Track Video from VIR

As promised, I have posted track video from VIR. See it here https://rennlist.com/forums/racing-and-drivers-education-forum/195816-track-video-from-vir.html Hope you enjoy it. Thanks a million to RIAD for hosting! TD in DC

Great video, I just watched it. Did you have a window open?

Yes, we were experiencing wind gusts of up to 40 mph. On the back straight (the one going up the hill), the gusts were coming from right to left, so they recommended that we roll down both windows to reduce that uncomfortable feeling you experience when hitting 125-130 Believe it or not, the mic had two layers of foam insulation, and it was still that loud!

VIR is a great track. One of my favorites. These guys at your table running 2:06. They weren't in 996s were they?

Absolutely stock GT3s . . . Still, they were running a full 24 seconds faster than I was. Wow. That means I have a lot to learn. Larry gave me a ride in his GT3, and, as a testiment to his driving skills, I did not feel concerned a bit and felt pretty relaxed.

GT3s are stinking fast on the track. The best we did (actually my co-driver) in my car was a 2:09 at the club race last fall. That was 3 seconds faster than the next fastest in my class and only a second or so off of the Grand Am Cup pole time so a 2:06 is darn fast in a street car.

They were joking around about someone breaking the 2:00 mark (not this event but at a past event). I could not tell whether they were serious or not but it sounded like they were. I was sort of amazed. It did me a lot of good to ride with Larry in his GT3. The more time I get in the passenger side while great drivers are driving their own cars, the better I get a sense for what is actually possible, although I have a lot to learn before I can go out and attempt to replicate their performance. It does "slow" the track down for me.

I had heard that many of the street GT3's were running slicks. Don't know how many, but the ones that were keeping up with some of the Cup cars had to have been. I was that 3 second slower second place car at VIR last year. Until then, I thought a 2:12 was good, now it's just a wadded up piece of paper Still looking for those three seconds.

Manny, As long as I'm behind the wheel, a 2:12 is plenty fast enough. I think my best lap was a low 2:13. Maybe a high 12. Are you going back this year? GT3s are amazing but I'm not sure I would buy a sub 2:00 minute lap. Jim

I don't think the guy who they were joking around with was necessarily driving a GT3. I think it may have been a Cup car, or they may have just been pulling his leg and I wasn't in on the inside joke.

Love the video. Makes me homesick. Did a fair number of laps at VIR and ran the Zone 2 and Potomac events as the chief steward for 3 years. Got to say, though, that if you start going faster, you will need to be later into 4 and 5. Early at 5 means you are way early at 5A which means that you are in the tuiles quickly. Had more than one participant end up driver's right in the armco after 5a from dropping a wheel on the outside. Being late at the 5 copmlex also gets you set up better for the snake. And late, later, latest at the climbing esses gets you great speed at the top. Send more VIR clips.

Thanks. Funny you should mention going later into 4 and 5. Both Larry and Kurt M. have been telling me the same thing. At the track, it feels like I am going in very late. In the video, I can see that I could go in much later. Larry was teaching me how to snap off the throttle at 5a and then back on in order to get the rear of the car to swing around. Occasionally I would get it right, but far more often I would lift too early and "coast" too long before jumping back on the throttle, which is caused by the same impulse to finish early. One time during that last solo run I tried that and PSM kicked in bigtime. I am not certain whether, without PSM, the rear would have swung around nicely or whether I would have ended up in a spin. I guess I will never know. Maybe I will post that little clip and you guys will be able to tell me whether it looked like it was working or whether I just blew it. I am not sure I understand where the wheel dropped off on the outside to to entering early? Thanks for the comments.

great video btw, keep em coming! newb question here, I was under the assumption for DEs you had to drive with an instructor, no? How many times have you gone before before you've driven solo?

Riad, I think It's VIR and PCA requirement to have your windows down

No problem! In the lower run groups like green, which I am in, you must start with an instructor, but if the instructor feels comfortable with your driving, he or she can "sign you off" and give you a pit pass that allows you to run solo. Larry signed me off at the end of the second day. He rode again with me on my first run of the third day, and then I did another solo run before heading home. Solo runs are good because you focus solely on driving, but I really like having an instructor and am not anxious to move to run groups without instructors.

Just got back to a 'puter so this is late, but... I can't believe they assigned Miklewaite as your instructor ( I assume that is the Kurt M you mention). The boy drives a 912. Now I will admit he drives it well, but still... I guess he is getting his due based on the reputation of his car, being the Redford movie and all.

Really? What's the thought process behind that? So if your car flips over they can pull you out?

Yeah, that is the Kurt M I am referring to, but so far he has only given me comments based on the video. I think he would be a great instructor to have, I mean, who else could teach you and then fix your car after an OTE or mechanical "incident"

I am not certain, but I think it is so that you can give hand signals out the window. At DEs, you must have permission to pass. You give permission by sticking your hand out the window and pointing to the appropriate direction to pass.

Also for purpose of getting out quickly in case of fire, etc. That is why you can buy nets, etc for the window.

First of all I don't know VIR but he tarmac is dreadfull and the way you were driving I can make the following statement: NO STREET CAR WOULD DO SUB 2:OO even below 2:06 is almost impossible. Now... about your driving: You are a very good one, just need more practice like all non-professional drivers. What did your instructor said about your gear change? Did he cope with that? And at last but not least... everytime I see your arms waving makes me smile... I'm sorry but its very unusual around here. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!

Thanks Kiko, I was actually shifting where it was suggested I shift. If you ever make it over to this side of the pond, maybe I can wave at you TD in DC And yes, I need lots of practice . . . but the best part is that practicing is all the fun.

Here here! Practice is the best part of it all. Besides, not even the "experts" stop driving without an instructor. You can never stop learning. FYI...there will always be somebody better than you, faster than you, etc., so just have fun.

Excellent posts TD! I was good to meet you at VIR. I got to ride with Larry on the last day and when he was on slicks and it was eye opening! It saw how he was pulling away so quickly. I also now NEED a GT3!! Most of the GT3 guys were running slicks. The ones harassing the cup cars definitely were and Larry and his buddy in the yellow GT3 were for 2 of the days I believe. That in no way takes away from their driving ability. I'll miss Mid-Ohio but I'm sure I'll see you around at Summit this summer. -KJ

Hey KJ, It was great meeting you as well! My ride with Larry was incredible. At this point in the learning curve, I think I learn almost as much by simply being in the passenger seat with a good driver as I do actually driving. I really appreciate when the fast guys actually offer to let me ride along, because I know that most don't really want to add 220 lbs of dead weight passenger. Larry and Ken are hilarious, and at some point I hope to be able to run bumper to bumper with them on the track. With respect to cars, I am most definitely schitzophrenic. Every other day I "need" another P-car. I need to start working harder or buying more lottery tickets For the moment, I think that I need my daily driver to have a real backseat, which means that the GT3 is not for me yet (plus I would be a little embarassed to have one in green or blue, not that there is anythign wrong with that). If I get a dedicated track car, I think that I will either go with a 944 Turbo or a used cup car. I don't know which end of the spectrum makes more sense, but I do know that I will probably change my mind by next week Although you are not going to Mid-Ohio this time, I am having a get together at my house next Wednesday to watch some track video over Pizza and beer or wine. If you are interested in coming by, just shoot me a PM and I will give you directions. TD in DC

Thanks for the invite but I won't be able to make it. Hopefully the next time! I don't think I want the hassles of a cup car, but a GT3 is just about perfect from what I can tell. We'll see what time and money allow. Right now I don't have nearly enough of either. ;-) -KJ