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BriK · 05-04-2014

Okay, that update was long enough on its own so I'll do a separate one for events.

Friday Night Drives/ RS Motors Evo Day
I was an instructor for the first Friday Night Drive and was really excited to get back into action. I've found instructing to be really rewarding, giving little tips and tricks, seeing people get better and gain confidence. But it also helps remind me of techniques and forces me to simplify and prioritize things for myself so I can explain them to others.

I took some motion sickness medicine but was still only able to get in 3 ride-alongs before feeling woozy. I rode with EvoforStevo/ 6'2"250 my first and third time out and he did really well; didn't push past his limits or comfort, was pretty smooth and composed with inputs, started getting the lines down, and his timing kept improving. After his first time out, I gave him a ride in my car to show rather than tell and I hope it helped; it seemed to. I was only able to push in a few spots before catching up to traffic, but I noticed differences the next time I rode with him..

I hadn't adjusted anything so I made some initial car adjustments before I took my car out. First thing I noticed was my Rebound adjustment went from 12 clicks before the rebuild to 10 after; odd but I don't really mind. I wanted to try things a bit softer than last year and go stiffer if called for so I tried:

Tire Pressures: 36 f, 36r cold
Compression: 6/12 f, 10/12 r
Rebound: 5/10 f, 8/10r

I wanted to try the settings and scrub in my new tires a bit so I went out when there was space in running groups and took Spaz out with me. I only went about 7/10ths due to new tires and catching traffic, but I attacked the slalom every time. The concrete on that slalom is really, really grippy and I've been working on slaloms, so I pushed harder and harder each lap, while focusing on rhythm and staying smooth; the car just ate it up. While we're here, keys to slaloms are initiating the turn before the cone, keeping a consistent rhythm and keeping the steering wheel moving smoothly like a pendulum; the natural tendency is to turn right at the cone, quickly "lock" into a steering position, get to the next cone, then quickly turn the other way and lock into that steering position. I hope the ride-along helped Spaz too; he said he get some notes/ ideas on driving line.

I headed home a bit early to get some rest for MOWOG 1 the next morning; sorry I didn't stay and help tear down!

MOWOG 1
Got there a bit late so I only got in 3 course walks so I was fuzzy on one part of the course.

Tire Pressures: 38 f, 38r cold
Compression: 6/12 f, 10/12 r
Rebound: 5/10 f, 8/10r

Run 1-- I just wanted to get the first run out of the way, look at the course, wipe off the cobwebs, get over the nerve factor, and focus more on technique than time. I did well with looking ahead, staying smooth with all inputs and being composed. The looking ahead helped especially since I could not remember one full section of the course. Time: 45.9, no cones.

Run 2-- I wanted to follow the same good habits as the first run but go faster this time. I was a little sloppy early in the course and I had a big mistake coming out of the slalom-- I tried to crank it hard right while still hard on the brakes, causing huge push which took me way off line-- but still some positive takeaways and I ran a bit faster. Time: 44.8, one cone.

Run 3-- I tried tire pressures of 39/39 in attempt to get more responsiveness, I knew some places I could make up time, and I saw others in the class going faster, so I pushed it. Well, I pushed too hard, I wasn't focused, and I was too aggressive so I overdrove. I wanted to push in the slalom, which I did, but I wasn't smooth so I spun coming out of it. I recovered and finished the run. Time: 49.9, no cones.

After morning runs, I had to stand on my clean 45.9 (cones are 2 seconds each so my 44.8 registered as 46.8) which put me fifth in class out of seven. The class leader ran a 44.0. I noticed some mid-corner push in the morning runs so I turned up front rebound; the higher tire pressures seemed to be more twitchy so I kept those at 38. I might try lower next event, but I left them there to see how the additional rebound affected things.

Tire Pressures: 38 f, 38r cold
Compression: 6/12 f, 10/12 r
Rebound: 6/10 f, 8/10r

Run 4-- I knew the places where I could find time, I just needed to stay focused and smooth. I also picked up some ideas on driving line from watching others, so I tried those. The run went well, I used less brake in one early element, braked earlier in a couple places, modified my line in a couple places, focused on staying fast, tight, and composed in the sweeper, and staying on throttle through the finish. It worked better and the additional rebound seemed to have helped. Time: 44.8, no cones.

Run 5-- I had confidence from the previous run, I was gunning for the leader, and knew I could do even better in the same focus areas as my previous run. It worked. Time: 43.8, no cones. I was unashamedly screaming "Yes!," pumping my fists, and doing some congratulatory helmet "smacks" after the run.

Run 6-- There was no live timing to see my competitors' times, but I was confident I was in the class lead, but I knew there was more time to find and I wanted to make sure I had the class lead. I pushed harder but made the same big mistake as run 2. I also hit a cone right before the finish. Still, I was pleased with how I drove besides the mistake. Even with the mistake, I ran another 43.8, but one cone, so I had to stand on Run 5. The mistake cost at least a half second, likely more, so I coulda, woulda, shoulda broken into the 42's.

No times were posted at the end of the event but I talked to the leader from the morning and he said he never did better than 44.0, so I think I won the class for this event. We'll see when results are posted-- should be soon. The fastest cars were down into the low 41's so I still have room to improve beforeo challenging the top dogs, but I know the car has the ability and I'm confident I'll get there with more patience, practice, seat time, and focus.

Overall, I'm very pleased with how I did for the first event of the year and I look forward to improving more throughout the season.

05-04-2014	#8
BriK Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Woodbury Drives: GG IX MR SE Posts: 183	Re: BriK’s Driver Mods and Car Mods Okay, that update was long enough on its own so I'll do a separate one for events. Friday Night Drives/ RS Motors Evo Day I was an instructor for the first Friday Night Drive and was really excited to get back into action. I've found instructing to be really rewarding, giving little tips and tricks, seeing people get better and gain confidence. But it also helps remind me of techniques and forces me to simplify and prioritize things for myself so I can explain them to others. I took some motion sickness medicine but was still only able to get in 3 ride-alongs before feeling woozy. I rode with EvoforStevo/ 6'2"250 my first and third time out and he did really well; didn't push past his limits or comfort, was pretty smooth and composed with inputs, started getting the lines down, and his timing kept improving. After his first time out, I gave him a ride in my car to show rather than tell and I hope it helped; it seemed to. I was only able to push in a few spots before catching up to traffic, but I noticed differences the next time I rode with him.. I hadn't adjusted anything so I made some initial car adjustments before I took my car out. First thing I noticed was my Rebound adjustment went from 12 clicks before the rebuild to 10 after; odd but I don't really mind. I wanted to try things a bit softer than last year and go stiffer if called for so I tried: Tire Pressures: 36 f, 36r cold Compression: 6/12 f, 10/12 r Rebound: 5/10 f, 8/10r I wanted to try the settings and scrub in my new tires a bit so I went out when there was space in running groups and took Spaz out with me. I only went about 7/10ths due to new tires and catching traffic, but I attacked the slalom every time. The concrete on that slalom is really, really grippy and I've been working on slaloms, so I pushed harder and harder each lap, while focusing on rhythm and staying smooth; the car just ate it up. While we're here, keys to slaloms are initiating the turn before the cone, keeping a consistent rhythm and keeping the steering wheel moving smoothly like a pendulum; the natural tendency is to turn right at the cone, quickly "lock" into a steering position, get to the next cone, then quickly turn the other way and lock into that steering position. I hope the ride-along helped Spaz too; he said he get some notes/ ideas on driving line. I headed home a bit early to get some rest for MOWOG 1 the next morning; sorry I didn't stay and help tear down! MOWOG 1 Got there a bit late so I only got in 3 course walks so I was fuzzy on one part of the course. Tire Pressures: 38 f, 38r cold Compression: 6/12 f, 10/12 r Rebound: 5/10 f, 8/10r Run 1-- I just wanted to get the first run out of the way, look at the course, wipe off the cobwebs, get over the nerve factor, and focus more on technique than time. I did well with looking ahead, staying smooth with all inputs and being composed. The looking ahead helped especially since I could not remember one full section of the course. Time: 45.9, no cones. Run 2-- I wanted to follow the same good habits as the first run but go faster this time. I was a little sloppy early in the course and I had a big mistake coming out of the slalom-- I tried to crank it hard right while still hard on the brakes, causing huge push which took me way off line-- but still some positive takeaways and I ran a bit faster. Time: 44.8, one cone. Run 3-- I tried tire pressures of 39/39 in attempt to get more responsiveness, I knew some places I could make up time, and I saw others in the class going faster, so I pushed it. Well, I pushed too hard, I wasn't focused, and I was too aggressive so I overdrove. I wanted to push in the slalom, which I did, but I wasn't smooth so I spun coming out of it. I recovered and finished the run. Time: 49.9, no cones. After morning runs, I had to stand on my clean 45.9 (cones are 2 seconds each so my 44.8 registered as 46.8) which put me fifth in class out of seven. The class leader ran a 44.0. I noticed some mid-corner push in the morning runs so I turned up front rebound; the higher tire pressures seemed to be more twitchy so I kept those at 38. I might try lower next event, but I left them there to see how the additional rebound affected things. Tire Pressures: 38 f, 38r cold Compression: 6/12 f, 10/12 r Rebound: 6/10 f, 8/10r Run 4-- I knew the places where I could find time, I just needed to stay focused and smooth. I also picked up some ideas on driving line from watching others, so I tried those. The run went well, I used less brake in one early element, braked earlier in a couple places, modified my line in a couple places, focused on staying fast, tight, and composed in the sweeper, and staying on throttle through the finish. It worked better and the additional rebound seemed to have helped. Time: 44.8, no cones. Run 5-- I had confidence from the previous run, I was gunning for the leader, and knew I could do even better in the same focus areas as my previous run. It worked. Time: 43.8, no cones. I was unashamedly screaming "Yes!," pumping my fists, and doing some congratulatory helmet "smacks" after the run. Run 6-- There was no live timing to see my competitors' times, but I was confident I was in the class lead, but I knew there was more time to find and I wanted to make sure I had the class lead. I pushed harder but made the same big mistake as run 2. I also hit a cone right before the finish. Still, I was pleased with how I drove besides the mistake. Even with the mistake, I ran another 43.8, but one cone, so I had to stand on Run 5. The mistake cost at least a half second, likely more, so I coulda, woulda, shoulda broken into the 42's. No times were posted at the end of the event but I talked to the leader from the morning and he said he never did better than 44.0, so I think I won the class for this event. We'll see when results are posted-- should be soon. The fastest cars were down into the low 41's so I still have room to improve beforeo challenging the top dogs, but I know the car has the ability and I'm confident I'll get there with more patience, practice, seat time, and focus. Overall, I'm very pleased with how I did for the first event of the year and I look forward to improving more throughout the season. __________________ Brian K.