From: casalp@earthlink.net "Dave Pina" Subject: Re: [rsracing] Digest Number 108 Hi Larry , here is what I remember from the old days. Some of it might be relevant, then maybe not. I did run 1.57s back then. "I'm learning what my new Spec Miata will do at the various local tracks. I realize that what I'm working on is not necessarily appropriate for beginning students. So, in order to both get feedback on what I can do to go faster, and to keep the thread more on the topic of teaching, I'd like to solicit comments on how to tune these notes both for going faster in a Spec Miata (or some other car) and anything you might change to keep students from customizing their car during a quick physics lesson. The file is at: http://red4est.red4est.com/pdapi/sminfi01.txt My old track notes for Sears Point (pre-chute, pre-landscaping) are at: http://red4est.red4est.com/pdapi/searspt.html I've got a couple other sets of notes at: http://red4est.red4est.com/pdapi/ sminfi01.txt Time-stamp: <> Sears Point / Infineon in Spec Miata I last drove Infineon before I found out that the Miata will rev as high as it will. Some of my shift points may be lower than they need to be. for reference see: http://red4est.red4est.com/pdapi/searspt.html for notes on old version of track. Turn 1: Work on not scrubbing any speed off that don't need to. Apex at wall, go out across track. Keep throttle WFO. When track steepens, can use that for turning in for lining up on berm for entrance of two." It used to be that just about 2/3 way up the hill to 2, on the left there was slightly more banking, about one car wide that small cars could use. I think the new line through 1 makes that obsolete, and I can't say I noticed if tht lane is still there. I did notice that the berm on the left before the apex has a large pothole in front of it that can bend a rim. It did mine! "Turn 2: The flagger in the grandstands is nearly invisible. Downshift to 3rd for entrance. Light braking. I need consistency in amount of braking going in to turn 2. Can't carry enough speed to just leave it in fourth. Since the engine revs higher than I thought, no advantage. I was grabbing fourth before 3. Every so often I go through 2 with just enough speed that I drift out to edge of track. " Thats ideal "late in day, put a strip of tape across top of visor to use as a sunshade. What part of grandstand to aim for going over top of hill? Turn 3(l) - 3A(r): I like to go deeper on exit of 2 so can get a straight line to the entrance of 3. Maybe lift or a light (left foot?) brake at turndown at bottom of hill. Apex is berm on left where it straightens out. Follow the berm for a beat, at a slight angle. About two car lengths after the apex of turn 3, your left front tire should be about six inches from the left hand side of the track. I used to stay all the way on the left until my turn in to 3A, hard on gas going in. lifting over the crest, rolling back to full throttle on the short straight. My line at the top is sloppy, that probably means that I'm not lining up on the berm on the left and turning in properly. Probably want to keep car in third through here. Turn 4: Look through turn. I have tendancy to apex 4 a bit early throwing me out to the berm. Take turn 4 in third. Turn 4 requires slow in to go fast out. You must be going slow enough that you can do a fast turndown. Aim for a late enough apex that you can be hard on the gas (flat?) before the exit and still not fall off the outside edge of the track. I am having trouble with this turn, there isn't a hill on the outside anymore! I will be looking for new reference points Turn 5: Apex 5 to minimize scrubbing off speed. I ran my fastest there when I was full throttle up to my braking point. Come about 2/3 of way to left of track. Aim at snack shack. Turn 6-6A: Wait until top of hill going into 6 to brake. When I ran was racing my Datsun I would start braking just before the first crest, off the brakes over , there WAS a flat spot that you just catch the end of before the track starts down hill. on the brakes again once the car had full weight on the ground. I would trail brake into the downhill letting the rear drift, then keep it slightly out with the throttle. I would begin the left down hill about the middle of the track and slowly pull left to the apex, accelerating and being sure to be full throttle before the apex, usually when I could see the apex. Finish braking before turndown. I like to brake in a straight line and turn in just before the marbles. I hang out at the outside so I can get a good dive at the apex and exit. As long as you get to the apex, your entrance is not very critical, this is a prime opportunity for passing, preferably on the left. Don't fight the car, it just scrubs off speed. The key to the carousel is getting full on the gas as early as you can, and still stay on the track at the exit. The weight at the bottom of the hill will help you stay on the track. Turn 7: Go down to 2nd. Shift to 3rd before "2nd Apex". Look ahead/through turn on braking. What is braking point? When I workd on the braking point I was locking up the left front wheel. I need to work on the defensive line going into 7. I've been concentrating more on making the second apex so that I've got a faster run down into 8. Turn 8: (& esses in general) Can nearly do esses flat. Brain says yes, foot says no. Seem to need to lift when going fast to get enough grip to turn car- later in esses. Maybe adjust suspension for more grip in front? I traditionally apexed later than I needed through the esses (The Bondurant line). People traditionally totalled their cars by apexing too early, early in the esses. Let the car settle on the "straights" between turns. The "softer" the shocks, the more settling will be needed. Turn 9: Good speed coming out of 8A will send you to left side of track going into 9. Minimize scrub and work on getting a good line going into 10. About middle of track exiting 9, then pinch it all the way to the left again at the berm Be sure not to apex 10 too soon. Turn 10: Work on left foot braking in 10. A light stroke of the brakes with the left foot when lined up straight at the left berm on entrace. My speed wasn't quite carrying me to the outside edge of the track. Need to look ahead and concentrate on apex and exit. Hard for me to consistently slow just enough with left foot braking. It feels weird coming off of brake with the gas floord. It's a different sort of weight shift than just gassing it. Turn 11: I keep blowing it when I try to go fast. I think I turn down too agressively and wash out the front end. My apex may also be wrong. Apex at penultimate tire stack? Was "needing" to grab third before the exit. Yeah, elevan is the LATE apex, in slow turn! In the rabbit 3rd seemed to high and 2nd too low. I need work there too. Turn 12: Can't still do turn 12 and 1 as a single curve. Minimize scrubbing off speed. Don't forget to shift to fourth or will hit revlimiter near S/F.