Hey guys I'm looking for a bit of constructive criticism, anything I'm doing wrong (or right). This is my second HPDE, first was also HPDE1, but at VIR Full. I found Summit Point to be more enjoyable (for me anyway), though not nearly in as good of shape as VIR. Summit Point has a great flow, much like a great back road and I found it easier to keep my rhythm, despite the HPDE1 traffic. I did however toast a set of XP10's F/R that weekend and am looking into a dual piston upgrade from later cars, XP12F/XP10R and some sort of cooling to keep the temps down. I barely had the opportunity to attempt threshold breaking as the brakes seemed to have zero bite at times.

Below is my last session of the last day, I was promoted to HPDE2. Sorry about the sound, I'm still working on a quality solution.

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Not watching the whole thing, and not knowing the track. I wonder if you ride sportbikes, your body language shows you do. Turn your head and look thru the corner, and don't try to lean in like you would on a bike. I neck roll helps break this habit, i had the same prob in my transition to cars.


Len

 

Can't believe you prefer Summit over VIR!!!!!!!!!!!!
I went to Summit Point (main course) once this year and didn't particularly care for it. Mind you, it was hot as hell that weekend AND I had an instructor who was not very inspiring (I'm being as diplomatic as I can!).
I'll probably give it a try again in 2010 though (Trackdaze on July 12/13).

 

Looks like you had a great time. Looks like you are fairly smooth. The two things I noticed that are fairly common at the HPDE1/2 level, is to try and use as much of the track as possible. Also, easy up on the steering wheel. Try to hold it more gently, using your fingers instead of a full palm wrap around.

Also get yourself a harness bar, and harnesses, which will help seat you firmly in place. You can feel the car much better, when you aren't holding on for dear life.

Keep it up!

I agree though. Summit and VIR should be uttered in the same sentence. I think with some more seat time, VIR will become one of your favorite tracks.

 

yep.. smooth drive.
try to don't turn using your shoulders... they should/must stay relaxed.. and use more the arms.. it's quicker and gives more precision.

 

Thanks for the feedback!

I've never ridden sportbikes, or motorcyles in general. I guess it's a combination of fighting the g's in leather seats and trying to look far enough ahead at the next few corners.

YES I DO!!! haha, I was at VIR in July I think?? It's a really neat course and I really like the layout, but I found myself losing concentration, I was bored on the straights and it just doesn't have the faster paced rythem that SP:Main has. SP's surface REALLY needs some help, but I really like the flow, maybe because it meant more laps per session? Are you in group3 yet? Pratt and I are trying to plan our track schedule for next year, are you attending many of the NASA events?

Harnesses and a bar along with a new helmet are at the top of the list. I really struggle trying to stay in place with the leather seats, which is what most of my leaning is attributed to. I really did like VIR, but in HPDE1 I guess I never had the chance to get out and run. I would just spend too much time in traffic, I also had a harder time catching point-by's from higher HP cars at VIR, which can ruin a day.

I'll probably only get to do 2 events in 2010, so I'll try to make it back out to VIR and Summit Point. Hopefully I can find a better setup for my brakes, replacing pads /rotors after every weekend will get old pretty fast

 

I'll probably attend a few NASA events (HPDE 3) this year. Honestly though, while I enjoy their events, my experience has definitely been that you get more track time for the $ with some other organizations. With groups like Asphalt or Trackdaze, you get four 30 minute sessions per day, but with NASA, you only get three 20 minute sessions (I guess I'm a "comparison shopper" !!!!!).
But definitely let me know when/where you guys are going and I will almost certainly join you.
Crawford