First off, this was the 2nd time ever on a road course and the first in about 7 years. Then I ran at a little track in PA (Was called Beaver Run, now Pittsburgh International Raceway). Then, I ran my 1988 GT that was stock power-wise, but had some simple suspension mods (Bilstein shocks, MM springs, caster/camber plates, 2 piston front brakes, rear disc conversion, etc).
On to this event.
My car is a 2016 PP GT with BMR performance springs, Continental DWS-06 tires (stock PP sizes) with MMD Zeven wheels (19x8.5 and 19x10 stagger), GT350 CAI and Lund 93 tune.
Day 1:
Classroom session: Intro to the track, what to expect, etc.
Run 1:
This was a "get to know the track" session. No helmet. For the first 2 laps, my instructor (who has a FBO 14 GT) drove my car to show me the line he uses and to give me an idea to take in the track. After 2 laps, we switched and I drove the car to try the line and get feedback at higher speed. Not bad.
Classroom session 2: Review of run 1.
Run 2:
This was done at "full speed" with helmet. The first thing I learned is I needed to be more patient with turn-in when it came to the turns. Plus, my timing with the shifts, braking, etc was a mess. I had no clue what I was doing. I was going through the corners slower than molasses and was not setting myself up for the straights at all.
Classroom session 2: More review, talk about car control, balance, oversteer, understeer, basic safety, etc.
Lunch: Parade laps in a torrential downpour.
Run 3:
The track was wet, but no lightning so we had corner workers. Had to learn a little more car control, difference in lines, etc.
Classroom 3: Review of driving in the rain, what did we learn, etc.
Run 4:
Lightning in the area, no corner workers, so we had parade lap, but I took the time to work on my line.
Review of Day 1: By the end of the day, I realized I really really don't know this car at all. I was overthinking a ton the whole day. I was trying to figure out what to do in the corner as I was in the corner instead of setting myself up prior to the corner. I was having a hard time hitting my shift points (mainly downshifting). I was too busy heel-toe down shifting and trying to do 10 things while trying to read a line and listen to an instructor in my ear was too much. I left the track feeling defeated. I was expecting to do so much better (my first ever event in the fox, I graduated to solo after 2 sessions). I was determined to do better on Day 2.
Day 2.
Classroom session to start the session:
Watched a clip of Jackie Stewart from when he was on Top Gear. He talked about car control, simplifying things, etc. Good information
Run 1:
This session was better today than any yesterday. We had a dry track so I could push it a bit. My first 2 laps were just "meh". Things clicked after that. I remembered to breathe going into the corners and I felt smooth. I actually hit a particularly tough part of the track perfectly a couple of times, but I was still turning in too soon and missing some shift points. I wasn't going full throttle in the corners and I wasn't looking ahead as much as I needed to. My instructor was happy with the way things went, so I felt better.
Classroom 2: Review of run and we started the session learning what we would be "graded" on for our next on-track session. Talked about things maybe we werent doing as well. I immediately realized I needed to pay more attention to the corner workers and vowed to call them out each time I saw them. I also knew I needed to ask my instructor what I needed completely (even though we discussed things after each run).
Run 2:
I was ready. I felt calm, I was breathing normally. I talked to Steve (instructor) and told him what I felt I needed to work on and how I was going to do it. We started out with a hot, sticky track. I picked up where I left off and hit some good corners, but was still turning in too quickly on one of the sweepers at the end of a straight. Every damn time. The good thing is I recognized it then the next time around, I told my instructor how I was going to enter the corner and what I was expecting. I called out every flag I saw and stopped heel-toeing and also waited longer in a few of the corners to downshift. By the end of the session, I was at the back of the pack mainly due to my work needed in the corners. I then asked Steve what he thought of the session and he just reinforced in me that I need to learn the car a lot more and the only way to do that is through repetition. He said I seem to feel comfortable in the car, but I have to learn when/where to shift to make sure I'm set-up in the corners for the next straight. Once I"m smoother, then I can push the speed a bit.
Overall:
I had a great time. I was a little deflated at the end of day 1, but only because I knew I could do better. I did do better on day 2. I'll still be in the first run group (Green) next time at this track (or any track with this group), but I welcome that wholeheartedly. I need all the help I can get.
I'm hooked like I knew I would be. I also realize the only mods I need to be buying are track days/weekends. I wasn't even close to reaching the potential of this car at all. I had some tire squeal during some good turns, but I need a shiznit ton more seat time.
There was a professional photo guy there so hopefully I get some good pics and when I do, I'll add them here.
I knew I"d enjoy it, but I def have a lot to learn.
On to this event.
My car is a 2016 PP GT with BMR performance springs, Continental DWS-06 tires (stock PP sizes) with MMD Zeven wheels (19x8.5 and 19x10 stagger), GT350 CAI and Lund 93 tune.
Day 1:
Classroom session: Intro to the track, what to expect, etc.
Run 1:
This was a "get to know the track" session. No helmet. For the first 2 laps, my instructor (who has a FBO 14 GT) drove my car to show me the line he uses and to give me an idea to take in the track. After 2 laps, we switched and I drove the car to try the line and get feedback at higher speed. Not bad.
Classroom session 2: Review of run 1.
Run 2:
This was done at "full speed" with helmet. The first thing I learned is I needed to be more patient with turn-in when it came to the turns. Plus, my timing with the shifts, braking, etc was a mess. I had no clue what I was doing. I was going through the corners slower than molasses and was not setting myself up for the straights at all.
Classroom session 2: More review, talk about car control, balance, oversteer, understeer, basic safety, etc.
Lunch: Parade laps in a torrential downpour.
Run 3:
The track was wet, but no lightning so we had corner workers. Had to learn a little more car control, difference in lines, etc.
Classroom 3: Review of driving in the rain, what did we learn, etc.
Run 4:
Lightning in the area, no corner workers, so we had parade lap, but I took the time to work on my line.
Review of Day 1: By the end of the day, I realized I really really don't know this car at all. I was overthinking a ton the whole day. I was trying to figure out what to do in the corner as I was in the corner instead of setting myself up prior to the corner. I was having a hard time hitting my shift points (mainly downshifting). I was too busy heel-toe down shifting and trying to do 10 things while trying to read a line and listen to an instructor in my ear was too much. I left the track feeling defeated. I was expecting to do so much better (my first ever event in the fox, I graduated to solo after 2 sessions). I was determined to do better on Day 2.
Day 2.
Classroom session to start the session:
Watched a clip of Jackie Stewart from when he was on Top Gear. He talked about car control, simplifying things, etc. Good information
Run 1:
This session was better today than any yesterday. We had a dry track so I could push it a bit. My first 2 laps were just "meh". Things clicked after that. I remembered to breathe going into the corners and I felt smooth. I actually hit a particularly tough part of the track perfectly a couple of times, but I was still turning in too soon and missing some shift points. I wasn't going full throttle in the corners and I wasn't looking ahead as much as I needed to. My instructor was happy with the way things went, so I felt better.
Classroom 2: Review of run and we started the session learning what we would be "graded" on for our next on-track session. Talked about things maybe we werent doing as well. I immediately realized I needed to pay more attention to the corner workers and vowed to call them out each time I saw them. I also knew I needed to ask my instructor what I needed completely (even though we discussed things after each run).
Run 2:
I was ready. I felt calm, I was breathing normally. I talked to Steve (instructor) and told him what I felt I needed to work on and how I was going to do it. We started out with a hot, sticky track. I picked up where I left off and hit some good corners, but was still turning in too quickly on one of the sweepers at the end of a straight. Every damn time. The good thing is I recognized it then the next time around, I told my instructor how I was going to enter the corner and what I was expecting. I called out every flag I saw and stopped heel-toeing and also waited longer in a few of the corners to downshift. By the end of the session, I was at the back of the pack mainly due to my work needed in the corners. I then asked Steve what he thought of the session and he just reinforced in me that I need to learn the car a lot more and the only way to do that is through repetition. He said I seem to feel comfortable in the car, but I have to learn when/where to shift to make sure I'm set-up in the corners for the next straight. Once I"m smoother, then I can push the speed a bit.
Overall:
I had a great time. I was a little deflated at the end of day 1, but only because I knew I could do better. I did do better on day 2. I'll still be in the first run group (Green) next time at this track (or any track with this group), but I welcome that wholeheartedly. I need all the help I can get.
I'm hooked like I knew I would be. I also realize the only mods I need to be buying are track days/weekends. I wasn't even close to reaching the potential of this car at all. I had some tire squeal during some good turns, but I need a shiznit ton more seat time.
There was a professional photo guy there so hopefully I get some good pics and when I do, I'll add them here.
I knew I"d enjoy it, but I def have a lot to learn.
