2014 86CUP #1 - Streets of Willow Springs - Jan 18, 2014

[schmearcampain]

Originally Posted by JS + MS3

Jeff! What's up man!

Not much! I was super tired after the track day just like the lead instructor said I'd be.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by schmearcampain

For the second and third sessions I tried downshifting to 2nd on the second to last turn before the final straightaway. The problem I was having, even being able to heel toe, was that the lateral G's were making it hard for me to shift and maintain speed, so I found that I ended up slowing down too much just to compensate.

So for the 4th and final session I ran that day, I made an effort to hit that corner fast enough to keep it in 3rd @ around 4k rpm (above the dreaded torque dip). That helped me drop my best time to 1:39.612, 2 seconds better than my official 86cup time.

I think my favorite part of the track day was just learning how far I can push the car at each turn. Each session I'd push the envelope a bit further. I don't know if I would have improved my time with another session, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have hit 1:34 like the winner of the stock class did.

Downshift *before* you turn in.

[retrosmiths]

I had @CSG Mike drive my car before my last run. I tried copying what he was doing and ended up shaving 2 seconds off my then-best time of the day, from 1:39 to 1:37!

But it was the 1:39 that went into the record book of the 86CUP lol.

[schmearcampain]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Downshift *before* you turn in.

You know what's funny? I know that. I did that for every turn on the rest of the track, but on that one turn going CCW, I felt like the turn was wider early on and narrower at the exit, so I kept trying to go in hotter than I should and then compensating when it got tighter.

Still, you're right of course. I should have downshifted into 2nd (albeit at a really high RPM for my abilities) before I even entered it.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by schmearcampain

You know what's funny? I know that. I did that for every turn on the rest of the track, but on that one turn going CCW, I felt like the turn was wider early on and narrower at the exit, so I kept trying to go in hotter than I should and then compensating when it got tighter.

Still, you're right of course. I should have downshifted into 2nd (albeit at a really high RPM for my abilities) before I even entered it.

If you have an in-car video, I can give you some pointers

[mav1178]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cAH2hyn4zs"]Streets of Willow CCW 18 Jan 2014 - YouTube[/ame]

A short clip from Saturday's event. Could be faster but my brakes were pretty much gone...

-alex