Gary(SF)

For those of you not familiar, the Lotus 211 is a sports racer based on the Elise, 250 hp/1500 lbs, on slicks of course. It was great fun to chase him around. My C6 Z06 has StopTechs and RA-1s, otherwise stock.

2002rich

Great driving Gary. That Lotus 211 is nimble and the HP to weight ratio is fantastic. Looks like you got hung up behind the 510.

FruiTay

Awesome! I've always loved that track but unlike you sir, I have only raced it on video games. Looks like you did a hell of a job.I'm curious of you clocked any lap times?
Sweet ride, happy to seen you using it. Thanks for the video!

Gary(SF)

Best lap that day was a 1:40.5, about a second slower than my best at Laguna. Warm day and a little greasy.

CHJ In Virginia

Nice video - thanks for posting ! I have always wanted to drive that track, but unfortunatly, it's 3000 miles away. A bit far to tow.

Gary(SF)

We had some participants Monday that came a long way...a Z06 from British Columbia, a C6 from Nevada, and several other cars from SoCal. One of the classic tracks in America, that's for sure.

5280Racer

Awesome driving!!

Rookieracer

Watching the video, it appeared the car was suffering from understeer in just about every corner?

Gary(SF)

The only corner I was having a little trouble with understeer was T2, and it is worse when the track is greasy for some reason. Next set of tires I think I will try larger fronts, I am running 275 front/335 rear now, probably go to 285.

Rookieracer

Listening to the tires and watching your hands on the wheel is why I asked the question. I kept rooting for you to reel him in and make the pass.
I really enjoyed the video! It's alway fun to have a rabbit to chase. Thanks for posting.

I wonder if a little softer front sway bar or stiffer rear bar might help the balance? Assuming front tire pressures weren't too high.....

Gary(SF)

RA-1s tend to be a bit noisy at the limit anyway, not as quiet as a Hoosier or similar, and they don't have the turn-in bite of a softer tire either. If it had been a race situation I am confident I could have made a pass up into T6 or T7, I was actually feathering the throttle in both those places to avoid running up his backside, but it would have been an aggressive maneuver and perhaps a bit inappropriate for a DE.

Tire pressures were 35F/36R hot. The RA-1 is a great DE tire, pretty cheap and impervious to heat cycles. I run them all year long, drive them to and from the track, and typically get 12 - 13 track days and 5k street miles, so they are very cost effective. All that said, they are far from the quickest tire out there.

Thanks for your perceptive comments!

Bill32

Nice driving and lap times.

Corner entry in 2 may be just a tad tight and that usually causes a push for me.

Gary(SF)

I've tried different lines in T2 and it seems to me to be kind of a tossup...my current technique is to brake as late as possible and make a bee-line for the first apex, keep a tight line to the second apex, and just avoid trying too hard in what is IMO a throw-away corner. YMMV...I will say most C6 Z06 guys use the "wider entry, single late apex" technique, but following them I don't think it is really any faster. Some guys use 2nd gear in T2 also, but I have trouble getting any more power to the ground than when I'm in 3rd gear, so I just stick with 3rd.

Bill32

Yea, it's a tough turn Gary. I pushed a lot when I first raced there though in a way different car. Moving my line out 2-3 feet off the first apex helped (larger radius, less scrub).Not many corners on a track can be run fast with 2 different lines but this one can.
I think you're definitely right about 3rd. I would think that you'd have to slow down too much to use second effectively.

I try and get a tach reading right at full throttle application in corners like this.

Gary(SF)

If nothing else it sure provides lots of fodder for bench racing!

Bill32

Oh, yea.

shakedown067

Nice video!

Dr.Ron

Nice driving!
That guy in the Viper was scary for much of the time. I was waiting for him to go off again!
Seemed to have settled down some towards the end though.

Awesome video!

Ron

jlutherva

With Hoosier R6's, I like 315/30R18 front and 335 or 345/30R18 rear. My C6Z has poly bushings & DRM Bilstein shock and handles neutral with those sizes.

Jim

Gary(SF)

Yeah I'm clearly undersized in the front.