Hit the wall: My ZL1 at Laguna Seca

[craig.martell]

http://youtu.be/Ov-FO2PFc9k

My tires were too cold on the first run of the day. (I love these tires when it is warm, but they suck when it is cold.) It was in the high 40s or low 50s during the first run. I barely hit the accelerator coming out of turn 10, and the tires just let loose. Scared the hell out of me, even though I just barely hit the wall. Not sure of the cost of the damage, but it is no more than a fender bender.

If you only care about the accident, start watching around 2:00.

[A.VEE.BEE]

Glad you are okay!

[Raven87]

That sucks. Looked like good run but a soft hit. What data recorder are you using?

Thanks for sharing.

[forklord]

hot damn you got lucky.

[craig.martell]

Originally Posted by forklord

hot damn you got lucky.

I definitely did. It was a soft hit, but it could have easily been much worse. I finished off the rest of the day, but was definitely nervous. What I learned more than anything else is:

1. These tires suck when cold; and
2. The power of this car is actually pretty damn dangerous; and
3. Don't put it in PTM 5 until the tires warm up.

I did forget to mention that I usually run in PTM 5 for the Race setting on the shocks. This, however, turns off almost all of the traction control. Out of habit, I put it in 5 when I started. BIG MISTAKE. I ran in PTM 3 and 4 for most of the rest of the day. However, Sport suspension is just not stiff enough for the track.

There was a 1LE there as well, and he was all over the track. Simply don't take these tires to the track if it is under 60 degrees F.

Craig

[KLR ZL1]

If it's fender and bumper damage it could be $2500 and up. I had my car at a dealership and they hit it on the opposite front corner. New fender and bumper repair, blend hood and driver door. $2500 for that. Oh yea I learned about PTM5 at the first C5 Fest in Indy. It will definitely come around on you.

[craig.martell]

Originally Posted by Raven87

That sucks. Looked like good run but a soft hit. What data recorder are you using?

Thanks for sharing.

I was using my iPhone 5s with Track Addict. I used a SkyPro XGPS160 GPS Receiver for GPS, which samples at 10Hz. And I used a cheap Wi-Fi OBD2 sensor.

It usually works great, but notice that the time wasn't updating.

Craig

[craig.martell]

Originally Posted by KLR ZL1

If it's fender and bumper damage it could be $2500 and up. I had my car at a dealership and they hit it on the opposite front corner. New fender and bumper repair, blend hood and driver door. $2500 for that.

That's what I am expecting. It is almost not noticeable, if you look quickly. But the finder metal is rippled, and there are scuffs all on the facia. I think I could get buy with sanding and painting the facia, but I think I will need a new fender.

Craig

[Raven87]

Originally Posted by craig.martell

I was using my iPhone 5s with Track Addict. I used a SkyPro XGPS160 GPS Receiver for GPS, which samples at 10Hz. And I used a cheap Wi-Fi OBD2 sensor.

It usually works great, but notice that the time wasn't updating.

Craig

Thanks Craig. Glad that you and your car are ok. That was great advice about PTM 5 if the tires and track are cold.

[craig.martell]

Originally Posted by KLR ZL1

Oh yea I learned about PTM5 at the first C5 Fest in Indy. It will definitely come around on you.

This is the one flaw in the car for me. I want the suspension setting to be separate from the traction control settings. The car is fantastic at the track in Race (or is it Track?) suspension mode, but way to soft in Sport. Unfortunately, only PTM 5 is Race suspension.

Craig

[Acro2pilot]

I have owned and tracked a range of cars over the years; Lotus Elise (w major mods), STi, F430, F355, and more and I have never had a car come with OEM tires that were so marginal in real world conditions. I think the benefits gained under the ideal conditions are not worth the trade-off for the limitations the rest of the time, more so true if you use the car as a daily driver as I do. I replaced mine with sottozeros for the winter but I think I will go with Pilot Sports, I have pushed those on the street and track in all temperature ranges with good results.


Love the car, hate the tires.

[jayno20]

Any pictures of the damage?

[Rico]

That sucks, but thankfully you are ok. That looks like a lot of fun. I'd like to run a road course one day. Stay safe man!

[lbls1]

Sorry about the mishap. The hit didn't sound bad, but do not take short cuts in the repairs. The fix will be what it will be.

I also noticed that you weren't really going that fast. It didn't seem like a tight turn so I'm surprised that the tires let go like that. 60 d weather is like Spring, so to hear and see this is discouraging.