Mt Tam I am's Driving Journal

wstar · 07-02-2013, 01:48 PM

Heh, re: cone "reference" points: sometimes those cones are just flat-out in the wrong place for everyone, or they're in the right place for someone's line, but that line is appropriate for you and your car. Also, often times halfway through the day (or your session) another driver will knock the cones over, and on a road-course it's unlikely anyone will go out there and reset them anytime soon.

Driver's Edge has been known to put them up Saturday morning and then take them down later in the weekend, too, just because you shouldn't be using them as permanent references. Sometimes I think they intentionally move them around just to screw with us

JARblue · 07-02-2013, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

Heh, re: cone "reference" points: sometimes those cones are just flat-out in the wrong place for everyone, or they're in the right place for someone's line, but that line is appropriate for you and your car.

This is exactly what the instructors talked about when we got out of the vehicles to study one particular turn. There are some basic physics to the whole thing of course, but each car and especially each driver are going to have different lines that are ideal for them.

MightyBobo · 07-02-2013, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

heh, re: Cone "reference" points: Sometimes those cones are just flat-out in the wrong place for everyone, or they're in the right place for someone's line, but that line is appropriate for you and your car. Also, often times halfway through the day (or your session) another driver will knock the cones over, and on a road-course it's unlikely anyone will go out there and reset them anytime soon.

Driver's edge has been known to put them up saturday morning and then take them down later in the weekend, too, just because you shouldn't be using them as permanent references. Sometimes i think they intentionally move them around just to screw with us

Would you be implying that a Caterham may not follow the line of a GT500?! Rubbish!

Mt Tam I am · 07-03-2013, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackcherry20

I was soooo excited for you guys! THanks for sharing your pics and experiences...I need to get out of my head a bit and just enjoy. I am still amazed (everyday STILL, even after more than a year of ownership) that I HAVE this car-let alone drivning on a track etc...it really is a dream come true for me. sigh.

I know how you feel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackcherry20

I allow myself to get totally intimidated by "being on the TRACK"...never EVER dreamed I would be driving on a track-never. I need to get over that or I will never be any good.

You will get over this feeling with more track time.

RE cones at the track: I read all about "Thunderhill speedway". Certain permanent cones were discussed. When I got there no cones were present. I just had to deal with it. I looked for black rubber apexes.

I'm glad for you all and your shared experiences here. Please keep coming back.

- Tam

wstar · 07-03-2013, 10:35 AM

Continuing on the subject of reference points: another thing to watch out for is long-distance ones. You'll hear people point out references like "line up your braking [or turn in] so that you're facing this radio tower in the distance" or whatever. Those references sort-of help in a psychological sense, but at those distances they can look "lined up" from a wide variety of angles, so they're not necessarily very accurate!

MightyBobo · 07-04-2013, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

Continuing on the subject of reference points: another thing to watch out for is long-distance ones. You'll hear people point out references like "line up your braking [or turn in] so that you're facing this radio tower in the distance" or whatever. Those references sort-of help in a psychological sense, but at those distances they can look "lined up" from a wide variety of angles, so they're not necessarily very accurate!

Glad I'm not the only one who feels that way...

blackcherry20 · 07-10-2013, 11:07 AM

ok guys.
need some help.
I want to prepare mentally for saturday. The club I belong to added an event so I am autocrossing.
need a mantra to remind myself that "this is NOT A BIG DEAL, just drive the effing car."

LOL!

JARblue · 07-10-2013, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackcherry20

ok guys.
need some help.
I want to prepare mentally for saturday. The club I belong to added an event so I am autocrossing.
need a mantra to remind myself that "this is NOT A BIG DEAL, just drive the effing car."

LOL!

Put some 11s down and remember how awesome this car is to drive

Don't worry about times or anything. For now just go have fun. You seem to be getting seat time pretty regularly, so you'll get better and more comfortable naturally over time. At a certain point you will be much more comfortable and start thinking about times and more technical aspects of driving. Ride along with better drivers and have them ride along with you to get some additional insight and perspective.

blackcherry20 · 07-10-2013, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

Put some 11s down and remember how awesome this car is to drive

Don't worry about times or anything. For now just go have fun. You seem to be getting seat time pretty regularly, so you'll get better and more comfortable naturally over time. At a certain point you will be much more comfortable and start thinking about times and more technical aspects of driving. Ride along with better drivers and have them ride along with you to get some additional insight and perspective.

thanks Jar! I AM planning on having the experienced driver thing again. the last time I didn't and I think it showed in my times (which really sucked)
just not having fun right now

feel sooooo stressed over it.

wstar · 07-10-2013, 11:52 AM

Probably the most important technical-ish thing to keep in mind is to be smooth, and to try to wrap your head around what people really mean when they tell you to be smooth with your inputs. It doesn't mean you have to move the pedals or steering wheel at snail speed. You can make very *fast* movements, but they have to be *smooth* at the same time. Fast means you get your wheel/pedal from position A to B in X milliseconds total. Smooth means you did that with a gentle acceleration to the movement of your hand/foot rather than a stabby or snappy motion, but still got there in time. Think in terms of nearly-constant, or gradually accelerating speed of your foot/hand through the movement, rather than "reach point B as fast as possible and then have to pull your muscles the other way to stop the movement".

When your inputs are smooth the car doesn't get upset or unsettled, and as you get comfortable with smooth you'll find yourself reading car feedback during the movement and finding the endpoint of the movement more precisely based on traction/sway feedback.

Don't worry about lap times, just focus on being calm and in control, and reading the car's feedback and being smooth. The rest will come naturally.

Mt Tam I am · 07-12-2013, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackcherry20

thanks Jar! I AM planning on having the experienced driver thing again. the last time I didn't and I think it showed in my times (which really sucked)
just not having fun right now

feel sooooo stressed over it.

Relax. wstar is correct about smooth. You can practice a bit on the roads where you live, without being crazy. You live out in the country. Just apply the power smoothly, and quickly before you hit the speed limit. Brake in a straight line, and accelerate, then try it again when the opportunity presents itself.

When I drive these days, my eyes are always looking for apex's. I need to tell myself not to turn in too soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

Probably the most important technical-ish thing to keep in mind is to be smooth, and to try to wrap your head around what people really mean when they tell you to be smooth with your inputs. It doesn't mean you have to move the pedals or steering wheel at snail speed. You can make very *fast* movements, but they have to be *smooth* at the same time. Fast means you get your wheel/pedal from position A to B in X milliseconds total. Smooth means you did that with a gentle acceleration to the movement of your hand/foot rather than a stabby or snappy motion, but still got there in time. Think in terms of nearly-constant, or gradually accelerating speed of your foot/hand through the movement, rather than "reach point B as fast as possible and then have to pull your muscles the other way to stop the movement".

When your inputs are smooth the car doesn't get upset or unsettled, and as you get comfortable with smooth you'll find yourself reading car feedback during the movement and finding the endpoint of the movement more precisely based on traction/sway feedback.

Don't worry about lap times, just focus on being calm and in control, and reading the car's feedback and being smooth. The rest will come naturally.

Right on.

blackcherry20 · 07-12-2013, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am

Relax. wstar is correct about smooth. You can practice a bit on the roads where you live, without being crazy. You live out in the country. Just apply the power smoothly, and quickly before you hit the speed limit. Brake in a straight line, and accelerate, then try it again when the opportunity presents itself.

When I drive these days, my eyes are always looking for apex's. I need to tell myself not to turn in too soon.

Right on.

lol on apexes. Me too. If i over think it though i screw it up. Get too busy trying to figure it out and visualize it that i am through the curve and onwards...before i realize wth i have done.

.

Going to try being hyper aware of heartbeat and breathing-practicing slowing them down ....conciously slowing them and feeling it.

blackcherry20 · 07-20-2013, 09:16 PM

Ran practice slaloms about 10 x ...felt like clutch spring gave out (?)
Had to push clutch pedal practically all the way to the floor to make it work. Used my toe to physically "pop" the pedal up to normal location ....

Let the car sit and cool off-checked the fluids-remainder of day it was ok.

Wha?!?!

MightyBobo · 07-20-2013, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackcherry20

Ran practice slaloms about 10 x ...felt like clutch spring gave out (?)
Had to push clutch pedal practically all the way to the floor to make it work. Used my toe to physically "pop" the pedal up to normal location ....

Let the car sit and cool off-checked the fluids-remainder of day it was ok.

Wha?!?!

You need to flush your clutch fluid and replace with better quality stuff. You cooked it. Probably needs bleeding by now, anyway.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

Mt Tam I am · 07-21-2013, 10:14 AM

I replaced my fluid with the DOT 5.1. The old fluid looked burnt. This was around 10K miles. I should do it again soon.

07-02-2013, 01:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3595	Heh, re: cone "reference" points: sometimes those cones are just flat-out in the wrong place for everyone, or they're in the right place for someone's line, but that line is appropriate for you and your car. Also, often times halfway through the day (or your session) another driver will knock the cones over, and on a road-course it's unlikely anyone will go out there and reset them anytime soon. Driver's Edge has been known to put them up Saturday morning and then take them down later in the weekend, too, just because you shouldn't be using them as permanent references. Sometimes I think they intentionally move them around just to screw with us __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

07-03-2013, 10:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3595	Continuing on the subject of reference points: another thing to watch out for is long-distance ones. You'll hear people point out references like "line up your braking [or turn in] so that you're facing this radio tower in the distance" or whatever. Those references sort-of help in a psychological sense, but at those distances they can look "lined up" from a wide variety of angles, so they're not necessarily very accurate! __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

07-10-2013, 11:07 AM	#7 (permalink)
blackcherry20 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 22,749 Drives: ‘17 badazz Z51 Rep Power: 240459	ok guys. need some help. I want to prepare mentally for saturday. The club I belong to added an event so I am autocrossing. need a mantra to remind myself that "this is NOT A BIG DEAL, just drive the effing car." LOL! __________________ Grand Sport Corvette Arctic White

07-10-2013, 11:52 AM	#10 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3595	Probably the most important technical-ish thing to keep in mind is to be smooth, and to try to wrap your head around what people really mean when they tell you to be smooth with your inputs. It doesn't mean you have to move the pedals or steering wheel at snail speed. You can make very fast movements, but they have to be smooth at the same time. Fast means you get your wheel/pedal from position A to B in X milliseconds total. Smooth means you did that with a gentle acceleration to the movement of your hand/foot rather than a stabby or snappy motion, but still got there in time. Think in terms of nearly-constant, or gradually accelerating speed of your foot/hand through the movement, rather than "reach point B as fast as possible and then have to pull your muscles the other way to stop the movement". When your inputs are smooth the car doesn't get upset or unsettled, and as you get comfortable with smooth you'll find yourself reading car feedback during the movement and finding the endpoint of the movement more precisely based on traction/sway feedback. Don't worry about lap times, just focus on being calm and in control, and reading the car's feedback and being smooth. The rest will come naturally. __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details Last edited by wstar; 07-10-2013 at 12:09 PM.

07-20-2013, 09:16 PM	#13 (permalink)
blackcherry20 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 22,749 Drives: ‘17 badazz Z51 Rep Power: 240459	Ran practice slaloms about 10 x ...felt like clutch spring gave out (?) Had to push clutch pedal practically all the way to the floor to make it work. Used my toe to physically "pop" the pedal up to normal location .... Let the car sit and cool off-checked the fluids-remainder of day it was ok. Wha?!?! __________________ Grand Sport Corvette Arctic White

07-21-2013, 10:14 AM	#15 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3843	I replaced my fluid with the DOT 5.1. The old fluid looked burnt. This was around 10K miles. I should do it again soon. __________________ "Does the carpet match the drapes? NO!!! I don't date bald women." Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

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