I packed the Camaro back up and drove over 700 miles to New York (with some stops along the way). Watkins Glen is my second favorite track out of 24 (just slightly behind Daytona); too bad it is over 1,500 miles away from home! The uphill esses are quite an experience and the corners have a nice amount of banking. Thanks to the local BMW Club for letting me sign up for a 3rd consecutive day the evening beforehand since I only found out about it while I was packing up after the Chin event the previous 2 days!
Shortly before this lap, I hit the bus stop curbs so hard that I got a check engine light! Thankfully I had my Bluetooth OBD scanner in the car so I was able to read the code in the hot pit (P0326 Knock Sensor 1 Circuit Range/Performance), clear it, and go right back out; it has never come back since then. I also ordered spare knock sensors that night just to be safe haha.
Other highlights were a scary moment
driving through a smokescreen & my favorite lap of day 2
chasing a Porsche 911 GT3.
I would have liked to try some different lines if my lap times plateaued but I kept improving right through my last session so I didn't. Most of the videos I've watched show people taking more conventional lines instead of the late apexes I was using in many corners but I don't know if one approach was better or not. Ambient temperature was significantly cooler the 3rd day (52°F) which definitely helped lap times and top speeds.
Track = Watkins Glen International - Grand Prix
Time = 2:07.00
Year/Model/Trim/Trans = 2017 1SS 1LE M6
Date = 5/17/23
Tires = OE SC3
Mods = Track alignment, SPL Rear Toe Links + Eccentric Lockout, BMR BK063 Diff Lockout, FEA front lower front control arms, 2021 SS 1LE EBCM, SRF, GM track brake cooling kit