I have some mixed feelings on that point.

I have been the fast guy in the group most times out. Most of that has been the result of having a car that makes me look a lot faster than I really am. The Evo is easy to drive and it makes pretty good power. Overall its better set up to hit the track than most.

As such I have ended up in a lot of parades and looked at a lot of back bumpers. Oddly enough I have learned some good stuff from sitting behind folks in that there are times when you learn more from going slower. I know one of these times was in the chicayne at mid ohio. I knew that it never felt "right" but I guess for some reason I had never really gotten what an instructor was trying to tell me or I was just too dense to listen but it never worked well. On one lap however I ended up stuck behind slower traffic and I was just going easy and trying a few different things and was able to somehow find a flow that had escaped me prior. After that it all came together and the section became one of my favorites on the course. Now if I could just find the same enlightenment on a few other sections.

Here is the question in my mind however. What if I had just given a pass sign to someone who was faster? Would I have found that perfect line and flow prior? Am I missing things by not doing just that more often?

At thin point I'm happy to be where I am. Every time I go out is a blessing and a bad track day is still better than a good day most other places. I trust those who are more experienced than myself to help me along if I'm respectful and listen. I hope to be able to lend a hand to others if there is something I may be able to do to help.

I also trust that guys in miatas will hate those in Evos who chew them up whole and spit them out like leaves through a wood chipper.

 

+1

When I drove my first HPDE at VIR, back in 2006, I had the Car Guys instructor with me the entire weekend despite his go ahead to drive solo on the second day: I told him that I wanted him to stay in the car so I could concentrate on hitting the marks--I called out each mark and where i was supposed to be depending on my speed. When I drove Shenandoah, at Summit Point, in November, I wasn't so lucky--there was no way I was going to solo according to my instructor, but that's life...and there's always the next time

As you can guess, I had a lot of cars pass me at VIR (no so much at Summit Point)--I waved them on so I could concentrate on my technique--but I also passed a few cars though most of those were lagging behind the rest anyway. Don't get me wrong, I was going rather fast, 135-145 on the straights, and as fast as I could on the corners without getting too loose, but I still got passed (especially by the Vettes).

I'm looking forward to going to VIR and Summit Point again this year, with or without Car Guys; but, with the modifications I put on the car (mostly power), I'll probably be driving with an instructor again for reaquaintance with the track and to get used to the new power level. But this time, if I get the go ahead to solo, I'll probably go for it.

After all, when you pay for your track time, you pay for an instructor so it doesn't cost you extra. If you drive well, they won't say a word; if not, you'll get an ear full. And after a few sessions with nothing being said, I'm sure natural progression will have you up in the next group or running solo at least.

Patience is a virtue and experience is everything...especially at 135+ mph!

 

One thing that I have had a few instructors mention to me is that they feel its good for me to get a little time without them in the car and if I like get them back in.

At some point however I think the poor guys just get tired of being in the cars.

 

has noone else noted the many people solo'd for their final runs on Sunday? Yes, many of the instructors want to head home. lol

 

“…Usually, not always, if some cars pass you…”

I mentioned it as a general guide, not as a law that must be unquestionably obeyed. A better disciplined “safer” clubs like ACNA, SCDA, BMWCCA, etc., have five groups. Although each calls them differently and gives them gay color, they are Novice, Intermediate-1, Intermediate-2, Advance and Instructors. ACNA which is probably the most safety obsessed club, especially here in Northeast, follows these rules – Novice ALWAYS ride with an instructor and are NOT permitted to use R-comps. Drivers recently moved to Intermediate-1 or those who never been to a specific track before also ride with an instructor and are not permitted to use R-comps. Intermediate-1 is a group where you can be signed of to solo. If you solo you can use DOT R-comps, but often you are encouraged to wait until Intermediate-2 to start using R-comps.

When I started out I disliked those rather restrictive policies, but as years passed on and I gained experience I became a fully hearted supporter. As time passes you will too.

Now, usually, not always, fastest Novice guys are closing the door or in the middle of the pack if bumped to Intermediate-1. Yes, Intermediate-1 often times has better prepped cars (suspension, brakes, power, etc.), but it is mostly because it has drivers with much more seat time. I have passed Enzo and Porsche GT in my almost stock porky S4 on street tires. In both cases drivers were entering Intermediate-1 as I was leaving it.

 

In such situation there is no difference between Novice and Intermediate-1. If anything you are less likely to cause a pileup because more experienced drivers are more likely to notice and reacted to yellow or red flag or to drive around you at the last second.

 

I too sometime explore new lines while being stuck behind a slower car or during a warm-up or cool-down laps. However, you cannot drive a proper line slower than your cars capability. Inertia is supposed to carry you to the edge of the track. If you are on the proper line doing entry and apex you will exit miles off where you should be because your speed is low. In this case, going “fast” is not about adrenalin or having fun, but about learning to drive.

 

I do that exact thing as well. I think that it can be very disconcerting to the car in front of you though, particularly if it's a nervous novice driver who is already a bit shaken by having a whistling, aggressive Evo right on their tail.

I agree with all the sentiments about street tires. In a novice/intermediate HPDE environment, an Evo on R comps is simply going to be too fast to learn with, even on stock suspension. Even if you put on street tires, you can go a fair amount quicker than you are right now with practice and experience. The difference is that you'll be sliding the car rather than just steering it like it's on rails. Once you get good, then put the R comps back on and slide them. Then you'll see that lap time come down as much as 10 seconds (check out the T2 record for VIR, set last year in an Evo on stock suspension with around 340whp Dynojet -- 2:11.x).

 

My two favorite tracks. I do a lot of autox so immediately fell in love with Shenandoah. The esses after the pit straight, the carousel.... ahh.... and VIR... flying up the uphill esses... 130+mph... can't wait to get back there.

A very obvious point .