Hill Climbs!

Christian1LE · 07-31-2023, 08:43 PM

Just wanted to share my experience with hill climbs and SCCA. Very different beast from regular road courses. Really challenging to learn the course with limited runs, no room for error, new found respect for rally drivers. Track was pretty bumpy as well. My run was good enough for 1st place and a new course record(in super sport class).

I suggest everyone give it a shot, it was an amazing experience and I plan to do more in the future.

beworthy3 · 08-01-2023, 12:52 PM

Watching this just doubled my heart rate. Good stuff!

SSDan · 08-01-2023, 01:26 PM

Wow - I call that an "amazing and scary" experince. Those guard rails, trees and shadows
across the windshield were the scary parts. The amazing parts were listening to that LT1 sing and your driving skills. Thanks for sharing!

BMoneyMan · 08-01-2023, 02:38 PM

There's a hillclimb in Cumberland, MD this weekend. It will be my first hillclimb so I'm excited to try it out.

Any helpful tips? Assuming it's different from the track where I take tire PSI down to 30 to warm up to 36 over a 20 minute session.

Christian1LE · 08-01-2023, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMoneyMan

There's a hillclimb in Cumberland, MD this weekend. It will be my first hillclimb so I'm excited to try it out.

Any helpful tips? Assuming it's different from the track where I take tire PSI down to 30 to warm up to 36 over a 20 minute session.

I think the best thing you can do is try to memorize the course before you get there. If there is any simulator that has a replica of the course try it out. I basically gained time the entire weekend by just learning the course better. I still got lost on my last run up the hill (thought I was in a different part in some corners). If I go back next year there will be so much time to find still because of my lack of prep during this years event.

I didn't watch that much video before my hill climb, but it's pretty hard to memorize a course off of videos alone, you also need to build the right muscle memory when you're actually there.

I didn't play with the pressures too much, your runs are so short that you don't get to build much pressure. I just ran similar to what I run on street courses. I started the morning at around 26 PSI. You get much more tire roll over than on street courses because of the lack of temperature. First few corners lack a bit of front grip but then it's pretty decent.

I also tried using the launch control for my first run and it was a disaster, the car almost stalled. I don't think it's tuned to have an uphill start. I had much better success by just doing it myself with both PTM "Track" and everything off. I did run most of the weekend with all assists off though. I only used track when the track was wet sunday morning.

BMoneyMan · 08-02-2023, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christian1LE

I just ran similar to what I run on street courses. I started the morning at around 26 PSI. You get much more tire roll over than on street courses because of the lack of temperature. First few corners lack a bit of front grip but then it's pretty decent.

26 PSI? That's way lower than I've ever run for a track day. Why so low? And what tires?

Christian1LE · 08-02-2023, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMoneyMan

26 PSI? That's way lower than I've ever run for a track day. Why so low? And what tires?

Oem SC3 tires. I aim for around 31 to 33 psi hot, just find there is more grip with lower pressures. You can run higher and the tires will be a bit slower, but not by a huge amount.

BMoneyMan · 08-07-2023, 08:05 AM

1st hill climb in the books. Finished 30/73 and left a ton of time on the hill. Had a blast though.

Christian1LE · 08-07-2023, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMoneyMan

1st hill climb in the books. Finished 30/73 and left a ton of time on the hill. Had a blast though.

Nice, those roads look like they are in great shape.

olblue75 · 08-07-2023, 10:42 PM

Pineville KY had a hill climb in April, looks like a good time as well. Just south of Lexington KY and North of Knoxville, TN.

N Camarolina · 08-07-2023, 11:28 PM

Hat's off to you, but I don't know how you guys do this. So little margin for error, as there are no safe run-off areas if you make a mistake (navigational or car control).

I'm sure it's another level of adrenaline rush though.

BMoneyMan · 08-08-2023, 09:02 AM

My ONE piece of non-technical/driving advice:

READ CLOSELY the rules and safety requirements. Hill climb follows rally rules, not track rules. Full cage (with THREE bolts, not two), harnesses, arm restraints, fire suits, gloves, etc.

4 years of track driving did not prepare me for the thoroughness of the tech and requirements.

Christian1LE · 08-08-2023, 12:49 PM

Scca tech inspection was pretty easy. My RSR cage only has 2 bolts per post. You don't need a full cage, a 4 post "half cage" will work. They suggest 3 bolts for the half cage but it's not a requirement for hill climbs with scca. You will need the rest though either arm restraints or window netting (if you have full cage)

Christian1LE · 08-28-2023, 12:40 PM

A second one in the books, this one was the last of the season for this series.

08-01-2023, 01:26 PM	#3
SSDan Drives: 2016 1SS 6MT NPP Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Lake Murray, SC Posts: 2,245 View My Garage	Wow - I call that an "amazing and scary" experince. Those guard rails, trees and shadows across the windshield were the scary parts. The amazing parts were listening to that LT1 sing and your driving skills. Thanks for sharing! __________________ 2016 Camaro 1SS Hyper Blue 6MT NPP 2010 Camaro 2SS Cam/Headers/CAI/3.91 gears 476 rwhp/440 rwtq (sold)

08-07-2023, 10:42 PM	#10
olblue75 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Clarksville Tennesse. Posts: 6,064	Pineville KY had a hill climb in April, looks like a good time as well. Just south of Lexington KY and North of Knoxville, TN. __________________ Orange Krush II 1LE Front sway bar, Splitter, shocks and struts, Z28 dual mode mufflers, Intake, UCA Bushings, and Toresen 3.91 Diff. 1 piece DSS Drive Shaft, ZL1/C7 Calipers, and 32mm JPSS Rear Bar. ASC race spec splitter and wicker. 6th Gen M017 Wheels. Stainless Works 1 7/8 LTs. DSE and PAFDT Suspension components.

08-01-2023, 12:52 PM	#2
beworthy3 Drives: 2018 Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: New Jersey Posts: 255	Watching this just doubled my heart rate. Good stuff!

08-01-2023, 02:38 PM	#4
BMoneyMan Drives: 2022 1SS 1LE Join Date: May 2022 Location: MD Posts: 37	There's a hillclimb in Cumberland, MD this weekend. It will be my first hillclimb so I'm excited to try it out. Any helpful tips? Assuming it's different from the track where I take tire PSI down to 30 to warm up to 36 over a 20 minute session.

08-07-2023, 11:28 PM	#11
N Camarolina Drives: 2021 2SS 1LE Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 805	Hat's off to you, but I don't know how you guys do this. So little margin for error, as there are no safe run-off areas if you make a mistake (navigational or car control). I'm sure it's another level of adrenaline rush though.

08-08-2023, 09:02 AM	#12
BMoneyMan Drives: 2022 1SS 1LE Join Date: May 2022 Location: MD Posts: 37	My ONE piece of non-technical/driving advice: READ CLOSELY the rules and safety requirements. Hill climb follows rally rules, not track rules. Full cage (with THREE bolts, not two), harnesses, arm restraints, fire suits, gloves, etc. 4 years of track driving did not prepare me for the thoroughness of the tech and requirements.

08-08-2023, 12:49 PM	#13
Christian1LE Drives: 2004 BMW 330CI, 2022 1SS 1LE Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: NC Posts: 746	Scca tech inspection was pretty easy. My RSR cage only has 2 bolts per post. You don't need a full cage, a 4 post "half cage" will work. They suggest 3 bolts for the half cage but it's not a requirement for hill climbs with scca. You will need the rest though either arm restraints or window netting (if you have full cage)

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