QR September 19th

[whitestivo]

TMoney, I knew you would post up here eventually B) ...I thought I'd managed to get away with that comment...

cu tomorrow.

I also take pen and paper DJK, I'll explain on the day.

And take some opera cd's, you know, the kind of music the stig listens too, I find it calms me down.

Bit of Bach for turn 1 helps

whitestivo

[David the Viking]

Have fun tomorrow guys. I will be having fun of a different kind under the bonnet of a silver Corolla.

[SuperDave]

For the track, should it still be 38 PSI when cold and in that respect, how much higher should they be within for the track when hot?

QR recommend 40PSI cold. Don't surprised to see it climb as high as 50PSI after the first session. When I ran street tyres I just kept bumping it down to 40PSI between sessions, but would always start on 40PSI (1st session is never the fastest anyway).

[whitestivo]

i'm going 40psi

just checked over the car, put some oil in to make sure it's at 100%. put arm band arrow power steering fluid incase boils over.

leaving the seats in, we'll do this the legitimate way

whitestivo

[Ray89]

let me no what your lap times are guys :D please u gotta beat my friends friend colt R time of 1.0488 on the sprint :D

[DJKOR]

Well it's about time to chime in with the results for my Aurion. Overall it was an extremely fun experience and would recommend it for anyone. It may have cost $139 and used up 30 litres of fuel, but I would gladly spend it again because it was that good. At first I was quite nervous, but once I got the first lap out of the way, it became a fun challenge to do my best.

At first my times weren't so great, but as each round came along, I had some slight improvement. The most difficult part was because I was in the newbie group and it was quite a busy day, there were a fair few people on the track at the same time. This made it difficult when it came to overtaking, and giving way to those that just overtook you. It cost some precious time here and there, but I'm not really complaining since it was my first time.

For all laps, I had my traction control off. One thing that I reckon cost the most time was the combination of gear change lag (and the fact that the gearbox locks out certain downshifts) and planting the power to the ground efficiently. There were many cases where the car would still be gripping sufficiently, but trying to accelerate out of corners would cause one front wheel to lose traction. Either way, it's something to work on as well as more and more events come up.

So out of all the rounds, the third round was my best and these were my times:

Lap 1 - 1:09.6833

Lap 2 - 1:10.7493

Lap 3 - 1:08.6874

Lap 4 - 1:10.4222

Lap 5 - 1:10.8292

I'm kind of happy with my result, but at the same time I kind of feel a little disappointed in myself. I feel that I could and should have done better than that, but I guess I'll just have to try again in future. My major weak spot was turns 3 and 5. With them, I found that I tried to push myself a little too much to gain speed in the straights that approach these turns and as a result, my brakes had their limitations in slowing me down sufficiently for these tight turns. Quite a few times I ended up doing a little bit of a drift though these turns because I couldn't slow down sufficiently. This is definitley one area I need to work on.

On a side note about the Adrenalins, boy do these tires grip around the track when cornering. You can be cornering with quite a bit of force and they will still hold you through the turn. They do give a little and I have found that they let you slide a little, but still within the track boundaries. This by far was one of the most fun I had on the track... experience such high turning forces without sliding off the road.

The only aspect where they didn't really give the best grip is rotational acceleration as I mentioned above. This may partially be due to the Aurion and the way it puts it's power to the ground. IT was a disappointment when I passed the apex of the turn still gripping onto the track and then trying to accelerate a little more only to get the front tires smoking up whilst STILL maintaining my driving line.

There wasn't much photo or video taken on the day (I also regret not being able to mount my camera in the car), but here are a couple of random clips from here and there. Nothing fancy, but something to look at I guess:

Please wait a few seconds for Video to Load!

Edit: I was just having a think about it. I guess I should be fairly satisfied with my result when you consider the power-to-weight ratio of the Aurion tied in with the fact that it is a family barge.

My main point of reference when I'm looking at QR figures is the 1:05 that Phil got. When you consider the power-to-weight of the Sportivo is around 93.21kW/tonne and the Aurion is 98.42kW/tonne, it starts to look a little more reasonable. That said though, I've now got this massive urge to try and shave a good second or two off my time.

It would be quite interesting to see how much better I can possibly do when there are less people on the track with varying abilities. Being in the newbie group today meant that a bit of the time around the track was spent trying to keep place within a crowd moving at varying paces. It just made it that little bit more difficult to focus more attention on my own driving. Oh well, that's what next time is for I guess.

[SuperDave]

The n00b group always get in the way.

A pic of Daryl's car

And a pic of Phil's car

I only got a 1:05 flat as my tyres are pretty stuffed, as I said; I just couldn't afford new ones before my 6 week holiday.

[DJKOR]

Sweet pic Dave. Thanks for posting. She seems to fit in alright on the track.

Hehehe, for Phil's car in that photo.

My camera wasn't quite high speed enough:

Please wait a few seconds for Video to Load!

[DJKOR]

And just for you Dave (courtesy of Timofytit from Boostcruising):

So rude, LOL:

[T_Money]

So white stivo...what time did you pull good sir?

[SuperDave]

How awesome is the second photo Glad Tim had the sense of humour to post it up

Results will end up here for anyone interested http://www.qldraceways.com.au/main.php?menu=qra06

[chicaboo]

Daryl: After watching your video above, I have some tips to help you cut another 3-5s of each lap.

It's mainly to do with entering wide, cutting narrow and exiting wide again (which you need to work on).

You can also translate this into inertial drift in an instant if you come in too hot and find yourself understeering.

By letting the bum out sometimes, you can push the nose in to fight understeer. This can stop you from kissing the wall at turn 6.

You've seen me do this in your own car, so you know you can use the technique if need it. Good work on your first time out. :)

Can't wait to take you on a flying lap in the Laser.

Gav.

[DJKOR]

Yeah, I actually found that on the laps that I aimed to exit the turn on the outside, example was of turn 6 there, my times were actually quicker. At first I was doing turn 6 along the inside of the track. It felt comfortable, but it didn't help my times. When I was taking the turn narrow as well, I had a fair bit of front wheel slip trying to maintain power which felt that I didn't have to lose. So I remembered what he told us in briefing and gave it a shot. Unfortunately though, like you described, I couldn't really get my bum to swing around to help slightly alter the direction I was heading as well. I'm sure that may have helped to keep the traction going on the front. I must say though, it was hard to constantly process everything at the same time. I guess I don't work so great with others close by on the track.

The way they described to take the turn (using diagrams) was like as shown below:

I did find that this method helped me more as it reduced my front wheel slip. As weird as it felt, the closer and closer I got to the outside edge of the track on exit, the more stable it felt. Was still hard to start building acceleration at the exit of the turn though.

I really wish get some time when it is nearly dead there to be able to learn all this without worrying about others on the track.

[SuperDave]

For a front wheel drive aim to apex where the ripple strip ends on turn 6; there is a high chance you will already be hard on the throttle before you get there but just let it understeer wide for the best run onto the main straight. The classic line you have shown only works in situations that are as simple as the diagram you have shown, the only use of it is to show the basic line. On compound corners like the dipper (turn 3) and the cross over(turn 5)/turn 6 you need to setup your line for the secondary corner. The video provided makes it hard to see your line too :( but at least your using all the exit onto the straight.

And as you would have learnt in the briefing their mid corner speeds and gears are way off the mark too. Anyone doing 40km/h through the dipper can't drive.

You want a quiet track to practice on? Go mid week on the Wednesday Sprints or to the Time Attack sprints (you can even use the full layout ;))

[whitestivo]

1.06.8

I'm laying the slower time squarely at two things

1. Driver

2. Driver

Just didn't have it this time. I was in big trouble until the last session when the fastest I'd run was a 1.09.

DJ and others will attest to the problems I had getting out of turn 3 with just shed loads of wheelspin sending me off into the dirt.

Not happy with tyres either. Any thoughts as the ride was more soft than last time, maybe the 55 profile or maybe the 205 width on a 6" tyre, would enjoy hearing peoples thoughts. I know my thoughts. Sub standard. On the street i'll have the adrenalines, on the track, i'll take back my turanzas.

whitestivo

[SuperDave]

The issue dad and myself found between the 195 Turanza and the 205 tyres of other brands was the 195 took a set faster and was more direct, the 205 seemed to take a bit of time until the sidewall loaded up and took its set for the corner. Between the Turanza and the RE001 dad and myself found the difference in lap times to be 2/5s of stuff-all.

A few people we saying their times we're 1s down. Does explain why I was 2s down even though a couple weeks back I was only 1s down. I'd say the track was just slow that day.

[T_Money]

Would have been a pretty hot day too. doesnt help things along.

[Andrew357]

Good to hear you guys had fun.

I don't have the stones to take my car onto a track, even just for fun. I = Gutless!

[DJKOR]

One thing I was just most amazed by on the day was how well my car handled. I had never felt so much g-force in my car ever before. Turn 1 and 2 were the weirdest feeling ever, where for once, my car didn't just slide off the road under the force.

But yeah, one thing I really want to try and get more practice on (with some more track sessions) are those compound corners. I remember how he was taking about shifiting the apex later etc, but when on the track, you can get the idea of it, but learning the limits your car can withstand is the key.

Unfortunately for me, I kept thinking about the others on the track that were right on my tail instead of focussing more though to my own driving. Instead of taking it easy and progressively stepping it up higher and higher each time, I was more concerned about the XR5 or the S14 etc that was approaching approaching behind me quicker and quicker.

Being my first time Phil, I can't really comment fully on the Adrenalins. All I can say is they sure gripped for me, even the rears at turn 3 and 5 where I massively misjudged the speed I can take it and had all the weight shift to the front while making a tight turn. The back just slipped a little but kept me on the road. Under heavy cornering, it just wanted to keep sticking as well. From my perspective these tires were awesome, but that's with nothing to compare them with.

I don't have the stones to take my car onto a track, even just for fun. I = Gutless!

It is so much fun that I would highly recommend it. Even if you don't get the best time or reach the expectations of others, you get to feel your car at a limit that you would never reach on the roads. You also learn little things about how the physics of your car can be involved in turns. It's a bit of a learning experience. You should consider yourself lucky that you are in Queensland and not too far from QR. No reason why you shouldn't try it.

[SuperDave]

Would have been a pretty hot day too. doesnt help things along.

It could have been hotter if someone else turned up

[T_Money]

Would have been a pretty hot day too. doesnt help things along.

It could have been hotter if someone else turned up

:o are you suggesting that I would have only added more hot air there SD? How rude!

[chicaboo]

One thing I was just most amazed by on the day was how well my car handled.

Not me, I think your car handles great. Glad to hear that the back end gripped down for you too. :P

[whitestivo]

before i dump the adrenalines, i'll check everyone elses times from the day, see how they posted.

Otherwise, two front adrenalines could be up for sale very soon, and I'll either head to 205.50, or back to trusty turanzas

whitestivo

[SuperDave]

Would have been a pretty hot day too. doesnt help things along.

It could have been hotter if someone else turned up

:o are you suggesting that I would have only added more hot air there SD? How rude!

geez, just take the compliment

[chicaboo]

before i dump the adrenalines, i'll check everyone elses times from the day, see how they posted.

Otherwise, two front adrenalines could be up for sale very soon, and I'll either head to 205.50, or back to trusty turanzas

whitestivo

I wouldn't go blaming the Adrenalins just yet. Not that I'd buy them again myself, but I've never found their limits, nor have I had a problem with the 55 profile.

Why don't you buy a spare set of 15" rims and put the best track tyres on that you can? Then you still have comfy 55 profile for the street and good tyres for track days. :)