Laguna Seca

[Wh33lhop]

Yes. Looks like about 100-105 into 2. The car really doesn't have that much power for the track and it didn't help that I was short shifting at 5900 to preserve the oil pump, I was mainly catching up to cars in corners.

Edit: Already said that.

[Bimmerman325i]

i can haz picture whoring?


(Photo copyright: Dito Milian www.gotbluemilk.com)

I'm in the red E36 M3, Wh33lhop's in the E46.

Fast lap vid:

[peytonracer4]

does your 330 have the stock diff? open?
how does that handle at the track? did you feel the need for an lsd that day?

what is the left hander like before the uphill before the corkscrew? are you able to go pretty fast through that turn if you hit the apex perfectly?

[Wh33lhop]

does your 330 have the stock diff? open?

Hah... NO. :p It's a metric mechanic built 3.15LSD with 30 degree ramps and 3 clutches.

how does that handle at the track? did you feel the need for an lsd that day?

Honestly on the street there is a bit too much lock. It makes the car understeer when I want to slide it around a little. But at autocross and on track it is magic. It steadies out the car under braking and throttle. It would likely be much less predictable without the diff.

what is the left hander like before the uphill before the corkscrew? are you able to go pretty fast through that turn if you hit the apex perfectly?

That's 6. 6 is a little tricky to take but I think my favorite corner. I could nail it just right about half the time, the other times I would miss the apex rumble strips or the track out rumble strips. If you fuck it up though you get shitty uphill speed for the next section, so it's an important corner.

To take it, basically brake in a straight line, and track-in is kind of crested (and actually a little blind due to the crest so you have to experiment with turn-in points) so to hit it just right you have to start the car rotating before the crest, set it up in a mild slide over the crest so when it catches in the dip at the apex you can use that "downforce" to turn the car, and track out to the rumble strips. You can usually get on the gas relatively early too, I was usually flat from right after turn-in. Just like any other corner at LS, I try to run over the berm at the apex to effectively lengthen the radius of the corner. I get it just about right at 1:00 in the video. Very very fun corner.

[BlackbirdM3]

Laguna is a great track. I did my first vintage race there. What were your lap times like? I'd love to run it again, but outside a race weekend with open sound restrictions, I can't play (99.5dB exhaust, measured at Laguna on an open sound day.) That track has lots of secrets to it. No, I can't say I know any of them. I can get around the track without screwing up, but I can't say I do it fast. :)

Turn 6 is creepy. I nearly put myself in the sand trap when I got into the corner just a little off line and had the back end hop about 3 feet. I only did that once. Turn 10 I did a similar thing once every session but caught it every time. I never did figure out a good line through turn 5. 2,3,4 I was pretty fast, but I'd give it all up at 5, then gain it back through the corkscrew down to turn 11.

Will

[peytonracer4]

That's 6. 6 is a little tricky to take but I think my favorite corner. I could nail it just right about half the time, the other times I would miss the apex rumble strips or the track out rumble strips. If you fuck it up though you get shitty uphill speed for the next section, so it's an important corner.

To take it, basically brake in a straight line, and track-in is kind of crested (and actually a little blind due to the crest so you have to experiment with turn-in points) so to hit it just right you have to start the car rotating before the crest, set it up in a mild slide over the crest so when it catches in the dip at the apex you can use that "downforce" to turn the car, and track out to the rumble strips. You can usually get on the gas relatively early too, I was usually flat from right after turn-in. Just like any other corner at LS, I try to run over the berm at the apex to effectively lengthen the radius of the corner. I get it just about right at 1:00 in the video. Very very fun corner.

the reason i asked is because i'm very familiar with the track in gran turismo (i know kinda stupid comparison) and on that turn it seemed like a hit or miss. i can either hit it perfectly and use the dip to turn the car which usually gives me the sensation that i could have hit it faster no matter what, or i don't quite get the dip and i slide out and feel like i hit it too fast. it seemed like there was that sweet spot, that if you hit you could take it going pretty fast.
was just wondering if my observations in the game played out in real life. i also might be driving this track this year for octoberfest. not sure on that yet though.

[Wh33lhop]

Laguna is a great track. I did my first vintage race there. What were your lap times like? I'd love to run it again, but outside a race weekend with open sound restrictions, I can't play (99.5dB exhaust, measured at Laguna on an open sound day.) That track has lots of secrets to it. No, I can't say I know any of them. I can get around the track without screwing up, but I can't say I do it fast.

Turn 6 is creepy. I nearly put myself in the sand trap when I got into the corner just a little off line and had the back end hop about 3 feet. I only did that once. Turn 10 I did a similar thing once every session but caught it every time. I never did figure out a good line through turn 5. 2,3,4 I was pretty fast, but I'd give it all up at 5, then gain it back through the corkscrew down to turn 11.

Will

When I wasn't in traffic I was pulling low 1:50s... 1:51.4 was my fastest lap. But keep in mind this is nearly a stock 3400lb 330i on 300tw street tires, and I was shifting at 5900rpm to preserve my oil pump (redline a 330 enough and it will pop).

6 is awesome. I think I could be taking 5, 8a and 9 a bit better (if I wasn't on the bump stops out of 8), and maybe using second for 2. 4, 5 and 10 were a lot of fun trail braking into; I caught up to a lot of faster cars braking late for those corners.

the reason i asked is because i'm very familiar with the track in gran turismo (i know kinda stupid comparison) and on that turn it seemed like a hit or miss. i can either hit it perfectly and use the dip to turn the car which usually gives me the sensation that i could have hit it faster no matter what, or i don't quite get the dip and i slide out and feel like i hit it too fast. it seemed like there was that sweet spot, that if you hit you could take it going pretty fast.
was just wondering if my observations in the game played out in real life. i also might be driving this track this year for octoberfest. not sure on that yet though.

I'm pretty decent at GT, but I can feel and control a real car much more consistently. 6 is less hit or miss in person after you've been out for a session or two to nail it down. But there were times I would pitch it into the apex a bit too sideways and come out with a bit of opposite lock, which was very entertaining being sideways at 80mph but not very fast. Corners 5 and 9 were also a bit difficult to hit just right. 5 I always trail braked but I think sometimes scrubbed off a bit too much speed in doing so, and 9 I could have been more flat through, I never needed the whole track out area coming out of it. Same with 8a, but it's a bit different when you're riding on the bump stops coming out of a corner. Didn't want to push too hard there. :p The rest of the track I was probably at 9/10 or so depending on the corner.

[Bimmerman325i]

6 was my favorite. Pitch the car in, use the cambered uphill to compress the car down in, tiny slide on the apex berm, and floor it out.

Soooo damn fun. I honestly never had trouble with getting a good line through it, I had troubles with the others far more. I tried late apexing it a few times as well as cutting the apex berm, and figured out the fastest line was using only a little bit of the inside berm and staying OFF the outside berm, just kissing it with the tires. I gained half a second once I started doing that line.

I tried a bunch of different lines through 9 and never could settle on a good one. Cannot wait to go back with tires that actually will grip instead of give up unexpectedly.

[Fooshe]

First time on track and it's at Laguna Seca is kinda like loosing your virginity to a porn star...tracks from this point on will most likely be a let down.

I can't wait for our Spec E30 race 4th of July weekend at Laguna.

[Fooshe]

Dude, you're a maniac! Nice driving for sure and man that corkscrew is wild!

I have raced and done HPDE's at Laguna quite a few times and the first couple times through the cork screw is a blast. But after that, it really is a none event. The real pucker factor turn is #9. That one really tests how much hair is on your peaches!

Trivia question: What can you see (specifically) when you get to the top of the cork screw?

[Wh33lhop]

First time on track and it's at Laguna Seca is kinda like loosing your virginity to a porn star...tracks from this point on will most likely be a let down.

I can't wait for our Spec E30 race 4th of July weekend at Laguna.

Not the first time on track, heh. I've been spoiled, first time was here:

I have raced and done HPDE's at Laguna quite a few times and the first couple times through the cork screw is a blast. But after that, it really is a none event. The real pucker factor turn is #9. That one really tests how much hair is on your peaches!

Taking 9 entry berm to apex berm to exit berm at the limit has got to be scary. I was able to take it very quickly but never needed the full track on exit. Gotta go faster next time!

Trivia question: What can you see (specifically) when you get to the top of the cork screw?

The face of god. ;)

[Bimmerman325i]

The face of god. ;)

False. That's your braking point.

[Wh33lhop]

False. That's your braking point.

The braking point isn't at the top? :p

[Bimmerman325i]

The braking point isn't at the top? :p

Nope. Trailbrake and slide that bitch.

[Fooshe]

LOL! Trailbrake the Corkscrew.... Ok Mr. Zanardi.

I guess you might see God there.....but that's not the answer the judges are looking for. I completely missed it the first 4 times I was there.

Seriously...there is something specific you see. Anyone know what it is? Here is a hint: You really shouldn't be looking at it.