Track forum general chit chat.

[rhyary]

AIM is moving DCT Temperature into the production PT6 protocol.

More here if you interested:

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=28495832

[Tommysalami]

Signed up for Laguna Seca April 16 with HOD

[rhyary]

I will be an hour from Sonoma Raceway and 2 hours from Laguna Seca on:

February Monday 14th to Friday 18th

I was wondering if there is anything I can do to enjoy these venues.

Let me know if you have suggestions

[kyippee]

Originally Posted by rhyary

I will be an hour from Sonoma Raceway and 2 hours from Laguna Seca on:

February Monday 14th to Friday 18th

I was wondering if there is anything I can do to enjoy these venues.

Let me know if you have suggestions

Ask SP MS if they'll do Porsche rental for an HPDE day https://www.spmsracing.com

Sonoma, see if you can do a KTM day or something https://simracewaydrivingschool.com/...ng-experience/

[Bimmer Barney]

Spent the day going over my brakes today ahead of next track day. In the midst of some construction so I don't have my garage and I really hate working in my driveway. Anyway… going to try running F80 rotors (380x30) up front and pagid rsl29 and also swapped out the janky swiss backing plates for the hard motorsports units. Also did a full fluid flush with SRF (was running RBF660 prior). The new backing plate units are very well designed and fitment is spot on. Still trying to figure out the ideal hose routing prior to Laguna in a couple weeks.

[Bimmer Barney]

I am hoping to hit a specific lap time next time out and so was searching YT for vids and then noting corner speeds on said laps. Compared those to HLT data from my slower laps last time out and noted which corners I need to focus on; 5mph here, 8 mph there, 3mph over there. Then when I go I can be more observant and objective when practicing those corners instead of simply going off feel (which as an amateur seems like feel is a bad gauge).

Is this generally a good approach to improve my awareness of corners and eventually putting together a better lap? What do others do differently?

[rhyary]

I learn by grabbing a YT into RaceRender and I view it frame by frame. I focus on what a fast driver do and listen to the engine to learn timing of input. I less focused on the speed since that can be car or tire dependent.

[derbo]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

I am hoping to hit a specific lap time next time out and so was searching YT for vids and then noting corner speeds on said laps. Compared those to HLT data from my slower laps last time out and noted which corners I need to focus on; 5mph here, 8 mph there, 3mph over there. Then when I go I can be more observant and objective when practicing those corners instead of simply going off feel (which as an amateur seems like feel is a bad gauge).

Is this generally a good approach to improve my awareness of corners and eventually putting together a better lap? What do others do differently?

https://speedsecrets.com/product/lag...al-track-walk/

I found this one very helpful for reference points you need for braking zones, turn-in points, apex, etc. It is all generalized but does create a great starting foundation to get consistent.

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

I am hoping to hit a specific lap time next time out and so was searching YT for vids and then noting corner speeds on said laps. Compared those to HLT data from my slower laps last time out and noted which corners I need to focus on; 5mph here, 8 mph there, 3mph over there. Then when I go I can be more observant and objective when practicing those corners instead of simply going off feel (which as an amateur seems like feel is a bad gauge).

Is this generally a good approach to improve my awareness of corners and eventually putting together a better lap? What do others do differently?

I'm not sure how you could monitor corner speeds while keeping your eyes up looking through the corner.
I think higher cornering speeds is a product of good braking technique. If the car is going the proper speed and the chassis is in the correct position to start the corner, the speeds are going to be higher, right?

[Bimmer Barney]

I agree at full speed looking at the speedometer may not be practical but when focusing on one turn correctly I don't see why it would be any issue. Then you learn the noise, gear, sense of speed, sound so that you aren't searching the speedometer.

[roastbeef]

i'm just not sure its a good metric to try to actively measure. you could overcook it into a corner and have a "good" cornering speed, but not be able to get on the throttle as soon (which is probably more beneficial). i just don't see how a quick glance down can measure 1-2 mph differences for immediate feedback is realistic. and then how are you going to be sure you glanced down at your exact moment of minimum speed through the corner?

braking technique is directly related to cornering speeds. how would you rate yours? i think this is the approach- someone correct me if i'm wrong.

[leftfootbr8king]

At what point do you start feeling the car? When you're no longer an amateur?

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

The best thing to use is the +- delta to PB times on an aim or garmin device. You can use the red or green lights in your periphery vision to see if your changes to lines result in a net positive change.

At least that's worked best for me. 🤔

[Bimmer Barney]

Originally Posted by leftfootbr8king

At what point do you start feeling the car? When you're no longer an amateur?

When you start getting paid to drive on track would be one way to define it.

When you possess some form of a racing license is another, maybe?

Maybe it's when you start left foot braking?

I run in the advanced group but I check my ego at pit exit.

[Bimmer Barney]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

i'm just not sure its a good metric to try to actively measure. you could overcook it into a corner and have a "good" cornering speed, but not be able to get on the throttle as soon (which is probably more beneficial). i just don't see how a quick glance down can measure 1-2 mph differences for immediate feedback is realistic. and then how are you going to be sure you glanced down at your exact moment of minimum speed through the corner?

braking technique is directly related to cornering speeds. how would you rate yours? i think this is the approach- someone correct me if i'm wrong.

I agree with what you're saying, and what others are saying. I guess what I'm trying to do is figure out a better way to go faster through a few specific corners. Or rather, a specific sector. I know which corners need the work and without having a coach in the car to say "on throttle sooner" or "less brake" I'm trying to find something to measure and apex speed was what I came up with.

I think I trail brake too much/charge into corners too hot. I don't know if it's fear of not making the turn at higher speed or what, but I've always done it even when I raced bikes. I'm thinking I need to really focus on getting braking done earlier and in a straight line rather than trail brake and ultimately over-brake which kills corner speeds and exit speed and creates late throttle exit.

[leftfootbr8king]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

When you start getting paid to drive on track would be one way to define it.

When you possess some form of a racing license is another, maybe?

Maybe it's when you start left foot braking?

I run in the advanced group but I check my ego at pit exit.

If everyone who currently gets paid to drive waited to "feel" for grip until they got paid, they'd never be paid.

I'd disagree that ego has anything to do with driving to feel. Track conditions, tires, brakes weather. So many variables to just focus on, you can't have a standard corner entry speed/braking approach.

Also, I don't think you can disregard trail braking like that. Some corners require it for rotation and some corners don't.

[Tommysalami]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

I agree with what you're saying, and what others are saying. I guess what I'm trying to do is figure out a better way to go faster through a few specific corners. Or rather, a specific sector. I know which corners need the work and without having a coach in the car to say "on throttle sooner" or "less brake" I'm trying to find something to measure and apex speed was what I came up with.

I think I trail brake too much/charge into corners too hot. I don't know if it's fear of not making the turn at higher speed or what, but I've always done it even when I raced bikes. I'm thinking I need to really focus on getting braking done earlier and in a straight line rather than trail brake and ultimately over-brake which kills corner speeds and exit speed and creates late throttle exit.

Read this and try to think of your line as a decreasing radius spiral for corner entry. You use trail braking to achieve that line. This guy has some youtube videos that demonstrate this as well

https://www.paradigmshiftracing.com/...rail-braking#/

[omgzirra_exe]

will be attending a few track days in the up coming months.

2/27 - bw most likely cw13
3/19 - cvr - speedventure/bimmerchallenge
4/9 - bw - speedventure/bimmerchallenge -up in the air still.

hope to see yall~

[Chris_PDX]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

braking technique is directly related to cornering speeds. how would you rate yours? i think this is the approach- someone correct me if i'm wrong.

I would say it's the transition from braking to cornering that's more critical. That includes if trail braking is being used vs. getting the car neutral before turn in. Most of the time if my students (or even me) is getting out of sorts into a corner, it's because that transition was off/poor.

[Bimmer Barney]

Originally Posted by leftfootbr8king

If everyone who currently gets paid to drive waited to "feel" for grip until they got paid, they'd never be paid.

I'd disagree that ego has anything to do with driving to feel. Track conditions, tires, brakes weather. So many variables to just focus on, you can't have a standard corner entry speed/braking approach.

Also, I don't think you can disregard trail braking like that. Some corners require it for rotation and some corners don't.

Glad a snarky response to your comment got a real response. Thanks for the input.

[Accel Junky]

Hey Guys, wanted to get an updated opinion on brakes: STR40 fronts only or ST40 front only.

My stock rotors are absolutely toast and I don't want to re-invest in OEM in the front at least. I've seen just a couple users mention using the STR40 or ST40 fronts. Seems like this is certainly the minority size to go with but I like the idea of the lighter weight and lower cost. AP Racing is not in my budget but I do like the weight savings. I feel a little sick when I replace something OEM and don't save much or any weight. Of course with brakes that weight savings can be a sacrifice for heat capacity.

I'd hate to go STR60 or ST60 and not save much weight if the STR40 and ST40 can get the job done. I do worry about the thermal capacity of the 355mm rotor though I know it is thicker than OEM, so maybe that makes it equal or greater.

Right now the plan is mostly full weight for the car in the short term but medium term I plan to gut it (reversibly) and the weight will probably be a few hundred pounds less. I do plan on running the GT4 lip with proper ducting to the front rotors. Tires are RS4s for the moment. I do see eventually going to a 100tw.

My home tracks are Road Atlanta and AMP. I'm typically an upper intermediate level driver or lower advanced.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[leftfootbr8king]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

Glad a snarky response to your comment got a real response. Thanks for the input.

Of course. Thanks for the snark.