"Slow4o" (Slow4o)
03/26/2014 at 16:00 • Filed to: None
2
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"Slow4o" (Slow4o)
03/26/2014 at 16:00 • Filed to: None | 2
| 7 |
So here are my 2 videos from my sessions at COTA last Friday. They are sessions 2 and 3, I forgot to turn the camera on for number 1 (which is fine because I was still learning the line). I wouldn't really bother with audio, since all you really hear is wind noise. I think next time I am going to do an in-car angle, at least until I get a remote mic.
Session 2 I was still learning the line at the beginning, but slowly gaining my confidence. Also, the video isn't that great because a bug had splattered on the lens during session 1 and I didn't notice it.
Session 3 I was much more confident, and spent a good while chasing down the red 2002. Unfortunately, the driver did not realize that he had a better power/weight ratio than me, so even though I could catch him through all the twisties, whenever he pointed me by he kept the hammer down, and I couldn't pass him. This should give you an idea of how underpowered my car is, and the disadvantage of making my car look so mean. Also, you will see me back off around the 16:15 mark coming down the grand stand straight. This is because the 2002 dumped fuel out of what looked to be his exhaust, enough for us to smell it very strongly in my car for the rest of the session. We kept telling the corner workers to black flag him after this, but they couldn't understand my instructor. Also, on the last lap, I start taking it easy because on a down shift, my shift knob popped off! So I pit a little early for my session.
After watching the videos, the lines I was taking in session 3 were much much better, and I was getting more consistent. One more session and I feel like I would've been confident enough to really get after it. I especially look forward to using these videos as a refresher for next time, but I'm not claiming anyone should use my videos as a guide. There are a ton of different lines that can be taken through this course, depending on the car and driver. But this does make me want to go back even more, hopefully this time with a lap timer!
BKRM3
> Slow4o
03/26/2014 at 16:41 |
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Wow that track is huge! I would love to drive a track like that. It's about twice the width of what I'm used to over here on the east coast. Looks like you were there with the BMW CCA. I saw a video earlier today that looks like it's from the same day you were there ( http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthr… ).
Seems like it was your first track day? It was a good decision to run with the CCA - the quality of the instructors is top notch and you can learn a TON over the course of a few sessions, especially if you and your instructor get along really well.
For what it's worth, a lap timer is a horrible idea when you're still pretty new to track driving. Reviewing your video after the event (especially if you get an interior camera mount set up) will give you all the info you need. The last thing you want to do is push yourself beyond your skill level in order to chase some subjective "target" lap time you set for yourself. I didn't hear your tires howling, even in session 3. All you need at the moment is lots more seat time. If you're like me, you're probably already scouring Motorsportreg for future events =)
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Slow4o
> BKRM3
03/26/2014 at 16:47 |
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Yea I was with BMWCCA. Here is the gigantic write up I did on the event. And nope not my first track day, more like my 12 or 13th. In my write up I talk about how this is my first event to run on the Hoosiers, and with 30+ cars on track at a time and the expense of hitting any of the barriers or even the grass, I was taking it easy and more learning the line. Honestly with this track I had way more grip and space than power (only 210 at the wheels in a 3400+ lb car), which is why you never hear my tires most likely. I could've pushed it more than I did, but really just spent the day enjoying the track and getting the line down pat. With only around 8-10 laps per session, it takes a lot longer to learn this track than, say, a 1.7 miler where you can knock out 20+ laps in a session.
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EL_ULY
> Slow4o
03/26/2014 at 16:57 |
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lucky!!!!!!!!!
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Slow4o
> BKRM3
03/26/2014 at 16:57 |
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O and also I have driven enough to where I wouldn't be charging hard for a better lap time. In fact my plan would be to mount my phone high on my windshield out of my sight line. I am just honestly curious in the changes between lap times throughout sessions and car set ups.
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BKRM3
> Slow4o
03/26/2014 at 17:04 |
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HA! Yes, I'm stuck on the shorter tracks where you can run 1:20 laps. I don't know how the heck I missed your gigantic write up, but I'm excited to read it!
The Hoosiers are definitely the reason I didn't hear your tires. If those puppies would have been audible over top of the wind noise you would've had some serious problems I think =P It's funny to think of having to drive a car of that size/weight like you'd drive a smaller "momentum" car like a Miata, but I guess that's what you have to do with 210 at the wheels lol. Either way, it looked like an absolute blast!
30 cars on track does sound like a lot but I didn't really see much traffic in your video (and definitely no trains), so I guess that's all right given its size. Crazy. 30 cars at New Jersey Motorsports Park or Summit Point would be a fiasco.
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BKRM3
> Slow4o
03/26/2014 at 17:08 |
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Have you tried Harry's Lap Timer? Worth a look if it's compatible with your phone. I have found it to be pretty useful but I think it would be really excellent with an external GPS. The iPhone internal GPS is just a bit too slow for real accuracy. Hopefully I will at some point be able to combine GoPro video with the data overlay...I always love watching videos with that.
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Slow4o
> BKRM3
03/26/2014 at 17:58 |
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Yea the size of the track is insane so they're able to run that many cars. And yea I have to drive the car kind of like a fat miata haha. It normally does pretty well on smaller tracks, this is the first time I've felt severely underpowered. And yea I actually did download Harry's, but didn't have a windshield mount so the gps didn't have a good enough signal. I am going to get a mount before the next event though.