Kyalami Track Experience 30-10-2011*Great Success*

[Fran]

Well done for sticking with the Ferrari then!

He must have been worried about crashing that car too

[racingfreak]

Well done for sticking with the Ferrari then!

He must have been worried about crashing that car too

The problem is that its much harder to drive a fast car fast, than to drive a slow car fast...if that makes sense

When I went around the Nordschleife with a Megane R26R I did a lap in 8'32.xx, two other guys, one with a e92 m3 and the other with a GT3RS couldnt get below 8'50.xx.

That said, a well driven example of the above should've creamed me by a mile!

[Fran]

Makes interesting reading. So then I conclude it is easier to push a slower car to its limits and a fast car that 'outsmarts' the driver.

Wow you lucky to have been around Nurburgring hey

[Sinbad]

Makes interesting reading. So then I conclude it is easier to push a slower car to its limits and a fast car that 'outsmarts' the driver.

Wow you lucky to have been around Nurburgring hey

Slower car is much less demanding - you are less likely to have control issues or enter a corner way too fast...

[racingfreak]

Makes interesting reading. So then I conclude it is easier to push a slower car to its limits and a fast car that 'outsmarts' the driver.

Wow you lucky to have been around Nurburgring hey

Well, yes and no...you can still make a huge mess with a "slowish" car, but the speeds at what you make the mistakes are just lower...so it gives you more "thinking" time

To catch a GT3 RS that steps out of line at 200kph+ requires some skill

I also had a moment at the ring where the back of the R26R stepped out at 180kph on Fuchsrohre (dip just before Adenauer)...luckely regained control

Check this link for some high speed car control...Mark Higgins in his Lancer Evo at Isle of Man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jSYiU-JdRw

[Kibim]

I think what this should read is it's easier to push a FWD car hard than a RWD car hard. A RWD is going to want to turn around on you if you break traction (calling Marco), where a FWD car will just squeal and complain. A FWD you keep the steeringwheel pointed where you want to go and you're pretty much okay, a RWD you need to get your wheels pointing where the center of gravity of the car wants to go to regain traction. Too much and you'll tank slap, too little and you'll go around.

I know i could push my 300hp 600Nm volvo a LOT harder than i'm happy pushing the SLK, purely because it was more predictable, and understeered on power rather than trying turn around on itself. Yes, it had some serious lift off oversteer issues, but those were far easier to control and steer into under braking than a powerslide is to control.

[MeanTdi]

I think what this should read is it's easier to push a FWD car hard than a RWD car hard. A RWD is going to want to turn around on you if you break traction (calling Marco)....

So true, especially with the traction control switched off.

[muhamme3]

Mark Higgins in his Lancer Evo at Isle of Man

um, not an Evo....its an STI

[SemiColon]

Mark Higgins in his Lancer Evo at Isle of Man

um, not an Evo....its an STI

Yea...we all know EVO's cant corner for sh!t

On the road:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D6HXocBFlY

Or even looking for parking:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bg3c5Q6BNg

[playback]

Must say that I agree. Definately the best day we have ever done as a club.

I think we should try do more track days like these like Duratek handling track or maybe that other one in Vereeniging direction.

On my side the fastest I did lap wise was only 2:13:00 dead using Race Chrono. I was 3 up though when I did it.

I had to spend most of the morning bedding in the brakes and even at the end of the day they were still getting better and better.
Unfortunately it meant most of the time I was using a bigger braking distance just to make sure my confidance was up. Put it this way. I never activated the ABS even once so had some good margin left over.

It was my first time driving on that track and I loved it. Traction was a bit of a problem though and I kept loosing some distance comming out of the corners and then getting to the next corners a little faster than the other cars meaning harder braking again.

Was a lot of fun though. I only now need to improve on every corner

I was actually amased how grippy the track was and the GTI reminded me just how well they handle.The car is way more capable than the driver.

I also had a large moment in the S's where I carried too much speed in .....instinct got me off the gass and got good tank slapper on most of the way sideways through the S's .... We got a vid of it so will get it from my mate and post it on how not to drive

Meth wise we were using around 2.5L per session so we used quite a bit Car was faultless the whole day , will try get some pics though. Brakes got a little hot as the paint was comming off the caliper slightly but never faded and the front right tyre took a massive beating .

At the beggining in the early session I had Kibim chasing me in the Merc and was fun. Unfortunately in my class once my pace got better everyone went home so most of the time was driving alone but at least it allowed me to concerntrate on my driving.

I was pretty beaten by the end of the day though and the body was begging to go home. I was surprised as I am fairly fit at the moment.

Still wishing I had of had the proper brakes fitted on the car though. Brilliant day. Great seeing everyone again

[Kibim]

Must say that I agree. Definately the best day we have ever done as a club.
...
At the beggining in the early session I had Kibim chasing me in the Merc and was fun.
...
Still wishing I had of had the proper brakes fitted on the car though. Brilliant day. Great seeing everyone again

Glad you enjoyed it!

You think you had brake problems ...!? My powerbrake kit still hasn't arrived. I was on stock disks and some cheap and nasty pads. The disks have been skimmed to the minimum tollerance to reduce a terrible shudder I had. So my brakes were spongy, easy to overheat and bordering on useless. I would touch them here and there, but never made an effort to stand on them coming into a corner, unless I had messed up the lines. I think i could have been a lot quicker, but also driving off the brakes like that does save tyres and the rest of the car quite a bit.

I'm glad you've tested out the EBCs. I think i'll give them a try as powerbrake don't seem to be able to get the right stuff to me. Braided lines are a massive upgrade, and I'll be looking at a set of those for sure too.

[Sinbad]

I don't think my abs kicked in once but I did get the hazards on a couple of times. Brake pad wear on the day was negligible!

[Kibim]

My ESP light thought Christmas came early

[Sinbad]

My ESP light thought Christmas came early

I left esp off. Last time I drove on a track with it on it boiled my brake fluid!

[Kibim]

It was 'off', about as much as you can in a merc. It still lets you know when you've broken traction tho. Doesn't to much about it, just flashes wildly.

I am seriously impressed with my Continentals tho. The grip levels were awesome. It's a different car to how it felt with the Pirellis. At Zwartkops I spun it twice, had tank-slappers on every other corner. The contis have served me at Roy Hesketh (dubrun) and now at Kyalami. They have so much grip the car is almost boring now.

[joggiep]

I know i could push my 300hp 600Nm volvo a LOT harder than i'm happy pushing the SLK, purely because it was more predictable, and understeered on power rather than trying turn around on itself. Yes, it had some serious lift off oversteer issues, but those were far easier to control and steer into under braking than a powerslide is to control.

Tell me about it..... Gets interesting when you need to power out when things start to go wrong and there is no power

[Barney]

damm wish i could of come along ... *sad panda*

[VDUB GP]

One thing this made me realise - I want to race!
I have always thought I might like to, but after Sunday I definately made up my mind.

I just wish we had taken lap times or a video, but after the third session when I woke up to the fact, we had the flat and couldn't go out again.