redpriest HPDE journal

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by redpriest

lol - it's not exactly set in stone, maybe in mud.

Mud is workable lol

[admranger]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

@Admranger always refers to flag station at riverside for entering the esses! I just try to set up a straight line by looking at the pavement. Lol.

If you're looking at the pavement while going through the esses your eyes aren't far enough in front of your car. You'll go faster looking at the worker station once you get used to it.

Ok, so how do I *know* this? Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I was a "B" level student in CCA schools (think 1995-1997, sometimes around there) running around in my 1987 325iS. My instructor was Sherman "the German" K (some may know him from the Bay a-r-e-a [why is that word bleeped out? lol]). He sat in the right seat, shivering in terroer, errr, calmly working me around BW when he decided to try an experiment. He called out where my eyes should be looking. Holy hell, batman! He had me looking super far ahead and got me into a process that I use to this day. My eyes never stop and stare unless it is at a far off reference point (e.g., the aforementioned worker station or the water tower at Turn 9 at big Willow), they are always moving to the next point on the track (or checking my mirrors, my gauges, etc. on the straights). So we do this for a couple of laps and I get used to it and there's no panic in me anymore. Things are easy, no stress, having fun. He then tells me to check my speed at various points on the track. I've picked up tons of speed. Serious speed in an '87 325iS. E36M3's are not an issue unless they don't let up on the right pedal on the straights. Next school I'm in the "A" group and I never looked back. It takes practice (which I've fallen out of due to limited track time), but it works.

Fix the seat to steering wheel interface as it's the cheapest upgrade you can do.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by admranger

If you're looking at the pavement while going through the esses your eyes aren't far enough in front of your car. You'll go faster looking at the worker station once you get used to it.

Ok, so how do I *know* this? Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I was a "B" level student in CCA schools (think 1995-1997, sometimes around there) running around in my 1987 325iS. My instructor was Sherman "the German" K (some may know him from the Bay a-r-e-a [why is that word bleeped out? lol]). He sat in the right seat, shivering in terroer, errr, calmly working me around BW when he decided to try an experiment. He called out where my eyes should be looking. Holy hell, batman! He had me looking super far ahead and got me into a process that I use to this day. My eyes never stop and stare unless it is at a far off reference point (e.g., the aforementioned worker station or the water tower at Turn 9 at big Willow), they are always moving to the next point on the track (or checking my mirrors, my gauges, etc. on the straights). So we do this for a couple of laps and I get used to it and there's no panic in me anymore. Things are easy, no stress, having fun. He then tells me to check my speed at various points on the track. I've picked up tons of speed. Serious speed in an '87 325iS. E36M3's are not an issue unless they don't let up on the right pedal on the straights. Next school I'm in the "A" group and I never looked back. It takes practice (which I've fallen out of due to limited track time), but it works.

Fix the seat to steering wheel interface as it's the cheapest upgrade you can do.

I don't think it's a problem of keepin my eyes way up. It's just at that section of the track I'm lookin at the pavement (more at the apex of the left turn coming out of the esses) because for me that's been my reference point so far. I'll look further out to see what's there. I'm already wot all the way to sunset without lifting so I think my thing should be trying to enter the esses even faster.

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

I don't think it's a problem of keepin my eyes way up. It's just at that section of the track I'm lookin at the pavement (more at the apex of the left turn coming out of the esses) because for me that's been my reference point so far. I'll look further out to see what's there. I'm already wot all the way to sunset without lifting so I think my thing should be trying to enter the esses even faster.

I almost went two wheels off coming out of the esses on one session, car was not solidly planted coming out of it at full throttle. You can bet on exactly what was on my mind in light of the recent tragedy, so I maybe went 80% throttle through there from then on out, heh.

I'll take a slight hit in lap times over spinning out and hitting the flag station, thanks.

[redpriest]

Haven't fully decided on which tires to mount for ACS. Nitto NT01 or RE-71R?

I went with RE-71Rs at first because I was driving on my track tires to the various tracks I was at, but since I now carry them in the back seat with me and drive down on my street tires, it's not that big a problem. Nitto NT01 are cheaper, and just as fast, but:

A) Will they rub 275/35/18 on stock suspension, or with MCS 2-way/JRZ RS Pro suspension + springs?
B) Wear characteristics - heat cycles? # of sessions?

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by redpriest

A) Will they rub 275/35/18 on stock suspension, or with MCS 2-way/JRZ RS Pro suspension + springs?

dogbone is running jrz rs pro and he is running 295 tires up front.


alex, i'm getting pumped up for laguna seca in march and i'm watching your videos. you seem to let off the throttle over the crest at the main straight. does the car get light there? seems like you coast down to the turn. is it hard to brake straight there or something?

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

dogbone is running jrz rs pro and he is running 295 tires up front.


alex, i'm getting pumped up for laguna seca in march and i'm watching your videos. you seem to let off the throttle over the crest at the main straight. does the car get light there? seems like you coast down to the turn. is it hard to brake straight there or something?

I'm full throttle through there now, in my 1.44.54 lap time video. It takes a lot of guts and a lot of faith to do that, but I finally worked myself up to that point now. It's completely blind, so you have to pay attention to that main flag station as you approach it. They will hopefully be on the spot because you are cresting that hill at 120 mph.

You have to hug the left wall because at full throttle, the car really wants to swing to the right as you crest the hill. There's a gravel trap at the bottom of the hill but I really did not want to test it.

As you crest the hill, it does get a little squirrely, especially because there's that little kink of a turn 1 and it kind of unbalances the car a bit - and I am hard on the brakes as you approach the double apex turn 2 hairpin. I suspect this is one of the places where additional downforce would be immensely helpful.

I tried late braking a couple times there, and it didn't work out well. There's a lot of run off room so I managed to not go off track but it could have been gravel trap city. You'll be on the brakes well before the "3", at least I found.

Andrie Hartanto (the guy who did the RE-71R comparo vs NT01) drives an E46 M3 that's barely modified - MCS 2-way suspension with custom valving of his own design + exhaust and maybe a tune, and he was breezing by me with his 1:39 laptimes. He was carrying an awful lot of speed through turns for sure, also on RE-71R tires.

The biggest thing I found for me was that at this track more than any other track, MDM was flashing like *crazy* everywhere. More than anything, it cemented my desire to try DSC off, especially on the final turn, turn 11. This is the first time I've ever had Euro MDM cut in on me so severely that you would lose power for 2 seconds on the straight. It honestly felt like Euro MDM = regular MDM there.

I spent a lot of time being very gentle on that last turn to try to not get MDM to trigger, as it made a huge difference in lap times for me. I watched this guy's video on the track and it also helped as he pointed out the turns you need to respect -

[redpriest]

I am getting NT01s mounted for ACS/Buttonwillow that's coming up this month, and I'm going to be using them for Sonoma/Laguna Seca in March. It's going to be fun!!!!

Gonna pick up some safety equipment - Schroth Quick Fit Pro + Simpson FIA Hybrid for this month. Carbon Fiber helmet too, but it looks to be on severe back order, so I doubt I will get it in time. Going to get MCS 2 way or JRZ RS Pro suspension put on soon, maybe for March, I can't wait!

[roastbeef]

awesome. great tips and tricks there.

did you do any experiments with apexing turn 2? like going deep into the corner and making it a single, late apex? i don't know if that would actually be faster, i'm just thinking and typing.

i *might* be getting my solid subframe/diff bushings done before this trip...

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

awesome. great tips and tricks there.

did you do any experiments with apexing turn 2? like going deep into the corner and making it a single, late apex? i don't know if that would actually be faster, i'm just thinking and typing.

i *might* be getting my solid subframe/diff bushings done before this trip...

That's exactly what I do - I ignore the first apex in turn 2 and hit the late one. The instructor I had with HOD basically taught me that line on my first day and it's worked great for me.

[redpriest]

Picked up AIM Solo DL, Simpson FIA Hybrid device, and Schroth Quick Fit Pro. Hopefully all three get here before next Saturday.

[redpriest]

Opened up the AIM Solo DL kit ... and it came with the OBDII plugin (apparently that's what the EAS breakout option is)

Bah! I need to find a CAN harness in a hurry, or be stuck with only having 9 channels of data.

[redpriest]

Double whammy, the Simpson FIA Hybrid I ordered which was supposed to come with M6 anchor / quick release - didn't come with it. I have a $1200 safety device I can't attach to my head - wonderful. Ugh!! Doing this stuff last minute always sucks.

Quick Fit Pro is supposed to arrive tomorrow, hopefully it doesn't have stuff missing as well. Probably not safe to use it without a working head restraint. Maybe Simpson can overnight something to me.

[M3 Number 86]

lol sucks.

See if m-world can overnight the ecu harness. Call EAS also - I thought that they have a hardwire kit. If they do maybe I can grab it for you this week and bring it to ACS.

Weird that Simpson wouldn't send anchors.

Hopefully you can get it sorted out. Send me a pm or email for my number.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by redpriest

Double whammy, the Simpson FIA Hybrid I ordered which was supposed to come with M6 anchor / quick release - didn't come with it. I have a $1200 safety device I can't attach to my head - wonderful. Ugh!! Doing this stuff last minute always sucks.

Quick Fit Pro is supposed to arrive tomorrow, hopefully it doesn't have stuff missing as well. Probably not safe to use it without a working head restraint. Maybe Simpson can overnight something to me.

You should be fine without a head restraint. That is how it achieved its DOT certification afterall

[redpriest]

Getting M-World to overnight me the CAN harness ($225 ouch! $70 for expedited shipping), and got Simpson to also overnight me the required components for the Hybrid (their fault, so don't have to pay for this).

I guess Simpson had an issue this week with stocking the correct items - good customer service though.

[roastbeef]

Are you doing the auto club roval this weekend?

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

Are you doing the auto club roval this weekend?

Yeah, doing Saturday at Auto Club, then Sunday at Buttonwillow.

[roastbeef]

Im debating on a last minute track day for sat...

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

Im debating on a last minute track day for sat...

It'll be fun, we can have a little m3post meet. I went ahead and signed up for the Bimmer Challenge too. Signed up for green group.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by redpriest

It'll be fun, we can have a little m3post meet. I went ahead and signed up for the Bimmer Challenge too. Signed up for green group.

redpriest roastbeef

if you are both in for Saturday and got garages - pm me your first and last name if you got garages so we can all pit next to each other.

We have about 6 or 7 of us that will park together.

edit: Alex I got you (check your email)

[roastbeef]

I picked up a shift at work tonight, so we'll have to meet up another time.