Thunderhill - NorCal Shelby Spring event

[Ron Sutton]

Originally Posted by Sieg

I certainly cannot thank Ron enough. What he brought to the forefront were invaluable tools and thought processes for future events.

No more pulling into the pit parking the car and BSing with the nearest ear. The new standard operating procedure when exiting the track is get to the pit quickly dismount grab the infrared thermometer, tire pyrometer, and pressure gauge and get to work logging data.

At future events I'll further micromanage every detail and movement I make.

What I was really tried to improve on over the 2 days was braking/downshifting timing and modulation, turn-in points, apex and exit points, along with steering inputs and throttle application. When done right it should be like listening well orchestrated symphony........IMO.

Ron - Thanks for enhancing "the experience." As Greg previously mentioned - feel free to point out my shortcomings in the video. I have no problem being an example for a class.

Hi Sieg,

It's hard to point out shortcomings, because your goal was to get some track time, have fun & not tear up Greg's toy. You achieved that very well.

The main issue with driving that speedy little car on track is so many other cars were slower. As they bunch up in front of you ... a guy has to ask himself is the risk of passing them all versus the gain ... when your goals are to simply get some track time, have fun & not tear up Greg's toy.

If you were racing, or running alone for fast time, the tips I would offer are:
a. Use ALL the track ... plus 2"

b. Work on carrying more corner entry speed by carrying full throttle farther & brake later into the corner ... 2' at a time ... until the rear end gets a tick free under braking, then back up this point until you regain good entry grip.

c. Next, work on carrying more mid-corner speed by braking less ... softer & shorter ... a little less each time ... until the rear end gets a tick free during the roll through zone (or pushes, depending on the set-up) then increase the braking distance until you regain good grip through the roll through zone.

* When deciding to brake harder versus longer to bring the roll through zone speed back down to achieve grip ... it is typically better to brake longer & softer as compared to harder & shorter. Braking harder has a tendency to upset the car more & "surprise" the tires. Plus braking soft longer keeps the nose planted longer for front tire grip.

d. Turn in later on most corners. Apex later.

e. On tight corners ... test & compare running a different line where you keep the car out wide longer & turn in later ... and turn in harder (at a higher degree) ... setting up your corner exit to be lower & straighter. Depending on the degree, I call this a 70/30 strategy (or if done to a lesser degree a 60/40 strategy). The goal is do 70% of the turning in the first half of the corner & only 30% of the turning on exit. This better matches the goals of matching slowing the car with more turning on entry & allowing faster throttle roll on due to the higher rear tire grip of the straighter exit line.

Many refer to this as simply a late apex style, but that's only partially accurate, as we can run a late apex and still not have the car turned 70% by mid way. In typical high powered cars, this 70/30 strategy is "usually" the faster way around tight radius corners.

* But ... in some super low powered, light, good handling cars ... sometimes the fastest way is to run the biggest radius possible through tight corners ... to keep the rolling speed & exit speed as high as possible. We won a lot Formula Ford races there at T-Hill with this strategy. These cars only weigh 900# & have 110hp. In the F2000 cars, with more power & down force, this wasn't necessary.

The Lotus is part way between that and typical track car. So I'd try both ways with corner segment timers to know for sure.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Ron Sutton

Hi Sieg,

It's hard to point out shortcomings, because your goal was to get some track time, have fun & not tear up Greg's toy. You achieved that very well.

The main issue with driving that speedy little car on track is so many other cars were slower. As they bunch up in front of you ... a guy has to ask himself is the risk of passing them all versus the gain ... when your goals are to simply get some track time, have fun & not tear up Greg's toy.

If you were racing, or running alone for fast time, the tips I would offer are:
a. Use ALL the track ... plus 2"

b. Work on carrying more corner entry speed by carrying full throttle farther & brake later into the corner ... 2' at a time ... until the rear end gets a tick free under braking, then back up this point until you regain good entry grip.

c. Next, work on carrying more mid-corner speed by braking less ... softer & shorter ... a little less each time ... until the rear end gets a tick free during the roll through zone (or pushes, depending on the set-up) then increase the braking distance until you regain good grip through the roll through zone.

* When deciding to brake harder versus longer to bring the roll through zone speed back down to achieve grip ... it is typically better to brake longer & softer as compared to harder & shorter. Braking harder has a tendency to upset the car more & "surprise" the tires. Plus braking soft longer keeps the nose planted longer for front tire grip.

d. Turn in later on most corners. Apex later.

e. On tight corners ... test & compare running a different line where you keep the car out wide longer & turn in later ... and turn in harder (at a higher degree) ... setting up your corner exit to be lower & straighter. Depending on the degree, I call this a 70/30 strategy (or if done to a lesser degree a 60/40 strategy). The goal is do 70% of the turning in the first half of the corner & only 30% of the turning on exit. This better matches the goals of matching slowing the car with more turning on entry & allowing faster throttle roll on due to the higher rear tire grip of the straighter exit line.

Many refer to this as simply a late apex style, but that's only partially accurate, as we can run a late apex and still not have the car turned 70% by mid way. In typical high powered cars, this 70/30 strategy is "usually" the faster way around tight radius corners.

* But ... in some super low powered, light, good handling cars ... sometimes the fastest way is to run the biggest radius possible through tight corners ... to keep the rolling speed & exit speed as high as possible. We won a lot Formula Ford races there at T-Hill with this strategy. These cars only weigh 900# & have 110hp. In the F2000 cars, with more power & down force, this wasn't necessary.

The Lotus is part way between that and typical track car. So I'd try both ways with corner segment timers to know for sure.

In other words:


Dear Sieg,


YOU SUCK.



Signed,
Charley Lillard