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ZR1 at Motor Trends Best Drivers Car Test today at Laguna Seca
Ladies and Gents
I will be going up to Laguna Seca today to attend the start of the Motor Trends Best Drivers Car test. I contacted Jonny Lieberman a few months ago to ask what cars are in it this year. So far they have the Blade Silver Corvette ZR1 with the ZTK package, Guards Red Porsche GT2RS, Arancio Anthaeus Orange Lamborghini Huracan Performante, Orange McLaren 720S Performance, Lime Essence Green New Aston Martin Vantage. So far I haven't seen a Ferrari Pista ! I'll report back.
Again, you are an instructor. The other guy is good enough to be driving faster than the porsche cup car.
Another one has been tracking his Z06 over a dozen times a year for 3 years now. I am not like you guys. Where I live, every race track requires private membership with dues exceeding $30,000/year minimum. I am lucky if I can do 1 proper track day if not maybe 2 a year and those cost $3000 each with insurance, track costs, and other consummables. I have to drive an entire day each way to even go to a track I can use. Unfortunately i dont live in midwest or in the middle of nowhere. I live 20 miles outside of downtown Manhattan. I cant and will never be able to drive as good as you or the other guy or the other fella. We are not comparing these cars under excellent conditions. We are comparing them under not so ideal, more realistic conditions.
I don't understand why someone who admits they don't track much feels so compelled to complain about a car you will never own or track. However, let me help you get on track more. You don't need to belong to NJMP, Watkins Glen, or Pocono to go to track days there and I suspect all of those are within about 3-4 hours of where you are. Look in to the big car clubs or track day organizers as I know HOD has track days at all those tracks.
“Tenths,” and their appropriate use on the track...
When I describe "tenths,” or the system of assigning a relative speed, level of concentration or demonstration of car physics on-track to someone, it usually follows these definitions.
3/10 is driving on a flat, straight and level road with no distractions.
4/10 is driving on a gently curving Interstate with low traffic density at a higher rate of speed than at 3/10.
5/10 is driving quickly, but efficiently and at the speed limit on the street, more concentration required due to more "hazards" present.
6/10 is a standard DE lap or an out lap early on in a race weekend, for me. The purpose may be to re-familiarize myself with the race track, enjoy a relaxed lap or just "cruise" around and, in particular, designed to take NOTHING out of the car. This is also the level of driving quickly on the Interstate with a fair bit of traffic at higher speeds.
7/10 is a more aggressive DE level, designed to begin to "move the car around" and just a little more taxing on the car. Also, 7/10 can be an out lap later on in a race weekend, usually the result of greater confidence and familiarity. Relatively wide variation in lap time depending on traffic and concentration.
8/10 is an easily sustained level, requiring high levels of concentration, generally attained after the first few laps of a race or enduro when the dust settles and you slide into driving quickly and accurately, but are not locked in a battle that is external to you and your car. The car is sliding, but only at the beginning or the end of a corner and not at all corners and not on all laps. Generally laps are within .8-1.5 seconds apart and relatively consistent. This is the level I am most comfortable taking people around the track. Plenty of "headroom" and margin for error or changeable track conditions.
9/10 is driving pretty hard, but is sustainable, repeatable and the driver is still relatively accurate in their placement of the car. The car is now sliding much of the time, the driver is focused on catching someone or staying ahead of someone but is maintaining control and discipline of their own mind and of the car. At this point, the driver is using most of the width of the road, but not much curbing, and is focusing on drawing large arcs with the path of the car. The rhythm is such that the lap times are generally within .2 -.8 seconds apart, barring traffic or mistakes. This is my limit for one or two "hot laps" with someone riding with me.
9.5/10 is driving hard. More sliding, slightly quicker laps still than at 9/10. Less margin for error, a lot more work being done by the car. The driver is now "guiding" the car on a path selected well in advance. The car is sliding from turn-in, through the apex and is using the entire width of the paved track, plus the inside curbs. Cannot generally be sustained for more than five or six laps. I would not drive a car at this level with a passenger in it...
10/10 is when the skill level of a substantially experienced and supremely confident driver meets the competence level of the car nearly perfectly. The car is sliding nearly the entire lap. Slip angles of 7-12 degrees (DOT radials, less on radial slicks) are sustained through the entire length of most of the corners. The entire width of the road, plus the inside and outside (if available) curbing or pavement extensions are used, every corner, every lap. The previous lap is at 9 or 9.5/10 so that the "hot" lap is started at the greatest possible speed and with the highest possible concentration.
Typically, I drive 10/10's for one or two qualifying laps and my first few laps of the race to build a "gap" to the rest of the competition. I also drive 10/10's to experiment with changes made to the car or to evaluate tires in practice, not to mention putting in a "flyer" to achieve the psychological advantage of being on or near the top of the time sheet <grin>.
I may not drive 10/10’s more than a few laps during the weekend, but I pick and choose the time to do it. I feel like the car and I are balanced on a tightrope and I am constantly making tiny little corrections to adjust it's trajectory, with each correction making a difference... I'm not sure this level can be sustained more than two or three laps at a time. In order to be successful at the highest level of most organized competition, you must be able to drive at this level.
11/10's is when your talent runs out! <very big grin>
Ladies and Gents
I will be going up to Laguna Seca today to attend the start of the Motor Trends Best Drivers Car test. I contacted Jonny Lieberman a few months ago to ask what cars are in it this year. So far they have the Blade Silver Corvette ZR1 with the ZTK package, Guards Red Porsche GT2RS, Arancio Anthaeus Orange Lamborghini Huracan Performante, Orange McLaren 720S Performance, Lime Essence Green New Aston Martin Vantage. So far I haven't seen a Ferrari Pista ! I'll report back.
Wow! Well at least we know it secures a minimum of coming in 4th. lol! But I might be wrong since this won’t be only on the numbers it puts up but the overall package.
Hey Corvette_Nut,
I see you are there also. I just got back home and will be back tomorrow to view the hot laps. I told Jonny my mouth is zipped shut on the lap times. Since today is for doing the photo shoots and in car video stuff. So you rode up in the 720S if that is you taking the photos. Great morning temps for some fast times. No doubt we might see a production car lap record at Laguna with anyone of the four top cars that are over 700HP.
Hey Corvette_Nut,
I see you are there also. I just got back home and will be back tomorrow to view the hot laps. I told Jonny my mouth is zipped shut on the lap times. Since today is for doing the photo shoots and in car video stuff. So you rode up in the 720S if that is you taking the photos. Great morning temps for some fast times. No doubt we might see a production car lap record at Laguna with anyone of the four top cars that are over 700HP.
Hey Skank,
Unfortunately, I didn't roll up in the 720S. I just have really great Internet Google-ling Skills
I can't wait to see the final numbers when it's all said and done.
Unfortunately, I didn't roll up in the 720S. I just have really great Internet Google-ling Skills
I can't wait to see the final numbers when it's all said and done.
Save The Wave,
Corvette_Nut
Well, we have four cars there that in theory could set a new production lap record.
That's too bad! The 7 speed would have given a big leg up for the ZR1 at Best Driver's Car, the option for 3 pedals sets it a apart from all the Europeans in the test. I understand that the A8 might be faster at LS and is a better representation of what the majority of customers are opting for but BDC is about the whole experience and our auto doesn't stack up that well against PDK and the other dual clutch transmissions.
Stelvio and a Stinger in there, who said there isn't comedic relief?
Originally Posted by keagan
Wow! Well at least we know it secures a minimum of coming in 4th. lol! But I might be wrong since this won’t be only on the numbers it puts up but the overall package.
I wouldn't be so sure. The Aston is effectively a better looking AMG GT R, and we all know how well that one did last time.
Last edited by SBC_and_a_stick; 07-10-2018 at 04:35 PM.
07-10-2018, 08:06 AM
ZR1 at Motor Trends Best Drivers Car Test today at Laguna Seca
