Fun Track Day, Little Mishap
 

Yesterday I did a mini-PDX with SCCA at Autobahn Country Club South Course. We ran from 530-830pm and got 3 run sessions in for $115. All things considered, it's a great deal. I usually lose interest after the 3rd session, so this was a perfect setup.

When I arrived, I discovered they put me in the Advanced group. After inquiring, they said it's because I've done 5 track days. I laughed at first, but then I asked two coordinators to move me down a group. Neither would listen and move me down a group. Needless to say I was a little pissed and nervous. The PDXs I've done before usually have instructors running their own cars in the advanced group...no place for me to be.

Well, today was no different. I could only hold my own with 2 other cars out of the 10 or so in the group. At one point, a guy was riding my a$$ all the way around to the passing zone and pressuring me. Here's a video of how that turned out! Fortunately, he didn't drive right through my driver's side door. Why an instructor would pressure a driver of clearly lower skill level is beyond me.

A word of advice to anyone doing track days. INSIST that you be placed in a group of your confidence and skill level. To any event coordinators, if someone wants to move DOWN a group LET THEM!!! This is just common sense that the coordinators were lacking yesterday.

Wow that was a nice high speed blip there. Good job at keeping it under control. Very nice save!

I agree with you about the instructor thing. I think Bobo had his issue at VIR after his instructor prematurely let him push it.

I spun my Mustang at VIR years ago in a slower section of the course. It's funny how you don't even think about your safety. It's like, "oh crap, I'm about to wreck my street car!"

out of curiosity, what should you have done? gassed it hard and turned the wheel right?

nice recovery!

Nicer tires would have helped, I think he either lifted or jerked the wheel too hard to the left.

It's an off-camber left and I cut in too hard, too fast. The back just got light and started to come around. Also, it was 97F outside and the stock Bridgestones were pretty gummy...still entirely driver fault though. I wonder if being even quicker with full right lock would have had a complete recovery on track.

M4, you're right. I had a jerkoff in a 350Z tight on my rear and during the incident I kept worrying he would T-bone me. Moments like that feel soooo much longer when they are happening though. When I watched the video the first time, it seemed very quick. I felt like I was sideways for about 5 minutes when it happened.

I am surprised you ran with all of the storms that went through yesterday, congrats on the save



DAN

Thanks. We stayed dry until the end of the last session around 815pm. Then the big storms came through.

On a side note, the 25 row Setrab oil cooler was a star. Max temp was 240 and in one lap it'll cool down to 220F. My friend in his 40th anniv without a cooler was pegging at 280 after a few laps each session. The cooler addition was worth its weight in gold.

I definitely had full right lock. The problem is that I lost traction in the rear. Mashing the accelerator would have worsened the situation. What I ended up doing was full right lock and clutch in...no brake or gas. As I slowed while sideways, I gently applied some brake and the car came back facing forward as I steered off and parallel to the track. I think being even faster with the right lock could have kept it on the track completely.

Was a good save. Sucks when you get pressured like that from behind.

They definitely should have let you drop down to intermediate at your request, that's just silly, 5 track days doesn't make you an expert. It was nice that it came back to you gracefully, the brakes on this car are good at straightening you out if you are getting sideways.

I don't know if it is possible, but I highly recommend mounting the camera behind the driver so you can see the hands better. You might not see as much track (or as clear), but it really helps in correcting mistakes or spotting them.

Definitely nice recovery! Were you running alignment (camber and toe) within factory spec? You mentioned in the video about it "letting go progressively".

Yeah. Aside from Hotchkis sways, the suspension is bone stock with no further adjustment. When it let go, the rear came around slowly at first and then picked up speed. Definitely knew what was coming!

Definitely a good idea. I have to find a better way to mount the GoPro when I have a passenger. When there is no one in the passenger seat, I like to remove the headrest and put the suction cup on the little side window (see pic). It gives a perfect view of the track and full interior. With passenger...I haven't found a great spot yet.