Michelin Cup - Gauteng

[FT_86_SM_GP]

Pics

[FT_86_SM_GP]

The last time I drove around Zwartkops was during Feb 2016 for the Michelin Cup 2016 season,

It felt refreshing going around a familiar track that you havn't been on a long time,

I also realized on the day that I drove with a different driving filter to what I drove with, back in Feb 2016,

Since Feb 2016, I've done a few Redstar Raceway track days, 2 VKC events, and drove casually around Killarney Raceway....and I guess all of that got me to understanding, how to take a corner a little better

My previous PB around Zwartkops was around 1:19.000, on 205/55/16 Toyo R888 on the stock 6.5j rim and stock suspension,

My upgrades since then, saw me run on 205/50/16 Bridgestone RE11's (Which are actually 212's instead of 205's), on 8j OZ chrono rims and BC RM Coilovers, (PS. I love this Bridgestone tyre )

Due to me becoming good friends with a pavement on the Saturday evening, I had to spend my sunday morning fixing my suspension, which meant me showing up after lunch with my car (Which was decent due to the track temps at its peak), I managed to get in a few laps and showed some healthy improvements:


Due to the rush, I didn't have time to set up my go pro for footage, from my memory the things that I did different from my last Zwartkops outing was:

Turn 1 - Flat out on 4th (Advice from @Fish Eagle post)
Turn 4 - Carrying more speed into the corner and flat out in 4th (Advice from @Fish Eagle post)
Table top - Took these on 3rd gear and tried to carry through more speed
Turn 8 - 3rd gear and tried to carry through more speed by using the paving. (Advice from @Fish Eagle post)

Smooth and effortless driving by @Fish Eagle who's 86 drove +-1000km from home to the track and back on the same day, who also only did a few laps during the day, with passangers, and managed to gracefully beat his PB lap times!


Footage of some smooth driving:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsW3lfffQfg"]Michelin Cup 2017 Zwartkops 1m15.78 Toyota 86 - YouTube[/ame]

[FT_86_SM_GP]

Michelin Cup 2017
Round 6
Zwartkops Skidpan Challenge
Date: 25 June 2017

Limited to 80 drivers

Michelin Cup Members : R350
Non Michelin Cup : R400
Passangers: R50
Spectators are free.

No helmet required.

Entries open online http://www.michelincup.co.za/Home/Registrations

Registrations Closes 22nd June 2017 12:00 AM

All drivers are welcomed at the event! Including daily entrants

[Fish Eagle]

@FT_86_SM_GP - Thanks so much for your Michelin Cup posts and photos, and for your kind words.

I'm sad that this SA forum has almost totally died after having been a lively and fun place a few years ago.
Thanks for keeping it alive.

I thoroughly enjoyed the day at Zwartkops.
The organisation of the day, determination of classes, timing, etc was slick and professional

A winter race day at Zwartkops means either 2 overnight stays in Gauteng, or 1-2 hours driving in the dark in the early morning, and another 2 hours in the evening - which I can't do anymore. The last time I drove to an event in winter, I very nearly hit a hippo in Schoemanskloof in the dark, and I decided there and then to never drive in the dark again.

So, I had a choice - skip the Zwartkops event, or find a chauffeur to do the night driving. A quick call to a young local petrolhead who'd been badgering me to take him for a spin in my 86, and the deal was done. In exchange for a few hours of night driving, he got to ride on track with me. He'd done drag racing, donuts and general windgatting, but he'd never been on a racetrack before. He reckons that it was much, much faster than he expected, and he's hooked. He's since sold his Golf GTi, bought a Mazda bakkie, and is now looking for a racecar.

Having a passenger probably cost me a second or two, but I've realised that I'm not that competitive, whatever.
Playing with my Z4 on track with the top down made me realise that you don't have to be balls-to-the-wall to have a lot of fun.

@FT_86_SM_GP - you are far too humble about your achievements. To put your 1m16.2 in an NA car into perspective, we need to remember that Gugu's best was 1m19.0 with an NA 86, and 1m16.8 with an RGM supercharged BRZ. http://www.ignitionlive.co.za/gt-lapz-leader-board/ and 1m16.2 puts you in the same league as CLA45AMG, STI and 370Z on that list.

Well done, you're a superb driver!!

[Fish Eagle]

PS: Showing this week on Ignition GT is Tasmin Pepper's hot lap in the facelifted 86 - 1m21.7 I think it was...

Maybe time to look for a racecar Mr @FT_86_SM_GP ???
My suggestion would be a class B, C or D BMW Racecar for BMW Club racing, or a historic racer.
Are you a member of this FB group? https://www.facebook.com/groups/567898549893265/
Sometimes there are great deals for racecars under R100k.

I nearly bought a Honda CRX racecar a few months ago.

[Fish Eagle]

@FT_86_SM_GP - looking at your photos above, it appears that you're loading up the front tyres more than the rear, which would suggest that you were running the same pressures front and back?

If so, have you tried running the rear tyres 0.2 bar softer?

I run my RE11S's at 1.8 front and 1.6 rear (cold temps), and I find that makes the rear feel "squidgy" - like it's going to step out suddenly, but it doesn't. It just gives a bit of slip and makes the back more lively, which overcomes understeer, and gives a pull into the corner under power which allows me to carry more speed out of the corner. However, those pressures were a little bit too soft and squidgy in the 1st session when the track was very cold. We sat out the 2nd session, and the pressures were perfect for session 3 and 4's warmer track temps.

Not sure if this is the same with coilovers?
Judging by the times you're doing, you don't need any fine tuning anyway

[JouMaSeHoes]

Originally Posted by Fish Eagle

@FT_86_SM_GP - Thanks so much for your Michelin Cup posts and photos, and for your kind words.

I'm sad that this SA forum has almost totally died after having been a lively and fun place a few years ago.
Thanks for keeping it alive.

I thoroughly enjoyed the day at Zwartkops.
The organisation of the day, determination of classes, timing, etc was slick and professional

A winter race day at Zwartkops means either 2 overnight stays in Gauteng, or 1-2 hours driving in the dark in the early morning, and another 2 hours in the evening - which I can't do anymore. The last time I drove to an event in winter, I very nearly hit a hippo in Schoemanskloof in the dark, and I decided there and then to never drive in the dark again.

So, I had a choice - skip the Zwartkops event, or find a chauffeur to do the night driving. A quick call to a young local petrolhead who'd been badgering me to take him for a spin in my 86, and the deal was done. In exchange for a few hours of night driving, he got to ride on track with me. He'd done drag racing, donuts and general windgatting, but he'd never been on a racetrack before. He reckons that it was much, much faster than he expected, and he's hooked. He's since sold his Golf GTi, bought a Mazda bakkie, and is now looking for a racecar.

Having a passenger probably cost me a second or two, but I've realised that I'm not that competitive, whatever.
Playing with my Z4 on track with the top down made me realise that you don't have to be balls-to-the-wall to have a lot of fun.

@FT_86_SM_GP - you are far too humble about your achievements. To put your 1m16.2 in an NA car into perspective, we need to remember that Gugu's best was 1m19.0 with an NA 86, and 1m16.8 with an RGM supercharged BRZ. http://www.ignitionlive.co.za/gt-lapz-leader-board/ and 1m16.2 puts you in the same league as CLA45AMG, STI and 370Z on that list.

Well done, you're a superb driver!!

What he said ....

[Fish Eagle]

A short tribute to Mark, a very special person who makes it all come together at Michelin Cup Events.

Listen...
10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - GO!! LOL

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TNWt7YgKh8"]10-9-8-7-GO!! A tribute to a special person who makes it happen!! - YouTube[/ame]

[riri86]

Well done you guys! Holding the 86 flag high in Jhb.

The forum has died down now guess most people got rid of their 86

Originally Posted by Fish Eagle

@FT_86_SM_GP - Thanks so much for your Michelin Cup posts and photos, and for your kind words.

I'm sad that this SA forum has almost totally died after having been a lively and fun place a few years ago.
Thanks for keeping it alive.

I thoroughly enjoyed the day at Zwartkops.
The organisation of the day, determination of classes, timing, etc was slick and professional

A winter race day at Zwartkops means either 2 overnight stays in Gauteng, or 1-2 hours driving in the dark in the early morning, and another 2 hours in the evening - which I can't do anymore. The last time I drove to an event in winter, I very nearly hit a hippo in Schoemanskloof in the dark, and I decided there and then to never drive in the dark again.

So, I had a choice - skip the Zwartkops event, or find a chauffeur to do the night driving. A quick call to a young local petrolhead who'd been badgering me to take him for a spin in my 86, and the deal was done. In exchange for a few hours of night driving, he got to ride on track with me. He'd done drag racing, donuts and general windgatting, but he'd never been on a racetrack before. He reckons that it was much, much faster than he expected, and he's hooked. He's since sold his Golf GTi, bought a Mazda bakkie, and is now looking for a racecar.

Having a passenger probably cost me a second or two, but I've realised that I'm not that competitive, whatever.
Playing with my Z4 on track with the top down made me realise that you don't have to be balls-to-the-wall to have a lot of fun.

@FT_86_SM_GP - you are far too humble about your achievements. To put your 1m16.2 in an NA car into perspective, we need to remember that Gugu's best was 1m19.0 with an NA 86, and 1m16.8 with an RGM supercharged BRZ. http://www.ignitionlive.co.za/gt-lapz-leader-board/ and 1m16.2 puts you in the same league as CLA45AMG, STI and 370Z on that list.

Well done, you're a superb driver!!

[riri86]

I don't know how you drive with the squidgy rear. Makes me nervous that the car will turn around and I think that squidgy rear is more the tyre wall flex.

I think @FT_86_SM_GP doesn't have to worry about tyre pressure to increase/decrease oversteer or understeer. With coilover he can just adjust the shock dampening.

Originally Posted by Fish Eagle

@FT_86_SM_GP - looking at your photos above, it appears that you're loading up the front tyres more than the rear, which would suggest that you were running the same pressures front and back?

If so, have you tried running the rear tyres 0.2 bar softer?

I run my RE11S's at 1.8 front and 1.6 rear (cold temps), and I find that makes the rear feel "squidgy" - like it's going to step out suddenly, but it doesn't. It just gives a bit of slip and makes the back more lively, which overcomes understeer, and gives a pull into the corner under power which allows me to carry more speed out of the corner. However, those pressures were a little bit too soft and squidgy in the 1st session when the track was very cold. We sat out the 2nd session, and the pressures were perfect for session 3 and 4's warmer track temps.

Not sure if this is the same with coilovers?
Judging by the times you're doing, you don't need any fine tuning anyway

[Fish Eagle]

Originally Posted by riri86

I don't know how you drive with the squidgy rear. Makes me nervous that the car will turn around and I think that squidgy rear is more the tyre wall flex.

Photos show a much more equal tyre flex front and back, and I'm 1-2 secs faster.

My car used to drive like an Audi, and I spent my life fighting understeer.

Now I've learnt to trail-brake hard and confidently which gets the weight forward and gives a strong turn-in.
And full power in 3rd and 4th pre-apex hooks up beautifully and pulls the car inwards to hug the corner tightly on the way out.

Needs committment though.
To be able to carry the extra speed despite your brain saying it's impossible.
Because if one chickens out on giving full power, the front end washes out, and one visits the grass...

I've been adamant to stay with stock suspension.
Because my wonderful little white haired mid-60s wife won't be able to handle anything harsher, and we enjoy "just driving " on our beautiful Lowveld roads

[FT_86_SM_GP]

Write up by Chris Wall:

So round 6 just happened. The skidpan at Zwartkops Raceway was the venue for this round of the Michelin Cup series.
This one is always good, unless it's ridiculously cold outside, which it wasn't - the day was as good as you're likely to get at this time of the year.
By 10am it was pretty much a summer's day.
The wet and slippery skidpan is a way to sort of level the playing field, it's here where the high-powered cars and the lesser-powered cars can theoretically run the same times on the two different courses that would be set up throughout the day.
Of course when the mad Subarus launch they do gain a little time over the other cars, but from there on in it's driver skill, and Michelin Cup is full of skilled drivers.
As expected, fastest on the day was Anton Wannenburg in his black Iwheelssa Subaru posting a total time of 02:54.310, the all-wheel drive being exploited properly.
Oddly, he could be even faster because his runs also include a bit of an awesome show too.
Another impressive one to watch was Haydn Von Imhof in his S3 Sedan (on Michelin tyres of course) with a fast time of 02:57.910, netting him a 4th place overall.
A total time of 03:03.660 saw Wikus Dippenaar beating many bigger and more powerful cars into submission, showing that his front-wheel drive Delarey Racing Developments VW Caddy is a force to be reckoned with.
Fastest lady of the day was Nasmee'a Christian-de Oliveira in her Audi S3 with a brilliant time of 03:06.220, again exploiting a great drivetrain.
It was yet another smooth and successful event.
There were a few familiar faces missing, but there were some new day entries too, the coolest of which was Nico Swanepoel in his automatic Ford Escort, at 43 years old it was like seeing an antique on the skidpan.
Keep an eye out for details of the upcoming 7th round of the Michelin Cup ZA series.

Results:

[FT_86_SM_GP]

Some pics of from the day

[FT_86_SM_GP]

I'm super excited that this year we got to substitute the 1km sprint with a Tar Rally at Zwartkops Raceway,


Date: 30th July 2017 09:00AM

Registrations Closes 27th July 2017 12:00 AM

Location: Zwartkops Raceway

Cost: All drivers are welcomed at the event! We are accepting daily entrants

Michelin Cup Competitiors - R350.
Daily Entrants - R400.

Clothing:Long sleeves, closed shoes & Helmet

Link to registrations:
http://www.michelincup.co.za/Home/Registrations

For anyone interested and want to find out more, feel free to watch some footage from the 2015 Tar Rally Event:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqbEgEJJnaA"]Michelin Cup ZA Event 8 Zwartkops Tar Rally 2015 - YouTube[/ame]