yellowss7 Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 Well, I did another trackday at NJMP on the Lightning circuit yesterday, and had my first spin/off track experience. Went out on my well heat cycled hooiser slicks, and had a good first session. Lots of big HP cars in the intermidate group, a 458 Ferrari, a 360, a couple of GTRs, four Z06s, and a bunch of Porsches, turbos, GT3s etc. I was feeling a little outguned with all that big metal out there. Second session, I was doing fine and then went to pass a slower car just before the tightest turn and went in a little hot and missed the turn in point. Felt the back end start to slide, turned the wheel, and lifted and the car snapped to the right and I was off the track. :ack::ack: I kept the car running and moving and after a little scenic off roading, pulled back on to the track and into the pits. Check the car over, changed the trousers, and all was good:puke: I did two more sessions after lunch and the car and driver were no worse for the wear. I did catch it on video and after I find time to edit it down a bit I'll post it up. My wife said that I should not save the new slicks for the upcoming NJMP sevens track day, and that I should put them on NOW!! I had planned on keeping them fresh for the 7's get together.:devil: Hate to admit that after 36 heat cycles she may be right. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 First spin/off track??? Tom, you have been slackin. I consider it a good event if i don't have at least one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 I was feeling a little outguned with all that big metal out there. How do you feel your car held up against the big guns? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 First spin? Hello Miss Daisy! In some ways it is lucky you were on old rubber as nice fresh rubber usually gets a dirt and rock layer embedded after doing the "gardening" and playing around in the dirt. Used to take me a while to wear that off in the 65 Seven S2 when I did similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted June 5, 2011 Author Share Posted June 5, 2011 How do you feel your car held up against the big guns? I was definately outgunned on the straights, the 458 pulled away like a rocket, the GTRs were very fast on the straights. And the Mercedes Black went by fast and silent. One Z06 driver said he was on the ragged edge trying to stay with me on one of the long sweepers, where I thought I was just taking it easy, so he could pass me on the main straight. I think Croc's right, I'm driving like a little old lady. :driving: That said I was not pushing the car to anywhere near its max potential. The harder tires definately hindered my speed in the turns and I don't think I went over 6300 rpm in 6th down the straits. I don't really feel the need to get to 8000 rpm. :leaving: Top speed isn't that important to me. So I let alot of cars pass me on this course as it supposedly has 11 turns, but most of them are really High speed sweepers with the exception of turn 1, turn 5, and turn 7. So this track really plays to the big top end cars. The other track, Thunderbolt, has 13 turns and I find that I can let a guy pass me on the entrance to the main straight, and then be on his tail at the same point a lap latter until he pulls away down through the first 3 turns which have long straights between them, so far that I lose sight of them but catch them by turn 9 or 10. I'm sure a good driver in my car or a beast like Crocs, would have no problem keeping up or leading the pack. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 (edited) Put the new Hoosiers on. You will be amazed! They need to be heat cycled once anyway, to cure. Then you will be ready for us on 6/27-28. And for track days, consider something like a Toyo RA1 after the Hoosiers wear out. They don't have the ultimate grip of a Hoosier, but they get better, not worse, with heat cycles. And you can drive them for years. I did a track day once w/a CSR 260 and it had no trouble hanging w/the 'Vettes on the straights. Edited June 5, 2011 by Kitcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted June 5, 2011 Author Share Posted June 5, 2011 (edited) Ok, here's a short clip showing a couple laps and the off. I think I went in a little hot and then over corrected the steering and then when I lifted, the wheels were pointed the wrong way. Any other insights? Thanks. [/url] Edited June 5, 2011 by yellowss7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 IMHO I don't think you were too hot in had your tires been ok. The car you overtook definitely unsettled your driving - it was a late commitment to overtaking the VW beetle. I see it as the turn in looked late and way too sudden. With the weight transfer from rear to front being so sudden and still continuing to transfer as you turn in and no throttle input to stop the rear coming around, the rear rotated on you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 Hi Tom, Nice save.....keeping it straight when departing off the track surface is always the safest way to depart the track as that gives you the ability to turn away or deflect into a barricade if that is the last resort. That is a nice track and looks like it is very well maintained and a good track to have fun at with any car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 Ditto what Martin said. Anyone can spin, a good driver saves it, wh/you did. I cant tell what happened and I watched several times. I know I had many moments like that on my old worn-out tires. It was true knife edge driving, the slightest miscue resulted in the handling destabilizing . On better track tires I had a much wider margin of safety/comfort and the 'moments' pretty much ended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southwind25 Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 What, that little wiggle? Looked reasonable to me. ((When i was driving the old "big" healey 100-6...it was TERRIBLE. With it's 70/30 weight distribution and welded rear end, It would terribly understeer, right up until it would drastically oversteer. I had thought about putting boat bumpers on it like tugboats do. It felt more like an empty pickup truck on ice with bald tires. it would not only spin it would look like a battling top.)) You did fine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 But you have to admit, that 100-6 was really cool looking!! They were actually no slouch in a straight line either, once you got past bothering to use that "un-shiftable" first gear and just smoked the tire so you didn't bog. Did you run the big single side-pipe? One of the "friends" cars I lusted after as a youth but never owned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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