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Old 05-29-2015, 12:47 PM   #302
thstone
Certified Boxster Addict
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 7,669
Quote:
Originally Posted by RedTele58 View Post
Tom - thanks for posting your videos - I replay them numerous times - they work as good training aids for me as I'm getting deeper into track events.

Case in point... back in April you posted a short clip of you spinning the car 180' and then making a smooth recovery back onto the track. I probably watched it half a dozen times making mental notes on how you recovered the car and got back on track in the right direction.

Fast forward a few weeks after you posted the video. It was the second day of a 2 day DE event. My car drove well the first day, but day 2 it was very twitchy and unstable - this after replacing sway bar links and an alignment a few days prior.

I had been forcing myself to drive deeper into a right-hand turn to position the car better going into a short left, right, left S. The car got loose on me as I was deep in the turn and I hesitated a split-second to correct and swapped ends 180'. I quickly corrected and kept the car straight, just facing the wrong way near the edge of the track.

And last - where are the videos from the DE's?

Even as I was recovering the car, it was amazing how quickly I recalled the video of you doing the exact thing and how you recovered. I looked down track - no traffic - so I dropped into first, kicked the car around, and off I went.

When I got back to the pit area several of the guys I was parked with commented on how smooth I recovered the car and got pointed back down track. Chalk one up to you and your video!

This weekend I'm back with a fresh re-alignment on the car (the right rear had got out of spec - it drives like it should now). There's a good chance we'll see rain and a wet track this weekend - my first time on a wet track. I'm already "chair flying" the track, focusing on keeping the car as balanced as I can and being as smooth as I can be on the inputs. It should be a fun weekend with some new learning experiences.

Thanks again for all your on and off-line inputs - it's like having my own driving coach. I greatly appreciate your help!

Rick
Well done!

I have had many instructors and drivers who helped me to learn the craft of performance driving and racing. More than happy to pass on whatever others might find of value.

One quick thing to mention about spinning is to be thoughtful about avoiding rolling the car backwards while in gear. Generally, this isn't good for an engine so its worth keeping in the back of your mind because it can happen fairly easy.

When I feel that I'm not going to be able to save the slide and she's coming around, I try to get the clutch in to keep the motor running and to prevent the aforementioned backwards roll. Then its easy to take off quickly when the coast is clear!
__________________
1999 996 C2 - sold - bought back - sold for more
1997 Spec Boxster BSR #254
1979 911 SC
POC Licensed DE/TT Instructor

Last edited by thstone; 05-29-2015 at 07:46 PM.
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