TL;DR truck yeah I hit my goal, learned a lot, had blast, new alignment is awesome, and the track gods sacrificed a fender line and side skirt after rally-crossing in the Miata
Man oh man where do I start about this weekend
....
Got the transponder wired after work Thursday. Got the car all together and ready for the weekend ahead. I met Jake at our usual Wawa on the way to VIR. We ended up getting to VIR around 5:45pm and cracked a beer while we waited for the gate to open. Had dinner/drink at the tavern with the MM crew and had a few adult waters before waking up and getting to it on Saturday.
My goal coming into this weekend was hit 2:16s. Why I chose that time? Well I was looking at certain racers and race class time, along with my weight to power, and prep level I estimated a 2:16 meant I was doing very well in this car for my driving level and experience in the car. This was my first ever TT weekend so I was excited to set big goals
Saturday morning was rough. Cold track, cold tires, new alignment, rusty as hell after a month. I felt like the car was loose everywhere and was a little nervous about it. I ran a 2:21 the first session which was the same time I left off on at Hyperfest.
![[Image: 77MHqa1.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/77MHqa1.jpg)
On Saturday the new alignment made the car's turn in so so damn good. So snappy on turn in. So willing to rotate. SO much better than before. I was not used to it so it felt bad in the butt and I thought I was gonna lose the car if I was going to fast. As a got used to it and warmed up to the new alignment I found it is was exactly what I want the car to do.
As I got faster through the weekend I was so fricken happy with how the car handled. Turn in, the car rotates so perfect, get on the throttle and the car balances out, is neutral with a small slip angle through the turn at the tire limit. If you need to turn more just add more input and it swings the rear a little bit but stays stuck if you are on throttle. This can also make the car understeer or oversteer slide depending on load. So you have to be conscious of your inputs now.
Very hard to explain or read how it feels but this is awesome now. It will stay like this until aero/stickier tires and I made add even more "slip" then as I'll have more grip.
I slowly pushed more my next session as I was getting used to the car and shaved a little under 2.9 seconds off:
![[Image: 0GQvC9P.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/0GQvC9P.jpg)
The third session I decided I wanted to send it. Saw a 16.9 predicted after turning into rollercoaster. I thought alright sweet just go fast but don't overdrive through hogpen. Sure enough I pulled a Maeng and went for a ride minus hitting any trees.... I carried more speed than usual which cause my turn in point to mess up. I turned in late and hit hard on the bump there. I was going pretty wide and stayed fully committed on throttle. I get up on the curbing mid hogpen and was like yup I'm not gonna make this turn. So, instead of trying to be a hero and spinning/putting it into the inside wall of hogpen with more input I straighten the wheel and let the car go off.... I've come to the conclusion this is the better option 90% of the time.
Boy is it so bumpy out there hahaha. After a huge bang and bump I was sure I broke something. The entire time I could hear the car bottoming out on the grass/dirt. I go to turn a bit at 70 or so mph to not aim towards trees and the rear starts sliding around on the grass. Next thing I know I'm full lock sliding sideways and put the brake/clutch in. I was a bit scared at this point as it took forever to slow even on dry grass as the trees were approaching. Thankfully I stopped way short but it was fun looking at trees approaching sideways. Didn't spin though! ;P
I take my time getting back on the front straight and take the checkered flag. I notice smoke pouring out the back of my car... I was like fuck fuck fuck no please don't be on fire. I slow down and make motions to the corner station at T1 and they aren't even paying attention. At T2 I made hand motions and they let me know I could take the short cut back to the pits but didn't motion like I needed to stop like there was danger. Supposedly they thought I blew my engine. What really happened was grass got suck between the rotor and dust shield/plate and was smoldering.
I check under the car it and everything is fine looking except there is a literal pound or two of grass in every nook and cranny possible. Lol. It was hilarious how much grass was under that thing. Side skirt and fender liner were missing but I'll take that vs possibly hitting a wall.
![[Image: tdam7Hz.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/tdam7Hz.jpg)
After the track was cold I jumped the fence with Tom and went to find the side skirt and fender liner. The fender liner was partially torn so I threw it in the trash. Side skirt was a-okay minus a few broken clips on the bottom
![[Image: eLVjI2I.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/eLVjI2I.jpg)
I was able to actually stick the side skirt back even though it was a little more wobbly than passenger it held the whole rest of the weekend. I'll take it!
I managed to get 2nd place out of.... 2.
The other TTD car was, Charles Ford, a SPEC3 driver running a 2:14...
![[Image: 3Yni3Ur.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/3Yni3Ur.jpg)
Sunday morning was nice weather! I pushed a little more but didn't push hard enough. There was so much grip everywhere but I wasn't being ballsy and left tons on the table. I needed to keep it clean to ensure my TT license. So, I only managed a 2:17.01. SO CLOSE!
![[Image: tDCuChZ.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/tDCuChZ.jpg)
I figured I wouldn't run faster than that as it was hot out that day but I still stayed to run all my sessions for seat time though. I did all off-line stuff for the 3rd Sunday session to learn grip levels. Little did I know I had a lot more in myself to push even though it was 90F with the the last session coming up. The last session there was a TT5 Boxster in front of me... Let's just say I was just going to do more off-line driving but after a lap I decided to try to keep up with this Boxster. I did actually keep up even though he was on Conti slicks and aero haha. Why am I so much better chasing? Idk. I finally pass the Porsche and I look at the AIM for the first time that session and notice I ran a 2:16.5... I was so excited haha.
![[Image: 2HiXevn.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/2HiXevn.jpg)
I'm looking forward to what the car could do in a cool morning pushing it hard, low 2:16s anybody? I felt hogpen, oak tree, and a few other areas I could shave a few tenths off max total with my driving ability. I feel like I was cooking pretty good at 154whp, 2613 pounds with ~1/6th tank of gas with my fat 188 pound self in it, and basically the same tires as Nitto NT01/Toyo R888s.... Pretty proud of that time especially considering I was able to shave 5 seconds since my last time at VIR in May for Hyperfest. That's a win in my book! Time to keep chipping away!
Videos with data and pictures to come. Still figuring out AIM data, Race Render, etc.
Man oh man where do I start about this weekend
....Got the transponder wired after work Thursday. Got the car all together and ready for the weekend ahead. I met Jake at our usual Wawa on the way to VIR. We ended up getting to VIR around 5:45pm and cracked a beer while we waited for the gate to open. Had dinner/drink at the tavern with the MM crew and had a few adult waters before waking up and getting to it on Saturday.
My goal coming into this weekend was hit 2:16s. Why I chose that time? Well I was looking at certain racers and race class time, along with my weight to power, and prep level I estimated a 2:16 meant I was doing very well in this car for my driving level and experience in the car. This was my first ever TT weekend so I was excited to set big goals
Saturday morning was rough. Cold track, cold tires, new alignment, rusty as hell after a month. I felt like the car was loose everywhere and was a little nervous about it. I ran a 2:21 the first session which was the same time I left off on at Hyperfest.
On Saturday the new alignment made the car's turn in so so damn good. So snappy on turn in. So willing to rotate. SO much better than before. I was not used to it so it felt bad in the butt and I thought I was gonna lose the car if I was going to fast. As a got used to it and warmed up to the new alignment I found it is was exactly what I want the car to do.
As I got faster through the weekend I was so fricken happy with how the car handled. Turn in, the car rotates so perfect, get on the throttle and the car balances out, is neutral with a small slip angle through the turn at the tire limit. If you need to turn more just add more input and it swings the rear a little bit but stays stuck if you are on throttle. This can also make the car understeer or oversteer slide depending on load. So you have to be conscious of your inputs now.
Very hard to explain or read how it feels but this is awesome now. It will stay like this until aero/stickier tires and I made add even more "slip" then as I'll have more grip.
I slowly pushed more my next session as I was getting used to the car and shaved a little under 2.9 seconds off:
The third session I decided I wanted to send it. Saw a 16.9 predicted after turning into rollercoaster. I thought alright sweet just go fast but don't overdrive through hogpen. Sure enough I pulled a Maeng and went for a ride minus hitting any trees.... I carried more speed than usual which cause my turn in point to mess up. I turned in late and hit hard on the bump there. I was going pretty wide and stayed fully committed on throttle. I get up on the curbing mid hogpen and was like yup I'm not gonna make this turn. So, instead of trying to be a hero and spinning/putting it into the inside wall of hogpen with more input I straighten the wheel and let the car go off.... I've come to the conclusion this is the better option 90% of the time.
Boy is it so bumpy out there hahaha. After a huge bang and bump I was sure I broke something. The entire time I could hear the car bottoming out on the grass/dirt. I go to turn a bit at 70 or so mph to not aim towards trees and the rear starts sliding around on the grass. Next thing I know I'm full lock sliding sideways and put the brake/clutch in. I was a bit scared at this point as it took forever to slow even on dry grass as the trees were approaching. Thankfully I stopped way short but it was fun looking at trees approaching sideways. Didn't spin though! ;P
I take my time getting back on the front straight and take the checkered flag. I notice smoke pouring out the back of my car... I was like fuck fuck fuck no please don't be on fire. I slow down and make motions to the corner station at T1 and they aren't even paying attention. At T2 I made hand motions and they let me know I could take the short cut back to the pits but didn't motion like I needed to stop like there was danger. Supposedly they thought I blew my engine. What really happened was grass got suck between the rotor and dust shield/plate and was smoldering.
I check under the car it and everything is fine looking except there is a literal pound or two of grass in every nook and cranny possible. Lol. It was hilarious how much grass was under that thing. Side skirt and fender liner were missing but I'll take that vs possibly hitting a wall.
After the track was cold I jumped the fence with Tom and went to find the side skirt and fender liner. The fender liner was partially torn so I threw it in the trash. Side skirt was a-okay minus a few broken clips on the bottom
I was able to actually stick the side skirt back even though it was a little more wobbly than passenger it held the whole rest of the weekend. I'll take it!
I managed to get 2nd place out of.... 2.
The other TTD car was, Charles Ford, a SPEC3 driver running a 2:14...Sunday morning was nice weather! I pushed a little more but didn't push hard enough. There was so much grip everywhere but I wasn't being ballsy and left tons on the table. I needed to keep it clean to ensure my TT license. So, I only managed a 2:17.01. SO CLOSE!
I figured I wouldn't run faster than that as it was hot out that day but I still stayed to run all my sessions for seat time though. I did all off-line stuff for the 3rd Sunday session to learn grip levels. Little did I know I had a lot more in myself to push even though it was 90F with the the last session coming up. The last session there was a TT5 Boxster in front of me... Let's just say I was just going to do more off-line driving but after a lap I decided to try to keep up with this Boxster. I did actually keep up even though he was on Conti slicks and aero haha. Why am I so much better chasing? Idk. I finally pass the Porsche and I look at the AIM for the first time that session and notice I ran a 2:16.5... I was so excited haha.
I'm looking forward to what the car could do in a cool morning pushing it hard, low 2:16s anybody? I felt hogpen, oak tree, and a few other areas I could shave a few tenths off max total with my driving ability. I feel like I was cooking pretty good at 154whp, 2613 pounds with ~1/6th tank of gas with my fat 188 pound self in it, and basically the same tires as Nitto NT01/Toyo R888s.... Pretty proud of that time especially considering I was able to shave 5 seconds since my last time at VIR in May for Hyperfest. That's a win in my book! Time to keep chipping away!
Videos with data and pictures to come. Still figuring out AIM data, Race Render, etc.