2 track related questions

i'll be hitting thunderhill in a couple of weeks for my first track day in the C4S (i've tracked my other cars quite a bit). i have 2 questions ahead of time though. 1) my tires (P Zeros's) are still in fairly good shape. I'm planning on getting PS2's to replace these though. Should i go and tear up these P-Zero's and then get the PS2's or should i get the PS2's and use those at the track? 2) assume you're coming into a left hand turn that you want to be in 3rd gear for the exit. you have 2 choices. a) you can shift into 3rd BEFORE the turn and not have as much power in the turn, but you don't have to shift in the turn b)you can come into the turn in 2nd, rev it high through the turn and shift into 3rd on the exit. which is the better option here? i'm assuming the shifting in the turn is not an option. thanks for any input... josh

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I'll bite.... 1) If it is your first track day you'll have plenty to worry about beyond having the absolute best grip tires out there. As long as the P-Zero's still have some tread left on them why not burn them up (rather than risk chunking a brand new set of expensive full tread depth PS 2's). 2) Option A. In my opinion you want to be in the gear you want for corner exit prior to turn in. If that is third gear fine or if that is second gear fine, just get it done before the turn in. As far as revs go, there are corners out there where you will want to keep a low gear (with high revs) so you will have good power on the corner exit. (However, it makes no sense to go through the corner almost at redline, because you will have to shift almost immediately after corner exit). 2c) Shifting mid corner is a very bad idea. It's a great way to upset the balance of the car mid-corner.

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The best way is the way that results in the fastest segment or lap time. But if you're just getting started on the track, you might want to carry 3rd gear into the corner because you will get faster over several trips to the track and might eventually be bouncing off the limiter in 2nd.

If this is your first track day, there are a bunch of basics that you'll want to nail first. Going fast right out of the box won't happen safely (for you and others), if you don't get the basics down. -communication with your instructor -learning the meaning of all the flags -finding the proper seating/steering wheel position -learning each corner (including where the corner workers/flag stations are) -understanding the proper driving line (turn-in, apex, track out) -learning where the braking points are for each corner that requires deceleration -track awareness (flags, traffic and anticipation of what may happen in front of you) -smoothness for all inputs (steering, gas, brake, clutch, shifting) -tech your car (tire pressure, nothing loose in the car, no nails/screws in tires, oil level, fresh brake fluid and plenty of brake pad left, torque your lugnuts/studs, etc. etc.) -and once again, listen to your instructor - he/she will make sure you have a blast!

thanks for the replies so far everyone. This is my first track day in my C4S, but i've tracked my other cars quite a few times. This car seems to have really short gears compared to my other cars (M3 and M5), but you can rev it much higher too. While the M5 is much faster than the 911, the 911 is hands down a much more fun car to drive and i can't wait to get it out on the track. I think I'll go tear up these P Zero's, then order nice new tires ;-) Thanks again and keep the input coming! ...josh

Make sure your old tires have enough tread to pass the tech inspection.

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In that case, yeah, burn up the old tires first. I tend to stay in the higher gear if caught in the middle. I don't like to shift before I'm at track out. I've also found that in most cases, even though it "feels" faster to be the lower gear because you're feeling the acceleration, you can be in a higher gear carrying more speed through the corner and then not have to spend the time shifting afterward.

In general the racers I know would pick the higher gear. A higher gear will encourage you to carry more speed where the lower gear will force you to carry less. Obviously it depends on the corner though. Jim

Josh, which turn are we talking about? There are a few at T-hill where I use the higher gear because I'll be bumping off the rev limiter right at corner exit if I don't (even with the GT3's higher redline) and that's no way to go fast. In the esses between T12 & T13 I shift from 2nd to 3rd to avoid hitting the rev limiter. You need to time it right as both my old 996 and the GT3 need to be flat (i.e. no lean) or else it doesn't want to go into gear. That'll give you good exit speed and a fast run down the back straight.

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Holger, those are exactly the turns I'm talking about. I agree, I think I would feel more comfortable heading in with a higher gear. Are you going to be a Thill with UnlimitedLaps in Oct by chance? thanks... josh

I'm doing some travelling in Oct, so I don't have any track dates on the calendar yet. If I do happen to go, stop by and say hi and I'll take you for some laps in the GT3 if you like.

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WOW!!! You'll let me take your GT3 out on the track?!?! That's really nice, thanks for the offer! oh wait... you said YOU'LL take me for some laps thanks... josh