GTR's first dry track day
Discussion
I arrived at Blackhawk Farms Raceway late due to replacement of my rear outer bushings. Missed all the practice sessions. I had only 4 timed laps in the time trials. Had to learn the car quickly and Jack's bushings worked great. Initially expereinced lots of understeer sliding off track into the dirt on the fist timed run. Most of my experience is with front engined rwd GT cars or Corvettes. I recalled the Formula Renault Turbo I drove in France at Paul Ricard years ago and tried two techniques that worked well.
1) start the turn in early, to allow for some understeer and start applying throttle before the apex. No understeer when the throttle's on.
2) Start the turn in while on the brakes, the rear will start to slide, release the brakes and apply throttle, again before you reach the apex. A rally driving method. I got my fastest lap with this method.
Out of 150 cars total I had the fastest lap on street tires. 8th overall. Several competitors and the winner of the One Lap of America were in attendance.
Now that I've figured out how the car works, I love the handling and don't plan on changing anything other than continue refining the 2nd driving technique above.
My GTR is set-up with the factory recommended alignment, street setting on the optional Intrax shocks, Goodyear F1 Fioranos, and I liked 25 psi of pressure on all 4 corners best.
Drive it like you stole it!
Jeff
1) start the turn in early, to allow for some understeer and start applying throttle before the apex. No understeer when the throttle's on.
2) Start the turn in while on the brakes, the rear will start to slide, release the brakes and apply throttle, again before you reach the apex. A rally driving method. I got my fastest lap with this method.
Out of 150 cars total I had the fastest lap on street tires. 8th overall. Several competitors and the winner of the One Lap of America were in attendance.
Now that I've figured out how the car works, I love the handling and don't plan on changing anything other than continue refining the 2nd driving technique above.
My GTR is set-up with the factory recommended alignment, street setting on the optional Intrax shocks, Goodyear F1 Fioranos, and I liked 25 psi of pressure on all 4 corners best.
Drive it like you stole it!
Jeff
Jeff
Glad the bushings are helping, and thanks for the driving tips. Will try them at Run And Gun the middle of October. We will still show restraint at R&G. I promised my wife I'll bring OUR CanAm home in one piece.
I do have to question the rather high tire pressures. Did you try lower pressures before you went that high?
Sorry you can't make R&G.
Jack
Glad the bushings are helping, and thanks for the driving tips. Will try them at Run And Gun the middle of October. We will still show restraint at R&G. I promised my wife I'll bring OUR CanAm home in one piece.
I do have to question the rather high tire pressures. Did you try lower pressures before you went that high?
Sorry you can't make R&G.
Jack
I tried 18 front 22 rear, It was unstable and the tires showed signs of rolling over the edges. I bumped them to 21 and 25. The rear was more stable but the front was still rolling over on the edge, so I bumped the front up to 25. Blackhawk is a 2.1 mile track with no elevation changes fairly smooth, since the repaving last fall. It has one high speed kink and 2 places where an Ultima can hit about 130-140 mph.
Keep in mind 25 psi was hot not cold.
Jeff
Keep in mind 25 psi was hot not cold.
Jeff
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