http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy1ZGBiZxCk

I'm curious why you have chosen to take the car off the curbing like that as opposed to keeping it smooth just outside of the curbing? As I watched one of the guys at the track today, he was doing the same thing. The guy was keeping up with the AMS car, so it definitely wasn't hindering his ability to keep pace. Is there that much to be gained by cutting the corner like that?

-Jon

 

It's not unsettling if the shocks are setup right. I shoot through the rumble strips quite a bit, and if I miss one, I consider it missing my apex like on the last turn of this vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-PcG8aNE0g

 

the straighter the line, the more speed you can carry.

work with me on this one, but a few months ago, i watched the busch race @ mexico city, and the rolex there the day before (after?).

One of the biggest differences in the buch cars, was setup. Some drivers were running super springs, and would not touch the strips for their life, others were running softer setups, and would actually pop the curbs to help the car rotate.

All in driver preference. Naturally, staying off the curbs normally minimizes damage, esp if you saw the rolex GT @ VIR, sucks for leh. they have some terrible luck.

 

Perhaps it is that my NASA HPDE instructor informed me he would have to pull me off the track if I hit the curbing. I was just it jars the car and the curbing is just slick. With that in mind, I had just assumed the curbing was bad. This was enphasized by the tires screeching briefly after the car came off the curb and was settling back down.

NASA also would not tell us about other advanced techniques like trail braking out of fear that the students would unsettle the car and not be prepared to handle it. It may have just been a forbidden technique for HPDE 1.

-Jon

 

lol, for hpde 1, no doubt! If i had a noob student doing that, i'd pull him off the track also, and have a talk with him.

Nils' (or is it Nil's) is a slightly above average shoe behind the wheel. He's getting every list hundredth (no more tenths to be hand).

With that being said, an hpde 1 driver should be focused on two things (imho). His surroundings (traffic, corner workers) and going home in one piece.

As you move up, things come a little differently, but yes you are correct. Driving like a demonized bull in hpde 1 is definatly a bad idea, but as you get up the hill, there are people that are still "clean and neat" and stay off the rumbles as much as possible, and others that will launch over them and put the outside tire on the rumbles. (raises hand)

 

curbs are fun... except turn 10 vir exit curb....!

 

haha, you guys had a good run goin, as always, the oak tree must have been slicker than crap, or everyone was just over-pushing to carry that speed down the straight.

best of luck man.

Kinda like the young guy braun in the dp's, he checked out, but ended up with a 2nd, he was freakin movin today!

 

It's pretty important if you are using exit curbing to be consistent, especially in a high speed turn with little runoff. If you drive so that you really need that track out room and then make a mistake (too early apex, too much speed, etc.), you've got no room for error (like the last turn onto the front straight at Summit Point). I prefer to just leave it as a safety margin since I'm not that consistent. Inside/apex curbing really depends on the track and how much it upsets the car, or how slippery it is.

 

stimpy-keep in mind that nil's is running Robispec coilovers with uber travel (read: better/more consistent contact with terra firma) and are very very stout. Not all suspension setups are created equal.

 

If you use the curbs, it just makes the track that much wider But your suspension definitely has to be set up for it. If you ever watch some BTCC or DTM racing, they're all over the curbs.

Of course, depends on the curbs too!

 

i was taught to use the curbs. except don't go up on the indy style staggered curbs. but i did it anyway, rally style. the killler curbs hardly bothered the car cuz all the weight was on the opposite side. if its faster, and you don't kill the car, curb definitely.

 

I just noticed this thread.... it depends really, sometimes I smack the birms & sometimes I dont.

1. hitting the birms is fun
2. I run DMS 50mm suspension = they take the heat!
3. I am extremely comfortable in my car & unsettling it.

all that gives me an a good edge when it comes to cutting corners & hitting birms.. but like I said.... that isnt always the fastest way around a track for me... it sure is more fun though

n