Video from NJMP last weekend

[paradocs98]

I brought this post out from the IMG/New Jersey Motorsports Park thread. This was Independent Motorsports Group's second-ever event, and it went really well. They are another viable option in the Northeast, in addition to SCDA, NASA, PCA, BMW CCA, etc.

Here is a clip of two of my fast laps, which I ended up doing back-to-back. I was really hoping to get below 1:18, as this had been my previous fastest time at NJMP Lightning. The 1:18 lap I had run before, though, was last November in 55-degree weather, on a grippy track, while this weekend's temps were in the 90s and the track was getting greasy. So, comparatively, even though I didn't break below the 1:18s this time, I was probably running faster than last November--it certainly felt like it!

I was experimenting with coming into the bowl or "lightbulb" a little bit faster, so that I could carry more speed through this turn and onto the front straight. I had been feeling the car move around a bit under braking coming into this turn, and was using this to help rotation. This clip shows me trail-braking a bit too much and unsettling the car when it's on that fine edge. My hands were definitely too slow in responding.

In addition to the usual HPDE participants and spec racers running with IMG over the weekend, a new Grand Am Rolex series team from New Jersey, Limitless Racing, brought their Audi R8 GT car for testing. Very cool looking racecar, with evil-looking red lenses on the headlights. It ran in the race group and the advanced HPDE group. On Sunday intermediate and advanced groups were combined, so I ended up on the track with this beast. Needless to say, I was quick to give a point-by. Here's what it sounded like blasting by me. Even as it pulls away and puts a few hundred yards between us, you can still hear it downshifting while approaching corners.

Again, it was a fun weekend with a nice group of people. Wishing IMG every success in the future as they build and grow.

[Stealth ///M]

Wow..looked like you were about to eat that wall. definitely a slow response, nice driving overall tho.

[klammer]

Nice driving and a beautiful day. That Audi was fast and super loud. Was crazy how you could hear it more than you could see it. Love having race cars flying around on track.

[LiM3y]

That might have been Elivan from SCDA driving. They are trying to get set up for a full GT season. The "base" R8 race car is $500K...the lug nut costs $1000 alone!

You are lapping faster than I do, but you look like you are low entering the light bulb and scrubbing too much speed when you brake, slowing you down for the front straight. I didn't even think it was a trail brake corner, just a tap to settle the car if anything and squeeze the throttle to keep your ass planted. That might be the difference from November? I am wondering if you can brake less for #5 too and not pinch curve into #6 to pick up time too. Anyway, take this with a grain of salt...I am 3 seconds behind you!

[paradocs98]

Originally Posted by LiM3y

That might have been Elivan from SCDA driving. They are trying to get set up for a full GT season. The "base" R8 race car is $500K...the lug nut costs $1000 alone!

You are lapping faster than I do, but you look like you are low entering the light bulb and scrubbing too much speed when you brake, slowing you down for the front straight. I didn't even think it was a trail brake corner, just a tap to settle the car if anything and squeeze the throttle to keep your ass planted. That might be the difference from November? I am wondering if you can brake less for #5 too and not pinch curve into #6 to pick up time too. Anyway, take this with a grain of salt...I am 3 seconds behind you!

I just saw Elivan at the SCDA event at Watkins Glen last week. Not sure if he was there at NJMP. They were testing with a couple of drivers, one of which was team owner "Dr. Jason Lee." Apparently he's a young cosmetic dentist in Northern New Jersey. I sure missed the boat on that one--I should have gone to dental school instead of medical school. Then I could field a Grand Am GT team instead of carefully budgeting my handful of yearly track days.

Thanks for the lightbulb tips. I've had prior instructors run the racing line, all the way to the inside the whole way around to protect position, and others advocate a higher entry. It likely is a matter of keeping the car balanced on entry to that section. Our cars approach the bulb at about 105mph, so you definitely feel the need to scrub off speed before committing to the turn, but if done right the banking and turning probably help scrub off a decent amount.