David Murray at VIR - pics of new paving
03-10-2014, 07:16 PM
#46
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That track walk (all 2 hours and 15 minutes of it) was really cool. I love doing those and learn something new EVERY time...
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03-10-2014, 07:44 PM
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Peter, nice presentation at the Chin event. I wish it could have continued for another hour. 
03-10-2014, 08:42 PM
#48
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I could have easily done that. Talking with Mark Hicks and now some Zone 2 folks about coming in and doing that again, and for other tracks.
03-10-2014, 09:11 PM
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03-10-2014, 10:50 PM
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Looking forward to the event!
I just dropped a Guards LSD in the car, so I was really looking forward to quantifying the improvement that it makes. I guess now I'll never know...
As for the pavement "rubbering in", there was a gentleman at one of the Chin or DMTD events a couple of years ago at VIR that gave a presentation on tires and had written a book on them. He was saying, if I recall correctly, that rubbering in is a misnomer. That actually, the tires were cleaning off dust and debris (and the black marks on the track were just a sign that they had been there), and it is the lack of dirt and debris that makes the track faster.
In the same line of thinking, what is actually happening to the track over the first months after repaving to make it faster? Is it curing? is the surface getting rubbed smoother (if smoother, to the right degree, is better)?
Just curious.
I just dropped a Guards LSD in the car, so I was really looking forward to quantifying the improvement that it makes. I guess now I'll never know...
As for the pavement "rubbering in", there was a gentleman at one of the Chin or DMTD events a couple of years ago at VIR that gave a presentation on tires and had written a book on them. He was saying, if I recall correctly, that rubbering in is a misnomer. That actually, the tires were cleaning off dust and debris (and the black marks on the track were just a sign that they had been there), and it is the lack of dirt and debris that makes the track faster.
In the same line of thinking, what is actually happening to the track over the first months after repaving to make it faster? Is it curing? is the surface getting rubbed smoother (if smoother, to the right degree, is better)?
Just curious.
03-18-2014, 08:42 AM
#52
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Just back from the HPDE with Zone 2 at VIR and I can report that the new surface is fantastic... Once you get used to it. The visual cues are very different, especially with the Oak Tree gone. The track looks wider in places where it isn't, but it actually is wider in turn 3 (NASCAR bend) and coming out of the Oak Tree turn (which should be renamed). Both have pavement on the other side of the tiger teeth that was not there before. You have to travel across the tire teeth to use it, though. There is no way to hit it without doing so unless you're not moving at speed.
South Bend also seems wider to me, though that could just be because that turn has always messed with my head. It's flat, not off camber, as seen from the Villas. That helped me keep it in fourth through there on day 2.
I'm nowhere near y'all's level, but I picked up 13 seconds over last year's best lap. That was fun.
South Bend also seems wider to me, though that could just be because that turn has always messed with my head. It's flat, not off camber, as seen from the Villas. That helped me keep it in fourth through there on day 2.
I'm nowhere near y'all's level, but I picked up 13 seconds over last year's best lap. That was fun.
03-18-2014, 09:14 AM
#53
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Just back from the HPDE with Zone 2 at VIR and I can report that the new surface is fantastic... Once you get used to it.
The visual cues are very different, especially with the Oak Tree gone. The track looks wider in places where it isn't, but it actually is wider in turn 3 (NASCAR bend) and coming out of the Oak Tree turn (which should be renamed).
Both have pavement on the other side of the tiger teeth that was not there before. You have to travel across the tire teeth to use it, though. There is no way to hit it without doing so unless you're not moving at speed.
South Bend also seems wider to me, though that could just be because that turn has always messed with my head. It's flat, not off camber, as seen from the Villas. That helped me keep it in fourth through there on day 2.
I'm nowhere near y'all's level, but I picked up 13 seconds over last year's best lap. That was fun.
The visual cues are very different, especially with the Oak Tree gone. The track looks wider in places where it isn't, but it actually is wider in turn 3 (NASCAR bend) and coming out of the Oak Tree turn (which should be renamed).
Both have pavement on the other side of the tiger teeth that was not there before. You have to travel across the tire teeth to use it, though. There is no way to hit it without doing so unless you're not moving at speed.
South Bend also seems wider to me, though that could just be because that turn has always messed with my head. It's flat, not off camber, as seen from the Villas. That helped me keep it in fourth through there on day 2.
I'm nowhere near y'all's level, but I picked up 13 seconds over last year's best lap. That was fun.
Most of the visual cues that have been lost are the references provided by the verge lines that are not yet back on the track surface. These helped people, from far away approaches, judge their geometry of approach, their angle of attack and most of all, helped define the edges of the track.
You just have to look UP now!
While the track is 6' wider on the outside of the exit of T1 and the right side on the entry and exit of T3 (NASCAR), you need to make a decision on whether to use it in between! Remember, you have more width to cross to get to the apex, so while the sight lines are different, the geometry that yields the fastest sector times through corners and complexes of corners is largely unchanged.
I hope they mark the track edge and paint the extra pavement past the outside curbings at T3 and T12, otherwise it's just a cheat. Still there, still usable, but not really optimal and a good indicator you just screwed up... The fastest line does not use that extra pavement THAT EARLY in the track out radius!
South Bent (T10) has not been altered at all. It has ALWAYS been 4' wider right of ceneterline at the exit, since the repave in 1999. What an awesome corner, but one that challenges most drivers the most in raising their vMin through the corner!
Congrats on your improvement! Good luck and hope to see everyone up there April 8-9!
03-20-2014, 07:55 PM
#55
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The grip level is REALLY good. The extra asphalt is more of a boon to confidence than geometry, but whatever works!
I've been trying for fourteen YEARS to break 2:00 in my 150 bhp, 30 year old historic sports racer and FINALLY did a 1:59.9 on my fifth lap after the resurfacing. It was a VERY sloppy lap! Normally in the 1:59's at the Glen, 1:22's at Thunderbolt, low :53's at Lime Rock, a high 2:19 at COTA, but VIR, my home track, is a tough one.
Yes, I will drink champagne tonight!
I've been trying for fourteen YEARS to break 2:00 in my 150 bhp, 30 year old historic sports racer and FINALLY did a 1:59.9 on my fifth lap after the resurfacing. It was a VERY sloppy lap! Normally in the 1:59's at the Glen, 1:22's at Thunderbolt, low :53's at Lime Rock, a high 2:19 at COTA, but VIR, my home track, is a tough one.
Yes, I will drink champagne tonight!
03-20-2014, 08:06 PM
#56
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Congrats Peter! Now how about a 1:58?
03-20-2014, 08:09 PM
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The grip level is REALLY good. The extra asphalt is more of a boon to confidence than geometry, but whatever works!
I've been trying for fourteen YEARS to break 2:00 in my 150 bhp, 30 year old historic sports racer and FINALLY did a 1:59.9 on my fifth lap after the resurfacing. It was a VERY sloppy lap! Normally in the 1:59's at the Glen, 1:22's at Thunderbolt, low :53's at Lime Rock, a high 2:19 at COTA, but VIR, my home track, is a tough one.
Yes, I will drink champagne tonight!
I've been trying for fourteen YEARS to break 2:00 in my 150 bhp, 30 year old historic sports racer and FINALLY did a 1:59.9 on my fifth lap after the resurfacing. It was a VERY sloppy lap! Normally in the 1:59's at the Glen, 1:22's at Thunderbolt, low :53's at Lime Rock, a high 2:19 at COTA, but VIR, my home track, is a tough one.
Yes, I will drink champagne tonight!
03-20-2014, 08:38 PM
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F350 SuperDuty
03-20-2014, 08:44 PM
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