| Author |
Message |
Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Member
Username: Hugh
Post Number: 680
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 2:18 am: | |
Billy Bob- T9, hmm? Well, you definantly don't want to go all the way tack right, it's a mid apex turn, but hard to describe. I don't have a distinct apex marker to give you; there's quiite a bit of rubber at the apex, shoot for that, and it should give you a start, but most of nailing T9 is prayer and balls. Usually, on decreasing radius corners I tend to hug the inside, and try not to float the car too far out as I'm not to keen on running out of track, but you don't want to apex too early as you'll make the whole thing choppy. Going WOT from the corkscrew to T11 is phenomenal, but borders on nuts.
PS- you interested in hitting streets of willow on the 18th of April? 100 bucks. CW w/ the bowl. Fun stuff. |
billy bob (Fatbillybob)
Junior Member
Username: Fatbillybob
Post Number: 237
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 12:30 am: | |
Hubert,
I hate turns like 9. So what is the secret to running the decreasing radius turn 9 besides prayer? |
billy bob (Fatbillybob)
Junior Member
Username: Fatbillybob
Post Number: 236
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 03, 2003 - 12:28 am: | |
I go to LS in May with AROSC. This is the hottest event of the year. There was a guy on this list in the So Cal section Johnathan that promoted the WSIR event last week. His group goes to local tracks regularly and I think they are always looking for new people. They have low turnout with very high tracktime Vs. AROSC with cheap fun but lower tracktime. You gonna pay to play... |
Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Member
Username: Hugh
Post Number: 667
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 1:55 pm: | |
Byron- Okay. My friend and I are working on the Buttonwillow event; it'll probably cost $100-125 (depending on the # of cars.) And will have to be on a weekday (i.e., friday) as all the weekends are booked a year in advance, already. I'll keep everyone posted as things develop on that front, and on the SD dyno day. |
Byron (Bmyth)
Member
Username: Bmyth
Post Number: 510
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 1:43 pm: | |
Wow, Hubert... what a recap... I'm impressed. I haven't experienced the GT2 yet, but it looks like I definitely need to!
Great to hear you had such a good time. We DEFINITELY have to set up that track day soon so that you can show some of us how it's really done. I don't have any qualms about driving up to Laguna... but maybe we should start smaller and work our way up... say buttonwillow, then thunderhill, then LS?
B. |
Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Member
Username: Hugh
Post Number: 665
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 1:22 pm: | |
Here's a little write up. I should have my pics by next week.
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okay. First off Laguna rocks! It makes all the other tracks look like walks in the park (with, maybe, thunderhill as an exception.) it's a lot wider than GT3 will have you believe, but you can run out of track, very quickly, if you apex too early or just blow a turn. The tarmac itself has A LOT of grip, and the track overall is very nice; the surface is glassy smooth, no sudden changes in surface composition, no "potholes", "dips", or any other uneven BS that you see at the other tracks; which is why there's so much grip. The car can actually work w/out having to compromise stability for having to account for bumps, and getting unsetteled. The brums, however, are hard, REALLY hard, and when you hit them, you hit them hard, and you FEEL it; when you run there I highly suggest you just brush the burms, not tackle them. Also, every turn is different, a lot of off camber, and very deceptive turns, i.e., turn 9 (the left hander right after the corkscrew) is a decreasing radius turn, and you only really see that once your already committed to it. You're literally, at speed, just falling into this cavity, and you're just praying the car sticks, and that you're running the line; there's a lot of "oh ••••" opportunities at LS. The corckscrew itself is actually, kinda, easy, it's just that it's a really, really late apex (I was turning in after the #1 brake marker), but once you turn in, the car crests you just floor it, and you get a tremendous amount of grip; the car hooks up so well it's shocking. It's an amazing turn! The rest of the track is very technical, but it's a technical that you feel was thought out, carefully, and with genius; there are not sections of the track that you fell you just can't get right (each turn is right there), it's just a matter of finding the line ,and sticking it.. lap after lap after lap! There is "the right way" through all the turns. Which to me makes the track much more of a learning track b/c you know there is a line, and you can go faster each time around using it, and you're really able to find the limits of your car, tires, set-up; there's never an instance where you feel like you're completely blowing a lap b/c one turn is just always wrong; this isn't to say that the track isn't challenging and intimidating, but that it has a very pronounced and deep rhythm, and none of the turns are there to make the track "interesting."
Took some laps in a hennessy equipped Viper and I've got to say this was the most brutal car I've ever been in; the acceleration, the braking (had 6 pot ap racing calipers up front and massive 2-piece rotors), etc. but the thing that shocked me was how forgiving and manageable the car seemed; I watched the inputs the driver was giving, and the rotated quite slowly and casually through the andretti hairpin, and looked to be very catchable (I've got to admit that the driver was VERY skilled, and a liscense instructor, etc.) none the less, the car appeared to have great balance, but the inputs had to be gentle. HOWEVER, the greatest car (street) that I've every come to face with was there: the PORSCHE GT2! This, in all seriousness, has got to be the most elegant, beautiful, and AMAZING mass produced (i.e., non-exoitic, not penned by pinnanfarina, and doesn't roll out of a factory in Italy) street/supercar on Earth! It was unreal; carbon brakes, aero, and PHENOMENAL speed! The GT2 (stock) passed the hennessy viper, on the straights, like it was at a standstill, and made it look like a oil tanker in a swimming pool through the corners. I'm in awe, and I've got to say that of all the Ferraris in the same price range and desirability, I'll be getting a GT2 instead of any Ferrari short of an Enzo, F40, or a 360 Modena Challenge Stradale; don't get me wrong, I'm still a Ferrari fan at heart, but seeing that GT2 on the track, at work... it was like no street car I've EVER seen. And, whoever says Porsches aren't sexy, emotive, or even beautiful may just be blind! The GT2 exudes a bravado that will give the lines of a modern Ferrari a run for their money, it's phenomenal, oh, and the best part: the guy drove it to the track, whooped on every car in his run group, packed up, and went home in it at the end of the day! I guess I'm gonna find out what sleeping in a car is really like, b/c I'm selling the house!
Cliff Notes: Laguna Seca rocks! If you get the chance to run there DO IT! Even if it means driving for 14 hours over two days! And, the Porsche GT2 is AMAZING!
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-hubert |
"The Don" (Mlemus)
Advanced Member
Username: Mlemus
Post Number: 3377
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 5:54 pm: | |
how did it go? |
Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Member
Username: Hugh
Post Number: 658
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2003 - 3:29 pm: | |
If anyone wants to meet: 619 251 5146.
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Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Member
Username: Hugh
Post Number: 653
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 1:38 am: | |
Looks like I'll be attending a track day there, last minute notice, with the Nor. Cal. Shelby Club. Anyone care to meet up? Bring a helmet and catch a ride along. During lunch the track will be open for "parade laps" allowing guests to take their cars on the track (free of charge, I believe).Drop me a line if you're thikning of attending.
-hubert |
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