My first track day; I B hooked. (big pics)

[Roadstergal]

It was my first Real Track Day; the Puget Sound BMW Club's Novice Track Day, that they stage in order to get the folk who want to run regular lapping days up to speed, as it were. The cars were divided into four groups, and each group ran four 20-minute sessions. In the first session, the instructor drove our car and showed us the line and pointed out things to keep in mind; for the rest of the day, we drove with the same instructor, who critiques our driving and gave us suggestions. By the last session, I was feeling comfortable with the line and had acquired more smoothness and consistency than I had started with. My instructor for the day was Karl, who I already knew from the Z3 group. He was an excellent instructor, and I learned a great deal. He said smoothness and consistency were the goals, and speed would follow them naturally, and that was the case; I was hitting triple digits on the straight by the last session, and more importantly was carrying speed through the turns. I still need to work on smoothness of braking and shifting, and need to pay attention to the tach (I hit the limiter a few times); I am eagerly looking forward to the next day. Ach, my autocrossing days may be behind me; I'm hooked! Public roads are boring now. :p


Someone here passes the broomstick test. Someone doesn't. :p

<img src=http://209.180.204.251/BMWCCA/C_Group/IMG_2694.jpg>


Turn 5. This thing is so stiff, I didn't know it could roll! But this turn really gets you cornering.

<img src=http://209.180.204.251/BMWCCA/C_Group/IMG_2669.jpg>


Turn 3, a tight downhill right-left.

<img src=http://209.180.204.251/BMWCCA/C_Group/MT-0152.jpg>

<img src=http://209.180.204.251/BMWCCA/C_Group/MT-0286.jpg>


An instructor (yellow numbers) in a Porsche. I don't feel so bad about being passed by him. ;)

<img src=http://209.180.204.251/BMWCCA/C_Group/MT-0310.jpg>


"Painting the fog line," as Lance put it. Among the information that was thrown at us all day in order for it to penetrate and be digested was what that was. Karl showed me how to chop it up into straight lines in order to get through faster.

<img src=http://209.180.204.251/BMWCCA/C_Group/MT-0285.jpg>

What a hoot, what a blast. I'm still flyin'.

Interestingly enough, the instructors had different lines. I'm eager to explore some of the differences; I'll certainly be watching that at the next club race!

Many thanks to the volunteers who were out taking these pics, and the corner workers, and the instructors...

[nate]

Ach, my autocrossing days may be behind me; I'm hooked! Public roads are boring now. :p


I agree :shock:

[dredmo]

Awesome!!

[ayn]

Nice! I can see you doing lots of HPDE and then turn your Miata into an SM and do SM racing! :)

[Plaz]

Watch out, Spoonface! There's a new sheriff in town! :D

:thumbup: :thumbup:

[Doug]

Glad you had a good time Rgal. Don't start playing with different lines till you can get the ideal one in your sleep, it's too easy to get into trouble. Also, different cars use a different line and will vary slightly from the ideal (the ideal in a Miata will vary slightly from the ideal in an M3)

Once you are able to hit the ideal line nearly every time then start to play...PR is a very technical track and you can get into trouble very fast, big trouble.

Stick with it! I'm out there today.

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

Looking good, Roadstergal !!!

Btw, which track is this?

[The HACK]

Uh oh. Another junkie in the making!

[lemming]

SWEET.

i'm smiling, too, just looking at the pictures.

[Roadstergal]

Glad you had a good time Rgal. Don't start playing with different lines till you can get the ideal one in your sleep, it's too easy to get into trouble. Also, different cars use a different line and will vary slightly from the ideal (the ideal in a Miata will vary slightly from the ideal in an M3)

Ja, the line Karl was teaching me was working out very well, and I was advised to drive it until it felt odd driving offline.

Meester Paddle, that's Pacific Raceways, formerly Seattle International Raceway, formerly Pacific Raceways.

[Plaz]

that's Pacific Raceways, formerly Seattle International Raceway, formerly Pacific Raceways.

Sheesh. More name changes than:

http://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~nelberg/Prince-logo.gif

[scottn2retro]

Nice pics - glad you had a great time! :smile:

[Roadstergal]

I'm going back on the June 6th day. I got a set of Carbotech XPs from Doug, and will break 'em in as soon as the Miata is painted. I've heard a lot of good things about them.