Quote:
Originally Posted by 67Builder
That article makes some assumptions that are just totally absurd.
Car 1 goes 65 and spins off track, car 2 goes 63 and its too slow so he loses time, car 3 is perfect speed and the sun shines and god smiles down upon him.
If all three cars are exactly alike I can agree. But I've never seen a track day with 3 exactly alike cars... Ever! Tires, tire pressures, alignments, how much fuel is in the car, etc. will all change the speed your going want to hit that corner at.
The last time I was at VIR I got to drive a WRX and a CTS-V in addition to my 1LE.
The WRX was totally different than the CTS and 1LE in pretty much every corner. Sometimes It needed some trail braking to keep the front end planted better. The CTS and 1LE are far more balanced and if that WRX was car3 and perfectly hit the corner at 64 mph. The 1LE and CTS would be hitting that same corner at 70+ and passing him.
I know the author was trying to make a point about starting slow to learn the limits and all. But you should start slow with any car you're new to and creep up on the limits.
I'll take a well set up fast car to learn in over the best set up spec miata in the business. Once you have 4-5 track days under your belt, you should be getting pretty comfy with how your car with your particular setup will react to different turns and conditions.
The example of a Ferrari coming into a corner at 180 vs the 105 of the miata is valid if you're someone that just jumped into the Ferrari and tried to max it out like an idiot. If the Ferrari driver only has ever driven that one car on a track, but took the time to learn it as he should. He's at no more of a disadvantage in any corner than if a Miata driver tries to take the Ferrari out on track. The Miata driver will have to learn the car just as the Ferrari driver did (unless he's an idiot trying to max it on the first lap). Coming in at 180 is fine as long as you know where the braking zone starts for the equipment you're using, and how hard to hit or modulate those brakes. It's all learning, but starting slow doesn't offer some inherent advantage. Unless like i said, if you just buy a fast car and go all hero run before trying to learn it at all. But I guess that's why most track days require instructors for novices.
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Respectfully- I Disagree. I couldn't agree with Jack more. Starting in slower cars does a number of thing- primarily, it allows drivers to become conversant and proficient in car control at a much less dangerous pace. By having a car with limited grip and HP, it teaches the driver to understand how to thread that thin line of slip/grip and to gain confidence in their ability to handle any situation you might face.
As an instructor with PCA, Chin, NASA & NCM- I can tell you there are some anomalies out there- the novice Z06 driver who is that .01% that is able to understand vehicle dynamics, on limit behavior and has natural car control. They are a rare butterfly though, the rest of us mere mortals that weren't born with balls of steel need to creep up on and gain comfort exploring and testing limits before we innately know how or handle that situation.
I can cite my own driver development curve- and credit my time as a 25 year old novice in a 170hp SVT Focus, learning the importance of carrying that last 1mph through the apex to not allow that Boxster to gap me as much down the straight! And yes, 1mph difference in Apex speed is the .2 seconds that separates 1st from 10th in a spec Miata field.
...Just my experience wheeling everything from that 170hp SVT Focus, to now a SS 1LE! On a side note- I've met Jack a number of times at the track, and he is the real deal, good dude, good driver.
Cheers-
Eric