One of my lapping sessions in the SLS at COTA

"Battery Tender Unnecessary" (carac)
05/03/2014 at 17:03 • Filed to: None

Still getting used to the track in this one, but still able to hit mid-150s on the back straight. What an awesome track. More to come as I get a chance to splice it together. Skip to 3 minutes, Kinja cutting out the timestamp start.

DISCUSSION (21)

slomaro > Battery Tender Unnecessary
05/03/2014 at 17:10

Cool experience. Wish the rev router was working.

CAcoalminer > Battery Tender Unnecessary
05/03/2014 at 17:12

Were you running TC on or off?

PushToStart > Battery Tender Unnecessary
05/03/2014 at 17:13

Was this in your car or did they have cars there already set up and everything?

Brian Silvestro > Battery Tender Unnecessary
05/03/2014 at 17:16

That's done, RACE CAR TIME!

Battery Tender Unnecessary > PushToStart
05/03/2014 at 17:16

They had about 12 "regular" SLS's and 3 Black Series. The instructors got the Blacks and you could ride along, we got the normal SLS. But it was no liability, push as hard as you can without crashing as long as you kept ESP on.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > CAcoalminer
05/03/2014 at 17:17

The only concrete rule was you had to keep ESP on since you were in their cars. Which was fine, if ESP was cutting in at our pace we were doing something wrong.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > slomaro
05/03/2014 at 17:17

Got something later that should remedy that.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > Brian Silvestro
05/03/2014 at 17:18

Yeah, now I'm eligible for the GT3 "Masters" program where you get to drive a SLS GT3 at Silverstone, Nurburgring GP Circuit, etc.

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > Battery Tender Unnecessary
05/03/2014 at 17:23

That's cool!

How did you got that AMG driving experience?

You know, my girl and i are going to buy an E63 when we married soon.

CAcoalminer > Battery Tender Unnecessary
05/03/2014 at 17:23

Oh I'm not criticizing, just asking. Also, did you go out for an instructional lap before the laps in the video? I ask because, if not, you're very impressive at finding the ideal braking points quickly.

PushToStart > Battery Tender Unnecessary
05/03/2014 at 17:26

Nice, I thought those were Black Series as you drove out from pit lane.

Clown Shoe Pilot > Battery Tender Unnecessary
05/03/2014 at 17:29

Pin it to win it!

Brian Silvestro > Battery Tender Unnecessary
05/03/2014 at 17:29

Hence why I said that. You're going to have a lot of fun.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
05/03/2014 at 17:32

https://www.amgacademy.com/

You get a basic course free with car purchase. But be forewarned, you'll want to do the Advanced and Pro after you do it. Pro ends with a day where they just send you out on your own with a SLS for open-lapping.

PS9 > Battery Tender Unnecessary
05/03/2014 at 17:36

That track looks familiar. I'm certain I've watched someone review an M6GC while driving around this track.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > CAcoalminer
05/03/2014 at 17:37

The previous day we did lead-follow at 5/10ths with the instructors to learn the layout but at the open-lapping where they just send you out like this video you're free to go as fast as you want provided you don't drop any wheels, leave the track, etc. so you're feeling out where your braking points are at the faster pace. It was extremely fun. COTA is notoriously hard to get onto for track days and things like this so it was impossible not to pass up the opportunity.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > CAcoalminer
05/03/2014 at 17:39

And I have been to a few track days in my SLS, so I may have been at a slight advantage to the group. :D

Battery Tender Unnecessary > PS9
05/03/2014 at 17:41

It's also the US Formula 1 circuit. Looks different from the cockpit to the overhead cameras on race day. :)

CAcoalminer > Battery Tender Unnecessary
05/03/2014 at 17:50

Oh very cool. I understand how difficult it is to get a track day at COTA. I live outside of Austin and jump at nearly every chance I get.

CAcoalminer > Battery Tender Unnecessary
05/03/2014 at 17:50

Haha. That always helps.

Slow4o > Battery Tender Unnecessary
05/03/2014 at 19:48

I wish I could watch the video, but alas the internet is too slow out here. What are your thoughts on the course? How did you tackle the carousel? Also what program are you using for all your data? COTA is easily the most fun I have had in my car, you should make the trip next year for the BMWCCA event!