Never lift in the corner . . .
Well, I attended my 2nd PCA DE event this past week-end at the Cimarron PCA Mayfast DE, at Hallett. It was a bit more informal than the KC region PCA I attended in October - more like the regular monthly High Speed Touring event at Hallett - no ride-along instructors except for the Novices (I was placed in an Intermediate group).
It was my first time riding on R-compounds (Nitto NT01s) and I have to say they were pretty impressive, except when the hot pressure gets much above 40 psi (which they did my first 2 sessions) and they become quite greasy. I learned that I need to start off with about 28 cold in the rear tires, and 31 in the fronts, to get them into the optimum hot range (38-39).
I also had my Softronic Race Plenum (SRP) installed, but unfortunately, hadn't received the software flash yet, so I don't think I have the full benefit of it; however, even without the flash there seems to be a noticable improvement in the higher revs. At least, I noticed that I was shifting into 4th sooner than I usually do, and seemed to be carrying more speed into the corners than usual. Of course, some of that may have to do with the new tires increasing my exit speeds.
It was also my first time to run with 2 other Caymans on the track. There were 2 guys from Tulsa sharing a silver CS that was pretty much running circles around the rest of the field. When I cornered one of them to ask what they had done to the car to make it so fast, he smiled and told me it was bone stock, and this was their first time driving it on the track. Turns out though, that they have both been racing Spec Miatas at Hallett for about 4 years, so they know the track and how to drive a momentum car, which Hallett favors.
There was also a fellow CS owner from St. Louis named Jerry (not a CC member), who has a lot of track time, both in his Cayman, and other cars. He was helpful in pointing out the main reason that he thought I was slower than he - I brake too early. When he was chasing me he noticed I would brake at least 1-2 sec. ahead of where he would on almost every corner, and this would allow him to catch (and out-run) me. He also encouraged me to try running without the PSM on, since I was getting some PSM weirdness on exiting two of the tighter corners.
While chasing Jerry in the next to last session, with my PSM off, I came into a turn a little too hot and made the cardinal mistake in a Porsche - lifting mid-corner. The rear-end kicked out and I was sure I was going to spin, but I managed to save it and keep going. If I had left my PSM on it probably would have been less dramatic, but this provided a good lesson for me. Unfortunately, one of my track buddies, David, who drives a modded 986 also learned the lesson the hard way in the last session on Sunday - he went off in T1 and hit the tire wall - more damage to his ego than the car (fortunately), but it helped to drive the point home.
Now repeat after me: Never lift in the corner, never lift in the corner, never lift . . .
It was my first time riding on R-compounds (Nitto NT01s) and I have to say they were pretty impressive, except when the hot pressure gets much above 40 psi (which they did my first 2 sessions) and they become quite greasy. I learned that I need to start off with about 28 cold in the rear tires, and 31 in the fronts, to get them into the optimum hot range (38-39).
I also had my Softronic Race Plenum (SRP) installed, but unfortunately, hadn't received the software flash yet, so I don't think I have the full benefit of it; however, even without the flash there seems to be a noticable improvement in the higher revs. At least, I noticed that I was shifting into 4th sooner than I usually do, and seemed to be carrying more speed into the corners than usual. Of course, some of that may have to do with the new tires increasing my exit speeds.
It was also my first time to run with 2 other Caymans on the track. There were 2 guys from Tulsa sharing a silver CS that was pretty much running circles around the rest of the field. When I cornered one of them to ask what they had done to the car to make it so fast, he smiled and told me it was bone stock, and this was their first time driving it on the track. Turns out though, that they have both been racing Spec Miatas at Hallett for about 4 years, so they know the track and how to drive a momentum car, which Hallett favors.
There was also a fellow CS owner from St. Louis named Jerry (not a CC member), who has a lot of track time, both in his Cayman, and other cars. He was helpful in pointing out the main reason that he thought I was slower than he - I brake too early. When he was chasing me he noticed I would brake at least 1-2 sec. ahead of where he would on almost every corner, and this would allow him to catch (and out-run) me. He also encouraged me to try running without the PSM on, since I was getting some PSM weirdness on exiting two of the tighter corners.
While chasing Jerry in the next to last session, with my PSM off, I came into a turn a little too hot and made the cardinal mistake in a Porsche - lifting mid-corner. The rear-end kicked out and I was sure I was going to spin, but I managed to save it and keep going. If I had left my PSM on it probably would have been less dramatic, but this provided a good lesson for me. Unfortunately, one of my track buddies, David, who drives a modded 986 also learned the lesson the hard way in the last session on Sunday - he went off in T1 and hit the tire wall - more damage to his ego than the car (fortunately), but it helped to drive the point home.
Now repeat after me: Never lift in the corner, never lift in the corner, never lift . . .
Total Comments 3
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psst... never lift in the corner!
sounds like a great time - woot! |
 
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Croc Crack if you ask me! : D
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This advice probably saved me, a friend, and his incredible Ford GT a couple of months ago. He graciously let me drive the GT, he was in the passenger seat. I was driving conservatively, and my friend was continually goading me to be more aggressive. Foolishly following his direction, on a freeway entrance ramp I overcooked it quite a bit; we were going way too fast for my experience level with that car. Fortunately I remembered the "never lift" lesson, taught by an autox instructor I don't even remember the name of in 1992 - never lift. I stayed with the GT... the g-forces were incredible... it had to be over 1g... but the tires held, and I lived to type this. Never ever lift in a corner. Good advice!
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