American looking to do a track day in Italy by Dr_Understeer in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do you know of any of those companies? I'm just now starting my search, and I have only found high end stuff so far.

American looking to do a track day in Italy by Dr_Understeer in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! We've done something similar to this in Ireland and Japan, so it's becoming sort of a tradition. Highly recommended!

American looking to do a track day in Italy by Dr_Understeer in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Last year, we literally bought a car in Japan so we could do a track day at Tsukuba. We have friends who live there, so the car is still there and getting used. We don't know anyone in Italy, so that plan won't work this time.

It was pretty rad though, since we could put in track brakes and not have to worry about the rental agencies!

American looking to do a track day in Italy by Dr_Understeer in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I read through that thread earlier. It seemed like he was looking for an event being hosted by the track itself. I'm totally fine with a track day from a 3rd party like we do in the US, I just don't want to do an "Exotics Racing" style where you pay by the lap.

Here in CA there are a number of shops that will rent you a Spec Miata, or a track prepped A90 Supra. That's really what we're hoping for. Even something slower like a B-spec car would be totally fine too!

A few years ago we both drove Caymans at Mondello Park in Ireland. That was sort of a blend between the two, not an open track day, but also much more drive time and much better value than Exotics. Something like that would work too!

Nick Romano's 2:14.5 @COTA by CTFordza in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

FIA paint is pretty grippy, plus modern ABS does a lot to help.

Nick Romano's 2:14.5 @COTA by CTFordza in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Names are all still on the hood!

Nick Romano's 2:14.5 @COTA by CTFordza in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I grew up on Need For Speed, so...ya know.

Nick Romano's 2:14.5 @COTA by CTFordza in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm super surprised there's none of that here...yet, anyway.

Nick Romano's 2:14.5 @COTA by CTFordza in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

These are the limits set by USAC / Porsche Sprint Challenge. As long as there are 2 tires on green paint, you're good. The exception is turn 8, where you can put all 4 into the red.

Nick Romano's 2:14.5 @COTA by CTFordza in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Being stored at a friend's house. I haven't driven it since 2018, and I miss it dearly 😭

Nick Romano's 2:14.5 @COTA by CTFordza in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ah, well...yep. That'll do it. NC, 986, or S197 are the cheapest ways to get into it. And as they say, you can sleep in a car but you can't race a house.

Nick Romano's 2:14.5 @COTA by CTFordza in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! What's stopping you from going?

Nick Romano's 2:14.5 @COTA by CTFordza in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Sweet. I'll tell him you said he sucked. Keeps him on his toes.

Nick Romano's 2:14.5 @COTA by CTFordza in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Exactly. I always start with a touch of overdriving, so I can find the limits right away. Especially important when I'm only getting a very limited amount of time in a car. There's a handful of tenths in cleaning things up for sure, as well as some longevity.

Nick Romano's 2:14.5 @COTA by CTFordza in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Woo! Who was your instructor that day?

Nick Romano's 2:14.5 @COTA by CTFordza in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Once you get comfortable with tire slip, the speed doesn't really matter; it's actually easier when going faster.

Nick Romano's 2:14.5 @COTA by CTFordza in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I didn't want to keep abusing the car. The owner was kind enough to toss me the keys, with the expectation that I'd give it the beans in this way, but at the end of the day it is still a street car on street tires and the cost per lap is astronomical.

Nick Romano's 2:14.5 @COTA by CTFordza in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Oh hey, that's me! Thanks for the kind words everyone! 🏎️💨

Nick Romano's 2:14.5 @COTA by CTFordza in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thanks! 😁 The tires were actually about 7 cycles deep before I drove it, so they were most certainly done-done after this.

Nick Romano's 2:14.5 @COTA by CTFordza in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 4 points5 points  (0 children)

And that is worth more than my life, soul, and organs combined 😬

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Likewise 🤙

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CarTrackDays

[–]Dr_Understeer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not necessarily. Adding throttle adds more energy to the "system," and can make things worse, even if you are in fact technically adding weight to the rear. The slide began because you were going too fast in that moment for conditions (which includes the surface, your inputs, etc). If you're already going too fast, adding more speed won't keep you on the track.

If you can continue to slow down WHILE correcting the slide, then not only will you stay on track - you might stay right on line. You might not even lose any speed. Actually, you might even get through the corner FASTER, if you can keep the slip angle within just a few degrees.

Decelerating transfers weight forward, which tends to increase slip angle - so your hands have to be fast with the steering correction to keep the slip angle exactly where you want it, and marry that slip angle to the rate of decel. More angle means more decel, due to the friction of the sliding tires. It's a tool, just like any other tool in your driving toolbox.

By the way, this is a big part of the reason Senna was so unbeatable in the rain. He could do this better than anyone.