When we're not on the track, we'll be trying to tune our cars for grip
(skidpad!!), or just messing around trying to burn off that old set of
tires. Here's some footage of the "fun" stuff.
In addition, Crispy was daring enough to ride shotgun with me at Summit
Point in the pouring rain. With 1ft of snow all around (can you say
street course??). This was during an instructor clinic, so it was
definitly a blast! (I'll get this up soon!!)
If you want to see some wheel-to-wheel racing, click: HERE
If you want to see some good fast laps, click: HERE
If you want to see some off-track excursions, click: HERE
Video format's can pretty much all be played using Apple's QuickTime player.
However, the MPEG1's get distorted for some reason (the aspect ratio is all
messed up).
Even for Windows, this seems to be the best player for MPEG4's.
For MPEG1's on Windows, Windows Media Player works well.
In order to get the most out of the car in the corners, you gotta test
your suspension setup. This is usually done by testing on a skidpad.
Ours isn't so big (100ft), nor perfectly flat (bumpy-bump, watch the S14
bound over the trough). But it's what we've got. And it's a blast!
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Driver
Car/Setup
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all-wheel drive
understeer
Julie
2001 Audi TT - stock suspension, 225x45x17 Beat up Falcon Azenis
First off, an AWD car. The TT is basically a front driver until
there is a lot of front slip, then the rears come into play. This
is a pretty good showing of understeer (especially when Julie gets
the wheels turned about 15 degrees from the path of travel!)
Good showing of "slip angle" in the front of the car. Slip angle
is the angle between where the front tires are pointed, and the
path they are actually taking.
MPEG1 - 11MB 15 Oct 2003
all-wheel drive
understeer/ebrake oversteer
Joe
2001 Audi TT - stock suspension, 225x45x17 Beat up Falcon Azenis
I can't do much better about not getting the TT to understeer.
Some things I tried: left foot braking, drop-throttle, unwind and
drop throttle. Not much to get the rears involved. I finally
revert to just using the e-brake.
The first couple of times, I do so in 2nd gear, and the car has
no boost after the tail goes. The last time, I drop into 1st and
do it with better results. Then I just went crazy! FUN!
Notice at some point I slow way down in the video - that's when I
switched Audi's "ESP" off. Punching it with the car sliding would
give basically no throttle at all.
MPEG1 - 29MB 15 Oct 2003
all-wheel drive
understeer/ebrake oversteer
Julie
2001 Audi TT - stock suspension, 225x45x17 Beat up Falcon Azenis
Julie's first attempts at getting the tail out using the ebrake.
The first couple of times I think she was still on the power a
little while e-braking (or her timing wasn't right). She does
finally get it to come around!
The key here is in the timing. For a good snap, you want to pop
off the throttle right when you are pulling the ebrake. This
transfers the weight of the car forward, off the rear wheels, right
before you yank the brake. With the weight off the rear, the car
goes around pretty good.
Rear wheel drive time! (no, the 240's not a front driver!) Crispy
shows some pretty good drift-type action, holding the tail out.
It's a shame the skidpad isn't smoother, as the slides could be
held much longer then. You can really see the S14 bobbing a lot
as it comes towards the camera and hits a small trough.
The rear drive makes it easy to get the tail out. A bit of
understeer happens at the limit. Unwind the wheel just a little
while power is applied, and wha-la! Tail out. Just watch you
don't take out any cones there Crispy!
MPEG1 - 15MB 15 Oct 2003
Beating on Tires
Just playing around, thinking of new ways to shorten the lifespan of an
old set of tires...
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Driver
Car/Setup
Notes
Format/Size/Posted
Joe
2001 Audi TT - stock suspension, 225x45x17 Beat up Falcon Azenis
As Julie likes to call it, counter-terrorist training going on
here. HA! Tail-out isn't the only fun to be had! If only the
TT had enough power to smoke all 4 tires, this would have been
really cool.
MPEG1 - 3MB 15 Oct 2003
On track fun
Some how-to's, how-not-to's on the track.
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Driver
Car
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Crispy
1993 Mazda RX7
DO NOT: fly past an unsuspecting motorist with no pass wave.
MPEG1 - 3MB 13 Nov 2003
Cool cars on track
Some of the other really cool things you may see out on your track day.
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Driver
Car
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Crispy
1993 Mazda RX7
Crispy follows a beautiful Ferrari 360 Modena. This should almost
be a what not to do, as Crispy never gets a pass wave.
MPEG1 - 16MB 13 Nov 2003
Crispy
1993 Mazda RX7
Cripy learns what it feels like to have a low horsepower car.
Crispy's 300 or so RWHP RX7 feels dog slow compared to a 900HP
Porsche.
MPEG1 - 7MB 13 Nov 2003
Camera tricks
Remote mounted cameras make the laps look quite different!
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Driver
Car
Notes
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Crispy
1993 Mazda RX7
A full lap of VIR looking out the back.
MPEG4 - 17MB June 2004
Crispy
1993 Mazda RX7
Lap from above, but this time played backwards! This is what VIR
would look like if you drove it counter-race. I was going to put
it to music, but the weird sounds made by the video in reverse was
pretty interesting.
MPEG4 - 17MB June 2004
Crispy
1993 Mazda RX7
Lap from outside of the car - right side by wheel.
