Please critique my line...


#1

In my effort to learn more, and eventually come racing with y’all, I’d like if you seasoned folk can give me some pointers on my line(s) from the video I’ve posted on my blog.

http://not-mpower.blogspot.com/

This was at Summit Point this past weekend, in HPDE 2 so take it for what its worth!:stuck_out_tongue:

Any way… I’d love some suggestions / pointers for what to work on at VIR next month.

Thanks!

EDIT: BTW, this is an M42. No camber plates, stock sways, H&R sports, Billy sports, no engine mods other than conforti chip.


#2

WTH, I’ll give it a shot…

You’re very smooth and you’re obviously lapping pretty fast judging by the fact that you pass more than you get passed.

As speeds got higher, you started turning in earlier in 3 and 10, but that’s common. You had a couple of laps where you hit it nearly perfect. Work on getting that consistently. Then work on bumping up your entry speed.

It may help to focus more on looking down the track at where you want to exit rather than on where you should turn in. I think in 3, you can look toward the concrete barrier on the far side of the track. As you get further into the turn, start looking down toward the flagger bucket on track left. For 9, the track-out is about 3/4 of the way down the left side curb. Get your eyes up and look for it as you’re exiting 8. Look toward the flagger bucket up the hill as you turn in. With 10 you’ll also want to track out fully at about 3/4 of the way down the left side curbing. If you find you’re reaching those track-out points too easily, it’s time to bump up your entry speed.

In the carousel, it’s not necessary to go all the way out to the curbing. Leave about 3/4 of a car width; a slightly tighter line. Use the carousel to play with the car a little. Try different lines. Try little trailbraking oversteer through 5, a little lift-throttle oversteer in the entry to 6, a little drifting in 7. Of course, don’t do this in traffic.

When you’re passing another car that won’t lift to let you back onto the ‘normal’ line, don’t hang yourself out to dry so much. Leave a half a car width between your line and their’s, but don’t go to the extreme opposite side of the track. You can still create a decent line from 3/4 of the way across the track and you won’t sacrifice as much exit speed.

Your line from 3 through 5 is perfect. I like that you aren’t influenced by the bad line of the cars in front of you.

Good job overall.

Disclaimer: I’m still a rookie driver and I don’t drive a Spec E30…yet.


#3

jimgood wrote:

[quote]WTH, I’ll give it a shot…

Good job overall.

Disclaimer: I’m still a rookie driver and I don’t drive a Spec E30…yet.[/quote]

I read your post and chuckled at your disclaimer.

I have never been to Summit so I have no point of reference other than other racer’s in car videos. I thought Not_Mpower did a heck of a job as well. Partricularly since it is an essentially stock M42.

You know, I have been an HPDE instructor for 20 years. Students and friends tell me I am fast, I have won a few enduros, and I have always thought I was pretty fast. I came to Spec E30 and I run at the back of the pack! It is a humbling experience.

I feel kind of like the lousy contestants on American Idol must have felt. Someone has encouraged them for many years and have told them that they were great. All of a sudden they get into a competition where there is some real talent and their “suckage” (as Ranger calls it) really shows. FWIW - My daughter tells me I suck at singing too:S .

Anyway, good job Not_Mpower. Keep up the good work.

Don


#4

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Jimgood- I know I was staying too far track right after overtaking between T9 & T10, and will work on getting closer to track left afterward. Thank you.

Thank you also for your the feedback on the carousel… I’ll work on my lines through there.

Donstevens- Thanks as well for the encouraging comments.

Anyone going to VIR next month?


#5

Going way off line isn’t necessarily a bad thing. When you’re racing you take the best line you can get at any given moment. So it’s good to experience offline driving. Just don’t make it a habit. :wink: