SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Sharing my best lap, first ever track day at Laguna Seca (SL55)
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Newbie
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6
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From: SF Bay Area
SL55 AMG
Sharing my best lap, first ever track day at Laguna Seca (SL55)
This video is an in-car view of my best lap (with a bit of artsy fluff at the start) from my very first track day with my SL55. (Jump to 1:05 if you want to see just the hot lap.)
I’m going again later this month, and that inspired me to actually finish editing together the footage and telemetry I had captured. I figured I’d share it with some people who might appreciate it – my wife was completely nonplussed other than to say “That looks too fast to me!” I’m sure none of you will agree with her perspective, but hey, getting under two minutes took quite some doing for me. Chasing the Audi R8 helped.
Car was is auto-sports mode since I wanted to focus on my line around the track, but you can see that the car was in the wrong gear at the exit to many of the turns. Next time I’m trying manual mode.
FYI: Car is completely stock with >80K miles – it’s my daily driver.
Enjoy.
I’m going again later this month, and that inspired me to actually finish editing together the footage and telemetry I had captured. I figured I’d share it with some people who might appreciate it – my wife was completely nonplussed other than to say “That looks too fast to me!” I’m sure none of you will agree with her perspective, but hey, getting under two minutes took quite some doing for me. Chasing the Audi R8 helped.
Car was is auto-sports mode since I wanted to focus on my line around the track, but you can see that the car was in the wrong gear at the exit to many of the turns. Next time I’m trying manual mode.
FYI: Car is completely stock with >80K miles – it’s my daily driver.
Enjoy.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 586
Likes: 3
From: Arizona
e63 NA
O man! Why did they block videos at my work 
Laguna Seca is such a wonderful course, definitely one of my favorites. I think it's awesome you took your Daily Driver out there, and by the brief shot I love how the telemetry is setup. Look forward to getting home and watching. thanks
Laguna Seca is such a wonderful course, definitely one of my favorites. I think it's awesome you took your Daily Driver out there, and by the brief shot I love how the telemetry is setup. Look forward to getting home and watching. thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,717
Likes: 17
From: San Jose, CA
2007 E63 w/P30 and Eurotech CF Diffuser
Good work for your first time out. Getting our skills up to those of the car is difficult.
So after an AMG Academy, and an instructor in the car, my best lap in my E63 with Hankook RS3s was a 1:50.89.
Not at my home computer to tell you if it is the lap starting at 7:30 or the next one at 9:30 (although the answer I guess seems obvious from the times). Anyway, I do not have that PBOX data with me.
When it was not my car, I did a 1:50.00 in the PRO AMG Academy 2012 E63. At that lap time, my talent was running out. My fastest SLS lap was a 1:47.2. Fastest lap by a student was a 1:47.1. Fastest SL63 was a 1:50.33. I will post the PBOX data later. Any of you can download the analysis software.
One thing I noted in your video is the problem all of us have for the first 100 laps, keeping your foot in the accelerator over the hill. You will note on the lap starting at 9:30, I kept my foot in it and missed my braking point for turn 2 because I took an instant to be pleased with myself. However, I did hit 120MPH.
Lastly, for comparison sake. SLS hot laps by DTM drivers are 1:37.5. Tommy Kendall in a 2008 C63 with me (230lbs) and another passenger did a 1:45. Traction control off, manual shifting. We, are meer mortals.
So after an AMG Academy, and an instructor in the car, my best lap in my E63 with Hankook RS3s was a 1:50.89.
Not at my home computer to tell you if it is the lap starting at 7:30 or the next one at 9:30 (although the answer I guess seems obvious from the times). Anyway, I do not have that PBOX data with me.
When it was not my car, I did a 1:50.00 in the PRO AMG Academy 2012 E63. At that lap time, my talent was running out. My fastest SLS lap was a 1:47.2. Fastest lap by a student was a 1:47.1. Fastest SL63 was a 1:50.33. I will post the PBOX data later. Any of you can download the analysis software.
One thing I noted in your video is the problem all of us have for the first 100 laps, keeping your foot in the accelerator over the hill. You will note on the lap starting at 9:30, I kept my foot in it and missed my braking point for turn 2 because I took an instant to be pleased with myself. However, I did hit 120MPH.
Lastly, for comparison sake. SLS hot laps by DTM drivers are 1:37.5. Tommy Kendall in a 2008 C63 with me (230lbs) and another passenger did a 1:45. Traction control off, manual shifting. We, are meer mortals.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,717
Likes: 17
From: San Jose, CA
2007 E63 w/P30 and Eurotech CF Diffuser
Car was is auto-sports mode since I wanted to focus on my line around the track, but you can see that the car was in the wrong gear at the exit to many of the turns. Next time I’m trying manual mode.
Attached is my lap data. Analysis software, Circuit Tools, is available here.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 44
Likes: 2
From: Australia
SL55
Second this nice easy approach.......you will definitely pick up time with this.....
Looked like a whole stack of fun!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,717
Likes: 17
From: San Jose, CA
2007 E63 w/P30 and Eurotech CF Diffuser
By the way, having an instructor for the day is huge. PM me if you want some suggestions. This guy was $600 for the day, but he was also an instructor at the AMG Academy and has a ton of experience in our type of car. He is also a Laguna Seca based Skip Barber instructor. Yes, a chunk of money, but actually the only way to take that next step.
I have been lazy and need to change my brake fluid before another track day. Rear pads are also in need of replacement. I will try to get my stuff together, would love to hang with a fellow forum member.
I have been lazy and need to change my brake fluid before another track day. Rear pads are also in need of replacement. I will try to get my stuff together, would love to hang with a fellow forum member.
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Newbie
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6
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From: SF Bay Area
SL55 AMG
Thanks for this suggestion "just pulling the paddle to manually downshift one gear, but then letting the the upshifting happen automatically."
I'm definitely going to try that at the start of the day as an easier step than going to full manual mode.
My goal is to have as much fun as last time, keep it floored over the brow of the hill, get the right gear for the exits, and stay on the track! And maybe get below 1:55.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,717
Likes: 17
From: San Jose, CA
2007 E63 w/P30 and Eurotech CF Diffuser
Great picture. That is wet.
At the pro event we had one morning pooring rain. Starting half way between the start/finish and turn 11, an SLS from a standstill will still hit 100MPH in standing rain.
One problem was exiting turn 4, you tend to go back to the right side after the exit (see attached), but the wet line would keep you to the left because water flows to the right and gets slightly deeper. An SLS driver took the dry line and hydroplaned. Fortunately he turned into the slide and recovered with 2 feet between him and the wall with 2 tires in the dirt. The telemetry was interesting to say the least.
We did get the opportunity to learn the "wet line" although it tends to be more a read on the track at the moment than anything defined.
Anyway, let me know when you are going again by PM.
At the pro event we had one morning pooring rain. Starting half way between the start/finish and turn 11, an SLS from a standstill will still hit 100MPH in standing rain.
One problem was exiting turn 4, you tend to go back to the right side after the exit (see attached), but the wet line would keep you to the left because water flows to the right and gets slightly deeper. An SLS driver took the dry line and hydroplaned. Fortunately he turned into the slide and recovered with 2 feet between him and the wall with 2 tires in the dirt. The telemetry was interesting to say the least.
We did get the opportunity to learn the "wet line" although it tends to be more a read on the track at the moment than anything defined.
Anyway, let me know when you are going again by PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,289
Likes: 4
From: Indiana
2003 AMG SL55, 2002 AMG CLK55, 2002 AMG ML55, 2005 ML350, 1995 S320 LWB - totaled
Outstanding - way to go. You have done what I want to do with my SL55.
I took the Porsche driving school at Road Atlanta with Hurley Haywood.
Yes we are but simple mortals. Those guys can do things we can't and make it look easy.
The difference between us and a Pro.
I took the Porsche driving school at Road Atlanta with Hurley Haywood.
Yes we are but simple mortals. Those guys can do things we can't and make it look easy.
The difference between us and a Pro.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6
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From: SF Bay Area
SL55 AMG
Hooked on Driving
http://www.hookedondriving.com/home
They have quite a few dates at Laguna Seca.
"It's not a race!" as they say, BUT it is a really fun day and I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes to drive, whether they have a high performance car or not.
