What we've learned on the track

[imsawidebody]

Hi friends.
Will be running my 986 stock Boxster at Mid Ohio on a few open track days.
Would like to have a set of dedicated track slicks and wheels, suggestions appreciated.
I am fairly experienced and competition licensed, just not that good

[yale02]

Originally Posted by imsawidebody

Hi friends.
Will be running my 986 stock Boxster at Mid Ohio on a few open track days.
Would like to have a set of dedicated track slicks and wheels, suggestions appreciated.
I am fairly experienced and competition licensed, just not that good

If you are going to do track days I would highly recommend Nitto NT01's. Perfect for DE weekends and Time Trials. I even do some wheel to wheel action on them sometimes.

I'm way too new here to comment on wheels other than to say that Enkei make some fantastic wheels for the track. I have several sets of RPF1's and NT03+M for my track only RX8. They would probably look good on a Boxster too but have not yet looked into size availability.

[upfront559]

We heard a loud pop and nothing at all happened. The automobile did not decrease and the actual brakes does nothing. Nevertheless, when my partner and i park over a hill in addition to pull the actual hand brake up, it holds the automobile in area.

[madmods]

.........................

[Mikelove]

Ive seen so many accidents happen due to people Driving too close.
Picture a broken down car, the driver infront of you isnt paying attention, they swerve around it without signalling , bang game over for you. Keep your distance from the driver infront. So what if some idiot steals a place infront of you because you left a gap. Let it be them that learn the hard way.

We have all heard the driving rule of leaving a 2 second space between you and the car in front. Unfortunately, that just isn't possible most of the time on the freeways I drive. If you had that much space between you and the car in front someone behind you would try to pass you and get in that gap. Slow down again, the next car will do it. Keep doing it and you'll cause traffic to jam behind you and the other drivers will be flipping you off as they pass you.[/QUOTE]

[Flyboykurty]

I want to be a bit more aggressive on my Track Days and am considering a new set of Wheels / Tires oriented for the Track 90% / Street 10%... So, tire Life is NOT the highest concern... I am used to using "Top Level" Tires on my motorcycles (Slicks)... I have noticed that the Track Day and Road Course organizations state the Boxster is "Legal" with it's Factory Roll-bar UNLESS "R" Compound Tires are used... Anyone enlighten me to what choices would be best ?... Also, should I stay with the 17" or upgrade to 19" for the Track Tire Fitment ?

[Jinx]

I upgraded the mirrors (both sides) on former ride and they were great.
It took a while to get use to the mirrors.
I have read a article somewhere on how to set the rear view
Mirrors for track use and seems to help a great deal to over
Come the blind spot issue. Pls note I have no track experience .

Here is how it is done; top up, center inside rear view mirror
Have some one mark the very outside edge of vision of inside
Rear view mirror behind the car (I used a yard stick).
Now adjust outside mirrors So object is just on the inside
edge of outside mirrors. Do this for both sides.

Hope this makes sense. I could not figure out any other way to word it.

Jinx

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by Flyboykurty

Also, should I stay with the 17" or upgrade to 19" for the Track Tire Fitment ?

Boxster Spec requires 17" wheels in the stock sizes and offsets, but even if you are not in spec 17" tires are *way* cheaper than 19"s. (Edit: at least for the street tires and max perf and extreme summer tires)

[Jinx]

The Car Control Clinic was SO much fun. Please see my entry In the tech section under Carpets. Yes yes I know I am off topic. Still feeling the love from yesterday. Jinx

[Mark Dreyer]

Originally Posted by eslai

Some things I've learned from the track.

1. Listen to your tires.
2. Brake early.
3. Don't overestimate how fast you can enter a turn.
4. Be on the throttle or on the brakes. Don't coast.
5. Be smooth with your throttle pedal.
6. Don't lift throttle in a committed turn.
7. When you go off, don't try to be a hero and fight momentum in an attempt to get back on track. You'll flip.
8. Don't drive on the street like you do on the track.

Umm... none of that is from personal experience, of course, oh no no no!

I can take exception to #4 above. I generally agree and teach my students this also. However there is a slight exception to this general rule. Having worked with pro driving coaches, including riding while they drive, they have taught "rolling the car into the turn". After coming off the brakes they coast for a second into the apex prior to going to the gas for track out. The car is simply carrying so much pace due to not over braking that they can't immediately go to power in the turn.

Attached is a pic of my 986 S taken at Road Atlanta.

[stjoh]

What kind of wing is that?

[Mark Dreyer]

Originally Posted by stjoh

What kind of wing is that?

I'd have to do a little digging in my buildout archives to get you the exact supplier info. I will do so if you'd like. I modded this car for the track about three years ago. The wing and rear deck was included, with the deck made out of fiberglass. It was around $1500. I think it probably slows me down a bit on the long straights but in hard braking zones and high speed sweepers such as Bishop's Bend at Sebring, I can really tell a difference in terms of car stability.

[stjoh]

Not urgent but at some point I think I'd like to add something like that to my car.

[Mark Dreyer]

Wing purchased from: https://www.gt-racing.com

Deck lid purchased from: KOKELN :: Racing Products

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by Mark Dreyer

Wing purchased from: https://www.gt-racing.com

Deck lid purchased from: KOKELN :: Racing Products

Were you at the DE at Sebring in May? If so me and my son were admiring your car

[Mark Dreyer]

Yup I was there. I plan to return first week of September to race with PBOC.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Mark Dreyer

I can take exception to #4 above. I generally agree and teach my students this also. However there is a slight exception to this general rule. Having worked with pro driving coaches, including riding while they drive, they have taught "rolling the car into the turn". After coming off the brakes they coast for a second into the apex prior to going to the gas for track out. The car is simply carrying so much pace due to not over braking that they can't immediately go to power in the turn.

Attached is a pic of my 986 S taken at Road Atlanta.

In those situations, I have found it better to enter the corner faster, trail brake into the turn, and get on the throttle the moment you come off of the brake. Done correctly, this is generally faster than coasting into the turn.

[Mark Dreyer]

No right approach I suppose. The guy who taught me this has the track record at Sebring in his class of Miata, so it works for him. I on the other hand have the track record nowhere. :-)

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by Mark Dreyer

No right approach I suppose. The guy who taught me this has the track record at Sebring in his class of Miata, so it works for him. I on the other hand have the track record nowhere. :-)

Ross Bentley just mentioned this in a recent "Speed Secrets Weekly" - he says he was originally in the "either be WOT, squeezing the throttle, or on the brake with no coasting" but now says that sometimes a short interval of settling the car before getting back on the throttle can help reduce initial understeer and help with carrying the most speed.

I'm so new that I still have only a handful of correct heel & toe downshifts and I have usually over braked so much that I am way slow on every corner entry So this particular tip may benefit me only in the far future...

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by Mark Dreyer

Yup I was there. I plan to return first week of September to race with PBOC.

We will look for you to say hi, I am hopeful to run a DE there later this year with Suncoast PCA. I didn't get to run in May because my car broke down the night before on the way there... failed crank sensor... fun times