The night before Time Trial, we stopped on the way there to
enjoy the beautiful sunset of the decert land. (really was to wait for ABS system to cool down)
Wow... this is really some misc notes and random thoughts attempting to recap the weekend time trialing at Willow Spring the big track.
This is my 2nd time trial, and first time driving on Willow Spring road course (the big track). They said it is the oldest race track of the west, and the fastest road course of america. I don't know about the validity of the later, but this sure is a VERY FAST track, totally opposite to Laguna Seca. (Go to my first Time Trial at Laguna Seca).[skipping all that drivers meeting, grouping, classification, blah blah blah]
Being a Time Trial novice, with a less powerful car than some of the really fast guys, I was assigned to group III. And for the novices, we had a driver classroom meeting during the group II track time. Steve of the dunestang and Paul were the 2 instructors giving us rules of Time Trial driving, flag signs, how to apex, lines around the track, till announcement was made for group III to grid. Still new to the 5pt harness, I struggled to prepare myself ready with helmet, eye glasses, gloves, and finally all the 5 belts in place, and proceeded to the pit area to start the day with a lead-and-follow session following instructor's car.
What I didn't know was that the group had gone already by the time I arrived, so the checkerflag man simply sent me off on to the track. I looked a little and decided to catch up with the group. Eventually I caught up with the group, but the last few cars were running in random so there's no line to speak of. Feeling kind of left off, I went out to the pit area hoping to catch an instructor. No luck, no one was around so the flag man sent me out again to the track.
Cruising around, I tried my best to draw my own line, but it was not working out at all. Turning into turn 5, I felt as if something snapped, and the rear of the car twiched a bit. After that the rear end seem to be a little less stable. I thought the d*mn sway bar link might have twisted off again (as it happend before at Laguna Seca), but later I found out my left rear shock was gone. Finally, I caught up with other milanos (the Zambri brothers) so I figured since our cars are quite similar, I should be able to follow them. Passing turn 1... turn 2... turning to turn 3.. out of turn 3, suddenly the rear snaped off to right. I really wasn't expect that to happen and reacted a little late and over corrected. I realized that I wasn't in control, so I did what instructor had told us to do: both feet down. Yes I spun out in the middle of the track, facing almost toward the traffic.
Although no harm was done, my day seemed rather grey from that point. It is a well known fact that many experienced group III drivers HATE us novice drivers. I've heard them complaining that novices don't move away for passing, hold lines, etc etc etc. Althought I always watch my mirrors and always wave pass when I see a car coming up, I am sure some of them will now add comments such that novices are stupid and don't know how to drive or drive unsafely, after seeing what I've done.
This incident plus the ABS warning appeared on the way to hotel the night before (rear brake pads too tight), I assure you I was thinking about pulling out while I put the car's rear on jack and adjusted the rear brake a little. (here is the proof).
It's group II run again, and I spotted Terry moving into grid near by. I ran over and asked if he could give me ride as I've had not a chance to follow an instructor or to ride with an instructor. It was my mistake, and I am really sorry for doing that to Terry as it was his practice session. I mistakenly assumed the run group was the Intro group that was scheduled to run around lunch time, with which Terry would be the leading instructor car. I thought if I could get a ride with him laping the track with proper line, I could learn a lot. I realized my mistake as the rest of the group blasted off and on to the track. Terry, I am really sorry!
I met Terry Manchester for the first time many many years ago on my first driver school with AROSC at the street of Willow Springs, and that was my first contact with AROSC. I only had some conversation with him. Althought I don't rememer much about the people I met there, Terry was someone I remembered.
So on and behold, I was in Terry's GTV. As Terry accelerated on to the track, I was already giving my 120% concentration on everything he did on the track, like how he shifts, which gear, braking point, but most importantly the proper racing line.
Terry always uses ALL the track. I was told from many experienced drivers that "you paid for it, you might as well use it". He consistantly let the car come all the way to the edge of the track, which was scary to me at first as you often cannot see the edge of the track due to the surface banking.
Entering turn 8 at a scary fast speed, I glanced briefly at Terry but did not see him with any intention to slow down. I was going "Holy Sh*T!" in my mind as the car started to drift thru the long bending curve. As the turn straighten up slightly, I saw a sharp right turn follows. Before my mind even cursed again, Terry squeezed brake just enough to make me appreciate the 5pt harness, downshift, and full throttle and 4 wheel drift toward turn 9, pedal still meets metal, apex, and continue its drifting course all the way till the edge of the track on to the straight way. 5th gear. Still pedal to metal. We passed finish line at near top speed.
I gathered myself together, looked around to relax my eye muscles, then I took a peek at Terry again. He was calm as standing water. I figured I was in good hand, and felt calm.
Not for too long, however. Terry flew thru the 90 degree lefthander at the end of straight way heading onto a sharp and long right hairpin. I came to realize that the first lap was marely warm up lap, the real driving just got started. I saw how Terry drove an almost identical lap except with a MUCH quicker pace. No longer feel scared but great admiration and respect for the driver and his car.
Coming back to pits area and off Terry's super fast GTV, I felt like a brand new person.
I spent the next session mostly slowly trying to recapture the memory and tried to feel how it is supposed to be done, while still watch my mirrors and wave people by. And when I got a little tired of waiving people by, I found myself small gap of space and gradually increase the speed.
Whow! What a difference! I felt sooo much more comfortable, going much faster than I used to! I took more time to search for flag mans alone the track, and waved at them whenever I could. I started to notice a pair of white porsche 911s started to show up in the rear view mirror so I started to prepare to move a side at next straight way. Soon after, a flying dark blue milano was approaching FAST so I moved away to wave him by. Yes, it was driven by Zamani of the younger Zambri brothers. I must had smile on my face without knowning, but I was feeling really good because I knew I made significant improvements.
End of the session, and back to the pit, Zamani mentioned to me that he usually catch up to me within about half a lap after he spotted me on the track, but this time it took him over 3 laps to have finally caught up on me. I was sooo happy knowning the improvement wasn't only in my mind, but was real.
Terry if you even know how MUCH I thank you for that ride you gave me!!!
If Zamani in a similarly equipped Milano could catch up on me, it showed there's still a LOT room for me to improve, and I knew several problem area that I need to work on more. Althought I tried hard to recap all the memory from the ride with Terry, some part of memory simply return blank to me. I was particularly uncomfortable at turn 1, 3-4-5-6.
The Zambri brothers were being very helpful especially we had the 3 only milanos on the track that day, and all 3 are very much similarly equipped. This to me translates to
We spent quite some time discussing techniques of driving a particular turn. Many times they have mentioned to take certain corner at full throttle, or that braking wasn't necessary with perhaps no more than a gentle lift of throttle. I thought they were nuts when they said so, but they wouldn't be making this up. Some how, I believed what they said (after all they are much better driver than me! ) and slowly incorporating their suggestions into my driving. Surprisely, I often surprise myself with "Holy Cow! It Works!" As you can see, this really shows how much better then me as drivers they are, their ability of being able to recognize "can do" (the limit) is way beyond that of mine.
At the end of the day, we were all pretty much exhausted. We sat there looking tired, and wondered how we got so tired, after only about 3 of 30 minutes sessions of driving. We come to realize how much work is there for race drivers, especially the Le Mans.
Day Two, we arrived at the track early to clean up the car. I was really lucky to have chance to absorb experience from yet another great driver - Mike Kinney, who drove another fast GTV that day. I felt even more confident after gathered even more knowlege, paying extra attention for my problem turns.
Thru the practice sessions, I gradually incorporated new skills acquired in the morning, as well as from the discussions with the Zambri brothers. And by the end of timed laps, although there's still a lot room for improvement, I was able to achieve lap time just 1,2 seconds next to the Zambri brother's bests.
That to me was a great improvement, all thanks to Terry, Mike, Nizam, Zamani, and all the great people of AROSC who made it a great weekend.
Jess Liao, 2 weeks after the event.
ps. Paul, Mike, it was great fun seeing both of you. We were closely matched on the track! You guys were faster at certain part of track while I made up some at other part of track. I was running on street 205/50/15 Falken GR-beta, which should be similar to your D40M2 and P700(0)? Anyway, hope to see you guys there at next event.
Jess Liao - June 14, 1999
Last modified: June 14, 1999