...at least as much as is possible with the stability control on the maximum setting
. And as hard as the instructor will let me
Doing this at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit at 2PM, and I intend to leave some fresh marbles at all ten corners this time, and show the wannabes out there how to take the Turns 7-8-9 sector the proper way. I will update my impressions tonight, and give a comparison to the LP560-4 I drove last March
THE VERDICT IS IN. See below...
I hope it's not raining as it is here, 300 miles East. Looking forward to the report.
chuckles wrote: I hope it's not raining as it is here, 300 miles East. Looking forward to the report.
Nope, we have severe clear today, but only 45 to 48 degrees with sustained 10 knots from the north and gusts to 25. Brakes and tires shouldn't have a problem staying warm enough, but it's going to suck for mere humans. At least the restrooms are marginally heated.
The proper way to take The Bitch is with eyes closed. You can't see it, anyway.
Basil Exposition wrote: The proper way to take The Bitch is with eyes closed. You can't see it, anyway.
Hah! The part that requires the most self-control is knowing exactly when to go throttle neutral BEFORE cresting the rise between 7 and 8 and then using a touch of trail braking turning into 8, which "should" get you pointed better at the apex of The Bitch. Seems like I see more guys slide backwards off the track coming into 8, and my theory is the they don't get the car settled properly before turning in to it. Yeah, Hallett will teach you car control.
The Ferrari 458 Italia was magnificent. Less twitchy than the Lambo LP560-4. The steering dynamic was more confidence inspiring than than the Gallardo. The roll rate was about the same, but the the Italia was more stable feeling over the rough spots. From turn-in to track-out, when I pushed the Gallardo past 7/10s it began to feel like i had just grabbed a rattlesnake by the tail and if I didn't keep it moving very carefully and deliberately it was going whip around and bite, even with it's all-wheel-drive; Like it had it's own opinion about what it wanted to do, and was starting to express it. The Italia by contrast, was much more composed and better at telegraphing it's "mood"; Like it was thrilled to go wherever you told it go (of course if your "communication skills" are lacking and you order it into the weeds, that's where it will happily go). The Italia was more honest, just more willing to go with far less drama and argument, where you directed it. I will give the nod to the Gallardo on two items: the Lambo's throttle response was more natural and linear whereas the Italia's tip-in was just plain twitchy as hell from around 10% up to about 50% throttle opening. Also, the Gallardo's brake feel was more natural for me, although the next guy may have the opposite opinion; brake feel is much more subjective anyway (but neither of them have the universally sublime feel of Porsche brakes).
So, having beat on both cars now at Hallet, I can see why the Italia has proven to be slightly quicker at virtually every road course in the world that both cars have been timed at. OH, and as for being determined to leave some fresh marbles at the corners: even with the stability control set at maximum, I was able to get the tail to just start to step out a bit at turns 3, 5, 9,and 10
Incidentally, I noticed today just scary a track Hallett is when you're driving someone else's $2XX,XXX car Something about not being able see anything but blue sky when cresting the hump on Cimaron Straight at WOT and 100 mph and hoping to God that one of "slow guys" isn't just cruising along at 80 or so just on the other side; and how the slightly off-camber exit of turn 5 suddenly seems to be tilting at least 45 degrees and threatening to send you off backward toward either the tire wall on the inside or the treeline on the outside; and how you don't REALLY know if you pointed correctly at the turn-in point for The Bitch because you can't see it until it's too late. Etc... So, who here feels me on this?
Hallett is my nearest track. I really love it. I ran bikes there in the 80's. My first time there recently in my Cobalt SS, Connie said: "Well, don't try to use the motorcycle line." I replied: "I never found it."
A technical place for sure, always more to learn. See you maybe in late March.
In reply to chuckles:
Yessir, I'm having another crack at the Italia on March 19 at 2 PM. But this time it's no charge, because for the SECOND time in a row the berkleying in-car video failed to record!!! Xtreme Xperience is just slightly embarrassed about this
Looks like the first HST day isn't until April 16th, so I've got until April 15th to do a few things to get the Millenium Escort ready for severe track abuse: replace windshield, replace rear bumper cover, adjust alignment, get the 21mm rear sway bar on, pull the head to repace the head gasket, have the head hot tanked and pressure tested, get the head decked .020 to get it perfectly flat, new valve guides, get the valve faces and seats re-lapped, replace the lifters, new timing belt/tensioner/water pump, maybe/maybe not do the front crank seal, OI VEY!!! Did I miss anything???
You gonna do Xtreme Xperience in March?
In reply to WildScotsRacing:
PM follows soon.
chuckles wrote: In reply to WildScotsRacing: PM follows soon.
Umm, forum newb question: I can't seem to find my PM In Box...
WildScotsRacing wrote:chuckles wrote: In reply to WildScotsRacing: PM follows soon.Umm, forum newb question: I can't seem to find my PM In Box...
Should go straight to whatever email addie you signed up with
In reply to ultraclyde:
Dohh, I think I signed up from my work email. And I took today off! Where is the facepalm imoticon?
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