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      02-17-2012, 11:54 AM   #1
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Track Daze at VIR, May 5 & 6 - Full Course

Hey guys this is a great deal. My buddy and I already registered our Z4Ms for this event. I'd like to see a lot more Z4 enthusiasts out there. In a nutshell, it's $400 for a two day event. Go to the TrackDaze website for info.
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      02-17-2012, 11:57 AM   #2
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Will check it out, is registration on MotorsportReg? I'm attending the 25 - 26 with Tarheel CCA and the 3 - 4 of March with Chin Motorsports, both on full course.
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      02-17-2012, 12:13 PM   #3
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Will check it out, is registration on MotorsportReg? I'm attending the 25 - 26 with Tarheel CCA and the 3 - 4 of March with Chin Motorsports, both on full course.
TrackDaze.com to register. Try this link: https://www.trackdaze.com/index.php?...temid=0&did=28.

I wanted to do the Tarheels meet but the rules were too restrictive for my roadster (additional rollover protection). The TrackDaze event will let you by with the broomstick rule and no additional rollover and restraint mods required.
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      02-17-2012, 03:27 PM   #4
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They have one-day prices as well for those who cannot make both days. $265 I believe. Anybody driven VIR have any tips for the full course layout? The track looks downright scary on youtube.
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      02-17-2012, 04:30 PM   #5
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Check out Randy's VIR videos on the link from his post above...pretty cool
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      02-17-2012, 05:29 PM   #6
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They have one-day prices as well for those who cannot make both days. $265 I believe. Anybody driven VIR have any tips for the full course layout? The track looks downright scary on youtube.
Always drive to your comfort zone, ensure your cars is prepped with good tires and brakes. You need to be confident in your car. Keep your eyes up, always looking ahead. Watch video's so your familiar with the track.

Here is a video by Randy Probst who gives a pretty good run down on the full course and turns.
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      02-17-2012, 09:44 PM   #7
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Anybody driven VIR have any tips for the full course layout? The track looks downright scary on youtube.
A few places that warrant special attention:

The lower esses (turn 6), while themselves not a big deal, have the tire walls very close by and consequently you do not want to loop the car here. Just be patient with the throttle entering them (i.e., exiting 5a) and get the car pointed straight before standing on it. And, don't go too crazy running over the curbs.

In the climbing esses (7-8-9) you want to keep the back of the car weighted through the whole sequence. So, between the bridge and bending the car left for the beginning of the esses, pedal back to half throttle so that you have room to add. Then, gradually roll into the throttle the whole way through to keep the back end planted. Apexes are late, later, and even later, and you want to be opening the steering over the hump in the middle of the esses (the site of the infamous R8 crash on youtube--he came in early, tightened his line, and then lifted... no lifting in the climbing esses, especially where the car goes light!) Finally, track out of 9 to only mid-track or less as there's a hump to the left that you want to avoid.

In Turn 10 (aka "Left Hook"), the road falls away starting at the apex, and again you want to have the weight on the back of the car before getting there. So, get your braking over with and be on the gas before the apex. There's a lot of room to track out to the right, but it's hidden until after you apex--use it, but stay inside the curbing.

The dowhill segments on the back of the circuit are pretty intuitive. Exiting the downhill onto the pit straight (17a) provides tons of compression and grip, just don't lift.

Really fun at VIR, just use your head and common sense. DSC is your friend until you get a good feel for the effects of the elevation changes. And, if you have access to an instructor, definitely take advantage of that.
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      02-18-2012, 09:59 AM   #8
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^I'll be reviewing this in conjunction with the VIR in-car videos for a while. Thanks!
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      02-18-2012, 01:41 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by esqu1re View Post
Anybody driven VIR have any tips for the full course layout? The track looks downright scary on youtube.
Scary? absolutely not.. It WILL get your blood flowing..
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      02-18-2012, 01:52 PM   #10
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One thing to remember about turn 10 that Frank forgot. If you feel like you are too hot for turn 10 (South Bend), DO NOT TRY TO BE A HERO and save the car. Just drive straight off the track and slow, bending the car back to the left and towards turn 11. There is a whole lot of run off space there. If you try to save it, you will snap the car left and your whole day is done.... 75% of the mishaps on VIR happen there.

On turn Five-'A', keep off that gator.. It does have a tendency above all other gators on the track to grab a wheel and send you into the ARMCO.

One of the premier driving instructors/data acquisition guru's with 11000 laps of VIR will tell you that the average speed around turn 12 (Oak Tree) is 30-39MPH. He is right.. I figured out that for my car the proper speed is 34Mph. Any faster and you are straddling the gator on the exit.

One last thing.

There are way too may distant reference points to talk about. Water towers, power lines etc. remember to use them....

Of all the different tracks I run on, VIR is my favorite.

Last edited by Shipkiller; 02-20-2012 at 01:04 PM..
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      02-18-2012, 02:34 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shipkiller View Post
One thing to remember about turn 10 that Frank forgot. If you feel like you are too hot for turn 10, DO NOT TRY TO BE A HERO and save the car. Just drive straight off the track and slow, bending the car back to the left and towards turn 11. There is a whole lot of run off space there. If you try to save it, you will snap the car left and your whole day is done.... 75% of the mishaps on VIR happen there.
^Excellent advice from Jay. I actually rehease this scenario in my head, so that it doesn't require thought if/when it happens.
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      02-18-2012, 03:37 PM   #12
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Just registered. Jay we gonna see you out there?
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      02-18-2012, 04:15 PM   #13
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It depends on my funds. It took all of my mod money to get the car repaired. I am hoping to do a two day session in April and maybe one in May.

In June I get to spend several months up in CT for work...
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      02-20-2012, 10:00 AM   #14
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Thanks for the advice guys.



Helpful video to help learn the track and corner names for noobs like me.
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      02-20-2012, 12:08 PM   #15
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I was fortunate enough to do VIR full course last year as well, my vid:



I found turn 4 to be deceptively harder than it appeared - there's a lot more track than you think but my tendency was to take the turn earlier. Also I found the car to understeer in that turn. On the esses, it's important to really maintain focus and turn on time because you're carrying so much speed that if you try to correct a late turn, it'll mess you up throughout. And of course there's oak tree - 2 cars went into the dirt on that turn during my session.
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      02-20-2012, 01:15 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dubbedown View Post
I found turn 4 to be deceptively harder than it appeared - there's a lot more track than you think but my tendency was to take the turn earlier. Also I found the car to understeer in that turn. On the esses, it's important to really maintain focus and turn on time because you're carrying so much speed that if you try to correct a late turn, it'll mess you up throughout. And of course there's oak tree - 2 cars went into the dirt on that turn during my session.
Turn four: Patience, Patience, Patience. It is a very late apex turn that will set you up properly for turn 5 is you slowed enough. If you are understeering in four, then you are going too fast.

On the esses,,, learn to manage your throttle by curling/uncurling your toes. 100RPM changes = Small weight transfers fore and aft... At speed through there, you are really loading and unloading your suspension and if you are too abrupt then you can start into a bad situation. Smoothnesssssss.. Thank god there is a lot of run off room.

I absolutely love VIR.
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      02-20-2012, 01:31 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by Shipkiller View Post
Turn four: Patience, Patience, Patience. It is a very late apex turn that will set you up properly for turn 5 is you slowed enough. If you are understeering in four, then you are going too fast.

On the esses,,, learn to manage your throttle by curling/uncurling your toes. 100RPM changes = Small weight transfers fore and aft... At speed through there, you are really loading and unloading your suspension and if you are too abrupt then you can start into a bad situation. Smoothnesssssss.. Thank god there is a lot of run off room.

I absolutely love VIR.
You are right on all points. VIR was actually my FIRST time doing a DE so I was learning/adjusting as much as possible during that weekend. But you're right in that 4 a very late apex but being my first time there, I kept jumping the gun too early - slowing down definitely helps.

On the esses, also totally on point. I was shocked by how I could easily feel the shift in weight so easily. Anticipating the first turn while seeing through the other turns helped tremendously.
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      02-20-2012, 01:33 PM   #18
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I can't wait to re-read this thread after I actually get on track. Videos and track maps only help me after I've been on track. Of course Ive watched numerous track videos on Vimeo/YouTube but just for enjoyment...right now in my mind I'm running 2:04's and climbing the esses at speeds in excess of 120mph!
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      02-20-2012, 01:47 PM   #19
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I can't wait to re-read this thread after I actually get on track. Videos and track maps only help me after I've been on track. Of course Ive watched numerous track videos on Vimeo/YouTube but just for enjoyment...right now in my mind I'm running 2:04's and climbing the esses at speeds in excess of 120mph!
I would be scared SH*TLESS doing 120 up the esses...
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      02-20-2012, 02:03 PM   #20
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I would be scared SH*TLESS doing 120 up the esses...

I hoped you saw my sarcasm in that last response.

here is my motivation and GTS3 National Champion ripping ....
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      02-20-2012, 03:50 PM   #21
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VIR is a stretch for me in upcoming months but NE and MA guys should plan to do a DE together at Summit.
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      02-20-2012, 05:30 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sabbanick View Post
I can't wait to re-read this thread after I actually get on track. Videos and track maps only help me after I've been on track. Of course Ive watched numerous track videos on Vimeo/YouTube but just for enjoyment...right now in my mind I'm running 2:04's and climbing the esses at speeds in excess of 120mph!
Sabbanick, you gonna make it this weekend? Will be sweet to have a few Z4M's out there running.

Disregard: seen you on the list, looking forward to some good runs.
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