Poor-sha

I thought I'd post up some video of this week's HPDE at VIR with the ACNA folks. It was a well run event and I saw a few Corvette's out there.

http://www.vimeo.com/11141200

I'd welcome feedback on my driving as I know there is a lot I can improve on. Some things I already know are:

Fire away - I'll have my Nomex on

AlwaysInBoost

I can't offer you any advice since I've never driven on that track, but I can say after watching your vid I am really excited to go there now!!

sothpaw2

Unless your car is caged, 160 MPH sounds too fast to me. You don't want to miss a shift or do anything the least bit unsmooth at that speed.

Short-Throw

Sean,

Great driving, you've really excelled!

I've told you from day one, you demonstrate great hand positioning.

As far as higher speeds on the back straight, you'll know when you're ready to tackle such. I always applaud erring on the side of caution. You're not racing for anything so it does not make one bit of difference whether you hit 160mph vs 170mph.

Next trip out focus on being as consistent as possible entering the esses, they require rhythm. If you hit your mark every time, you will increase your entry speed without even trying. Many drivers worry too much about how fast they are going instead of just 'feeling it.'

You are ready for data acquisition my friend. We'll give this some attention in 6 weeks at Track Attack.


Mike

ssdeuce

dvandentop

Damn i can't offer advice but i need to make it to that track sometime!

AU N EGL

great driving.

a few suggestions if I may

turn 1. Going into turn 1 you are down shifting into the 3rd about 100 feet ( one maker ) too soon. Downshift right before you turn in at 1

use the brakes to slow you down not the transmission

Turn 3 and into 4

aim for the right side of the tech shed / light pole on the right side of the tech shed. you are aiming for the left side of the tech shed.

By aiming for the right side of the shed, light pole, you can carry more speed though 4, NASCAR bend, like the momentum cars.

now a race line would be what you are driving to prevent cars from coming under you and passing though 4.

Turn 5 Left Hook

Two differnt lines here. The fast line and the race line

Fast line or DE line, stay right almost past the turn in point, then hard left turn to say on the left side of the track to set up for 6.

You are real close on this one

Race line for T5 is to come in on the left side ( one of the best passing places on VIR ) then hard left turn.

Lower esses look good, but will improve with practice.

Under the bridge, slight right of center. Not all the way right, can be all the way left if your passing.

Watch David farmers video explanation of the 'yump' for the uphill esses and upsetting the car and speed. ( need to find those videos )

Turn 10 doing quite well. be careful not to turn in too soon.

Chris Ingle's video in his C5 T1 car is one of the best VIR videos I have ever seen. Because he is a great driver and the C5 LS6 at 370-380 rwhp is faster then most C6Zs

Turn 11 and Oak Tree. IMO the short shoot between T10 and T11 is foot flat on the floor, When you car hits that little dip prior to T11, that is the brake and downshift point. Turn in T11, not quite all the way right, track out to the curb on the left side. There is a little crack in the curb on the left side. when the cars nose hits that point hard turn right.

Downshifting to 2nd for oak tree is loosing too much momentum. It may seem faster to downshift to 2nd but it is not. Stay in 3rd use the cars torque. Unless you are in traffic. ( assuming 3.42diff with MN6 or MN12 )

a marker that many ppl use is the south course timing town and when you shift to 4th. ( ~ 100 mph ) The farther away from the timing tower that you shift to 4th the better and the more momentum and speed you carried though Oak Tree.

Back straight. Foot FLAT on the floor and up and over the crest.

braking at the end of the brake straight is farther into the brake zone then most ppl think or are more comfortable doing. this takes practice and *****. Try braking at this marker from 125, not 150 just to get use to using this brake point. Then slowly work your way up.

it is the 2 marker. why? you are going down hill into the two marker ( your car will have more downforce going down a hill, the braking at the 2 is going up the hill. Your car shows quicker then braking at the 3 marker.

get use to caring more momentum though 14, brake downshift 3rd.

Do not worry about going 160+ on the back straight. Be more concerned about hitting the 2 marker for braking and caring more speed thought T14. The fastest lap times on VIR in vettes only have back straight speeds of 150-155 Red line 4th gear.
(Then again they are also climbing the esses at 125-135 mph too )

VIR Qual Lap - Aug 06 - Fastest T1 Lap ever: 2:05.26
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVES715qL0w

Do not worry about top speed. use the straights to relax and check gauges.

Work on speed and momentum though corners. Lap times will come.

Poor-sha

Thanks for the awesome feedback guys! I'll try to digest all this before we all show up there on June 28.

AU N EGL

Watch and listen to Chris's video. Over and Over

Now if I can find is video in the C6LS3, he is even faster.

no spin

Tom is this the one your referring to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVES715qL0w

I sent this link to a couple of guys from our club who'll be doing their first event with the NCM in June.

Joe_Planet

Sean, do you heel toe downshift?

AU N EGL

That is the one I posted above.

He has one driving his new LS3, but not on his web site now.

Chris has great lines and what I like about it most, is you do not know how fast he is going. Just great smooth lines. and yes it is fast.
Lines, smoothness and consistence are more important then speed. Lower lap times will come

Poor-sha

Looking at the track map is it possible that we're using two different numbering schemes? Based on this - http://www.virnow.com/the-track/ isn't 3 NASCAR bend and 4 the Left Hook?

A question here. I started just leaving the car in 4th and not downshifting for 11 and just carrying speed to 11a. Then I'd go to second to come out of Oak Tree. Do you still think it's better to downshift to 3rd going in to 11 and just staying in 3rd? I'm not doubting - just asking

That's a really great suggestion!

Thanks Tom for the feedback.

Poor-sha

Yup - except for when I mess it up

waddisme

The Wilderness PCA club is doing a track day there on May 27th. The one they did at the end of Mar wasn't very crowded, so you could go up a group on down a group for extra track time. I was in the intermediate, so basically from 1 - 5, it was open track for. One of the few times I gave out before the car did. It is a good chance to get a lot of track time if anyone is interested.

My first few times there was just trying to see how fast I could go, but now it is about being faster all the way around the track. Plenty of good help here for that, as you can tell.

AU N EGL

Yup your correct. My mistake



downshift to 3rd. 2nd is way too low for most. C5s and C6s have more then enough torque to take Oak tree in 3rd. Unless there is traffic to slow you down. Each shift and you lose 1/4 sec. 3rd may seem to be lugging the car, where 2nd nice high rpms. Try it both ways and measure your seed at the south course timing tower.

You will find if when take Oak tree in 3rd you reach red line 3rd gear sooner, then if you take Oak tree in 2nd.

Now you will also need to learn how to carry more momentum though Oak Tree. Figure 45 to 52 mph though Oak Tree

You got it.

manicheus

Shaun,

I find it helpful to downshift to second at Oak Tree. This was not the case with my C6, but the C6Z has taller gearing. Anyway, experiment and see what works best for you.

This discussion brings fond memories of VIR -- undoubtedly the nicest track in the U.S. I spent a day at Spa Francorchamps a week ago and have to say it may even be nicer than VIR.

Dick

AU N EGL

DICK

Video plz

manicheus

Video will have to wait for my next visit. I was running with a Porsche club and had to use my daily driver Boxster instead of the Z, which has the TraqMate and Chase Cam installed.

AU N EGL

Ok we will let you slide this time.

But yes please do post video when you get them