Dan's NC track toy

Dan · Postby **Dan** » Wed Apr 01, 2015 10:59 pm

Here's a few pics of the new wheels (WedsSport TC105N 17x8 +49) with 235/45-17 Hankook Z221's, really happy with the look of them even without the centre caps (still on order).

Heading into Deckspeed on Saturday to get the guards rolled (might not need it but might as well), the car dropped a bit and a bit more of an aggressive alignment.

Dan · Postby **Dan** » Sun Apr 05, 2015 11:30 pm

After being worried the weather was going to be terrible, I had a great day today at the BMW Club/Circuit Club event at the Sydney Motorsport Park GP circuit with clear skys all day. Plenty of other MX5'ers around too enjoying it too.

Ended up smashing my PB with a 1:51.6093 on the official Natsoft timing. I’m pretty happy with the time since it’s only my second time out in the dry with this car on the GP Circuit (had 1 day in the wet).

The new 235 tyres and wheels with the more aggressive alignment made a world of difference and inspired confidence especially on the high speed corners like T1, T4/5 and T7 where the car previously felt a bit floaty and less planted mid-corner.

The day was running really slow and by 2:30pm my group was only just doing it’s third session but I had to cut it short after that session anyway as I went into idiot mode trying to get a PB which I got but only less than a 10th over the time earlier in that session. If you watch the video of the second lap you can see I take a terrible line through T8 and then I did the shortcut on the last corner and ended up going a bit overboard having my left wheel in the dirt and my rear right wheel on the sharks tooth ripple strip which caused the tyre to impact the guard and gouge into it a little bit. It needed a bit more rolling anyway so after my dodgy hit it with a hammer repair (girlfriend wasn't impressed watching this) so I could drive home the car will go back to Deckspeed to do a bit more rolling.

There’s definitely a lesson in that to be learnt about not trying to push the times out and looking at the data afterwards I can see in the corners that reward restraint (T2 & T8), they were the sectors where my fastest times were in my first whereas every other sector my fastest times were in the last session. Looks like there is a low 1:50 in the car if I can sort that out.

I’ve put up a video below from my last session, the first lap is a 1:51.696 chasing down a race prep’d Mini and the second lap is my 1:51.609 PB lap where the mini lets me pass and you can see the red mist descend

Dan · Postby **Dan** » Sun Apr 12, 2015 11:29 pm

Had my first day out at SMSP South today at the NSW MX5 Club track day.

I love the track and especially enjoyed the T2-T5 and T11-T13 complexes, the hairpins were giving me trouble all day though!

Being my first day on the circuit it took a while to get used to the place but I ended up with a PB of a 1:04.85 which I was pretty happy with but I feel like there is a lot of room for improvement so I'm looking forward to getting out there again at the next club day there in August!

I got a video of a 1:05.04 followed by my PB lap of a 1:04.85

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 2:31 pm

Nice one Dan. Glad you enjoyed your day. Here is a track map with ARDC's official corner numbering:

The corner numbering is explained at the following link, which also includes a driving guide:
http://nsw.mx5.com.au/motorsport/the-tracks/smp-amaroo

Dan · Postby **Dan** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 3:55 pm

Thanks Bryan, yeh I guess I'm using my own corner numbers there

little decks · Postby **little decks** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 4:57 pm

Don't blame you :roll:

Nice meeting you yesterday Dan.

Chris

Dan · Postby **Dan** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 5:05 pm

Was good meeting you too Chris, your advice was really helpful too!

I still need to work on the line we talked about in the first hairpin though as I'm still a bit off.

little decks · Postby **little decks** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 5:19 pm

To be honest the video shows you on a pretty good line, I think the only major change I would try next time would be dropping it to 2nd gear for entry into the hairpin that is turn 11 on that track map, as you are right on the edge of the torque band there in 3rd, that is just a suggestion though as it might get too revvy on exit.

Dan · Postby **Dan** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 5:44 pm

I'll give second a go there next time but I'm not sure I need more power as you can see on the throttle trace that on both laps I've been unable to apply 100% throttle between 11 and 12 as all of the tyres traction has been used up coming back across to set up for turn 12 (I'm getting significant wheelspin if I use 100% throttle). My thought was that if I can get a bit closer to the inside and maybe apex later too it will track me out less meaning I can run a shallower angle to set up for turn 12 and apply more Throttle percentage as I don't need to use all of the available grip on the tyres to turn.

little decks · Postby **little decks** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 6:07 pm

Yes 100% how I attack that section of the circuit, Usually a later turn in and apex into 11 and not using all of the road on exit so I'm not fighting the car to set it up for 12

Dan · Postby **Dan** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 6:46 pm

little decks wrote:Yes 100% how I attack that section of the circuit, Usually a later turn in and apex into 11 and not using all of the road on exit so I'm not fighting the car to set it up for 12

Now the hard part, putting it into practice :wink:

I just watched the video your Dad put up of his laps and he touches both ripple strips while running a 12km higher minimum speed, definitely time to be found!

Postby **Deckspeed Racing** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 6:57 pm

Dan looks to me your driving the car really well nice and smooth, Don't be afraid of the curbs you'll find a bit there at T11 try jaming hard on the brake on turn in might help pitch the weight on the front tyres to turn in at that sharper angle your talking about might affect wheel spin a bit though , next mod LSD STD diff in the NC a bit average especially on those tight corners

Dan · Postby **Dan** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 7:22 pm

Deckspeed Racing wrote:Dan looks to me your driving the car really well nice and smooth, Don't be afraid of the curbs you'll find a bit there at T11 try jaming hard on the brake on turn in might help pitch the weight on the front tyres to turn in at that sharper angle your talking about might affect wheel spin a bit though , next mod LSD STD diff in the NC a bit average especially on those tight corners

Cheers Daniel, that's a good idea to get the car to turn in a bit easier too. Didn't even think of the diff but it would definitely be good to get a bit more drive around that corner.