Dicknose
February 8th, 2018, 08:11 PM
So I did a track day yesterday at Sydney Motorsport Park (aka Eastern Creek)
Nice track, built for MotoGP, it’s almost 4K of a fairly fast track. Big and fast and close to me!
So I had a twilight session, which was good. Been a while since I’ve been there, so a session to remember what I’m doing, a go with an instructor to help me (he said brake, I kept going, then braked, he said “your brakes are good!”)
But the last session was interesting, it was now dark. The previous group had maybe 10 cars out. I spoke to two who came in saying “hated it, could see where to go”.
So I headed out for my group, last session. Oh it’s just me!
Damn it’s dark, no lights on the track, just my headlights. And unlike IMOA, I didn’t buy the “lights look into corner” option. Anyway they had cone markers for turning and apex, so you could look thru a corner and hope some light hit the cone reflectors. Damn it really makes you look thru corners. Actually just peer in the right direction and hope you see something.
In the end I was 4 seconds a lap slower (1:52 v 1:48) in the dark. Pretty good for driving almost blind. I really enjoyed it, made me work hard and make sure I had confidence in what I was doing.
Only one other car came out that session. I saw them hold it at the pit exit while I came past. Two cars and a 4km track, you don’t need to release a guy just in front of me. About 4 laps later I did see that car a few corners in front of me. But they ended the session before I caught them. Short sessions, the last session and just two cars they probably wanted to pack up!
And loving the Boxster. It was a hot day (35C/95F) when I started, but roof down and looking cool.
Damn this car is good at the track. Not GT4 good, and I’m not IMOA good, but good enough that I haul in RS3 and a few trailered cars.
It brakes and turned so well, I just need to be reasonably smooth to look like a hero. It’s 9 parts car, 1 part me, but shhh... I feel like Senna! And look very cool doing it! Doesn’t look like serious track car, not compared to Porsche GT car, but not far off them for a “hairdresser’s car”
So other than our resident pro-driver, who else has had some fun track/autoX days lately?
Ok Bryan post up!
Loving it, glad I bought the Boxster, too me it’s the ultimate GT/street/track car. Not the best any any of those, but pretty damn awesome at everything, track, 6 hour cruise, back road run, stroll up the shops, head to the beach looking cool.
Oh and I noticed in the last few weeks several people videoing me as I’m driving. Not so bad when it’s the passenger, but had two where it was the driver! That’s cool, but not too close while you are holding a phone!
One of the passenger efforts I went past on a freeway and they dropped in behind, when I moved over they made an effort to come up beside me. I gave a wave to the lady videoing and the put the foot into it. It’s loud! Sure they got some great video of a loud red, fast Posche pulling away.
Ok while I rambling on, I should say I love it when probably once a week I come back to my car parked and find someone taking a photo. It is nice to have a “look at me” car. Always happy to say, do you want to sit in it and I’ll take your photo. <living-the-dream>
Nice track, built for MotoGP, it’s almost 4K of a fairly fast track. Big and fast and close to me!
So I had a twilight session, which was good. Been a while since I’ve been there, so a session to remember what I’m doing, a go with an instructor to help me (he said brake, I kept going, then braked, he said “your brakes are good!”)
But the last session was interesting, it was now dark. The previous group had maybe 10 cars out. I spoke to two who came in saying “hated it, could see where to go”.
So I headed out for my group, last session. Oh it’s just me!
Damn it’s dark, no lights on the track, just my headlights. And unlike IMOA, I didn’t buy the “lights look into corner” option. Anyway they had cone markers for turning and apex, so you could look thru a corner and hope some light hit the cone reflectors. Damn it really makes you look thru corners. Actually just peer in the right direction and hope you see something.
In the end I was 4 seconds a lap slower (1:52 v 1:48) in the dark. Pretty good for driving almost blind. I really enjoyed it, made me work hard and make sure I had confidence in what I was doing.
Only one other car came out that session. I saw them hold it at the pit exit while I came past. Two cars and a 4km track, you don’t need to release a guy just in front of me. About 4 laps later I did see that car a few corners in front of me. But they ended the session before I caught them. Short sessions, the last session and just two cars they probably wanted to pack up!
And loving the Boxster. It was a hot day (35C/95F) when I started, but roof down and looking cool.
Damn this car is good at the track. Not GT4 good, and I’m not IMOA good, but good enough that I haul in RS3 and a few trailered cars.
It brakes and turned so well, I just need to be reasonably smooth to look like a hero. It’s 9 parts car, 1 part me, but shhh... I feel like Senna! And look very cool doing it! Doesn’t look like serious track car, not compared to Porsche GT car, but not far off them for a “hairdresser’s car”
So other than our resident pro-driver, who else has had some fun track/autoX days lately?
Ok Bryan post up!
Loving it, glad I bought the Boxster, too me it’s the ultimate GT/street/track car. Not the best any any of those, but pretty damn awesome at everything, track, 6 hour cruise, back road run, stroll up the shops, head to the beach looking cool.
Oh and I noticed in the last few weeks several people videoing me as I’m driving. Not so bad when it’s the passenger, but had two where it was the driver! That’s cool, but not too close while you are holding a phone!
One of the passenger efforts I went past on a freeway and they dropped in behind, when I moved over they made an effort to come up beside me. I gave a wave to the lady videoing and the put the foot into it. It’s loud! Sure they got some great video of a loud red, fast Posche pulling away.
Ok while I rambling on, I should say I love it when probably once a week I come back to my car parked and find someone taking a photo. It is nice to have a “look at me” car. Always happy to say, do you want to sit in it and I’ll take your photo. <living-the-dream>