Long time lurker, first time poster. I have learned a great deal here, Thank you. Some associates at work are planning a 'test and tune' weeknight at Gingerman in South Haven Michigan. They tell me at least 3 twenty minute sessions.

Other than watching the oil temp, trans temp, running in competitive driving mode etc on my 02 Z w/13K miles, any track specific advice?

 

Z at last.

Can you give me the details about getting some track time at Gingerman.. I live in MI and have only done track time on my bike. I would love to set something up like that. As for you question. Check your air pressure and I would tape the inner rear fender lip prevent paint chips. Hit your marks and break late and get on the gas early and you will suprise your associates.

Thanks

Jon

 

I have been there many of times, both in a Z06 and other cars.. I have also been teaching racing there for the past 2 years for the Audi club (with my Z06 of course)

You picked a nice place, it is very hard to harm your car there. The only place you will need to watch out for is the last turn onto the main straight, if you miss that there is a guard rail there to protect the pits. Other than that you will be golden of you go off track.

I would leave the computer if full mode, by placing it in comp mode that is only good for drag racing / fast shifting etc.. if your shifting fast and hard enough to spin the tires on a road course that is another problem that you will need to stop right away

Put the tire pressure around 32 PSI, and pretty much leave it, you might find some people trying to play with .5 PSI here or there, but the bottom line is this.

Unless someone can take a car, and do 10 laps all within 1 second of each other, in a row... they are not skilled enough as a driver to know what adding or removing a few PSI can even do. (a good drive can do many laps withen 1/10 second, even after 15 years of roadracing I'm about 2 seconds off per lap, and that is with a empty course)

Bring pads with you.. I don't care if you got new pads on it, get some extra pads.. your taking a car and going from apx 120 back to 50, and your doing that over and over and over... I have melted the piston to the caliper racing, with the stock setup (I now run Brembo's but that is another story). The little cooling rig on the zo6 is great, but it will not allow the car to stop heavy time and time again.

I don't want to start anything wtih Jon, but I would not suggest braking late. Brake early and steady, as you get better and start to feel better on the track, feel free to reduce your brake zone, your better off with a short hard brake than with a longer brake (the longer brake builds more heat, heat is bad).

Work on your driving skills, don't take this the wrong way but I would put some serious money that even after your 1st day on the track I would turn a better lap time using only 4th gear. The point is this, Driving on a roadcourse is about 80/20 as they say, 80% driver and 20% car... I could not beat Rick Mears in a stock C5 around gingerman in my Z06... hell, I doubt anyone could beat Paul Tracy's time of 1 min 18 seconds in a RENTAL car that he used the 1st time on the track (Paul Tracy also holds the track record for Gingerman I think in his cart car). My lap time in a race setup Z06 is 15 seconds behind Paul Tracy in a rental car (I get around Gingerman in apx 1min35sec).

Many people that I teach to drive Gingerman I tell them the 1st time out to leave the car in 4th gear.. do not even think about shifting (you will still be going PLENTY fast to have to brake hard to make corners). Have someone time you if you can, it is always good to help drive points home... on your 2nd time out try shifting some, you will notice that your brake zone is now all messed up, your in the wrong gear at the wrong time etc etc, its amazing how poor we drive the 1st time on the track It would not shock me to learn that you had better times when you where not shifting... I did my 1st time out on Road America when I was 18.

Thumbs up... When you grab the wheel (and always have 2 hands on it unless your shifting, your not out for a sunday drive after all). I preach this big to students only because of something happens and you hit the wall (or that 1 large tree in turn 3 - its hard to hit but I have seen it) if your thumbs are "wrapped" around the wheel you will break your wrists... nothing work that breaking something because of the way you where holding the weel... this is minor at Gingerman but I would suggest trying to get in the habbit now..

and the most important 2 things...

Be Safe...

Have Fun....

 

one last thing, don't forget to look around... try to fine the flag stations, count how many clouds you can see.. look for strange marks on the track etc etc... it will help you to relax, it is VERY common for people to get "tunnel" vision the 1st time on the track and not even notice the bridge they just went under (not that Gingerman has bridges, but you know what I mean)

 

Thank you Nelson. Excellent advice and, as usual, this site exceeds my expectations. I will post time when this event comes together (if they are not too sad!)

 

Z At Last - you'll be hooked!

But, when you thrash your brakes (and you will), start reading all the many posts on cracked rotors, etc. I've done one track day (thus far, but I'm totally hooked) at Road America, and the hot topic (pun intended) is brakes. My Track Time partner up there, Greg, has been through several sets of rotors (see his post on brake problems). There's almost no way to track your car hard and NOT wind up getting good at changing pads and even rotors. Also, I've heard you do NOT want to put your emergency brake on when you park in the pits after a hot lap. It'll keep the rear brakes from fully cooling, and could cause rotor problems.

As for Nelson's advice on keeping Stability Control on, there's some debate as to if that could accelerate braking problems. I asked my instructor, Steve Melnick (in a Doug Rippie 500 hp C5) whether I should us it or not, and he advised that I turn it completely off. Learn to drive the car hard without any aids, was his advice (unless it's raining). And it worked great because the car is so well balanced.

Have a blast - maybe I'll join you!

 

Same question as Jon - Events at Gingerman?

The only event I know of is Viper Days (mostly Vipers, but they let some Vettes and other select cars compete, too); Steve Melnick in a Rippie C5 turned the second-fastest lap time overall when he ran against all those snakes. I think that's in June.