Racetrack Stuff

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DTMiller
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Re: Racetrack Stuff

Post by DTMiller » Tue Apr 17, 2018 9:56 am

This is the easy button and perfectly fine for now: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ate-parts/t ... umEALw_wcB

There are more exotic and more expensive options but this is available widely and beyond adequate.
2002 Guards Red Targa, Fister exhaust, H&R Sport Springs, semisolid motor mounts
1997 MX-5 track car
Friday at the Track, Chin Trackdays, SCCA WDCR Novice Classroom Instructor, SCDA, Audi Club Potomac, TrackDaze HPDE Instructor
June 16, 2017 Funland GoKart Champion (6:13 p.m. main event)
Willing to risk life for track time

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OceanBlue2000
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Re: Racetrack Stuff

Post by OceanBlue2000 » Tue Apr 17, 2018 10:22 am

DTMiller wrote: Tue Apr 17, 2018 9:56 am This is the easy button and perfectly fine for now: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-ate-parts/t ... umEALw_wcB

There are more exotic and more expensive options but this is available widely and beyond adequate.
Thanks man, I appreciate it.
Mike
Strange things I have in head, that will to hand.
2000 Ocean Blue 996 Carrera 2
1982 928 (sold)

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DTMiller
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Re: Racetrack Stuff

Post by DTMiller » Fri Apr 20, 2018 5:50 am

Who wants some Inside Baseball? This is modified from an email I sent to Ross Bentley, who encouraged me to share it, so I am.

I just wanted to share an experience I had instructing on Summit Point's Shenandoah circuit this past weekend.

Here's a real life example of something I learned from Ross Bentley's "Instructor Manifesto" that happened on Saturday that really underscores the importance of the words we use and even the order we put them in. The student I was with requires a lot of guidance about what to do when.

On Shenandoah's bridge straight, I was working with the student on brake release going into the carousel. I wanted the student to start working on slowly releasing the brake pedal and getting the car balanced before entering the carousel. I had explained to him in the paddock that I wanted a large application of the brake, then a slow gentle release completed before we dropped into the carousel. So that's the goal that we've discussed and the context for what we are doing.

First shot at it we apply the brakes and then I said "release a little" to try and get him to start slowly backing off his brake pressure. [Author's note: you already know where this is going, don't you?]

Second lap at it we apply the brakes and then I said "a little release."

On the first lap the student heard "release" first and ripped his foot off the brakes and into the carousel we went. Fortunately, as is often the case, the car had more capability than the driver so we came through it fine.

On the second lap the student heard "a little" first and that triggered the goal of a gradual release of the pedal. We got the car balanced and in we went. "That felt a lot better!" reported the student. No kidding!, I thought.

As Ross teaches, the words we use and the order we use them in matter. I knew that, but I made a mistake and fortunately I got away with it. As the saying goes, you start with a full bag of luck and an empty bag of talent, hopefully you fill the latter before the first one is empty.
2002 Guards Red Targa, Fister exhaust, H&R Sport Springs, semisolid motor mounts
1997 MX-5 track car
Friday at the Track, Chin Trackdays, SCCA WDCR Novice Classroom Instructor, SCDA, Audi Club Potomac, TrackDaze HPDE Instructor
June 16, 2017 Funland GoKart Champion (6:13 p.m. main event)
Willing to risk life for track time

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DTMiller
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Re: Racetrack Stuff

Post by DTMiller » Fri Apr 20, 2018 5:52 am

This video should start at the spot I'm talking about above:
2002 Guards Red Targa, Fister exhaust, H&R Sport Springs, semisolid motor mounts
1997 MX-5 track car
Friday at the Track, Chin Trackdays, SCCA WDCR Novice Classroom Instructor, SCDA, Audi Club Potomac, TrackDaze HPDE Instructor
June 16, 2017 Funland GoKart Champion (6:13 p.m. main event)
Willing to risk life for track time

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Dr_Strangelove
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Re: Racetrack Stuff

Post by Dr_Strangelove » Fri Apr 20, 2018 1:58 pm

DTMiller wrote: Fri Apr 20, 2018 5:50 am Who wants some Inside Baseball? This is modified from an email I sent to Ross Bentley, who encouraged me to share it, so I am.

I just wanted to share an experience I had instructing on Summit Point's Shenandoah circuit this past weekend...
Hah, I suppose with split-second decisions to be made, the first word is quite important. Thanks for sharing.

Does releasing the brakes all at once cause the back end to come for the front end? Or does it just send you into the turn quite unstable?
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Cuda911
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Re: Racetrack Stuff

Post by Cuda911 » Fri Apr 20, 2018 2:12 pm

Racing 420 on 420 day. New sticker, too.
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Mike

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DTMiller
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Re: Racetrack Stuff

Post by DTMiller » Fri Apr 20, 2018 2:30 pm

Well, two things here. The goal was to brake for X seconds with a decline in brake pressure as we got closer to turn in. When we popped off the brakes sort of immediately we didn't slow down as much as we would have liked. So that's problem one, we were going too fast.

Problem two is that when you release the brakes very quickly it shifts weight very rapidly away from the front tires which makes the car less stable than we want for this purpose. Especially at this level.of development for the driver.

Totally my mistake. Driver managed it well but he shouldn't have had to.
2002 Guards Red Targa, Fister exhaust, H&R Sport Springs, semisolid motor mounts
1997 MX-5 track car
Friday at the Track, Chin Trackdays, SCCA WDCR Novice Classroom Instructor, SCDA, Audi Club Potomac, TrackDaze HPDE Instructor
June 16, 2017 Funland GoKart Champion (6:13 p.m. main event)
Willing to risk life for track time

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Dr_Strangelove
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Re: Racetrack Stuff

Post by Dr_Strangelove » Fri Apr 20, 2018 3:07 pm

Great explanation, thanks DT.
2003 Carrera: Dark Teal Metallic

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FRUNKenstein
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Re: Racetrack Stuff

Post by FRUNKenstein » Sun Apr 29, 2018 11:11 pm

Our local PCA held a club race this weekend at Heartland Park in Topeka. I went out for parade laps and got in 8 laps. My only previous "track" time was at Exotics Racing, so I'm a total noob. Still was fun today to exercise the car a little. Got up to about 115 mph on the straights, so that was nice. 2019 resolution will be to do my first DE.
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Current:
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Re: Racetrack Stuff

Post by 32wildbilly » Mon Apr 30, 2018 5:49 am

kcattorney wrote: Sun Apr 29, 2018 11:11 pm Our local PCA held a club race this weekend at Heartland Park in Topeka. I went out for parade laps and got in 8 laps. My only previous "track" time was at Exotics Racing, so I'm a total noob. Still was fun today to exercise the car a little. Got up to about 115 mph on the straights, so that was nice. 2019 resolution will be to do my first DE.
How much are the new tires going to cost you?
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