No wonder COTA is so hard on brakes
12-02-2017, 12:54 AM
#16
Rennlist Member
I have a video of going from 114mph to 0 going into COTA T11 without even using the brakes. But that didn't turn out well so I probably won't try it again.
12-02-2017, 09:28 AM
#17
Drifting
Thread Starter
I was comparing your minimum corner speeds to that of one of my students.
In my opinion, you are slowing too much and that excessive reduction in speed was making the brakes do more work than necessary.
Your speeds: Compared to:
T1: 40 MPH 44 mph
T3: 60 MPH 76 mph
T12: 38 MPH 48 mph
T13: 55 MPH 62 mph
The biggest problem with a track like COTA is everyone wants to go mach 1 down the straights before they learn the maximum minimum corner speeds. It is much easier to learn the fastest line through a corner when you limit your max straight speed to 95. Take the first couple of sessions and learn the proper line and maximum speed for each corner, then increase your straight line speed and adjust your braking accordingly. Thing happen very fast at triple digit speeds and most of us are too old and lack sufficient hours on the track to learn a track at warp speed. You had 3 days, 12 on track sessions. Had you taken the first two at a much lower speed and focused on corner speed, you would have be much faster by end of Saturday and would have had more fun all day Sunday.
In my opinion, you are slowing too much and that excessive reduction in speed was making the brakes do more work than necessary.
Your speeds: Compared to:
T1: 40 MPH 44 mph
T3: 60 MPH 76 mph
T12: 38 MPH 48 mph
T13: 55 MPH 62 mph
The biggest problem with a track like COTA is everyone wants to go mach 1 down the straights before they learn the maximum minimum corner speeds. It is much easier to learn the fastest line through a corner when you limit your max straight speed to 95. Take the first couple of sessions and learn the proper line and maximum speed for each corner, then increase your straight line speed and adjust your braking accordingly. Thing happen very fast at triple digit speeds and most of us are too old and lack sufficient hours on the track to learn a track at warp speed. You had 3 days, 12 on track sessions. Had you taken the first two at a much lower speed and focused on corner speed, you would have be much faster by end of Saturday and would have had more fun all day Sunday.
Last year, I cracked a set of rotors at COTA due to a red flag at T12. Well into the session, 120ish to 0 and just sat there with the brakes literally smoking. I posted the video sometime back:
-Mike
12-02-2017, 10:35 PM
#18
Track Day
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mike - not to take this off topic, but in a red flag situation as in your video, is it permissible to creep forward 2-3 feet periodically so that the pads don't aren't on the same section of the brake disc? I am relatively new and I ran into the same situation (different track) last season. Red flag thrown, slowed down quick to the flag station, sat for 5 minutes, and warped the rotors on my e36 m3.
12-03-2017, 09:40 AM
#19
Drifting
Thread Starter
Mike - not to take this off topic, but in a red flag situation as in your video, is it permissible to creep forward 2-3 feet periodically so that the pads don't aren't on the same section of the brake disc? I am relatively new and I ran into the same situation (different track) last season. Red flag thrown, slowed down quick to the flag station, sat for 5 minutes, and warped the rotors on my e36 m3.
Secondly, there is a very real possibility that your rotors were not warped, they likely had uneven pad deposits. In all the years I've tracked E36 M3s (2009) I've never warped a rotor, but cracked several when they wore out.
-Mike