Track day at NIGHT: Sebring
 

This past weekend we had our organization's first night time event at Sebring International Raceway; what a blast. It was my first time driving on this track at night, which is dimly lit, and we found some of the spotlights were cutting out midway through the sessions, which made things very interesting. Overall I actually now prefer driving on track at night, as I found myself more focused, and there were less distractions. Maybe it's my ADD?

Here is some in-car video, I've got a dash mounted video that I'll post up later as well:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkdGkHjiKyM&list=UUI7_3qVwegS7kgSt8P_D3Yw"]BRZ at Sebring Night Event with Chin Motorsports - 12/13/2014 - YouTube[/ame]


https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...84330201_o.jpg

Great driving!

I have to agree that I like driving at night... gives you less to think about since there's less to see.

Okay, now I need to do a night track day!

I'm there at night for the January event. I've never done a Sebring DE at night, just W2W racing at night there ;)

Although I think you cheated using spotlights.. but I guess for a DE it's a safer bet.

Try learning a track at night, in a race car with shitty lights, in a field of 100 cars.

It sucks then.

Otherwise, I love night racing (and I guess DEs). Cooler so the cool suit lasts two hours+, people slow down so if you do know the track you can make up multiple spots, etc.

Yeah I saw you signed up.

Haha well half of those lights went out during the 2nd Blue group session, and went into Bishops with no lighting at all, which was a bit sketchy. I think the thoughest part is the exit of T1, where there is no lighting at all, and you can't really see the right side exit curbing until you're on it...

Which is why you should know the track first.. :) after getting used to VIR again I drove for 4 hours overnight and just based my decisions on memory. Worked out more or less ok. We had HORRIBLE lighting though. My Integra has much better lighting. If I trusted the M3 more maybe I'd bring that which has much much better lighting. The MR2's lights suck so that's out.


Night events are fun, I wonder how attendance will be, currently it'll be wide open... could run old Chin style at the current registration level ;)

Yeah I was using muscle memory for most of the unlit parts of the track.

It's probably going to be the same as it was before; low 50's. We've got a low cap on registration, and it's going to be open track format; 2.5 hours of non-stop track time!

Old school Chin was ~7 hours of no groups open track time :) I miss those days lol

Haha yes, that's good fun, but not ideal considering the wide variety of driver skill level and experience we have at our events now! Maybe in the future there might be a special format at select events for Int/Advanced only, open track all day....

Damn looks like so much fun!

I thought doing a DE event at night would be boring after racing at night. I was wrong. I enjoyed the night driving very much. It does make you focus. It also makes me want an auto-dimming mirror in my ChumpCar.

Finally decided to join the forums, huh?

By the way, just ordered the AP Sprint Big Brake Kit! :thumbup:

Haha yes forgot about how much that sucked! Thanks for the reminder.

Well done sir! I just sold mine last week ;)

That is a very different perspective! I don't have enough seat time there (2 visits most recently NARRA TT) to honestly feel comfortable at night but it sure looks interesting. Hopefully I can get more daylight seat time there this year for now.

Blue beast is retired from track duty now, huh?

Once I get around to selling it, it'll be gone from my garage. I just don't use it anymore so what's the point in having it? Have a race car, a track car, a DD and a weekend fun toy.. and a BRZ garage queen.

Here's a picture from the night event, going into Turn 7:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...84330201_o.jpg

I'll be ordering the Sprint brake kit in the next week. I'm planning on doing a few more track days in 15 than 14.

rad

Love the glowing rotors.

Wow, that looks like good fun!

I haven't done any events with Chin, just NASA, Darkside, and Hooked on Driving. Should be doing some PCA events next year after I do their instructor school in February.

The BMW is getting a bit on the older side. Why not daily the BRZ?

M3 has more space, better visibility, a lot more torques, huge DGAF factor on parking, etc and it's insurance is about 60% what the BRZ is. Oh and no car payment. Way better heated seats too ;)

Why DD the brz? Can't think of many reasons and given multiple coil pack failures etc I'm not ever sure I can add reliability to the list lol

I guess you have a point. Although coil packs shouldn't be an issue under for a daily driven car.

Night event was awesome as expected :)


Glowing rotor pics will show up soon I'm sure.

So we did another night event in February and ended up getting my new personal best lap-time, a 2:35.9 (in the dark!)

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5ScFqY8JTQ"]Sebring 2:35.9 Lap in BRZ at Night with Chin Motorsports - YouTube[/ame]