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Is there a strange reason removing the 50 lbs passenger seat ISNT worth it (i have to brake a half marker earlier WITHOUT it)

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Duane Black

Curbs go brrrppp
567
401
Exp. Type
Time Attack
Exp. Level
5-10 Years
Durham, NC
So my last two trips tk VIR, i started removing the passenger seat for some sessions to test out weight reduction. I got some bad fast for me laps in early February, but not so much in mid March. Ive noticed on my data the top speed was nearly the same... like, I wasn't consistent in march or the data wasnt reading accurately... but the "margin of error" had the sear being about as fast, maybe a half mph faster withoit it. But with tge seat, my marjers at vir are 4.5, 2.75ish, and 1.5 in 1, 11, and 14. Without the seat, i braked at 5, 3, and 2.

My initial hypothetisis was track conditions were a bigger difference than anything, and that marker moving was due to a top speed difference. Now, I'm reviewing my data and looking at this and its like... in back ti bak trsting, is it actually better??? Surely a 50 lbs ballast mid car is better gone? Maybe the aero isnbetter with a seat for some stupid reason?

I mean, no professional race cars have a passenger seat so theres that
 

Dave_W

Cones - not just for ice cream
986
1,278
Exp. Type
Autocross
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Connecticut
Put an instructor in it. Maybe you’ll go even faster.
Fixed it for you. :D

Look at your apex minimum speeds - any faster without the seat? Could be like you're thinking - more apex speed = higher top speed = earlier braking. Or it could be tire grip changes between days - heat cycles, track temp., moisture/humidity, etc. Or it could just be statistical noise - can you drive consistently enough to be able to put in lap times that would show a noticeable difference from a 50 pound weight change on a 3xxx lb. car?

And if you don't mind, in the future please take a minute or two to proofread your post before posting. Some of that was hard to decipher.
 

Duane Black

Curbs go brrrppp
567
401
Exp. Type
Time Attack
Exp. Level
5-10 Years
Durham, NC
Because cell phone? LOL! Reads like a lot of text messages I receive.....
Was a text message... apex speeds are pretty consistent one way or another. Within 1 mph in most turns. Basically, i cant attribute any of that to the seat... could just be track conditions.

For t14 i xan confirm going to 1.5 like a seat is in the car will result in missing t14. Not in the grass... but you'll miss the apex
 
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And if you don't mind, in the future please take a minute or two to proofread your post before posting. Some of that was hard to decipher.
Seriously, I stopped reading it because it was so difficult to decipher.
 

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