Can anyone offer driving advice/tips/suggestions for running the track at Infineon?
I ran TimeTrials with NASA for the first time with my 350z and this track absolutely defeated me.
Thunderhill, Buttonwillow, Laguna Seca are all cakewalk compared to this track.
Infineon was such a technical, fear-inducing experience. No time to breathe, much pucker-factor.
-I never had confidence approaching turn 2 after coming off the straight.
-turn 4 and turn 11 were awkward

Going through the esses was probably my favorite part, and the only section I felt I had rythm. I would hit 105/6mph before hitting the brakes into 10, but everywhere else I was slow. My best lap was 2:06...1:58 was best time in TTC that day. I could say that my street tires were getting greasy and everyone was running race-tires, but I also think I need to master this track before I go crazy!
Any help would be appreciated.
Pictures from the event:
http://rides.webshots.com/album/563094007JTuQHG

It was good to meet DaveH and he even showed me how to properly mount my transponder! He is insane fast and I think he posted the best time in TTC.
I should rode with this instructor but I couldn't find him:

The TTR 350z, wicked!!

 

Nice meeing you too Aliving. Infineon is one of my favorite tracks.
What a wild weekend though.. I had the ride of my life through that oil slick. I don't know how all 6 of us who spun through it didn't hit each other. Where was the friggin debris flag NASA??

 

Ca't wait until I get out there this summer. Looking forward to joining you guys; I'll be in TTB with my JWT G35. I doubt I'll be anywhere near competitive, but I'll have fun, thats for sure.

 

T2 is one of the most complex at the track. You have to brake, shift and turn all at once. All while battling the lightness over the crest. Sometimes I tell my students to forget about the shift just to take one thing out of the equation. It's ok to use some slip angle there because traction comes back just at the apex under power. The warm weather made times a bit slower this weekend.

 

Thanks for the pics, Alvin! I'm glad you got back in one piece! I sent you a link for some good tires!

How were your temps? Did the gauge move at all?

 

[QUOTE=daveh]T2 is one of the most complex at the track. You have to brake, shift and turn all at once. All while battling the lightness over the crest. QUOTE]

This is exactly what I was uncomfortable with...I

 

No temp info, tire pressure went from 34 to 42 after first session.
I guess I drove like I was just trying to stay on the track!

 

I'm glad you guys had a good time and bummed I couldn't make it at the same time. I know Infineon well but have never driven it in a car.

Was turn 9 used or was the chicane used for this event? I love the old turn 9 but they put the chicane in there for safety reasons.

Infineon is a track that rewards a good driver/rider. Not much time to rest anywhere and you're always in transition. My favorite track by far, even more than laguna.

daveh, glad you got through the oil spill ok. I crashed on oil at the top of 3b once.

 

Alving,

Which Z were you driving? I only saw two other Z's out there...a brickyard-like colored one and a silver one. Were either of them yours?

Infineon is my favorite track because it's the one I struggle with the most. It was so crowded in HPDE4 (~60 cars) that I probably got 3 (at most) clean laps in the two days I was there. My best lap time for the week was turned while I had a passenger in my car. Daveh's best lap time was nearly 5 seconds quicker, and he had brake issues...

T2 is a difficult turn to learn. I'm pretty sure I leave a lot of time on the table during the approach AND turn execution. The approach feels like no-mans land...In general, they say you should be on the throttle or on the brakes, but coming up on T2, I feel like I'm doing neither. I also leave lots of safety margin for T3a, T10, and exiting T11. I see folks do a 4-wheel drift out of T11, but I'm too chicken-sh*t to give it all while being 2 ft off that wall.

-Don

PS. Felipe, there was no chicane for T9. This is the config we did:
http://209.15.129.106/trackmaps/Infineon.jpg

 

Don I was in the silver Z:

 

AG-
I think you've matured enough in your driving to get some real effing numbers already. Cheers!

 

I think you were right behind me in one of the sessions. I'll try to come by and say hi next time (if I can find you or your car). There was probably 300+ cars there and 50 haulers. It was nearly impossible to find anyone.

 

whats that red thing on the front. looks like an easy button lol

 

lap timer/transponder

 

That's right it's the transponder. I had to come up a mounting rig that I knew would work, and it did!
Dave showed me a much safer/better lcoation to mount it, thanks!!

 

I'm still zip-tieing mine to my trailer hitch reciever....

 

That's the config I've run, but with turn 11 closer up, not as far down close to the wall.
Agree, kind of hard to push that close to a wall when not compteting.

300 cars? Sounds like a race weekend

Alving, did you end up buying a battery operated transponder, or did you rent somewhere? I'm not sure if to go with battery operated one or directly powered. I just don't want the dealer to see the permanent one there when I take the car in for service. Since I have an 06(known to consume oil), I take it to the dealer for oil changes, so that I have proper records in the event that I need to have an oil consumption test done.

Sorry for going OT!

daveh, congrats on the TTC time!

 

Yes, it was a race weekend. PRC, USTCC, Honda Challenge, FFR, etc...everyone was there. The last Group 1 and 2 run was at 6:10!

Felipe, I've recently hardwired an AMB transponder. I used an add-a-circuit (found at Autozone/Kragen) to tap power from the fuse. I also added a switch in the battery compartment to allow me to turn it on for track events. For you, I'd do the add-a-circuit, then zip tie the transponder to your grill. You won't be able to put your fuse cover back on with the Add-a-circuit in place, but I don't think leaving a fuse cover off for a track day is detrimental. When you take it to the dealer, you can pull out the Add-a-Circuit (it's just a fuse connected to a wire), and cut your zip tie. If you're interested, I can send you some photos. Sorry for going OT, but Felipe did it first

Alvin, I've been reading this forum at work, and the work server filters out photos. Now that I'm on my home computer, I just noticed that the 013 Z you posted up is mine...hehehe...nice photo. I barely have any photos of my own car.

I was probably out with a student when you came by. I can do a follow/lead with you next time. If I had known you were interested, I would done so in that Group 4 session I saw you in. But, the instructor you really want is daveh. He's the 2007 TTB track record holder at Infineon, but in return for driving advice, he only asks that you buy everything he thinks you should buy.

 

Are those 19" CE28N's with stock brakes? I had that same setup 3 years ago. I think you'll eventually experience brake fade or worse yet, an exploding caliper. Ask corsair about that. I was behind him when his caliper practically exploded, and brake fluid got sprayed inside the wheel well. He's quite the mechanic as he reassembled the caliper and drove home later that day.

Those wheels are beautiful though...

 

I have the rechargeable transponder...Don the 19" CE28ns were never intended for the track. I'm also running S-03PP tires, not the greatest for grip.

Still looking for a cheap 17/18" wheel setup with Hoosiers or RA-1/NT01Rs.

I have stock brakes w/Nismo pads. On the '06s the front calipers are larger than previous years, I haven't experienced fade(even at Seca) probably since I'm easy on the brakes. edit: DaveH said he got the '06 brakes to fade.

Sean is a nut. He took is passenger side seat to save weight once upon a time