On-track In-car VIDEOs Available
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 997
Likes: 260
From: Frisco Colorado, USA
2024 GLB35 AMG, 2020 S560 Coupe
On-track In-car VIDEOs Available
I’ve posted two LARGE video files of some in-car on-track sessions with my SLK55. These were taken during an open track day in July sponsored by LappingDays.com at the Spring Mountain Motorsport Park in Pahrump, Nevada. The track is a 2.4 mile closed road course with a bit of elevation change (recently expanded to over 4 miles) and is an excellent track for exploring the limits of the car (and driver.) The videos start on the longest straight between Turns 7 and 8. Maximum speed in the SLK are around 105 mph before braking for Turn 8.
The 55 is stock except for wider 18-inch AMG SL wheels (8.5 front, 9.5 rear) and Bridgestone S-03 Pole Positions ( 225/40 front, 255/35 rear) and, yes, a stubby antenna. (The stock Pirelli PZero Rossos are woefully inadequate for track use.)
The 1st video is 68Mbytes and includes over 4 minutes of chasing down a Porsche and BMW. You’ll find it at
http://hosted.filefront.com/slk55ontrack
The 2nd is about 41Mbytes and includes one lap chasing a race prepared Civic which has been stripped down to minimum weight and is running with race slicks, roll cage, etc. You’ll find it also at
http://hosted.filefront.com/slk55ontrack
Also, I’ve posted a 6Mbyte file of a 0-100mph-0 run which has a great sound track. So be sure to listen on a good sound system and turn up the volume. You’ll find it at
http://home.earthlink.net/~slk55video1/
If you have a high-speed connection and time to download any of these, I hope you will find them enjoyable.
The 55 is stock except for wider 18-inch AMG SL wheels (8.5 front, 9.5 rear) and Bridgestone S-03 Pole Positions ( 225/40 front, 255/35 rear) and, yes, a stubby antenna. (The stock Pirelli PZero Rossos are woefully inadequate for track use.)
The 1st video is 68Mbytes and includes over 4 minutes of chasing down a Porsche and BMW. You’ll find it at
http://hosted.filefront.com/slk55ontrack
The 2nd is about 41Mbytes and includes one lap chasing a race prepared Civic which has been stripped down to minimum weight and is running with race slicks, roll cage, etc. You’ll find it also at
http://hosted.filefront.com/slk55ontrack
Also, I’ve posted a 6Mbyte file of a 0-100mph-0 run which has a great sound track. So be sure to listen on a good sound system and turn up the volume. You’ll find it at
http://home.earthlink.net/~slk55video1/
If you have a high-speed connection and time to download any of these, I hope you will find them enjoyable.
Last edited by slk55er; Nov 6, 2005 at 10:50 PM. Reason: Add Photo of SLK55
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 0
From: sac, calif.
'06 slk55
Thank you very much.
Slk55er,
I have always enjoyed those videos. You and Massmole are an inspiration to wannabe racecar drivers like myself. After my break-in, I plan to run some Autox and tracks. I can't wait!
In the meantime, I have a couple of questions.
1) You seem to catch people on the long straight before turn 8 in both videos. Do you attribute that mainly to the 55's power or are the other drivers breaking too early? Thoughts?
2) How do you have your camera mounted? Can you take a pic of it?
I have always enjoyed those videos. You and Massmole are an inspiration to wannabe racecar drivers like myself. After my break-in, I plan to run some Autox and tracks. I can't wait!
In the meantime, I have a couple of questions.
1) You seem to catch people on the long straight before turn 8 in both videos. Do you attribute that mainly to the 55's power or are the other drivers breaking too early? Thoughts?
2) How do you have your camera mounted? Can you take a pic of it?
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
2005 C55
Thanks for posting those videos. I did the 3-day Corvette Driving School there in June, and your times looked comparable to the faster drivers in our class (looked like 2:01 - 2:04 in your videos). How much did that open-track day cost?
Pahrump is a very fun track, the 3-day Corvette school is a real bargain in terms of lap-time for the $, the instructors are great, and the C6 and C5 Z-06 'vettes were a blast to drive, but I couldn't help wondering what I could have done in my own car. Working the 6-speed accurately on a track is fun but challenging, & a learning experience (learning to double-clutch and blip on the down-shifts is pretty essential to avoid a hi-speed spin), and I thought I might have had faster times w/ an automatic.
The Corvette is a *really* fine track car, but the first thing I thought when I got back into my own car at the airport was "Man, this is just so much nicer" (and so much easier to drive fast).
--kirk
Pahrump is a very fun track, the 3-day Corvette school is a real bargain in terms of lap-time for the $, the instructors are great, and the C6 and C5 Z-06 'vettes were a blast to drive, but I couldn't help wondering what I could have done in my own car. Working the 6-speed accurately on a track is fun but challenging, & a learning experience (learning to double-clutch and blip on the down-shifts is pretty essential to avoid a hi-speed spin), and I thought I might have had faster times w/ an automatic.
The Corvette is a *really* fine track car, but the first thing I thought when I got back into my own car at the airport was "Man, this is just so much nicer" (and so much easier to drive fast).
--kirk
Last edited by KirkP; Nov 7, 2005 at 01:30 AM.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 997
Likes: 260
From: Frisco Colorado, USA
2024 GLB35 AMG, 2020 S560 Coupe
Originally Posted by KirkP
How much did that open-track day cost?
However, as you may know, this track has undergone a significant expansion which I have not yet driven. So I hear that the cost for rental and related driving events will be a lot more expensive.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 997
Likes: 260
From: Frisco Colorado, USA
2024 GLB35 AMG, 2020 S560 Coupe
55's Power, Camera and Related Links
Originally Posted by dsb
Slk55er,
1) You seem to catch people on the long straight before turn 8 in both videos. Do you attribute that mainly to the 55's power or are the other drivers breaking too early? Thoughts?
2) How do you have your camera mounted? Can you take a pic of it?
1) You seem to catch people on the long straight before turn 8 in both videos. Do you attribute that mainly to the 55's power or are the other drivers breaking too early? Thoughts?
2) How do you have your camera mounted? Can you take a pic of it?
Note that if 2 equally-powered cars follow each other through a turn and then accelerate down a straight, the DISTANCE between the equal cars will increase but the TIME between the cars will remain constant. Then under braking, the DISTANCE will close back up and the TIME will still be the same. So, if a car is actually closing in a car while both cars are accelerating, the rear car must have a significant power advantage.
The closing that you observe under braking is probably mostly the natural occurrence that one would expect. But I probably am braking later and taking advantage of the 55's awesome brakes.
2) My camera is mounted on a small tripod which is inserted into the space between the passenger seat back and the center storage compartment on the rear bulkhead. If you look carefully in the photo that accompanies my post you can see it positioned there. It takes a bit of work to get it positioned properly and zoomed to the right level, but as you have seen, it seems to work fine and be in a good position.
BTW - You might be interested in my posting and results from tire pressure tests that you'll find at
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/foru...220298&posts=2
Also, I have a post from my very 1st track session with the SLK posted at
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/foru...osts=10&fid=27
Trending Topics
Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Mission Viejo, CA
'06 SLK55 AMG
Those are great fun to watch, especially since I just got back last night from the 3-day Corvette school at Spring Mountain. That's a great track, and very challenging.
What kind of lap times were you able to get in the 55?
They've just gotten a C6 automatic with paddle shifters at the school, and I took it out for a few laps yesterday. It was a total buzz-kill. The throttle response feels much weaker than the manual C5s and C6s. Also the shift response (the time between hitting the shift paddle and the transmission actually changing gears) seemed a bit faster than my 55, but was still not fast enough for my liking. I also wasn't comfortable shifting in any corners since I couldn't blip the throttle.
Anyways, my lap times in the auto were nowhere close to what I was able to do in the manual, which surprised me.
What kind of lap times were you able to get in the 55?
Originally Posted by KirkP
Working the 6-speed accurately on a track is fun but challenging, & a learning experience (learning to double-clutch and blip on the down-shifts is pretty essential to avoid a hi-speed spin), and I thought I might have had faster times w/ an automatic.
Anyways, my lap times in the auto were nowhere close to what I was able to do in the manual, which surprised me.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 997
Likes: 260
From: Frisco Colorado, USA
2024 GLB35 AMG, 2020 S560 Coupe
Originally Posted by Florp
What kind of lap times were you able to get in the 55?
Were you able to run the entire track, including the new section?
My consistent lap times in the SLK on the original 2.2 mile track were in the 2:03 - 2:04 range (with Bridgestone S-03 Pole Positions.) I could have pushed a little bit harder, but without a full harness and race slicks and without taking a lot more risk of an off-track excursion, that was about it. Brakes were never a concern and it took a while, but I was able to be pretty smooth with button-initiated downshifts into most of the turns. I let the upshifting completely to the electrons.
BTW -- Do you know that one of the Viper Clubs showed up there for a weekend a couple of months ago and had a number of major incidents, including a roll-over?
Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Mission Viejo, CA
'06 SLK55 AMG
Originally Posted by slk55er
Am I correct that it is faster through the corners than the SLK55?
Originally Posted by slk55er
Were you able to run the entire track, including the new section?
Originally Posted by slk55er
My consistent lap times in the SLK on the original 2.2 mile track were in the 2:03 - 2:04 range.
Originally Posted by slk55er
BTW -- Do you know that one of the Viper Clubs showed up there for a weekend a couple of months ago and had a number of major incidents, including a roll-over?
And apparently last weekend a Lotus Elise burned to the ground there. The driver did 3/4 of a lap before he even knew his car was on fire, and by the time he stopped, it was too late to put it out.
