[Xaxas]

Originally Posted by MatthewAMEL

The FIRM has a coupon code for 1st timers...it's $50 off. Then if you register at least 24 hours in advance, you get an 'early bird' $25 off.


If it is your 1st time EVER on track, then I think the require you to have an instructor in-car for part of the day. That has a cost, but I am not sure what it is.


TNIA does not have that requirement. Track Insurance is a good idea. Check into RLI, not Haggerty. I have found RLI to be cheaper for almost every event...even the ones that Haggerty sponsors.


For AutoX, it's the Central Florida SCCA Solo Group.
https://autocross.cfrscca.org/


All of those events (and others) are listed on Motorsportreg.com
https://www.motorsportreg.com/


You can search by distance and type of event and build yourself a custom calendar.


You'll quickly discover you can do something with your car every weekend if FL if you have the time and $.


You are right about FAST. Loren (FAST director) is just taking a hiatus AFAIK, due to his sites COVID restrictions. I would think he will be back when COVID is gone.


There is also Martin Sports Car Club
https://martinsportscarclub.org/


And Gulf Coast Autocrossers
http://www.gulfcoastautocrossers.com/


See you out there!


Matt

This is very good information and I greatly appreciate it, guess I'll start with AutoX knowing there are still some groups that host.

[N Camarolina]

I'll be tracking my new 1LE starting in April. I'm planning to start by running PTM set to "Dry" and after getting a feel for to level of stability control intervention and PTM-alllowed yaw on exit, move up "Sport 1." I plan to review the PDR data after the fact to see if the PTM intervened on corner exits, but my goal is to roll onto the throttle without being so aggressive that I activate PTM. That way I have the safety net, but am not leaning on it and developing bad habits by mashing the throttle.

It would be great to get the feedback real-time that PTM is intervening, so I can try slightly less throttle next time and find the sweet spot. Does anybody know if there is a way (perhaps in the HUD) to get that feedback real-time without having to look down at the DIC?

[MatthewAMEL]

Originally Posted by N Camarolina

I'll be tracking my new 1LE starting in April. I'm planning to start by running PTM set to "Dry" and after getting a feel for to level of stability control intervention and PTM-alllowed yaw on exit, move up "Sport 1." I plan to review the PDR data after the fact to see if the PTM intervened on corner exits, but my goal is to roll onto the throttle without being so aggressive that I activate PTM. That way I have the safety net, but am not leaning on it and developing bad habits by mashing the throttle.

It would be great to get the feedback real-time that PTM is intervening, so I can try slightly less throttle next time and find the sweet spot. Does anybody know if there is a way (perhaps in the HUD) to get that feedback real-time without having to look down at the DIC?

The best answer is 'you will feel it'. But that's not really the case when you are new to tracking. One of the benefits of getting more experience on track is it opens your brain up for more information.


For your 1st few events, you'll be near overload with just the sensations of the car at speed, checking your mirrors and giving point-bys.


But you are correct...you can see when PTM is stepping in on the DIC and in the PDR video. In the hud would be nice.

[weemus]

Originally Posted by N Camarolina

I'll be tracking my new 1LE starting in April. I'm planning to start by running PTM set to "Dry" and after getting a feel for to level of stability control intervention and PTM-alllowed yaw on exit, move up "Sport 1." I plan to review the PDR data after the fact to see if the PTM intervened on corner exits, but my goal is to roll onto the throttle without being so aggressive that I activate PTM. That way I have the safety net, but am not leaning on it and developing bad habits by mashing the throttle.

It would be great to get the feedback real-time that PTM is intervening, so I can try slightly less throttle next time and find the sweet spot. Does anybody know if there is a way (perhaps in the HUD) to get that feedback real-time without having to look down at the DIC?

N Camarolina I did the exact same thing. As it was stated you will feel it and as you progress you will find it getting in the way a touch, then it’s time to go up a PTM mode.

[Silent_H_]

Originally Posted by weemus

I just did another track day at VIR and cold or not, which was likely a contributing factor to the degree of traction loss, full throttle before the car getting settled was the main issue. As you transition over the crest of South Bend which is off camber slightly it loads the right side tires and weight is moving forward with the downhill coupled with aggressive throttle it will break traction. I freely admit I run in track mode with PTM in race for this reason. While it can build some bad habits (the stand on it and let the computer sort it out) it can also let you safely explore the limits and then help you to push with a goal of not engaging the traction control. You can see PTM engaging in my video on a warm day with nice hot sticky tires at the exact same point.

Dude has a bigger pair than I have. Like others said if you push eventually you will make an error, that’s part of testing yourself and the car. Glad he is ok and as someone said it’s fixable.

OMG the sounds of those downshifts...

[TheRealJA105]

Originally Posted by TWG1

Let’s give this gentleman some praise:
-Explored limits of his car in a safe/controlled environment (not in “Mexico”)
-Had the guts to post his video for others to learn from

Backstory is that it was at SCCA Time Trials during tracksprints. In a FB group post, he stated his PTM wasn’t engaging properly so he ran all nannies off. He exited vehicle because he was only person on the course (no other traffic during tracksprints), and he was getting away from the airbag fumes.

This

Originally Posted by TWG1

I don’t know if you track your car, but your post indicates you likely don’t. In a track setting, he would have run that “blind” corner many times that day. Also, track-minded folks know they are always vulnerable to the ‘one bad move’, and generally approach others in the sport that have made a mistake with more grace than you seem able to offer. You’re not “the man in the arena”.

If you haven’t done a track day, I’d highly recommend it. Great people, great times, and it’ll change your perspective on a lot of things.

This

Originally Posted by TWG1

You nailed it. Also, not many lateral transitions until the ‘incident’, he likely didn’t have much heat or good feel for the tires. Was likely benchmarking his turn-in and braking points based on full lap reference points, not cold tire, standing start track sprints.

And I agree, Camaro PTM seems most invasive (helpful?) past apex, on throttle. You can just about floor it in that profile and let PTM sort out the traction, which can build bad habits (guilty of this myself). I think any of the PTM settings would have mitigated it.

THIS! bad habits are not good

Originally Posted by Mountain

So, I was actually there for that event. This was for the SCCA TT at VIR. There were two Camaros that wrecked during the Track Sprints.

You guys really need to chill out on the bench racing (sorry, have to be blunt here as I was there and I ran not too long after this gentleman). The other wreck occurred along the same element as this one and it was done by a very competent driver who knows VIR very well...

The night before and that morning were a lot colder than the day before. The curbing at VIR is painted and is very slippery until the track gets warm.

On top of that, the exit of T10 is a extremely common area to spin in exactly the way this gentleman did. The track isn't super wide after T10 and the road drops out of sight as you exit T10. The curbing extends just far enough and is very easy to exit that turn and over-shoot where the curbing ends

The track sprint format forces you to go, essentially all-out right off the bat (it's basically taking a section of a track with an autocross mentality).

What it seems to me is that the track was cold, the curbing was slick, the driver was running at a reasonable pace, took T10 as you would a normal track day, hit the exit curbing, perhaps caught some dirty/upset the rear over the slick curbing... slick grass... wall.

The driver, in looking at the PDR, is in "TRACK" (all-OFF), and not in a PTM mode. Regardless, unless you are running a mode with stability control active, you aren't getting help from the car for this one.

EDIT: FYI, the drivers are OK and the cars, both, are fixable. Both just have damage to the driver front. Looked mostly a bunch of plastic in the front, replace the crash beam and maybe a little pulling at the driver front, but not terrible.

Originally Posted by TWG1

Do you realize how amateur you look by calling this guy dumb when you’ve never even been on a racetrack? Quit the name calling and save the insults for a topic you actually know something about.

Yeah, all the people who "take there cars to the twistys" "push hard on off ramps" and "drive the mountain roads" have no clue what a real track is like and how much harder you actually drive. No street driving approaches it. (unless the street is shut down for a hillclimb event or something)