Road Atlanta - HPDE input

[jessrayo]

Originally Posted by ZL1-V

Jessrayo,

After re reading your post I now comprehend what you are stating. I guess the big difference is as you put it, "locking the rears". I can hear downshifting around the 55 second mark?


Downshift at 1:29?


I don't think I've ever downshifted hard enough to lock the rears!

He is a very good driver....obviously.....lol. The most dramatic downshifts I see him make are at 1:56 and 3:35. You can see how fast the tach spikes in the dash when he lets those shifts go. These are both high speed higher gear sections and the lower the gear you try to engine brake with the more potential for damage. Around 4:38 watch how smooth the needle on the tach stays when he goes into the carousel. He does not use the engine to brake at all on the slowest point on the track.

The point is don't dump the clutch in a lower gear to slow the car. Your engine takes a lot more stress if you do this.

[Modern07]

Road Atlanta is a great course, but as said previously, watch out for turns 5, 7 & 10!

And the first time you go under that bridge and the road disappears.... you'll never forget that!

I was there last November for the Trans-Am races with a bunch of other forum members...here's a pic of us all on the parade laps we all did before one of the races...of course I'm at the front!

[kaamacat]

Its too bad they have not moved back some of the small walls and put some decent sand traps along those areas. Keep some greenery between track and sand so it does not come back on the track. (Better put once you hit the grass game-over......slippppp n'slide). Although the key is keep her on the pavement.

[nxttruck2002]

Wow cobalt friction prices are no joke... damn

[TBone]

Originally Posted by nxttruck2002

Wow cobalt friction prices are no joke... damn

Yea, but much cheaper than replacing the front end, air bags or your life.

Guys look, yes, you can drive this course with your stock brakes but are they going to last all day if you are hard on them? Probably not. We are talking about 20+ minutes of hard driving, slowing down, hard, from 100+ mph over and over and over. If you have never experienced your pads overheating how will you know when it happens? Track Pads are called that for a reason, they are designed to be used on the track. Hell, it is cheap insurance to prevent a catastrophic incident on track. If you get out there and are not that hard on your brakes well then you can use them on another track day.

Do you really want to worry about your brakes? Sure, they may be fine in the morning but what about in the afternoon after repeated stops? You wear a helmet for "just in case" situations, why not use Track Pads for the same reason?

Do yourselves and those around you a favor, if you are going on a track, use track pads. I sure do not want to be on track with you if you aren't.

T.

[kaamacat]

OK..... this past weekend doing HPDE with BMWCCA at Road Atlanta......PRICELESS. The weather was about perfect, with each afternoon near or at 70+. The ZL1, bone stock, is outsanding! The GYs are not bad (is suspect supersports may have better lateral handling)..... the car is everthing GM has made it to be. Brakes are great as-well. No fade at all during the day. (I will measure thickness to see how much they did decrease since the weekend). Car is VERY stable and seems to never get upset.

Used about 1/4 tank for each 20min session....on the final session came in early with low-fuel and about 2gal remaining. Day2 (Sunday), obviously getting smarter over the weekend, had less than 1/2 remaining after the first two sessions. But again, the HPDE and constant contribution to the Fossil Fuels Fund can not be matched.

[Proroc]

You got to love the Zl1 stock out of the box. Most fun on the road course. I love Road Atlanta. I was suppose to ride the fresh pavement Friday at VIR but something called snow and ice made it not possible.

Can wait to get back on the track.

Glad you hooked now

[kaamacat]

The Brembos we have (with the brembo/ferodo pads) are outstanding. Granted RA has (3)major braking areas @ 1, 6, 10a but, the pads went down minimal at best, possibly 1mm. (As I get more aggressive that will change). I will 2x check my after measurement this weekend. (But brake fluid res did not drop either). Not sure I'd have a need to change pads since the current GM design is quite nice. (You figure with their 24hr testing if there were issues they would change-it-up). These brake/rotor setups are not small by any means.

PROROC... VIR looks to be one of those courses that should be on the bucket list (same with Barber). Enjoy!

[Proroc]

Did not get on the new pavement due to weather. Trying to find another date I can get off and do. I may be able to run Road Atlanta before I can get on VIR.

[Stephen12ZL1]

audi club event at VIR...April 14-15. I am registered.

[kaamacat]

I did not look at all of the groups, but MVP has a 6/28-29 there, CHIN has 4/5-6 & 5/3-4. I believe though if you are in a novice class CHIN charges an additional $100 above the $599 for the weekend..