SilverEIGHT

Nice reports guys, good to be back and catch up on the activities. Looks like CMP was a great event for everyone. I really look forward to getting together with everyone at RA.

legokcen

I've got my videos uploaded to Google and I'm waiting for them to be verified. Silver, want me to send them to you?

SilverEIGHT

Let's see how they look on Google. If we need more detail we can try mine.

legokcen

Here's the first part of an afternoon session on Sunday.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...26758300&hl=en

I've got the whole session plus several from earlier in the day coming.

SilverEIGHT

Lego, nice vid. I noticed the line of cars in front of you on the last lap when you went around "The Kink" seemed to stay too close in and did not move out to the left. That's a little scay at those speeds. Your line looked MUCH better. Watching these vids really makes me want to go back as soon as possible. Thanks for sharing.

legokcen

The whole session:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...08702060&hl=en

The 350Z having brake failure and going off on turn 8:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...37840046&hl=en

SilverEIGHT

Can't wait to watch em when I get home tonight!

legokcen

No I totally want that feedback. I usually shuffle steer keeping my hands as close to 9 and 3 as I can. I noticed I was doing some things in the video that I didn't notice during the sessions, so that's good feedback. I'll have to be more aware of it in the future.

I was sawing back and forth a good bit due to my tires getting really hot and losing grip. This was a later Sunday session and my tires were giving out, so I'm sawing in order to correct the car when it tried to slip. Also, at times, I was sawing to get the car to slip when I started playing around. Mostly during the slower corners like 11, 12, and 14.

SilverEIGHT

Lego, enjoyed the vids. Thanks for sharing. I noticed several things.

1. In the "Kink", it looked like you did not get up on the curb (or what ever you call it) very much at all. Your car seemed to stay more settled than mine and other's I've seen. How much speed were you carrying through the apex?

2. I also noticed you stayed in 3rd from 11 through 13 which is the way I drive it. Did you ever shift down to second like TA and try that and if you did, did you see any loss/gain?

3. Could you brake down turn 5-6-7 complex. I'd like know your approach?

Thanks!

DCNSX

turn 5 6 7- It's a "slow developer". really one long turn. get your braking done before 5- if you come in too hot you'll really lose momentum (ask me how i know) . and, you don't want to hit the VERY rough gators. Need to g r a d u a l l y add throttle. stay mid-track thru 6. Lego gave me this hint: as you approach the apex for 7, the apex "stakes/markers" will start to "line up" as you round the curve. when they're lined up in a straight line, hit the gas.

Also- In the NSX I had been shifting up to 4th before 8 but later found I could stay in 3rd (good for 105mph in the NSX). not sure if this is true of the RX8 but if so, it eliminates a shift.

Bigpinekey

Here's some of my input, FWIW.

The Carousel (T. 5, 6, & 7) is one of, if not the, most important turns on the track since it exits you down a long straight where you want as much speed as you can muster.

A couple of things I teach my students is to set it up right on T4. That requires a late turn in to T4. Nip the apex on the left side of the track at T4 and go straight to mid track, or just to the right of mid track, with full throttle, then brake hard for turn in to T5. At T4 many people continue track left instead of going mid track, but that is covering too much track.

The key to most of these turns is to keep your vision up and ahead. When you turn in to T4 you should immediately be looking at the apex for T5. If you look at the last post on the inside at T5, the apex is right below that. If you're looking ahead and at that post, your car will go right to it, just like magic.

After the apex at T5, let the car track out almost to the edge at T6 and then continue to ride the rim a coule of feet from the edge. The steering input shouldn't change after you set it to aim for the apex at T7 (the most important apex). It's important, after getting to the outside of the turn at T6 that you sight the last pole on the right at T7 as you begin the turn, the apex is right past that pole about a foot or 2. By sighting that pole (turn your head if necessary) and concentrating on it, the car will again go magically to it and a good exit will follow. Make a concentrated effort to tell yourself to feed as much throttle as early as you can during this turn. You'll be surprised how much grip is available in this turn.

When exiting the carousel at t7, make sure you go all the way to the edge of the track on track out so you can carry maximum momentum.

A secret is that straight between T7 and T8 isn't really straight. It has a bow in it and if you stay track left down that whole straight, like most people do, you'll cover an extra 100' or so of track. At track out at T7 sight a stright line to the turn in point of T8 and steer that stright line.

The key to quick times at any track is to focus on getting on the throttle as qucikly as you can while in a turn. That sounds simple and elementary, but you'll be surprised at how often we forget it. At the end of one lap, if you're late by just 1/10th of a second on getting on the throttle with as much force as the grip will handle at each turn at CMP, you'll be 1.8 seconds behind (that's almost 200 feet at CMP) the guy who doesn't forget. 2 laps and you'll be 3.6 seconds, ad infinitum. I find myself telling my students to get on the gas much earlier than they would without the reminder.

Good luck and let me know whether this helps next time you're at CMP.

SilverEIGHT

Bigpinekey, Thanks for the very descriptive explanation. I will be coming back and reading this over several times before my next trip to CMP. You were smooth as silk driving through the carousel when I rode with you. You made it look so easy and your description is making me very thirsty for another run there. I hope to join TA when he goes back. I really really love this track.

Bigpinekey

Here's a video from a couple of weeks ago showing that section of track and hopefully demonstrate what I was trying to describe:

Giddy Up!

The tires I had on that day were about worn out and caused me to have to saw at the wheel more than I like doing.

SilverEIGHT

BPK... you make it look so easy! I can tell you are looking ahead at the last pole in turn 7 and it seems like a simple enough thing to do. Don't know about that magic part... I think that may have something to do with the HP in that Red Vette. I can't wait to get back on the track and try this again.

Bigpinekey

Here you go! The rest of the story!

SilverEIGHT

Note worthy:
... Enter turn 12 at mid track
... Hands stay locked onto the 3-9 position through 14

Damn you are smooth!

Bigpinekey

Be aware if you go into turn 12 midtrack, you'll need some torque to get you good exit speed. Remember the old saying, "Slow in, Fast out," well if you scrub off too much speed going into that turn and have to rely even more on torque to get through, so it's possible you could end up"Slow in, Slow out." So don't brake any harder than necressary to get to that apex at T.12, and don't turn in early or you'll miss the apex and you'll find yourself saying "****, I'm out of track" at track-out.

I'm not a shuffle steer guy as you can see from the video. The more you move your hands around the steering wheel, the more opportunities are introduced to do something wrong. Minimize/economize all your efforts in the car so that you are doing the bare essentials to get the car quickly around the track. That way you have kept error opportunities to the bare minimum, and your car will like it, too.

Experiment new sublte line changes at each turn during the weekend, some will work, some won't. That's what makes this fun.

L8APEX

I hope you let all of us know when that is, I may be tempted to join you.

And BPK, great explanations, and thanks for the vids, I feel like I know more about that corner now, so that when I ever get around to driving at CMP, I will have a headstart on an important section of that track.

Bigpinekey

Yea, sorry the time didn't work out a CMP.

Any of you guys are always welcome to ride. Just look for me in the paddock and look when TT/Group 4 is scheduled to run and be there and ready to buckle in a few minutes before I go to grid.

Thanks for the invite to The Casa de Hotel Phlash. I'll try to get by there. We'll be in Rob's BAT (Big *** Trailer) somewhere there on the paddock.

See you guys there.

SilverEIGHT

Are you putting up the Pink Flamingos this time? That's a great look. Will Rob be driving his 8 or the ROAR car and will he have "OUR401K"?

Bigpinekey

I'm not sure he'll let me put up the yard birds, though he will let me put up my Big Pine Key flag.

He's bringing one of his street 8's, I just don't know which one. He's going to run Time Trials that weekend. He's leaving the Fiat at home.

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

Phlash,
Am I booked at the track ho hotel? If Silver is staying that is cool. Senior citizen discount?
Need sleeping bag's etc?, need anti snore throat spray for anyone?
I'll get a room if there is no room left. I may what to leave my tires and stuff overnight with yall though.
olddragger

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

dang i posted on wrong thread!
OD

Phlash

You are now.....you are the final tenant. The cost for two nights of fun, food, and memories you'll have forever is at least $20.00 toward the gas fee. If you have a favorite pillow, bring it.....I have blankets and the likes. We are putting list together of food items to bring. I am supplying Brats for Friday night and *** for Saturday night.

DCNSX

big pine- thanks for the more-detailed explanation of T5-6-7. As for steering, after several admonishons from my instructor, he did get me to keep my hands at 9-3 throughout the entire CMP course. Takes some getting used to but pays dividends in the end. (Same thing can be done at VIR)

Everyone- Have a blast at Barber!! I'll be pulling for the #10 SunTrust car in the "big race" (see avatar). Go "Max the Ax" Angelleli !!!

PS- does anyone have the contact info for Izzy (Navy Blue Carrera convertible)??
Pls. PM me if you do.