^ awesome

3/16/2015 9:49:27 PM

That was badass. Thanks for sharing Ahmet! Hopefully you can train me to drive as fluid as you.

3/17/2015 12:26:04 AM

awesome video

3/17/2015 12:39:38 AM

why you cut at rollercoaster???
also, not knowing the dynamics of your car, is it possible to nose the front down with a little brake pressure and not let off at no-name to carry more speed without running out of track? seems like you could carry more speed in there with a less "defensive" line

3/17/2015 11:34:00 AM

VIR looks like fun, I need to get back there (haven't been since my first track day in 2005). Nice driving Ahmet...I know he was either broken or intentionally waiting for someone, but the closing speed on the Corvette is awesome heh. I also like how willing to rev your GT3 is...doesn't seem insanely fast, just "very willing"

I test drove a 2008 997.1 Carrera this past weekend, the weather wasn't great and my wife was in the car so I didn't push it very hard, but it was interesting since I had never driven a 911 before. It didn't feel much faster power-wise than my E36 M3 (which is pretty modded and light since partially gutted) but I did really like the "feel" of the way it drove in terms of steering, pedal response, etc. Shifter was a bit balkier than I expected, although nicely mechanical. The car just felt really well put together, both interior and mechanically...I can definitely understand the appeal better now. It fit me a lot better than the 2009 Cayman S I drove too, the Cayman is just a bit too tight inside for my tastes.

I'm always trying to figure out what I want for my next fun DD/HPDE car, and it's basically always rotating between 911, Corvette, and building something kit-based like a Daytona Coupe. Decisions decisions heh.

3/17/2015 12:01:46 PM

Thanks guys. The car felt fantastic out there today. I was also quite pleased with my driving, I’m still glowing. I have more video I need to edit. May have something ready tonight. BTW, I told you guys my passenger seat is available for a ride, I don’t think I drove a single session without somebody beside me Monday or today. Come on up, I keep offering...

Smooth, I’m not sure what you mean about “cutting at roller coaster”?

Jek,
closing speeds; the Corvette was certainly not on it. I have a video today from a 4 second (!) faster lap, you’ll see me just inching past a Cayman R PDK and it takes me forever to go by. The 996 GT3 is a momentum car. It has close to 400hp and around 3000lbs weight, so it’s not slow, but it’s not like one of these tuned C6 Z06s either... I might post a full session later where I finally get to play with a new (well driven) Viper, where you see the tug of war... He pulls on the straights, I gain in braking, comparable through high speed sweepers.

willingness to rev: I absolutely agree with you. The 996 engines in general and the GT3 in particular are very rev happy. The power band, the engine tone and response certainly makes you want to rev them, whereas even though the e90 M3 has similar power, it hates to be revved in comparison. What I find interesting is the e46 M3 motor, very high specific output, very high redline, sucks to rev it out.

feel: In the past week I’ve had the pleasure of spending several hours in 991 GT3s (drove and rode in two) and 997 GT3s also. They’re faster no doubt, but there’s not as much feel. I really rather enjoy my car’s feel, I could not be happier with it, and I’d highly recommend one. I think a 996 Carrera is a great buy nowadays, and offers gobs of fun with just mild suspension work, reasonable to drive TO the track as well. As for the kit car situation, I spent a fair bit of time helping people troubleshoot their cars this weekend, the one thing in common they had was modified or custom. There were a total of around 12 GT3s of various generations today. I did not see a single one down for any reason. Only about 40 cars total.

Swapping tires at the track:


Track dog:


[Edited on March 17, 2015 at 9:23 PM. Reason : edito]

3/17/2015 9:22:09 PM

I dig the adidas. What shoe is that? Looks similar to some old school goodyears...

I'd join you, but still busy between school and work. In fact, I'm taking a 5 minute break from work right now... Alas, I DO plan on eventually seeing track days in my future. I finally will have time and an "appropriate" car for it, if not just time to hop in you seat and enjoy the best roller coaster ride ever.

3/17/2015 10:35:53 PM

Quote :

"They’re faster no doubt, but there’s not as much feel. I really rather enjoy my car’s feel, I could not be happier with it, and I’d highly recommend one."

This is a significantly modded 996 vs stock others, though, right?

3/17/2015 10:44:11 PM

LOL thanks for noticing the shoes, they’re German domestic market “special” series shoe. They weren’t expensive, but hard to find. I bought them new old stock from a German seller on eBay. I used to have Onitsuka Tigers (Japanese domestic market) in a similar color scheme but when time came to replace them, word had gotten out that Bruce Lee had worn them in Enter the Dragon, and prices have gone way up...

RE: Feel. My GT3 isn’t THAT significantly modified. Rubber has been removed from he suspension (there wasn’t much to begin with), coil overs with remote reservoir shocks and very stiff springs, + a cup diff and a bit of aero + super aggressive alignment and brake pads, cup flywheel. In the grand scheme of things, it’s not really that modified. As for feel goes, it is a complete night and day. The 991 is a ridiculously fast video game in comparison. That car (and I don’t know HOW magazines say that the steering is decent) has ZERO steering feedback. They’re as different as night and day.

One of the problems is that the 991 has electronic shocks, torque vectoring, active engine mounts, active wheel base (via rear toe), bla bla. It’s still “raw” if you compare it to some other car of it’s performance level from the last year, but the 996 is COMPLETELY mechanical, there is absolutely no comparison. I was lapping significantly faster than the 991s in the field, but give that chassis a few years to depreciate and people to start pushing them hard, and it’s going to be one scary car. Pushing it HARD I can come out of 10@ VIR full around 105-108 in my car, I was doing just about the same speed in a student’s car and there was a bit of room left. They’re stupid. Also, PDK is lighting fast (I promise you, you’ve never felt anything like this before, it shifts before you’re done clicking the button), and the car is incredibly composed and stable but raw it isn’t.

3/17/2015 11:23:28 PM

Here’s the tale of my tires today after several back to back sessions with a beat up Hoosier R6;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EkwLZ8L910

[Edited on March 17, 2015 at 11:27 PM. Reason : fast forward to 55 secs in lap time if you’re impatient]

3/17/2015 11:26:56 PM

Quote :

"I’m not sure what you mean about “cutting at roller coaster”? "

I mean your video cuts out in the middle of roller coaster

3/18/2015 12:01:04 AM

It doesn't for me?

Also loaded up a seriously fast lap (4secs faster than last vid!):

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TTczCZhtI70

This was the same session as the delamination, a handful of laps prior.

3/18/2015 1:48:16 AM

damn, having only driven a 140hp na miata at VIR, I imagine it must be a rush carrying 110+ through the climbing esses

3/18/2015 8:19:31 AM

3/18/2015 8:56:27 AM

Thanks for posting that. On my youtube page, you can also see the lap where a tire came apart, after a pretty darn good session otherwise -- (2.10.03 with a passenger and clapped out hoosiers).

Anyway, small update. Brake duct parts for the MINI are here, and both cars are getting Motul oil as well as THE highest boiling temperature brake fluid I could find, with a complete flush including clutch. 622 degrees!(!!). Both will be at VIR-N this weekend.

4/1/2015 8:37:50 PM

Wow, nice recovery on that lap with the tire...that shit's scary (and this is coming from a LeMons driver who has had pretty sketchy stuff happen hah). Your GT3 is making me lust after a 996, although I'm drawn by the turbo rather than the GT3 since if I go Porsche it'll be replacing several cars and be a jack of all trades.

Since I know you like E36 M3's and you probably don't check other threads much Ahmet, here's a decent lap from Barber last weekend (1:50 to my 1:49 personal best). First track day with my "new" '98 chassis, it did really well. This is with an organization called ReZoom that tends to have VERY nice cars, so I'm by far the slowest car in the Instructor run group, and on street tires compared to most being on race tires as well. I still got a few passes in though

https://youtu.be/SknGPuWcKY4?t=1505

4/2/2015 9:14:31 AM

TIL car guys use tear off helmets too

4/2/2015 11:01:18 AM

^^Thanks! Yeah, the PCA safety chair was riding with me, he was apprehensive before that, and scared during, but wanted me to drive his 991 GT3 after lol.

I have lots to say about the 996 situation, happy to expand if you’d like. Turbos are great but not very comparable to the GT3 stock. Depending on the budget and expectations, I’d actually encourage you to look at a Carrera with a few bolt ons, they’re a formidable package. Otherwise, just suck it up and get a GT3!

RE: Your driving. Your lines look pretty, and track looks fun (I love elevation changes!). I think you’re leaving some on the table though, push harder! What app are you using to track the laps BTW? I wouldn’t mind a giant counter on the screen. Also, what kind of camera? Footage is cool, I’d like some like that myself, where the steering wheel is in the shot...

Nic, I -as usual- have no idea what in the world you’re referring to.

4/2/2015 12:07:59 PM

Think he's referring to the helmet visor tear offs. A removable clear layer on the plastic.

4/2/2015 1:57:00 PM

Mostly only open cockpit cars use tear-offs, but yeah F1 guys do, and lots of rally type racing does (like trophy trucks for example).

And yeah Ahmet, I'm leaving a lot on the table, especially in terms of braking. I was a bit nervous with it being my first time in this car on track (so many parts swapped over, it just made me nervous) and also since it was only my 2nd time instructing I was being a bit cautious. Last event (the first one I instructed) I spun my LeMons car out into a gravel pit the first hot lap of the first Instructor group session of the day, while near the front of the pack...oops. So all the other instructors came driving by, and the session was black flagged to get me out (even though I wasn't stuck)...mildly embarrassing hah. Next time I need to work on pushing my limits more.

I'm still working with my camera setup, but it's getting there. The app is Harry's laptimer (http://www.gps-laptimer.de/Home.html). It does a great job, although the GPS isn't hugely accurate because it's only 1Hz (only reads once/second). The camera is a GoPro Hero2. You can export the data and overlay it on the laps (huge pain in the ass to sync up), or record with the phone (crappy camera), but the best option is to get a GoPro Hero3 or later such that you have Wifi with it, and then the app can control the start/stop of the GoPro and overlay the video from the GoPro automatically. Along with this I'd like to get an external 10Hz GPS ($150) and an OBD2 dongle for measuring throttle/brake/etc ($150).

And yeah, I like to be able to see my inputs as much as anything in video, so I can review and improve.

4/2/2015 3:14:48 PM

So, still not sure what TIL is, and that’s a tear off visor, not a tear off helmet!? In any case, where in the world did that come from?!

Anyway, you have to trust your equipment man! If something is going to go wrong, driving easy for a few laps isn’t going to save you... And yes, I was being kind, you need to go faster lol. I don’t blame you for being apprehensive after that first session out though, but unless you keep messing up, they’re not likely to do anything about it. I’m sure you’re fine.

It’s interesting I feel like we have such different backgrounds. People approach driving differently depending on their previous experience (obviously), it’s neat to see the variety.

RE: Lap timer. I’ve tried Harry’s lap timer, couldn’t really get anything useful out of it. All my track footage is from an iPhone 5S only. I’m not really trying to get useful data out of it, honestly. Maybe if I started competing again, but even still, I’m more about the feel. Convenience of not having a bunch of different mounts, things to synch, things to charge, cables, etc. is nice too. I like to arrive and drive. Alas, I’m trying to talk people into splitting a track only car with me, if that happens (or if I can make enough money to actually justify racing and it’s expenses), I’ll get more telemetry.

Final note. The resolution built into the iPhone isn’t bad, the refresh rate is troubling though, bastards. There’s no smartphone that does better sampling than 1Hz that I can find, and the iPhone was there like 5 years ago. :/

4/2/2015 4:14:10 PM

"TIL" = "today I learned", one of those random internet abbreviations.

I always feel like the video makes it look like I'm taking it so much easier than I was unfortunately...since you can't hear the tires squealing, or see that I'm pulling 1.3g through the entire carousel on street tires, etc hah. My 1:49.0 best lap was actually quite decent, I just need to work on consistently getting in the 1:49's. An E46 M3 with the same suspension and other mods (so +100hp since it's an E46), same tires but 275 instead of 255, and a professional driver runs 1:43's or so if I recall, so my goal is about a 1:47 given my current setup. There's really two main places I can get it: less braking into turn 1 (big downhill left hander off the front straight) and later+harder braking into turn 5 (the hairpin after the downhill). Hell, my lap timer says my virtual best was a 1:48.65 (my best sections combined into one lap) so if I can just put it together I'm already partway there.

And yeah, background is interesting. I started with a track day at VIR in college (2004), did some AutoX with Tarheel 2004-2005, didn't do any sanctioned performance driving for about 6 years (2006-2012?), got heavily back into AutoX in 2013, did some track days in 2013, then got heavily into LeMons racing in 2014 along with more track days. So I only have about 12 track days (weekends) or so total really, but I have 5 LeMons races as well, so about 20 hours on track of wheel to wheel racing.

4/2/2015 5:10:14 PM

TIL = today i learned

4/2/2015 5:10:34 PM

Video from last weekend in the Mini;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHJwm3Z3hiU

4/6/2015 4:28:09 PM

cool to see an rx7 still hitting track days.

4/6/2015 7:50:23 PM

VIR-N looks like a lot more fun than Full.

4/7/2015 8:20:25 AM

^ north is way more technical and more fun imo.

4/7/2015 11:40:49 AM

Grand course ftw

4/7/2015 11:42:52 AM

I only saw the RX-7 out for a single session, Sunday first morning session...

VIR-N is great, Grand East is probably my favorite configuration but full is also unique. Upper S’ and in particular 9/10 are fantastic turns at full. North course is better suited to lower horsepower cars I think. The upper S’ are taken at ~130 in a car with a lot of grip and downforce, so it’s a different feel and technical in a different sense all together. Also, full has the braking zone at the top of roller coaster at ~160 in a higher horsepower car, and that is a different skill set as well.

4/7/2015 2:42:19 PM

Here’s vid from VIR-N in the GT3;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WScaKcjbO_U

4/8/2015 3:39:45 PM

my "high" hp car just overheats with all those long straights

4/9/2015 1:15:17 AM

Selling it? What's next?

11/25/2015 7:03:26 AM

Here’s another vid drifting VIR;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XeKMybxVzo

As for what’s next, I’ve always wanted a turbo e30. I’ve started looking at GT2s but unless I come across just the right one, that’ll remain a dream. I am getting serious about building a chump car and possibly another track car in addition. I want to sell the GT3, but it is a lovely car. If the right buyer doesn’t come along, it may be with me for a while longer yet.

11/26/2015 2:06:51 PM