My Very First Time Trial - Laguna Seca
While this was the story about my very first time trial, I haven't had
chance to build the website around a few photos from the event, so the
memory has faded quite a bit as of today... Mar 15 2002
I remember it was when my Alfa buddy Nizam
who convinced me to go Time Trialing with him. So I finally put down
the cash for the 5 point harness required for the event, and have it
installed myself with some help from Nizam.
Here's a more 3D interpretation of the legendary Laguna Seca Race Track
it turned out that Nizam didn't show up, and I was there alone knowing
nobody and trying to figure out what I should do there... Great.. I thought.
Car's setup:
The Car itself is pretty much Stock except for the following:
- Shankle Sport suspention, a little too low to my liking.
- Spax 14 ways adjustable shox. Front medium, Rear softer
- Probably had the K&N in stock air filter element position.
- Compomotive SL 15x7 wheels (these are a little heavy, but strong)
- Falken GR-Beta 205/50/15
- El Cheapo Brake Pads
Laguna Seca is a very technical track, and because the track is among
the hills, most turns are hidden until you are there. Knowing the
track well is essential for a good lap time.
One Lap Laguna Seca
Coming out turn 11 onto main straight with slight uphill elevation,
however, after passing the finish line, hill turns downward into turn
1 a mild left hander. While no big deal, it was a little scary as the
car haven't settled down after the transition from uphill to downhill.
At the end of down hill from turn 1, braking hard into a double apex
turn 2 which is really weired turn. I remember I was either turning in
too early too tight or turning in too late and too mild, but the
result was about the same, i ran out of the track either coming out of
the turn or entering the turn.
Turning hard at turn 3
I never figured out how to take the right hander turn 3, but turn 4
was pretty interesting as it is less than 90 degree, but a wall blocks
the view so it was a hard one to fight over the fear to enter the
corner at faster speed and carry that speed thru the corner.
Trun 5 to me was one of the least favorite turn... all I could say is
it's a sharp turn ( > 90 degree) going up the hill. If I don't carry
enough speed, I won't go up the hill fast enough, but if I get too fast,
the wall isn't far from the edge of the track...
Turn 6 was a lot more interesting, with the falken tires, i still had to
brake and slowdown a bit, but then once the car turns, i could full throattle
thru the turn heading again uphill.
Heading turn 4 passing under the Firestone Bridge.
Notice the big white cross on rear windshield?!
That saz the driver is a beginner!
While going up the hill almost blindly, one must negotiate turn 7 and settle
for a good position to the famous corkscrew turn 8.
I think this is THE turn that made this track so unique and famous.
This is a turn where you cannot see it coming before reaching it, and
if you see it coming, you might be heading into the tirewall if you
haven't reduced speed yet, and when you are at it, you make a left
turn into the air overlooking the tree tops because there's like 20 ft
drop and a hard right turn after the drop. The curb there was also
particularly high so if landed wrong, suspention damage is unavoidable.
The turn 9 looked simple but it is not, as the camber changes several
times thru out the turn at various locations, while negotiating a downhill
turn. It takes a lot courage to fully planted right foot on the gas pedal
as most other drivers do. I know I couldn't do that at the time.
Getting away from the muscle car!!! ... (or was it the other way around?
sheeeeeh!!!!!!.
After turn 10 and comes into turn 11 which is a really sharp left hander
onto the main straight. The hard part was to brake right and make turn at
right moment. I was fighting with spongy and faded brake that I kept running
out of the track on to the grass and only a few feet from the cement wall even
when I started braking half way between turn 10 and 11!!! That was how bad my brake had faded at the time. Next time better come with better pads and bleed the brake fluid before coming to the track!
Finish Line...
End of Time Trial Session
All I remember it now is that it was the first time AROSC tried the
electronic transponder to get the best most accurate result. However,
due to unfamiliarity of the tool, we waited and waited and waited till
sunset to get the result. Awards were given to the first 3 places of
the class, and everyone else congrated the winners.
My best time of 2:10 was probably mediocre compared to others in the
class, or for at least 5 seconds behind other milano drivers. But more
than the lap time result, what's more important is that I made it! my
very first time trial, all by myself! and the experience was all mine!
the experience was all mine!!
I think I am ready for the next Time Trial...
Jess Liao
Jess Liao - Mar 18, 2002
Last touch up: Mar 18, 2002