First day at the track

I haven't driven one myself, but I suggest that if it concerns you, leave the driver assists on for a few laps. Just get a feel for the car before switching to 'Sport' mode and then into 'Race.'

Oh, and enjoy!!

 

I owned and tracked an 07 599 several times over 2 years. If its an HGTE I can't give you much of a reference. But it's a heavy car with unbelievable torque and horsepower. That has some serious bodyroll issues in the corners. The rear tires can and will snap the car around if you get overconfident. I found that using the weight to carry you thru the corners. Helps you Increase both your speed and improves the cars balance. This beast is at its best on long straights that allows you to use every gear and every ounce of horsepower and torque. I had her at 185mph at the 2 at Road America and she had much more to give. The sound of that 12 cyl. is really extrodinary and dropping and raisng gears. Just to hear the engine scream is worth every dollar you paid for it. I recommend a driving/course instructor for a few laps. While you get familiar with the car and the track. The car is well built, tough and the CCB's amazing. Once you get comfortable with the car don't be afraid to push it. The 599 can be intimidating. But once you get to know her she is pretty predictable. Have fun. Good Luck. Most of all be safe.

 

Good advice.

Start gently and add speed slowly, because despite the CCB's, it's hard to take it off!

 

it is at least as important knowing the track you are running as your car - some tracks it is more important to know the track - especially if there are elevation changes with blind turns - if you know the track then no sweat - just start conservative - go direct to race mode - the car will feel much better.

I ran a 599 as a guest of Ferrari 2 years ago and it was great but i did get it real loose in the first two turns because i was used to my Scud. Be aware, you will be buying new tires if using street tires - with that heavy car you will really tear them up in the turns - you will know when you go down a long straight and the cars starts to vibrate because you have cupped the outside - but what the heck, you are driving a Ferrari. Down the road if you love tracking it, get a set of Hoisers - they stick so well you will think you have super charged the engine - you wont get the computer trying to control the car when you take off because they stick so well - it will really be a beast

 

Peter, can you post your guide to driving by the tenths? You know, at 7/10th, you're getting some tire noise on a few corners; at 8/10s, you're hitting every corner; at 9/10s, things are starting to rock, and at 10/10th - well, let's just say this is NOT a place you want to be in a street car that doesn't have a roll cage, six-point belts, and a HANS.

I found it very helpful back in the day.

Dalke

 

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 settle 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>

 

Thanks Peter, I found this handy when starting out because you don't have your brain calibrated at first. Plus, you hear all these idiots talking about how they turn off the traction control so they can run 10/10s.

If it were my F599 and I was taking it to the track for the first time, 7/10s is gold. Yep, I'd spend my time working up to 7/10s for a lot of reasons. The most important being I don't like pain, either the physical or financial kind.

Dale

 

I'd never take off the driver assist, (especially since you have "race" mode available). Use the driver assist to help you find where to be smoother- because upsetting the car is what triggers the traction control. Note when and where you see/feel/hear it come on, and make note of why. (Others feel free to chime in here)

I did disconnect the driver assist in my '91 NSX (as it is so primitive), but am leaving it on for the '01 Carrera and '04 Gallardo. They're much more sophisticated systems, and if the driver assist saves you ONE time, you'll be glad it was on.

Just remember, there are no cash prizes or trophies at the end of a DE session

Good luck and have fun. (and post some photos!!! )