Recap: VIR (Full) - Triangle Z Club Options

[Ubertechnik350Z]

Original Posting Date: May 30, 2008
VIR (Full) Recap



Wednesday and Thursday were spent out at VIR running the Full course with the Triangle Z Club. Apparently the gloomy weather cloud from the snowy Summit Point event followed me, as on Day 1-Session 1 the skies were spitting and the cold track was even more slippery.

All alone in the paddock. Not shown, a very nice gentleman with an IP E36, and Peter Krausse with his newly purchased Lola racer.


There were some very interesting cars in attendance, from IP prepared E36s, to a Ferrari 360 (more later), Ariel Atom, Lola racecar, “McBearen,” new M3, new 135i and a Lotus 7 replica.

Prior to this event I swapped out the OEM pads and rotors for Carbotech XP10s. I also picked up an Aiptek A-HD camera and a Cruisecam mount to take some footage.



On the first hot lap a Miata in front of me spun coming out of the Roller Coaster:

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Same lap, he recovered a spin in turn 4, the Left Hook:

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After several laps of being behind a train of two Miatas and a Subaru I eventually got the point by and entered my first lap of open track. Coming into turn 1 the Z felt very stable under braking, turn in was good but during track out I got slightly liberal with the throttle and had an oversteer moment. I opened the wheel up and took it to the infield. No harm, no damage, no foul. My instructor even commented that he thought my throttle application was fine – the track was just more slippery than anticipated.

Here’s my first off, turn 1-2; it comes towards the end of the video:
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Unfortunately, a very pretty Ferrari 360 did not come away unscathed. In the first session of the day the 360 lost it in Turn 6 and managed to spin and do significant damage to both the front and rear bumpers. It required a cold pull and the day was over for the Ferrari owner.

Day 2 proved to be very fruitful for me (but not for some others). There were a few offs in other sessions (an E46 M3 into the tire wall at Turn 3) and a mechanically failed Corvette, but nothing major.

I went out in the first session and really felt the car sticking. After session 1 my instructor signed me off for Solo and we discussed signing me off for the Yellow run group. Since my next event is going to be in 2 weeks at VIR running the Grand course and my instructor from this event will be there, we decided to keep me in Green and bump me to Yellow after the next event.

Here’s some footage from session 2 – the Z did a great job. You’ll see me catch a McBearen (the orange thing) and an E36 M3.

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The final session of the day was also great, however, towards the end of the session I had a moment at turn 1. I came in and used my typical brake point (the 4 marker) but the car felt very slippery. The car continued its slipperiness throughout the remainder of that lap so I backed off as I didn’t know if I was losing brakes or tires or what. The ambient was in the upper 80s and I’m guessing the tires just over-heated. Thoughts?

A black flag came out towards the end of the session (for what I’m not sure) and the same E46 M3 that ended in the tire wall at Turn 3 came flying by oblivious to the flying black flag:

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Overall the car did fantastic. I’ll be pulling off the brake pads to see how much wear they took. Tires are also good but I need to start thinking about a new set sooner than later. I am thinking about making the switch to a non-staggered setup and run 18” wheels the same width all around.

Driver’s Notes:

• Turn 1 – Brake point is marker 4. Clip inside curb.
• Turn 2 – Open wheel. String trick (steering wheel to throttle). Into 4th before kink to the left.
• Turn 3 – Brake pointed straight for this turn. Important to get the car pointed straight before the BZ. Downshift into 3rd.
• Turn 4 – Turn the wheel. No need to upshift prior to turn – rag it out.
• Turn 5 – Stop turning in too early.
• Turn 5a, 6, 6a – Use the gaiters.
• Climbing Esses – Turn, SETTLE, Turn, SETTLE, Turn, SETTLE
• Turn 10 South Bend – Faster than you think. A stab of the brake, downshift into 4th.
• Turn 11 – Use the hill to help with braking. BP is Marker 2. Not fully apex the turn, stayed out a touch.
• Turn 12 – Straighten for BZ, over the gaiter, away you go.
  Back straight – there actually is track over the crest. Keep the throttle wide open.
  Rollercoaster…
• Turn 12a – Big brake. Into 4th (or 3rd?)
• Turn 14 – Straight, BRAKE, late turn in.
• Turn 14a – Ease onto the throttle exiting. Good bit of throttle exiting through 15.
• Turn 16 – BRAKE. Turn, straighten car and slight brake. DON’T BRAKE WHILE TURNING, due to camber and downhill.
• Turn 17 and 17a – Steady arc, ease into the throttle and use all the road.
  Front straight – Remember the right kink.

- Jason