View Full Version : First Video @ VIR
Rainy day, so here goes.
This is my first and only in car video. A friend of mine mounted his camera for the 2nd session of Sunday's NASA HPDE2 a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately they had a red flag test which shortened the session and seemed to disrupt the pace. There was a lot of traffic with varied speeds after the flag, so I trimmed it down to these clips.
I was hoping to tap into the experience of some great drivers and instructors here. I'll take any input.
The 1st clip starts with the pace car and has the only open lap of the session.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1rUSIi6dZM
Same session with some open spaces.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L47icw9VPp4
Thanks!
roundel
10-24-2009, 07:51 PM
Some observations:
You are moving your hands around too much on the wheel. Try to limit the shuffling to turns where you would get crossed up otherwise.
You left your hand on the shifter coming out of oak tree once.
At the top of the Esses you could let the car run and not pinch so hard to the right.
Finally, if possible, leave room when stopping without a cooldown so you can creep very slowly. Damage to rotors can be a bit reduced this way.
Very nice driving Brian. If I have to make any comments, two of them would be that you move your hands around the steering wheel too much (shuffling), I don't think you need to on most turns; and you are short shifting on the straights :) Next year, you'll easily be in the 2:15s I think :)
Cheers,
Some observations:
My shuffle steering is more active than I thought. I've had instuctors insist that I steer without moving my hands, within reason, and I can do it. When my forearms start to cross I feel like I've got the Kung Fu grip on the wheel and I lose feel. Shuffle keeps me relaxed but I realize mine's too much.
I definetly need to work on it.
Stopping...do you mean when I stopped for the red flag? The cars in front of me stopped very abruptly and didn't leave me much room. I think they were trying to stop in front of the flagger.
Thanks!
Very nice driving Brian. If I have to make any comments, two of them would be that you move your hands around the steering wheel too much (shuffling), I don't think you need to on most turns; and you are short shifting on the straights :) Next year, you'll easily be in the 2:15s I think :)
Cheers,
Thanks Fatih!
I knew my steering would be popular.:oops:
I am acutally trying to short shift a bit. I was running too deep and it wasn't worth it. What do you think about 5th up the esses and 6th down the straights? I am staying 4th and 5th and just about redline each time.
roundel
10-24-2009, 08:32 PM
The cars in front of me stopped very abruptly and didn't leave me much room. I think they were trying to stop in front of the flagger.
Thanks!
Yeah, I am not sure you could have left yourself room this time, but it is a nice thing to strive for. I think the E36 in front of you may have braked harder than he needed to. Many wig out when they see the red flag.
When I was in Blue, George W got me to drive the whole way around (for several sessions) without moving my hands at all, even in turn 5. It can be done. :D
(for several sessions) without moving my hands at all :D
Probably what I need to do. I haven't driven enough sessions doing it and when I do I tend to exaggerate by holding on too long. I need to find the middle ground.
Hey Brian, nice driving.
It's hard to tell from just watching the vid, but a couple of things that stood out.
1. you can take Southbend much earlier. Turn in earlier, and get both front and rear left tires on the curbing at apex. Be sure to have most steering done at the top of the hill (around apex) and ready to unwind and apply full power at apex. well, maybe not full power with your car :)
2. When you turn in at oak tree, it looks like you are in the middle of the track . As you hit T11 (right kink before Oak tree), get on the curbing and track all the way out to the left edge of the track. As you get closer to the left edge, you brake and get the car rotated then back on full throttle as early as possible as you unwind and come out of oak tree. Be careful, it gets pretty slippery at track out and will probably require counter steer every now and then.
3. It looks like you are slowing down a lot/too much going into Hog pen. I think you are turning in too early on the first left hander (T16) which causes you to over brake after apex to set up for the right hander (T17). Turn in a tad later on T16 and stay more track left so you can carry more momentum into T17 and T17a and again, focus on getting back on gas sooner.
Your T1 - T4 looked good. You might be able to track out a little more/wider at T2, but that will come as you try to apply more power and the car wants to push to the left side. Did the roller coaster area well, too. good job.
I am actually trying to short shift a bit. I was running too deep and it wasn't worth it. What do you think about 5th up the esses and 6th down the straights? I am staying 4th and 5th and just about redline each time.
It is tough for me to answer Brian; I do not know the torque/hp curves of your car. I take the uphill esses in 4th on the straights I stay on 5th, which does get close to red line, maybe 6800 rpm, not sure right now. However, I can see you getting into 6th on the straights. As I always say, driving big trq/hp cars are much more difficult than the ones without, which is of course all relative. At the same time, if you don't have confidence in your brakes, it is all worthless IMHO. What ever amount of money you intend to spend in the future on the car, spend it on the brakes to the level you feel absolutely confident on them.
Cheers,
Hey Brian, nice driving.
1. you can take Southbend much earlier.
2. When you turn in at oak tree, it looks like you are in the middle of the track .
3. It looks like you are slowing down a lot/too much going into Hog pen.
Your T1 - T4 looked good.
Thanks Michael! I've had some good instructors.:D
Southbend is scary by reputation. But I'm getting more comfortable with it; this was my 2nd time at VIR. I'll try an earlier entry.
Oak Tree I agree! For some reason I love to pinch that turn, it's fun but slow. When I stay wide it doesn't feel fast but I know it is.
Hog Pen I also agree! And think this is where I can easily pick up some time. My car has understeer in that section and it causes me to hold back. Do you think a wider line would help reduce the understeer?
Turn 3 is a bit slow too. For some reason my vision becomes locked on the turn in point and it causes me to brake too much.
Potomac-Greg
10-25-2009, 09:23 AM
Hey Brian, nice driving.
***
2. When you turn in at oak tree, it looks like you are in the middle of the track . As you hit T11 (right kink before Oak tree), get on the curbing and track all the way out to the left edge of the track. As you get closer to the left edge, you brake and get the car rotated then back on full throttle as early as possible as you unwind and come out of oak tree. Be careful, it gets pretty slippery at track out and will probably require counter steer every now and then.
I had the same thought (and on T4 as well). You're early apexing, limiting your exit speed, which you remedy with the highly effective gas pedal. Let's swap cars for a session next time so you can exit those turns with 150 HP on tap!
spend it on the brakes to the level you feel absolutely confident on them.
I just put new brakes on before the NASA weekend, however, they weren't great. :bang: The rotors were shot and I wasn't happy with the brakes.
You and I had similar travel in our brake pedal. When I put the new & slightly larger calipers on the pedal travel increased. So I actually had LESS confidence in the brakes for this event. I had the master cylinder replaced and it feels better. I haven't tracked with it, so we'll see this weekend.
(and on T4 as well). You're early apexing
Let's swap cars !
I've gone later in turn 4 and that's slippery! You just want to see me off track so you can wave going by:lol:
Hmm...150hp is tempting.
Landjet
10-25-2009, 11:44 AM
Brian, how much did Mike tweak up the boost?
Brian, how much did Mike tweak up the boost?
Larry,
He didn't change the boost. I am running about 4.5lb but can jump up to 5.5lb wih a touch of a button. I find the lower boost easier to manage on corner exits.
He did, however, reflash the ECU. I was running a flash from March which seemed to weaken above 5,500rpm. We finally got it on the dyno just before this event and sure enough it was dumping boost on the high end. It's fixed and ran very smoothly.
How about you? Did you get that new tune?
Landjet
10-25-2009, 12:38 PM
No, not this year. Looking forward to seeing you next weekend.
I just put new brakes on before the NASA weekend, however, they weren't great. :bang: The rotors were shot and I wasn't happy with the brakes.
You and I had similar travel in our brake pedal. When I put the new & slightly larger calipers on the pedal travel increased. So I actually had LESS confidence in the brakes for this event. I had the master cylinder replaced and it feels better. I haven't tracked with it, so we'll see this weekend.
What brakes did you install? You might want to check that it's not the ABS elrctronics causing problem (Club Racing allows upgrade from stock ABS because of it). It's hard to believe the stock mechanicals are insufficient given proper cooling and pads, even with hp upgrade. (They work a friend's supercharged 996)
Oak Tree I agree! For some reason I love to pinch that turn, it's fun but slow. When I stay wide it doesn't feel fast but I know it is.
At NASA comp school, during one of those side by side drills around the track, one surprising thing I learned was how much slower you are when you get stuck on the inside line going around OT. Not just a little, but by a big margin, you lose the initial momentum coming out of corner compare to the guy going around you on the outside. This will affect your top speed on the back straight and most certainly your lap time.
Hog Pen I also agree! And think this is where I can easily pick up some time. My car has understeer in that section and it causes me to hold back. Do you think a wider line would help reduce the understeer?.
It's downhill, so you can easily increase your front tire grip with a slight pressure on the brake pedal. Just don't stomp on it and come off of it too abruptly. right now you are going in fast and coming out slow. Slow down a bit more at the entry of T16 and focus more on carrying more speed through T16, T17 and T17a. Then you can take earlier and earlier entry into T16. these are also corners that lead to a long straight, so taking them faster will definitely lower your lap time.
What brakes did you install? You might want to check that it's not the ABS elrctronics causing problem (Club Racing allows upgrade from stock ABS because of it). It's hard to believe the stock mechanicals are insufficient given proper cooling and pads, even with hp upgrade. (They work a friend's supercharged 996)
Toby,
I put on Carrera S brakes. Too early to tell if it was a good decision.
I haven't been happy or confident with my brakes. The pedal always had a lot of travel and worst of all the pedal would be inconsistent. I've tried several differnt pads and would bleed & flush my brakes constantly trying to firm the pedal. Unfortunately the new brakes seemed to make the travel worse.
We just switched out the master cylinder and it feels better on the street but the track will be the real test.
Can you tell me more about the upgraded ABS unit? Where to find it? What it does?
Thanks!
It's downhill, so you can easily increase your front tire grip with a slight pressure on the brake pedal. Just don't stomp on it and come off of it too abruptly. right now you are going in fast and coming out slow. Slow down a bit more at the entry of T16 and focus more on carrying more speed through T16, T17 and T17a. Then you can take earlier and earlier entry into T16. these are also corners that lead to a long straight, so taking them faster will definitely lower your lap time.
Thanks Michael!
That's exactly the kind of tip I was looking for. Not as simple as some other tips you've shared like "the car will turn faster if you get your foot off the gas...dumbass":lol:
Toby,
I put on Carrera S brakes. Too early to tell if it was a good decision.
I haven't been happy or confident with my brakes. The pedal always had a lot of travel and worst of all the pedal would be inconsistent. I've tried several differnt pads and would bleed & flush my brakes constantly trying to firm the pedal. Unfortunately the new brakes seemed to make the travel worse.
We just switched out the master cylinder and it feels better on the street but the track will be the real test.
Can you tell me more about the upgraded ABS unit? Where to find it? What it does?
Thanks!
Attached link: http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/racing-and-drivers-education-forum/504616-cayman-s-braking-abs-problems.html?highlight=cayman+abs
There is an issue with the yaw sensor interfering with ABS. Many have success disabling the system, or to change to the $$$ Koni Challenge setup. The 2010 Club Race rule (due out in a few days) should have new suggestions on more reasonable solutions.
Not directly related to ABS, but you can see many also complain that pedal travel is severely impacted by brake fluid temp. My pedal feels spongy at Summit T10 anytime my front pads have worn more than 50%.
Attached link: http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/racing-and-drivers-education-forum/504616-cayman-s-braking-abs-problems.html?highlight=cayman+abs
There is an issue with the yaw sensor interfering with ABS. Many have success disabling the system, or to change to the $$$ Koni Challenge setup. The 2010 Club Race rule (due out in a few days) should have new suggestions on more reasonable solutions.
Not directly related to ABS, but you can see many also complain that pedal travel is severely impacted by brake fluid temp. My pedal feels spongy at Summit T10 anytime my front pads have worn more than 50%.
Thanks Toby!
I've read a lot about it on the Cayman site but had not read this Rennlist thread, very similar content. This weekend will be a good test of the brakes with the new master cylinder.
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