ALE

A new personal best (1:34:35) at Barber with PCA Alabama Region:

Same setup: catless headers, tune, track alignment & Bridgestone RE-71RS
Conclusion: Based upon optimal lap times, a 1:33 appears possible on 200 treadwear tires

Montaver

Watkins Glen
2:03.5

Mods -
MCS 2WR
265/305 RT660 on 9/10.5 Apex VS5-RS
Ferodo DS3.12 / Girodisc Rotors
Kline SS OAP + Muffler

thedude14

Congrats dude!! 2:03 is absolutely epic! Must have felt pretty damn good

paradocs98

Serious commitment! And that lap included having to modify your line coming out of the Carousel/Outer Loop for the slower car that pointed you by. Very impressive.

Montaver

For sure! Friday was a wash with some rain and we were mixed in with the race car groups, then Saturday as is the usual at the Glen it rained most of the day. Meant I had a warmup session on Sunday morning mixed in with HPDE then basically two really good TT sessions before it started raining again. The car had a 2:02 in it that day no doubt, I just didn't quite have the precision to put it together over one lap. Car was rotating nicely on the brakes but I was getting a lot of understeer mid to corner exit once on the power, I really wanted to change some suspension settings but given the limited running I left it incase the changes took it in the wrong direction. Probably wont be at WGI again this year, but I may get an event in at LRP which I have very limited experience at so interested to see how the car feels there.

Thank you! The Glen is just such an incredible track to really attack as the flow is so good, the second I drive out of the gates I already cant wait to go back.

thedude14

Had a really fun day at Lime Rock with Metro today. We had the track from 1-6pm with very few cars, so while it was officially a half hour on/half hour off schedule, it was basically open track. I brought a fresh set of RE71RS with me and managed to do some pretty quick laps. Spent most of the day in the 59.X time range, but was able to put in a few 58's, with the best one being a 58.35. I had a Super Trofeo behind me warming up his tires, so I was trying to build a gap while I still had a chance lol. There's definitely a 57 in the car with a better driver.

Montaver

Very nice! Super smooth. I'm there in a few weeks hopefully, you have set a high bar

My friend was there, drives a black f80 M3 you may of met

thedude14

Thanks buddy! Good luck when you go, excited to see what you can do!

Ah yea, Derek - he's a real nice guy and a great driver! We've run into each other at all 3 LRP events I've done this season. You ought to come out with us some time!

garudatwo

+1 on Derek being super fast and chill!

That has to be the fastest GT4 times at LRP so far, I’ve rarely seen anyone break out of the 59’s.

You might be able to get some more mechanical grip out of tires, 71RS seems to be very chatty especially when new when you’re at peak slip angle. You only get 1-2 hero laps immediately after outlap though…

thedude14

Thanks! Completely agree on the 71RS. All my PB's lately are on the first or second lap after outlap. Even after those hero laps, I think they're still great - at least as good as Cup2's at any point. I've also found that they are pretty consistent at all wear levels. I'm still running solid lap times when they have 20+HC and are basically slicks. I'm on my third set this season and will continue buying them. I only wish they made a 265/305 size.

That 56: is insane!! Your vMins are on another level. Definitely gives me confidence that I could probably get a low 57 by pushing the tires harder. I could probably get a half second out of the uphill alone. You're going through 10mph faster than I am!

garudatwo

Yeah best part is we can get them from Westbury Costco for a decent discount mounted whenever Bridgestone run promotions. I got 16 HC on mine so far, and hoping 55’s are on the cards this year before hc20. Imo big bend is a better spot to see how much you can get them to squeal, I run my car in quiet/comfort mode just to hear them better.

If you can get a hot lap with Simon, that may be the ticket to get more confidence. Pro drivers give different breed of feedback vs your usual DE instructor when you’re that fast!

paradocs98

Fantastic lap! Very smooth and confident. Tremendous Vmin through the Downhill.

Great driving! Moves me down the rennlist LRP ladder!

Peter is fantastic. Great car control and fearless.

Indeed. An example of what separates the pros from us mere mortals: I did a coaching day with Elivan Goulart from SCDA a few years ago when I was trying to break into the :59s at LRP in my 981 GT4. I asked Elivan to drive a few laps to show me his line and set some comparative data for me. Despite having never driven a GT4 before, and having my weight riding shotgun in the passenger seat, he immediately starting laying down :58s with ease. His style was completely different from what we've been taught through the DE system--he was essentially driving the car "from the scruff of its neck," with quick inputs, constantly unsettling the car and catching it. A level of confidence that I will likely never achieve in a car on track.

garudatwo

This resonates with a masters thesis paper that I've been trying to put into practice on track, that suggests the optimal trajectory has the vehicle in a open-loop locally unstable state, and along each of these points, either the front of the rear axle should be overdriven, with the other one at max friction utilization.

paradocs98

*mind blown*
Advanced driver AND advanced thinker! Fascinating premise--I'll be interested in hearing the Cliff's Notes version that I can comprehend.

edub

Got the paper handy?