spike021's BRZ Adventures

[SCQTT]

www.simpsonraceproducts.com

[spike021]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

I hAve the cusco pedal on the car now. Doesn't make much difference.

I bought the PST pedal relocate (looks just like gspeed) months ago but haven't installed yet. Probably because I've been using the ecutek auto-blip.

Whoa, fancy. How accurate is it?

Thanks for letting me know about the Cusco pedal. Seem to be getting mixed opinions on it then.

[spike021]

Originally Posted by SCQTT

www.simpsonraceproducts.com

Eh?

[SCQTT]

Originally Posted by spike021

Eh?

You were looking for helmets. They have everything.

Helmets, suits, gloves, shoes, Hans.

[spike021]

Originally Posted by SCQTT

You were looking for helmets. They have everything.

Helmets, suits, gloves, shoes, Hans.

Ahhh I see. Thanks! I actually ended up buying a Bell helmet a couple weeks ago.

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by spike021

Whoa, fancy. How accurate is it?

Thanks for letting me know about the Cusco pedal. Seem to be getting mixed opinions on it then.

It is very acurate. You have to make sure you completely lift off the clutch between downshifts and make them quick. Takes some getting used to. It is the only racerom feature I have used. It's pretty cool.

[mjanmohammad]

Originally Posted by spike021

Oh nice, hadn't heard of that one. Looks similar to the Verus one.

We'll see. Not sure how much I actually need it.

They're local to Dallas. Almost all of the tracked 86s in Dallas have this relocate kit, GSpeed's HQ is at the track we go to the most haha

[spike021]

Thanks to @JeremyR for these two awesome extra pieces he was kind enough to give me! I had been considering starting a black interior conversion, and this is quite a great start. As soon as I saw them installed I knew it was the right decision.

The hardest thing I had to do was unplug the traction control plug harness thing from the buttons unit. The tab for releasing it was so tough and needle nose pliers and a screwdriver almost didn't work either, but eventually I got the screwdriver to work.

Sorry for the potato quality pics.

[JeremyR]

Looks good man!! Goes well with your shift knob

[spike021]

Hooked on Driving, 4/27 (Thunderhill East)

Preface: I have absolutely no performance driving experience other than hitting up some of the local backroads in the area near San Jose, where I live. So, if you’re familiar, I tend to drive highways 9, 35, and 84, as well as Pescadero Creek Rd. and once or twice through Hicks Rd. This was my absolute first time in a controlled environment where I could really wring the car out with the “whole road/track” at my disposal.

After hearing about and reading some reviews of the Hooked on Driving HPDE schools, I decided I’d try my hand at it and see if tracking was something I could get into and enjoy.

As a total beginner, I decided to go ahead and make sure my first experience would be a proper introduction. So, I signed up for HOD’s Class A with instruction sessions. This meant that during every session I would have a coach sitting shotgun giving me tips, constructive criticism, and answers to any other questions I could think of.

When I arrived that Friday morning (bright and early around 6:45am!) and went to check in, I found out that my coach would be a nice 73 years old guy named Gary. He told me when he saw that “the white 2017 BRZ” would be in Class A he had to request me right away. Well, it turns out he has one of his own (silver, though)! Same nearly stock setup with performance package, as well.

The day began with an educational classroom style session where we went over the basics of track driving, such as flags, safety, car control, and anything else that would be pertinent in a track environment but not necessarily in typical daily driving.

Next, we went to the figure 8 section that had been set up on the skid pad at the end of the paddock for Thunderhill East. The idea was to line up and then one by one we’d drive into the section and work on our car control skills/technique. I went with my coach a total of four times, first with everything stock (all traction nannies enabled) and then in the final two runs I decided to try each of the traction modes (track, and 5 second hold). To be honest, I had never, in my 14 months of ownership of the car, tried driving the car without most of the nannies enabled. Man, it was fun! I thought I’d take the figure 8 too quick and lose control, but for each mode and run I was able to keep the car pretty well-controlled surprisingly. Gary also emphasized trying out threshold braking at the end of each figure 8 session.

At the end of my 4th run, Gary let me know that we had a bunch of free time since I’d handled the figure 8 so well; I didn’t need any additional runs unless I wanted more practice. He then offered to take me out on the track in his BRZ. Of course, I accepted!

I wish I’d been able to take my GoPro with me. Gary had explained to me earlier on while we waited to begin each figure 8 run that he had quite a bit of racing experience since the ‘60s. I suppose I mistook his abilities due to his age! He totally wrung out the BRZ on the track in ways I didn’t think possible! To him apexing turns seemed second nature and he knew exactly when to brake in, downshift, rev the engine out, and carry the momentum through. And of course his turns were deliberate, direct, and measured. I believe the track session we “hijacked” (as he just went straight on mid-session like it was nothing) was for Class C (mostly experienced). He was easily passing up Porsche GT2’s and GT3RS’. I’m still in awe just remembering it.

Once we returned to the paddock, it was nearly time for my first session! Typically for class A, HOD has drivers let their coach drive their car around the track for one lap. However, Gary said I could just drive for that lap myself since he’d already taken me out for a few in his BRZ.

The experience was completely eye-opening! See, when driving spiritedly on a regular backroad, you occasionally or frequently come upon bicyclists, animals, or other traffic. You also absolutely must stay on your side of the road for safety. You need to worry about blind turns. There’s always that extra element that takes away part of your focus, and necessarily so! But.. when you’re on a track the experience is completely different! While you still need to and should focus on the track for safety as well as making tactical decisions based on upcoming turns, you’re able to use the entire track! You can apex a turn and bring the car all the way back out to the opposite side of the road in order to keep to the proper line. You can mostly confidently plan how to handle blind turns because you have an appropriate amount of trust that nothing will obstruct your way. You also have the watch/flag towers at nearly every turn that will warn/signal you if something has happened that you cannot see ahead of you.

Throughout the day I felt that I was improving at a fairly steady pace. I was learning from most of my mistakes and also how to take advantage of the entire track.

And then, of course right before my final session of the day I asked Gary if he’d mind taking me out one more time because I felt that seeing how he handled the course would help now that I had an idea of what the track’s like to drive firsthand. Before each turn he’d tell me if I’d had problems with it earlier in the day and he would then suggest improving in one way or another. For one turn in particular, the “Cyclone” I didn’t really have significant issues with it throughout the day, but my line through it and apex weren’t the greatest, so as Gary went through it he’d say “you need to begin the turn right here and be deliberate, and get on the gas right away”. Well…

During my final session I finally screwed up.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iApXwiIPiAw"]RIP me - Thunderhill East (04/27/2018) - YouTube[/ame]


Pictures of the incident:

https://imgur.com/a/Jxnp2k4

Apologies for the crappy video. I hadn’t set my GoPro up well enough later in the day to make sure it captured everything :\. But this will have to do to show what happened to me.

Basically I tried handling the Cyclone just like Gary had shown me, but I think I entered too quickly, tried to turn a bit too sharply, a bit later than I wanted, and … well, yeah.

Car seemed okay after a few checks, etc.

But that was a bit of a stressful final session! I really would have liked to do better.

—

I could ramble on and on but I think this serves as a great overall look at what the day was like!

All in all, I had a fantastic time and I can’t wait to do another track day! I’ll probably do one more HOD track day with coaching since there are a few things I would like to work on fine-tuning. But soon enough I’ll hopefully get to participate in 86drive Challenge!

Let me know if you have any questions!

[spike021]

The only session video that really came out well:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq5RrrbDjQk"]Hooked on Driving, A Novice group - Thunderhill East (04/27/2018) - YouTube[/ame]



Some photos:

[Muchikori]

Really enjoyed reading your build thread man! I, too, got my BRZ (April2018) and started learning Manual with it. I also enjoyed reading your experience for first your first track day. Definitely getting excited when i try it myself.

[spike021]

Originally Posted by Muchikori

Really enjoyed reading your build thread man! I, too, got my BRZ (April2018) and started learning Manual with it. I also enjoyed reading your experience for first your first track day. Definitely getting excited when i try it myself.

Thanks!

Congrats on buying your BRZ! It's such a fantastic car. Even NA it's enjoyable to drive in just about any case. As an example, the only time so far in 14 months of ownership that I finally seriously noticed the "underpowered" argument was on the track last week when I'd be neck and neck with somebody and then in the straight sections they'd just leave me in the dust, lol. But in the corners I was quicker than many other cars! Plus I just enjoy driving it anywhere, backroads and commuting, even.

I'm really glad I took the risk in buying it without knowing how to drive MT first. Fortunately the process wasn't too difficult other than the first week or so.

If you have any questions feel free to ask! I also followed you back on IG!

[JeremyR]

Great write up man! That's awesome they included skid pad in at the beginning so you really can get a feel for it with the 8's.

I didn't realize the coach stayed with you the entire time. That's probably the best way to go so he can see you progress and improve as the day goes by.

That last pic says it all: Leading the pack!


Can't wait to get out there with ya!