Palmersport West Circuit Formula Jaguar advice

[Eifion]

I'm a very lucky guy, just had confirmed another trip to Palmersport by one of our suppliers.

At my last visit I managed an 80 second lap in the single seater, which although I know is far off being very fast was the fastest for the day.

Not driven a wings and slicks car before, plus I didn't realise it had 6 gears-what a plonker!

Anyway looking to do even better this time and I think the place to gain most time is in the last 2 bends before the pit garages, it's certainly one of the spots I think I could be braver.

Last time I took these in fifth, lifting off for an instant before turning in for each of the bends, then applying full power once pointing straight(ish). My question is whether these bends could be taken flat out in fifth without lifting off or am I expecting too much from the grip? And should I be changing up for 6th before/after the last bend before the pit straight?

If anyone out there has any experience of this track in the Formula Jaguar much appreciated, or in fact general advice regards cornering ability of a wings and slicks car.

[drakart]

The easiest thing is to use your previous data trace and work out what the pro does and what you do? The trace tells you everything you need to know. Oh and you don't use 6th...

[Porkie]

Post your previous video up

Thats gonna be the easiest way.

Rather than chasing time. Just enjoy it again.

Sooooooooooooooooo much fun.

[e36er]

I'm certainly no pro, I went for the first time yesterday, but I was taking those in 4th or 5th.

My quickest lap was 76.903, lap 5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnEbO3QaddQ

[djmotorsport]

For me, a lift in 5th for both - and now that they are using F2 front tyres on the rear of the FJ, you do indeed get into 6th gear before the hairpin










Was there on Wednesday

[Eifion]

Thanks for this.

I think in the latter laps those last 2 bends you were about the same as me, I think you got more speed through the chicanes before you get onto the back straight, before those s bends.

Didn't you're engine cut out when ou went accross the red and white chevrons at the chicanes?

e36er said:

I'm certainly no pro, I went for the first time yesterday, but I was taking those in 4th or 5th.

My quickest lap was 76.903, lap 5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnEbO3QaddQ

[Sigmamark7]

I was flat in 5th through the last corner (often using some (lots) of the run off on the outside to maintain the speed)and well into 6th before the hairpin at the end. Because there is so much run off, it isn't quite as ballsy as it sounds because if you start to feel some slip through the tyres, you can ease off the steering without any drama. HTH.

[Conor D]

The Instructor time was something in the region of 72s wasn't it?

djmotorsport said:

For me, a lift in 5th for both - and now that they are using F2 front tyres on the rear of the FJ, you do indeed get into 6th gear before the hairpin

Was there on Wednesday

How'd you get on DJ? Properly gutted I couldn't get out this year.

What's the verdict on the Atom over the 911/Clio?

[e36er]

The instructor's time was 72.707.

God knows how he did that, I reckon if I spent all day there I'd only get down to a 74. They probably turned the traction off and used fresh tyres...

[Conor D]

I just had a look at my time; 85s! So a good bit off!

I'm putting that down to the weather, and the £1500 insurance excess I had for being under 21.. Ha.

[drakart]

djmotorsport said:

now that they are using F2 front tyres on the rear of the FJ, you do indeed get into 6th gear before the hairpin

Fair enough. I haven't been for a few years but I do recall running on their special "down to the fabric" slicks at the end of the day!

[djmotorsport]

Conor D said:

How'd you get on DJ? Properly gutted I couldn't get out this year.

What's the verdict on the Atom over the 911/Clio?

We won the team prize, and one of our team finished fastest in every event bar the M3 - The Atom is similar to a Caterham, but with a lot more grunt - Much better than the porker, and although I miss the Clio, the Atom is so much fun:-)

[e36er]

djmotorsport said:

We won the team prize, and one of our team finished fastest in every event bar the M3 - The Atom is similar to a Caterham, but with a lot more grunt - Much better than the porker, and although I miss the Clio, the Atom is so much fun:-)

When I went the same guy won everything except the Atom, I took that trophy from him.

When did you go? They had the Clio when I went last week.

[Porkie]

e36er said:

When I went the same guy won everything except the Atom, I took that trophy from him.

When did you go? They had the Clio when I went last week.

They still have the Clios. They are not part of the Motorsport Sensation day any more.

They use them on the Howfast days. Basically like Topgears 'star in a resonably priced car' kinda thing

http://www.howfast.co.uk/clio-cup.aspx

[Juno]

Eifion said:

I'm a very lucky guy, just had confirmed another trip to Palmersport by one of our suppliers.

At my last visit I managed an 80 second lap in the single seater, which although I know is far off being very fast was the fastest for the day.

Not driven a wings and slicks car before, plus I didn't realise it had 6 gears-what a plonker!

Anyway looking to do even better this time and I think the place to gain most time is in the last 2 bends before the pit garages, it's certainly one of the spots I think I could be braver.

Last time I took these in fifth, lifting off for an instant before turning in for each of the bends, then applying full power once pointing straight(ish). My question is whether these bends could be taken flat out in fifth without lifting off or am I expecting too much from the grip? And should I be changing up for 6th before/after the last bend before the pit straight?

If anyone out there has any experience of this track in the Formula Jaguar much appreciated, or in fact general advice regards cornering ability of a wings and slicks car.

Hope this helps, only 240BHP but the current Bedford How Fast Lap Record, this is a 2.0Honda car, 40-60BHP down on tbe Jags

We think even with 240BHP we can do a 1.12 Sec or 72 to Equal the Jag

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N3fenethPfk


Have Fun

Edited by Juno on Tuesday 7th August 08:00

[Juno]

They also cone the bends for HowFast making tbe corners much tighter with no kerb cutting which probably adds two seconds !!!