DFW01E55

Here's the good part, it's a 2.9 mile track and I was on his bumper for the first 2 miles. That included a healthy dose of road course leading out to a 24 degree banked turn.

Going into that turn he started pulling on me and just opened up real estate for the next 30 minutes.

Maybe his Michelin cups warmed up more quickly than the Corsa's, but I was only willing to go 85% on the first turn (110mph) and he was a good deal faster.

His top speed was low 160's and mine was low 140's. Faster car + better driver and I lost sight of him.

On the positive side, the 997 GT3 that went off behind us in 3rd, lost sight of me.

This car rocks! (And mine is stock!)

jenk12m

they are great cars...

forhamilton

At the track recently, I realized one thing again. I am not willing to push my car to the point of risk. When you are running 9/10 or 10/10 and something goes wrong, bad things happen. I don't have 8 figures in the bank. Wrecking would suck.

alexander stemer

Do we all drive with traction control off? My car seems much slower with it on, so after two laps of tire warming (Corsas warm slow), I turn it off.
I find it just as fast in "Sport" as "Manual". Anybody to the contrary? AS

DFW01E55

Yeah, TC always off and I drive most tracks in S.

I was marveling yesterday at how quickly the tranny adapted to the 9/10's driving. It really is a smart transmission.
There were a couple of points where I tried to help and downshifted but that just confused things and it grabbed an extra gear down which was not helpful.

One track (TWS) I drive in M because there's a turn which confuses the tranny and it downshifts mid corner. That keeps you on your toes but hurts lap time.

SMP

I turn TC off from the first lap on. It interferes quite a bit when you start pushing the car, especially when you carry a little more speed into the corner and are early on the throttle. Not as much noticeable in long fast sweepers, but at the tighter slower turns you can really feel it. I tried manual mode, but auto sport mode is better in my opinion.

To OP: Sounds like you had some fun . Probably pissed off the GT3 that he couldn't keep up with you......

Jim Brady

Nice driving DWF! Corsa's take about two laps to come in, MPSC actually a bit longer.
Power to weight, you just can't change physics the GT2's with FI have huge linear torque are monsters with a decent driver.

GT3's despite all the hype and the track capabilities require talent to extract their potential.
BS is far easier to drive in the high speed corners than the GT3 no wonder he disappeared.

ESP in the BS isn't really the best for track events. Far too intrusive as I've noticed a 2 second difference with it on vs off. I can't wait for my next track event.

DFW01E55

Great fun Sascha, thankfully rain didn't ruin the day although it cut 1 session short for me. The GT3 guy was a bit intimidated by the banked turns.

Thanks Jim but "nice driving" may be stretching it.
This is from an earlier session that day.
The GT2 was of course in the session (#4) when the camera battery failed ...or was it operator error?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2-UUIMxefo&

forhamilton

So you guys are running in sport mode and not manual?

alexander stemer

Seems unanimous. The trans shifts better at the redline in S vs. M, and downshifts itself when you hit the brakes. It doesn't seem to overheat, and seems to learn quickly when you want to go fast.
I usually leave it on C for the street, and downshift manually for a few off ramps or tighter corners. AS

LZH

I guess Im the lone holdout for M mode...I never use C and only use S when cruising on the freeway. I don't care how good the transmission adapts in M mode...it doesn't see what I see.

forhamilton

I used manual at Houston MSR. Never tried s.

Jim Brady

FWIW,
The factory AMG pro drivers needed two days practice driving in M mode before they could equal their lap times in S. In race conditions where you get held up, I can see where M would have some advantages.

Lately, I've been driving in C around town, and if I have passengers as it takes the edge of the shifts. Now when I'm by myself on the empty toll roads I've been practicing which gear will pull hardest from 60mph. Being the right gear is quicker then waiting for the transmssion to downshift or upshift. Also, I think M is quicker if you happen to be in an impromptu acceleration test. I can't tell you how important the first car length of jump is to make up when you might encounter say an m3, zo6, m6, cobra 427, m6, f430, wrxsti, viper, or gt3's, and turbo porsches.

SMP

Ahhh, I see you've been practicing.........I know how important it is who gets the jump. Unfortunately last time I tried taken you on the outside in that corner in my M6, you anticipated my move and ruined it for me

BTW, on the street I only drive in M mode, city and freeway.

LZH

Well said, Jimmy. I like to be in the right gear, all the time. Although it IS an automatic...I don't like using my right foot to downshift as you never know what gear you might get (ie 2nd = immediate wheelspin).

Jim Brady

Sasha
I chalk it up to old age and trechery, Like Vettel vs. Schumacher..
BTW, I'm more carefull since a modified Z06 jumped me and I had it in "C"
drive. By the time I got moving in the right gear he was 5 open cars on me.
Nothing to do but wave on that one.

Based on acceleation tests and my 60-120 times are 8.1-8.2 in S and in drive.
I'm going to test M mode starting in 2nd and 3rd to see which is quicker and if there is a time advantage. Elapsed time however doesn't tell the whole story.

jrcart

So let me see if I've got this straight, you guys put your cars on the same race track as the all mighty Porsche GT2 and GT3? How dare you! The next thing you're going to tell me is you put your cars on the track with a F430 Scud....shaking head

DFW01E55

Weekend of the 15th & 16 with any luck at all.

jrcart

I'm not sure what's more fun, beating up on P cars or F cars...

DFW01E55

LOL, maybe with your car and you driving but in mine with me driving .... who knows.

SMP

It's going to be fun until you encounter the 2011 Porsche GT2 RS with someone who knows what he is doing behind the wheel. With only 3,020 pounds and 620 HP, the odds are very much against you.............unless you bring a 599XX that is

MACHC5

You guys who love track days have got to pilgrimage out to www.NJMP.com soon.

I'd be willing to help set up something for those out of the area. They even have on-track suites to stay in.

The next two up coming dates that I can invite guests are June 21 (Monday) and August 6 (Friday) it's only $165 for the day and includes your Breakfast and Lunch served at the track.

If you check the tracks website my company is sponsoring a race called RoadMods on June 20 (Sunday) you could come watch history being made, stay over and track day on Monday.

Jim

c32AMG-DTM

Went to a trackday at NJMP last summer, setup by Fabspeed and PES. Was a lot of fun, and a beautiful facility (we were on Lightning). $165 for a day of HPDE there is a steal.

jenk12m

i also drive in S mode on the track. i could never get the gear i wanted when driving in M mode. however, the tranny learned when i got on track to give me the gears i want under braking

MACHC5

The price is so reasonable that its very hard to say "I can't make it"...