DC_McGregor
06-18-2002, 04:28 PM
These races will be held at The Trophycup Club (TCC) at 6:00 PM Pacific time (-8 GMT) on Friday (Vintage) and Saturday (GTQ).
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the_trophycup_club/
Nurburgring - track analysis
I was easily able to complete 15 laps with a full fuel load in the GTO. Next week will be 12 and 24 laps for both Vintage and GTQ. I ran a 12 lap stint with 21 gallons of fuel. I got the low fuel warning midway through the 11th lap. I was easily able to finish the race and reach the pits after the cool down lap. 20 gallons should be possible.
Car: Vintage #00 Ferrari GTO
I have understandably shortened the gears from my LeMan setup. I have also closed up the ratios a bit to keep the revs in the 7000 to 8000 rpm range. My final drive is currently 3.900 and 5th gear is 1.002 to 1.
I am continuing with my "ultra-stiff" setup. (Shocks, springs and roll bars all at max stiffness.) I agree with Doug that it does feel like it lacks grip, but the cars also seems to have better balance and stability. Given the very high ride height, that's understandable. If I have the time and energy, I will get another GTO and try a somewhat softer suspension. Say 5 or 10 per cent. This track seems to be a good place to test it. It seems to require both balance and grip. It should give me a good comparison.
Some general comments about Nurburgring. While carrying as much speed as possibe through the corners is always important, I believe that getting a good line and getting on the power early here is much more important. A couple of mph slower in the corner is less important than a couple of mph faster on the straight. There are a couple of blind corners that make finding the turn-in point (and apex) very difficult. I'll try to find a couple of markers for those corners, but no promises. I'm still making way too many mistakes. I'm still early in the learning process, so the following should be considered a starting point. I hope to improve on it by raceday. My best time so far is a 1:31 flat after 15 laps, but I expect to get 1:30s and possibly under as I refine my driving. [1:30.65 after a further 15 laps.]
Turns 1 and 2. Brake at about the middle marker to 3rd gear. You must straddle the curb (two wheels in the dirt, but not too far in the dirt). Aim your left wheels at about the juncture between roadway and curbing. You should come out in about the middle of the track. If you are too far to the left, you'll have a bad line into turn 2 and will have to lift to avoid running wide. The closer you are to the right side, the better the line in turn 2 and you'll have a better run down to turn 3.
Turns 3 and 4. There appears to be 2 ways to handle this sequence. You and enter turn 3 in 4th and use engine braking to slow for the approach to turn 4. Or you can enter in 3rd gear and accelerate up to turn 4 - probably upshifting to 4th briefly. The first has the problem of running wide and losing too much time getting set up for turn 4. So far, I prefer the second approach - 3rd gear. I brake about the last marker and quickly shift down to 3rd. Tuck in tight and keep to the left side for your approach to turn 4, which is blind. Brake and shift down to 2nd about the end of the curbing on the left. That's also your approximate turn-in point, so be quick about it. (A tad later, actually, but still well before the 50 yd. marker.) A touch of trail braking will help the car turn in. If you can keep your speed up, you'll be able to quickly upshift to third to take turn 4 proper. I'm not certain whether going over the curb is the best. I suspect not. The car is more unstable over the curbing and you'll probably lose speed. Your exit speed here is critical, so take a line where you can get the power down early.
Turn 5 is the hairpin. Keep to the left on your approach. I'm currently braking about 1/2 way between the two markers. If you brake too late, you will miss your apex and run wide. A good late apex is imperative here. I take the corner in 2nd, with a bit of trail braking to help the turn in. If you don't get your line right, you'll have to lift on the exit. That's fatal. You have a long uphill run up to and after turns 6 and 7 - you'll need all the exit speed you can muster.
Turns 6 and 7. Fairly easy ones. Keep your foot in it. I hold 4th gear through to the exit of turn 7. It's an uphill run from there.
Turns 8 and 9. I brake about the 100 yd. marker. The turn in point is before the 50 yd. marker. I take turn 8 in third, cutting the corner - two wheels only (4 will lose speed). Run out to the outside curbing and back in to set up for turn 9. If you brake or turn in too late, you will miss the apex and will have to slow down radically to avoid running wide on the exit to 8. The turn-in for turn 9 is blind. Still in 3rd, I lift and turn in just before the beginning of the curbing on the right reaches the edge of the screen. I get back on the power as soon as possible. If you are just a tad late turning in, you will run wide at the apex and have to lift to avoid running wide on the exit. Again, this is fatal. It's a long run to the chicane and you'll need all the exit speed you can get. If you turn in too early, you'll go over the curbing and similarly lose speed.
Chicane (turns 10 and 11). I'm still having a great deal of trouble with this one. Here's what I have so far. Brake about the second marker. Quickly down to 3rd gear at about medium revs. If you turn in too soon, you'll cut the corner with 4 wheels and risk hitting the barrier. If you turn in too late or are too fast, you will hit the other barrier. Start slow in 3rd gear and work your speed up. Turn in before the 50 yd. marker, turning in sharply to line up for the entrance. A light trail braking is also recommended. When you're set up to make turn 10 (aiming to clip the curb), reverse your turn to clip the curbing in turn 11. That's the important one. You should have a good exit for the run to turn 12.
Turn 12. Another corner that is giving me trouble. Currently, I'm using 2nd gear. Third may be possible, but every time I've tried it so far, I've either run wide at the apex or on the exit. In either case, having to lift to avoid going off on the exit. If you got a good exit from the chicane, you'll be in 4th. Brake about the 50 yd. marker. Down to 2nd gear. The turn in point is about the end of the curbing on the left. Aim for a late apex, accelerate and up to third while still in the corner. If you get it right, you won't have to lift.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the_trophycup_club/
Nurburgring - track analysis
I was easily able to complete 15 laps with a full fuel load in the GTO. Next week will be 12 and 24 laps for both Vintage and GTQ. I ran a 12 lap stint with 21 gallons of fuel. I got the low fuel warning midway through the 11th lap. I was easily able to finish the race and reach the pits after the cool down lap. 20 gallons should be possible.
Car: Vintage #00 Ferrari GTO
I have understandably shortened the gears from my LeMan setup. I have also closed up the ratios a bit to keep the revs in the 7000 to 8000 rpm range. My final drive is currently 3.900 and 5th gear is 1.002 to 1.
I am continuing with my "ultra-stiff" setup. (Shocks, springs and roll bars all at max stiffness.) I agree with Doug that it does feel like it lacks grip, but the cars also seems to have better balance and stability. Given the very high ride height, that's understandable. If I have the time and energy, I will get another GTO and try a somewhat softer suspension. Say 5 or 10 per cent. This track seems to be a good place to test it. It seems to require both balance and grip. It should give me a good comparison.
Some general comments about Nurburgring. While carrying as much speed as possibe through the corners is always important, I believe that getting a good line and getting on the power early here is much more important. A couple of mph slower in the corner is less important than a couple of mph faster on the straight. There are a couple of blind corners that make finding the turn-in point (and apex) very difficult. I'll try to find a couple of markers for those corners, but no promises. I'm still making way too many mistakes. I'm still early in the learning process, so the following should be considered a starting point. I hope to improve on it by raceday. My best time so far is a 1:31 flat after 15 laps, but I expect to get 1:30s and possibly under as I refine my driving. [1:30.65 after a further 15 laps.]
Turns 1 and 2. Brake at about the middle marker to 3rd gear. You must straddle the curb (two wheels in the dirt, but not too far in the dirt). Aim your left wheels at about the juncture between roadway and curbing. You should come out in about the middle of the track. If you are too far to the left, you'll have a bad line into turn 2 and will have to lift to avoid running wide. The closer you are to the right side, the better the line in turn 2 and you'll have a better run down to turn 3.
Turns 3 and 4. There appears to be 2 ways to handle this sequence. You and enter turn 3 in 4th and use engine braking to slow for the approach to turn 4. Or you can enter in 3rd gear and accelerate up to turn 4 - probably upshifting to 4th briefly. The first has the problem of running wide and losing too much time getting set up for turn 4. So far, I prefer the second approach - 3rd gear. I brake about the last marker and quickly shift down to 3rd. Tuck in tight and keep to the left side for your approach to turn 4, which is blind. Brake and shift down to 2nd about the end of the curbing on the left. That's also your approximate turn-in point, so be quick about it. (A tad later, actually, but still well before the 50 yd. marker.) A touch of trail braking will help the car turn in. If you can keep your speed up, you'll be able to quickly upshift to third to take turn 4 proper. I'm not certain whether going over the curb is the best. I suspect not. The car is more unstable over the curbing and you'll probably lose speed. Your exit speed here is critical, so take a line where you can get the power down early.
Turn 5 is the hairpin. Keep to the left on your approach. I'm currently braking about 1/2 way between the two markers. If you brake too late, you will miss your apex and run wide. A good late apex is imperative here. I take the corner in 2nd, with a bit of trail braking to help the turn in. If you don't get your line right, you'll have to lift on the exit. That's fatal. You have a long uphill run up to and after turns 6 and 7 - you'll need all the exit speed you can muster.
Turns 6 and 7. Fairly easy ones. Keep your foot in it. I hold 4th gear through to the exit of turn 7. It's an uphill run from there.
Turns 8 and 9. I brake about the 100 yd. marker. The turn in point is before the 50 yd. marker. I take turn 8 in third, cutting the corner - two wheels only (4 will lose speed). Run out to the outside curbing and back in to set up for turn 9. If you brake or turn in too late, you will miss the apex and will have to slow down radically to avoid running wide on the exit to 8. The turn-in for turn 9 is blind. Still in 3rd, I lift and turn in just before the beginning of the curbing on the right reaches the edge of the screen. I get back on the power as soon as possible. If you are just a tad late turning in, you will run wide at the apex and have to lift to avoid running wide on the exit. Again, this is fatal. It's a long run to the chicane and you'll need all the exit speed you can get. If you turn in too early, you'll go over the curbing and similarly lose speed.
Chicane (turns 10 and 11). I'm still having a great deal of trouble with this one. Here's what I have so far. Brake about the second marker. Quickly down to 3rd gear at about medium revs. If you turn in too soon, you'll cut the corner with 4 wheels and risk hitting the barrier. If you turn in too late or are too fast, you will hit the other barrier. Start slow in 3rd gear and work your speed up. Turn in before the 50 yd. marker, turning in sharply to line up for the entrance. A light trail braking is also recommended. When you're set up to make turn 10 (aiming to clip the curb), reverse your turn to clip the curbing in turn 11. That's the important one. You should have a good exit for the run to turn 12.
Turn 12. Another corner that is giving me trouble. Currently, I'm using 2nd gear. Third may be possible, but every time I've tried it so far, I've either run wide at the apex or on the exit. In either case, having to lift to avoid going off on the exit. If you got a good exit from the chicane, you'll be in 4th. Brake about the 50 yd. marker. Down to 2nd gear. The turn in point is about the end of the curbing on the left. Aim for a late apex, accelerate and up to third while still in the corner. If you get it right, you won't have to lift.