Crossing 8' at the Ring
07-19-2010, 04:35 PM
#1
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Crossing 8' at the Ring
Call me slow, but it took me a little more than 200 laps to crack the 8 minutes threshold at the Ring. Fastest lap in 7'53" thus far with Sean-Paul Breslin as coach on board.
And we're obviously talking Bridge-To-Gantry, so add another 25 secs to translate into common Nordschleife marketing speak and trivialized manufacturer claims. So I am still a good 35-40 seconds slower than a reference time from Mr R or Von Saurma that I'll never come close to. The good news is that I still have a few seasons where I'll be able to measure progress in seconds.
And I am still running Corsa Systems so there's probably a few secs in the tires too.
Enjoy the videos ...with or without A-pilar !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lo2kCFElMg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubYIgCT3lZ8
... and a few pretty pictures on location from a prior visit:
And we're obviously talking Bridge-To-Gantry, so add another 25 secs to translate into common Nordschleife marketing speak and trivialized manufacturer claims. So I am still a good 35-40 seconds slower than a reference time from Mr R or Von Saurma that I'll never come close to. The good news is that I still have a few seasons where I'll be able to measure progress in seconds.
And I am still running Corsa Systems so there's probably a few secs in the tires too.
Enjoy the videos ...with or without A-pilar !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lo2kCFElMg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubYIgCT3lZ8
... and a few pretty pictures on location from a prior visit:
07-20-2010, 01:03 AM
#5
Congratulations on 200 laps and getting under 8 B2G. I've had several friends comment that it requires respectable levels of skill and bravery.
From the video, I can't comment on the driving to any useful degree but I'd suggest you consider a roll bar and harnesses to save your neck (along with a HANS device) and a real seat with harnesses so you've in the car, not bouncing around on top of a leather cushion. : )
From the video, I can't comment on the driving to any useful degree but I'd suggest you consider a roll bar and harnesses to save your neck (along with a HANS device) and a real seat with harnesses so you've in the car, not bouncing around on top of a leather cushion. : )
07-20-2010, 01:35 AM
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Thanks to all ! I think that going fast early on the Ring requires a lot of bravery and tons of skills, and I have neither.
Taking one's time, investing in proper education and lettings times drop naturally builds on knowledge of terrain more than anything else. Still, today, I still have to remind myself not to brake or not to lift on certain stretches while my instincts tell me otherwise. Folks who have thousands of laps and stopped counting say that 200 is a new beginning ...
Roll cage, harness and seats have been on my list for a while, both for safety and comfort, but US GT3s (I bought my car in the Bay Area while living there) are just too cumbersome to convert. No mounting plates for the clubsport cage, fit issues with the sunroof, it all looked like an expensive project for a compromised result. Came close to buying an mkII, but the trade-in value for my car was just too laughable. It aches to pay list in Europe after you've tasted US MSRP.
I'll be back up there on 08/16 for an open pitlane day with Manthey Racing and a long to-do list of things to try and improve.
Taking one's time, investing in proper education and lettings times drop naturally builds on knowledge of terrain more than anything else. Still, today, I still have to remind myself not to brake or not to lift on certain stretches while my instincts tell me otherwise. Folks who have thousands of laps and stopped counting say that 200 is a new beginning ...
Roll cage, harness and seats have been on my list for a while, both for safety and comfort, but US GT3s (I bought my car in the Bay Area while living there) are just too cumbersome to convert. No mounting plates for the clubsport cage, fit issues with the sunroof, it all looked like an expensive project for a compromised result. Came close to buying an mkII, but the trade-in value for my car was just too laughable. It aches to pay list in Europe after you've tasted US MSRP.
I'll be back up there on 08/16 for an open pitlane day with Manthey Racing and a long to-do list of things to try and improve.
07-20-2010, 09:03 AM
#7
Three Wheelin'
Sounds Awesome Well done!!
I would suggest sticking to a limit that you are comfortable with. Sure you can go faster, however this also means that you will get closer to the cars limit. At the end of the day, it's not a race so therefore it's better to remain safe.
The only points that I noticed where you can make up time is Brake harder and deeper and stay on the throttle longer. Both take big you know whats....
Good luck with your next days out there.
I would suggest sticking to a limit that you are comfortable with. Sure you can go faster, however this also means that you will get closer to the cars limit. At the end of the day, it's not a race so therefore it's better to remain safe.
The only points that I noticed where you can make up time is Brake harder and deeper and stay on the throttle longer. Both take big you know whats....
Good luck with your next days out there.
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07-20-2010, 09:18 AM
#8
Rennlist Member
Thanks to all ! I think that going fast early on the Ring requires a lot of bravery and tons of skills, and I have neither.
Taking one's time, investing in proper education and lettings times drop naturally builds on knowledge of terrain more than anything else. Still, today, I still have to remind myself not to brake or not to lift on certain stretches while my instincts tell me otherwise. Folks who have thousands of laps and stopped counting say that 200 is a new beginning ...
Roll cage, harness and seats have been on my list for a while, both for safety and comfort, but US GT3s (I bought my car in the Bay Area while living there) are just too cumbersome to convert. No mounting plates for the clubsport cage, fit issues with the sunroof, it all looked like an expensive project for a compromised result. Came close to buying an mkII, but the trade-in value for my car was just too laughable. It aches to pay list in Europe after you've tasted US MSRP.
I'll be back up there on 08/16 for an open pitlane day with Manthey Racing and a long to-do list of things to try and improve.
Taking one's time, investing in proper education and lettings times drop naturally builds on knowledge of terrain more than anything else. Still, today, I still have to remind myself not to brake or not to lift on certain stretches while my instincts tell me otherwise. Folks who have thousands of laps and stopped counting say that 200 is a new beginning ...
Roll cage, harness and seats have been on my list for a while, both for safety and comfort, but US GT3s (I bought my car in the Bay Area while living there) are just too cumbersome to convert. No mounting plates for the clubsport cage, fit issues with the sunroof, it all looked like an expensive project for a compromised result. Came close to buying an mkII, but the trade-in value for my car was just too laughable. It aches to pay list in Europe after you've tasted US MSRP.
I'll be back up there on 08/16 for an open pitlane day with Manthey Racing and a long to-do list of things to try and improve.
07-20-2010, 09:42 AM
#9
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What is the format of the BMW school ? sectional training or open pitlane ? do they tolerate Porsches ?
Always interested in alternatives (pm if necessary), Manthey just changed their program to 10-17 instead of 8-17. At 800 € and change, it's a bummer.
Always interested in alternatives (pm if necessary), Manthey just changed their program to 10-17 instead of 8-17. At 800 € and change, it's a bummer.
07-20-2010, 09:53 AM
#10
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register here:http://www.fahrerlehrgang.info/englisch_version.html
its 1450 including VAT so if you can get out of the tax its quite a deal for 3 full days.
non-bmw's are welcome. half the instructor staff and participants will be running porsches it seems. There will be at least 2 997.2 RS including mine.
07-20-2010, 01:34 PM
#11
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I highly recommend it, I have been to the school about 6 times now and it never gets old (well ok, kesselchen to klostertal lead/follows do) ...
I also have about 300+ laps and agree that it takes (at least for me also) about a couple of hundred to get to the point where you can attack the 8min BtoG time with confidence (and a clear track!).
I know Sean Paul too ... he's a great driver and coach!
why not come along to the school this year ... there are still spaces I believe!
Porsche's welcome ...
my 1st year I stuck a BMW roundel on the hood/bonnet and an "M" badge on the back of my 1999 GT3 CS for grins ... told anyone who asked it was a factory mule for a new GT3M car!
If you dont make the school why not come along and meet up with Jim and I anyway ... always good to meet more rennlisters!
p.s
next time you are in the bay area ... grab a beer!
07-20-2010, 03:16 PM
#13
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07-20-2010, 04:06 PM
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) and nice group (many from a german internet forum but also some english chaps).hope to see you there.
another option is a session (instructed by Ring "Gods") in Sept 4-5(i think?)...organised by sportauto (German car magazine doing supertests which incl full ring lap times as a benchmark eg new RS 7:30).
Markus
07-20-2010, 04:17 PM
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Congratulations and glad you are enjoying it.
This is my 15th ever lap, no training, no helmet and traffic on a public day, 8mins 6sec, I do race though and learn tracks very quickly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV9jpKy7Its
This is my 15th ever lap, no training, no helmet and traffic on a public day, 8mins 6sec, I do race though and learn tracks very quickly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV9jpKy7Its