The Drivers Edge to host first-ever HPDE event at Circuit of the Americas
The Drivers Edge, a very highly respected HPDE school (and the best one we’ve ever experienced in North America), will have the honor of hosting the very first HPDE event at the Circuit of the Americas Formula 1 racetrack on January 13 and 14, 2013. Keep on eye on their site over the next several days for final details and registration information.
Presentation at Cobb Tuning: What is HPDE?
Thanks for the opportunity Cobb Tuning in Austin, TX!
I gave a talk tonight about getting started with HPDE that stretched out for 2 hours. Lots of enthusiastic customers… and when I joked about “how about spending more on suspension tuning than increasing boost” most of them actually understood. Good!
Hot wet laps in an IS-F at Shenandoah
One of our favorite cars, the Lexus IS-F (’10 and up, of course, with the improved suspension and LSD), giving rides at Shenandoah during a TrackDaze HPDE school.
Interesting that they allow their Yellow group to pass anywhere. Most groups don’t allow that, except for Instructors.
We’ve never run on Shenandoah ourselves, so we watched with interest. Looks fun, and technical. And how about that Karussell-like turn, as in the Nurburgring?
Note how bad the weather is: the rain gets worse and worse as the session proceeds. As an instructor ourselves, we’re always advising that students don’t pack it in and go home when the going gets wet – indeed, this is exactly the type of experience you want. The line changes, obviously traction is significantly different, visibility is reduced – almost to nothing in this case. It reminds me of my first rain event, which unfortunately came 5 years after I started doing HPDE events. Despite dozens of weekends spent on that specific track, this event resulted in a gigantic off-track slide thru the mud just before the event was called for visibility. It was purely lack of wet-weather experience on my part.
The wrong DE instructor
If you have an instructor like this, you are in the wrong HPDE group. Whoever was running this event should have tossed the instructor out. The student did ok.
“Scariest Track Day Ever” video isn’t
May 2002 S2000 event at TWS
After an event at Texas World Speedway sponsored by John Eagle Honda on May 18 and 19, 2002, I was asked to drive a couple of demonstration laps for a video. Problem is that the air temp was still over 110, the surface temp was over 150, and over the course of the very long weekend I’d already done way over 300 laps (3.1 miles each) in my own run group, driving other people’s cars in their run groups, and instructing my two sets of students in their own cars. That’s 4 out of 5 ~22 minute run groups, repeated 8 times a day, for two days. Needless to say, there wasn’t anything left of me by Sunday night! I was dead tired.
But what the heck… one last lap or two. Onboard is a videographer from the “Temple of VTEC” website, who edited this film and – unfortunately – added the music overlay.
We did two laps after the event ended. The S2000 was flawless (as always) and wasn’t adversely affected by the temperatures. However after a very long weekend of well over 500 laps I’d had enough!
Image: my car going over the start/finish line earlier in the day. Shadowed by a bizarrely taped up S2000 on a very low line (who must of had a Miata instructor to teach him that line).
Video: the finished product – unfortunately without the original in-car sounds. The wonderful scream of the F20C engine bouncing off it’s fuel cutoff at 9000 RPM is certainly more enjoyable than the lame teen-angst overlay that was added. But if you haven’t seen the track yourself, this shows the way around. It’s a great place and with the new owners has an even better future.
Some insurance companies close track day loopholes
In the NY Times Oct 17th: NY Times article
Bad news for everybody – and of course the dunderheads at the insurance companies don’t realize that track days make most of us better drivers. Unfortunately, inevitably, we’ve seen a lot of kid stuff at track days. There are a certain class of kiddies whose poor judgment has caused them so many accidents on the street, dirt, and on the track that they are not insurable by mainline insurance companies. Inevitably, those people’s poor records (and their big whining mouths) are now taking track days from the rest of us.
More on the Bridgestone POTENZA RE-11
Thanks to YouTube, we have a video report on the tire. Going on sale in the United States March 2008 (the Tire Rack will have them).
We’re running RE-01Rs on the S2000 for high-speed track use… and are very happy with them (*far* better than the RE050). As the data in the (poorly translated) Bridgestone press release below shows, this tire will be even better.
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｢POTENZA RE‐11(ポテンザ アール イー イレブン)｣新発売 “POTENZA RE-11 (Earl POTENZA Eleven e)” New Game
－ストリートを､コーナーを走るたび、未知の喜びへ。 — Street corner, every time you run, to the joy of the unknown. － –
F1 ※1を頂点とする国内外の様々なモータースポーツの足元を支えるPOTENZAは､市販車用タイヤとしても世界を代表する多くのハイパフォーマンススポーツカーの新車装着承認を獲得しています。 F1 ※ 1 at the top of a variety of domestic and motorsports POTENZA feet to support the commercial vehicle tire, as many of the world’s major car seated HAIPAFOMANSUSUPOTSUKA winning approval. 「POTENZA」は1979年の初代「POTENZA RE47」発売以来、スポーツカーやスペシャリティーカーのオーナー､スポーツ走行愛好層など多くのお客様にご好評を頂いているプレミアムブランドです。 “POTENZA” is the original 1979 “POTENZA RE47″ Since its release SUPESHARITIKA sports car owner and lover, driving layer, and many other sports we have received favorable reviews premium brands.
「POTENZA RE‐11」は、専用設計の「非対称形状」によりコーナリング時の接地性が向上しているとともに、F1やGP2 ※2のウェットタイヤ用に開発されたステルスパタン技術を市販タイヤに初めて採用した「シームレスステルスパタン」によりグリップ向上とウェット性能確保が両立しています。 “POTENZA RE-11″, specifically designed for “asymmetrical shape” by cornering the ground when it is increased, and F1 tyre wet GP2 ※ 2 SUTERUSUPATAN technology has been developed for commercial tires first to adopt “SHIMURESUSUTERUSUPATAN” by the wet grip performance and improving balance and secure. さらに､サーキット走行時、周回を重ねても新品時のハイグリップ（高いレベルのグリップ）が持続することも大きな特長です。 In addition, when driving circuit, CT and again when the new high-grip (grip of a high level) can also sustained major advantages.
当社は、「POTENZA RE‐11」の装着により、街乗りからサーキット走行まで、またサーキットビギナー層からスポーツ走行愛好層まで、より多くのお客様に走りの楽しさを感じて頂きたいと考えております。 We are, “POTENZA RE-11″ mounted by the city to ride from driving circuit, and driving sports lover SAKITTOBIGINA from layer to layer, the more you feel the excitement of running and we would like .
商品の概要は次頁の通りです。 Product Overview of the next street.
| 商品名 Product Name | POTENZA RE‐11(ポテンザ アール イー イレブン) POTENZA RE-11 (e Eleven POTENZA Earle) |
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| (1) (1) | 非対称形状採用で､コーナリング時の接地性が向上。 Adoption of asymmetric shape in the ground when cornering, which increases. OUT側サイド部をスクエア形状､IN側サイド部をラウンド形状にしたRE-11専用の非対称形状。 Side to side Department OUT IN square shape, side by side to form part of RE-11 rounds only asymmetrical shape. 限界でのグリップとコントロール性を高めるために形状を最適化しています。 In the grip limits and controls to enhance and shape optimization. 【非対称形状】 The asymmetric shape]  |
【サーモビジョン】 The thermo-vision] RE-11は、より多くの面で温度が上昇。 RE-11 is, in many respects from the temperature rise. トレッド全面でグリップしていることが判ります。 Fully in the grip tread that判ります. |
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| (2) (2) | シームレスステルスパタン採用で､グリップ向上とウェット性能の確保を両立。 SHIMURESUSUTERUSUPATAN in recruitment, and improve wet grip performance to ensure compatibility. F1やGP2のウェットタイヤ用に開発されたステルスパタン技術を市販用タイヤに初めて採用。 F1′s GP2 and wet tire was developed for a commercial tire technology SUTERUSUPATAN first adopted. パタン剛性を最適化し旋回性が向上しました。 Patan turning to optimize stiffness is increased. また、ハイドロシミュレーション技術を駆使したパタンは､センター溝のワイド化、シームレスステルスグルーブとリブレットウォールがウェットでの高い運動性能を実現しています。 Also, Hydro simulation technology center, the groove is wide Patan, SHIMURESUSUTERUSUGURUBU RIBURETTOUORU is wet and in the high-performance motion. |
| (3) (3) | 新品時のハイグリップが周回を重ねても持続。 High grip when new challenges persist in orbit. 添加剤を配合したRE‐11専用の新開発コンパウンドを採用し､操舵時のレスポンスとコーナリング時のハイグリップ（高いレベルのグリップ）を達成。 Additive to the mix only RE-11 adopts a new compound development, and steering response when cornering at high grip (grip of a high level) to achieve. また､非対称形状､シームレスステルスパタンの効果により、周回を重ねても高い走行性能が持続。 Also, SHIMURESUSUTERUSUPATAN asymmetrical shape, the effect of the higher orbit again driving performance is sustained. RE‐01R以上にサーキット走行を長く楽しめます。 RE-01R than Circuit enjoy long runs. |
【ステアリング舵角比較】 The steering rudder comparison] |
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【ブレーキ制動距離比較データ(ウェットコンディション)】 The braking distance brake comparison data (wet condition)] |
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【サーキットでのタイムアタック比較データ(ドライコンディション)】 The comparison data Circuit and Time Attack (dry condition)] |
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Yet another new racetrack in Texas: Bergrennenring
Another new track is in the planning stags here in Texas: the Bergrennenring. IF DONE, this would be located near Johnson City, a short drive from Austin. The track owner has been going to club meetings around the state explaining what he plans to do.
This would make 6 racetracks in Texas… not counting the track on the Navy base in Corpus Christi – closed since 9/11 and likely to remain so since the base is closing.
WW2 Bomb cancels Track Day
Javelin Trackdays has regrettably had to cancel its event at Oakington Airfield on Sunday 16 October on the advice of the Bomb Squad.
An archeological dig on the venue recently unearthed a number of unstable WW2 bombs which resulted in the surrounding villages being evacuated whilst controlled explosions were carried out.
Continue at source: Bomb cancels track day
Source: PistonHeads (Motoring News