Study the track map. Know the corners by their number. Watch videos and identify the corners by number. Spot the corner workers.
2. Put the flags on flash cards and memorize the flags.
3. Practice moving your focal point as far down the road as possible.
05-02-2012, 12:17 PM
#22
Rennlist Member
05-02-2012, 12:32 PM
#23
Burning Brakes
Make sure you get an SA2010 (not 2005). Go to saferacer.com - they have some good deals on apparel including helmets. You can get a basic SA2010 Bell full face for $300.
05-02-2012, 04:02 PM
#24
Addict
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If possible, go to a motorsports shop and try on different helmets. You will find that they fit differently, just like different makes of shoes fit differently. Pick one that's comfortable and in your budget. More $$ generally buys lighter weight, but not necessarily greater safety. All helmets sold today should meet the same Snell SA2010 protection standard.
05-02-2012, 04:41 PM
#25
In no particular order:
Check your ego at the door
Keep your eyes up and look ahead
Slow in/Fast out
Don't lift when accelerating out of a corner
Smooth is better than fast
In a spin/both feet in
Brake first/then downshift
Check tire pressures right after your stint...start with 30/32 (f/r). Don't let hot pressures get over 40-42
Bring windex/paper towels, torque wrench, driving gloves (mechanix work gloves will do), tire pressure gauge, lots of water
Drive gently when first leaving the paddock and the tires are cold (don't ask how I know)
Listen to your instructor but let instructor know when you get uncomfortable.
Watch for the red mist at the end of the day
Check your ego at the door
Keep your eyes up and look ahead
Slow in/Fast out
Don't lift when accelerating out of a corner
Smooth is better than fast
In a spin/both feet in
Brake first/then downshift
Check tire pressures right after your stint...start with 30/32 (f/r). Don't let hot pressures get over 40-42
Bring windex/paper towels, torque wrench, driving gloves (mechanix work gloves will do), tire pressure gauge, lots of water
Drive gently when first leaving the paddock and the tires are cold (don't ask how I know)
Listen to your instructor but let instructor know when you get uncomfortable.
Watch for the red mist at the end of the day
05-08-2012, 01:57 PM
#26
depends of a corner but almost never to the apex, may be except 1st turn at lime rock where you enter turn very fast. i by much prefer to be on throttle than on brakes, fastest way to be fast-fast in and out of corner, means you adjust your corner entrance speed in the braking zone and then accelerate through entire corner. when mastered properly it works well, but you can spin out very easily this way if you miscalculate your inputs or will not set up car`s suspension properly prior to the corner - car will not turn. so braking is used to do 2 things - first is to adjust entrance speed and second is to preload suspension, so when you roll your foot from brake back into throttle is is imperative to be extra smooth and at same time you need keep car preloaded on the side that will need most grip. cars with motor in front need less attention to those details.
(had fun, and the car is still shiny)
I left the stability control on the whole time, and was impressed with how it worked.
(the last car I tracked would power down for a few seconds after the car slid a little)
What I noted is that the car was "snaking" at speeds where the tires were talking to me.
Is this normal for the car, or an artifact of the stability control.
Car: 2009 Stock Carrera, PDK, Michelin PS2 tires
05-08-2012, 02:44 PM
#27
Rennlist Member
it is difficult to say otherwise - worst thing PSM can do is to activate front brakes while you are at the apex, it did to me couple of times, couple of times it gace me CEL error complaining about yaw sensor readings but imho it all was related to some 'play' in the front suspension which i got fixed and after that i had no PSM issues or CELs. but i still drive with PSM off to avoid stupid car to atempt to lock my front axle at the apex, it feels pretty scary when it happens as it makes car to 'step' front axle to outside.
when PSM engages it lights up little yellow light bulb on the dash, keep a corner of the eye on the dash and you will notice it. PSM is critical for beginners as it saves from a spin if one oversteps on the throttle in the corner and it may be exactly what was going on with you, you need to be very careful with how much power you feed in after you entered the corner, you need to feel how close are you to the limit of what you car can handle.
05-08-2012, 09:27 PM
#28
By snaking, I mean that the car felt loose and was like it was moving around.
I felt it both on corner entry, and mid corner.
I was wondering if the stability control was trying to reel it in, when is sensed some sliding.
As a reference, the last car I drove at Lightning was a Bertil Roos Formula car. That puppy was planted.
The 997 felt like a Lincoln Town car compared to the little formula car.
I felt it both on corner entry, and mid corner.
I was wondering if the stability control was trying to reel it in, when is sensed some sliding.
As a reference, the last car I drove at Lightning was a Bertil Roos Formula car. That puppy was planted.
The 997 felt like a Lincoln Town car compared to the little formula car.
05-09-2012, 12:43 AM
#29
Racer
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Houston, TX
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By snaking, I mean that the car felt loose and was like it was moving around.
I felt it both on corner entry, and mid corner.
I was wondering if the stability control was trying to reel it in, when is sensed some sliding.
As a reference, the last car I drove at Lightning was a Bertil Roos Formula car. That puppy was planted.
The 997 felt like a Lincoln Town car compared to the little formula car.
I felt it both on corner entry, and mid corner.
I was wondering if the stability control was trying to reel it in, when is sensed some sliding.
As a reference, the last car I drove at Lightning was a Bertil Roos Formula car. That puppy was planted.
The 997 felt like a Lincoln Town car compared to the little formula car.
Inflation. If your tires are inflated to standard pressures cold, they may balloon when hot to very high pressures. This will compromise traction and your PSM will be very active.
Dampers. If your dampers are worn, but not necessarily shot, they may lack the ability to control extreme transitions. In a car with extreme weight difference front v rear such as the 911, it will cause the car to handle like it's two segments, the rear will require a moment after the front to take a set.
I'd look at inflation first.
05-09-2012, 12:55 AM
#30
Rennlist Member
only advice i can give here - on next DE event ask for an instructor that owns 996 ot 997 car, let him drive your car and ask him what he feels. 'felt loose' feeling is difficult to rationalize. it definitely should not feel loose anywhere. my car is almost perfectly planted but it is in perfect shape and has rebuilt suspension... somebody must check it out for you. anbody who own 997 street or gt3 car should be able to tell right away how it feels.