[Eric]

Dylan Savage digitized some of my in-car footage I had on video at http://cad.mdsog.net/ewt/EWT-Thunderhill.mpg It's a huge file, so you're out of luck if you have a modem unless you have about a week for the download. The first 18.5 minutes is from Thunderhill Raceway (the best track in CA IMO) and the remainder (the footage without the wide angle lens) is from Buttonwillow Raceway. The RX7 that gets passed at about the 23:00 mark is the SCC Project RX7 The noise you hear frequently on the Buttonwillow footage when I'm cornering is the sound of the front tire rubbing the front fender when the car was lowered about 1" with softer springs than I'm running now

I'm not going flat out the entire time. I tend to drive at about 85% at track events until I get motivated by something to go fast, so I'm going faster in some parts of the tape than in others. Also, passing zones are limited in some of the footage, so that's why I'll sometimes catch a car, then hang back for awhile before passing. People tend to forget how to drive and do stupid things when another car is right on their bumper, so there isn't any point being there until you can pass. When people like the guy in the red 300Z get stubborn about point-bys, then I'll usually spend a little more time on their rear bumper to get the point across.

Eric

 

[fleadh]

Damn Eric, can tell by watching that vid you have alot of laps at thill... would be fun to run the same day you are. Any idea when you are heading out there again?

-mike

 

[Eric]

Damn Eric, can tell by watching that vid you have alot of laps at thill... would be fun to run the same day you are. Any idea when you are heading out there again?

-mike

Mike,

I'm not sure at this point. I'm waiting for the rain to let up and for a group that I do most of my events with to figure out their 2002 schedule. I'm not going to do as many events this year and will probably do most of my events with them since they limit entries to a small number of experienced drivers, and you get a lot of unobstructed laps as you can see on the video. I'd like to get a group of mkivs together and go to the track though. Donutz Racing www.donutzracing.com is having an event at Thunderhill on 3/22. Their events are a little pricey, but they also limit entries to a reasonable number, and you get loads of track time. Rain should be less likely by then too. Anybody interested?

Also, I watched the digitized version of the video, and the sound gets out of synch with the video at some point and lags behind it. The sound of me shifting happens after I've got my right hand back on the steering wheel and it sounds like I'm not back on the gas until about the track out point. Just in case anybody was wondering if I had paddle shifters.....

Eric

 

[R5-Turbo]

Eric, hopefully my supra will be ready by march ,and if so, i'd love to get back on the track again. I've been running NASA events for a couple of years, but the traffic on track sometimes gets very anoying with some of their HPDE events.

I've only had the supra for a few months, but i'm slowly preparing it for some track work. I just got done bedding in my new Carbotech Panther Plus pads and i must say they feel pretty good. I have to get me a real seat though. The stock leather seats offer almost no support and i would be sliding all over the place at the track. So many things, so little money.....

Anyway, If i can get me car prepped in time , i'll try and make it(oh yeah, i need tires too, decisions-decisions......)

 

[Gaan]

Man...nice vid Eric. I lost count on how many Porsches you passed. Was there anything running your pace?
I'm jealous about the kind of tracks you guys get to run...

rt

 

[Eric]

Eric, hopefully my supra will be ready by march ,and if so, i'd love to get back on the track again. I've been running NASA events for a couple of years, but the traffic on track sometimes gets very anoying with some of their HPDE events.

I used to run a lot of "big club" events with 40 person run groups but don't really enjoy them as much anymore because of the number of cars. Spending 80% of your time sitting on somebody's bumper waiting to pass isn't much fun.

I have to get me a real seat though. The stock leather seats offer almost no support and i would be sliding all over the place at the track. So many things, so little money.....

One trick I discovered is that if you pull the shoulder belt tight while going around a corner and let the retractor take up the slack, you can get the belt to lock and hold you very tightly in the seat. I always do it on a warmup lap when I'm not going very fast. Some other people lock it by yanking on it, then sliding their seat forward into it. I need to start remembering to bring a knee pad for my left leg. I always end up with a bruise just below my knee on the side of my left shin from the corner of the door panel where the power window switchs are.

 

[decooper]

Eric
A delightful bit of track video. Always hoping you would post something like this. What kind of hole was it you were refering to after the run-in w/ the Z?(heh)
Hope to see you at the track in No Cal or So Cal!!!

 

[bwill]

Hey Eric,
Have you tried the "clubman's" strap at Racer Wholesale? It is a simple 2 1/2in strap with a plastic buckle that you run behind the seat and your chest. I used it at Road Atlanta last weekend and IMHO, it worked wonders for keeping me restrained. Hey I didn't get the sore left knee bone thing like I have at other track events. It is only $15. You can focus more on driving feel and less on bracing with the thing.
In viewing your vid which was great by the way (quiet hands makes fast lap times) I concluded you weren't strapped in by the way you came into view of the camera. I have only seen your thill footage. I also noticed your camera moved around a good bit at times. I got lucky on a good set up in my car using a tripod. Would be happy to share how I strapped mine down. It didn't shake, rattle, or roll.I will watch more of your vids. Keep them coming.
Barry H.
Barry H.

 

[Andi]

Barry,

Please do tell us how you mounted your camera. Thanks.

edit: BTW... is *this* the strap you're talking about?

Thanks,
Andi

 

[bwill]

Hey Andi,
Yeah, you are correct on the link. That is the belt. A nice cheap solution that allows you to relax better and feel what the car is doing. As to the camera tripod, I played with one for a few days before the event and pretty much lucked up the first time on getting a good solid set up. When I can figure out how to download my video you can see the camera didn't wiggle at all (OK it vibrated with the rest of the car going over the rumble strips). I mounted a tripod as follows:
One leg goes to the floor while the back two legs (at a shorter height of course) go into the back seat. The lucky part was that the middle pole in the tripod comes down right where the female ends of the seat belt system is (the buckle). I ran zip ties through the webbing where the buckles are and then through the tripod expanding struts that connect the tripod legs to the main post via attachement to a sliding ring(the ring or sleeve that slides up and down when you open and close the tripod). Make sense? Turns out that made for a nice tight mount directly at the tripod base. Then did two zip tie "loops" up near where the camera mounts. I used those loops to hook up three bungee cords. One going straight back from the tripod to the little back seat release "knob" (like an old door lock looking thing in the middle of the back seat). The seats in the car have in the back a nice thick steel bar that runs about where it hinges forward. I ran a bungee from the zip tie loop to the bar on the driver and passenger side. Drove the hell out of the car on a twisty road and it worked. I had just a touch of wiggle with the camera but that was due to the actual mount on the tripod so I put a cloth across the top the camera and duct taped that sucker down even harder to the tripod. My other thing was in looking at a lot of videos the wind noise is horrible. Can't hear a thing. I just cut up a polar fleece sock, put a double section of that over the mike with some good ole duct tape and it worked great. In my vid you can hear the conversations, the wind noise is to a minimum (in spite of both windows down at 125mph) and you can hear the motor. I can take a pic of it if someone wants to see the tripod set up. For that matter I did a different brake duct system than the one on MKIV that worked great with utilizes a 4in duct down to a 2 1/2 duct (the duct swivels!) and runs very sweetly to the front rotors. Worked great. Pedal never went soft. Did finally boil my brake fluid AFTER I pulled into the paddock (will take two cool down laps with no braking next time).
Barry H.

 

[bwill]

Yeah Andi,
Hope you get a vidcamera mount or do the tripod thing. Can't see the wheel while you are driving (right hand) to see your turn ins and track out.
Barry H.

 

[Eric]

Hey Eric,
Have you tried the "clubman's" strap at Racer Wholesale? It is a simple 2 1/2in strap with a plastic buckle that you run behind the seat and your chest. I used it at Road Atlanta last weekend and IMHO, it worked wonders for keeping me restrained. Hey I didn't get the sore left knee bone thing like I have at other track events. It is only $15. You can focus more on driving feel and less on bracing with the thing.

I've got one, but I don't use it very often. I haven't really found it to be that helpful for me on track. I did like using it in my Talon when I autocrossed a lot though. Most if not all of that video was taken before I discovered the trick with locking the seat belt on tightly, which does a pretty good job of holding me in place.

In viewing your vid which was great by the way (quiet hands makes fast lap times) I concluded you weren't strapped in by the way you came into view of the camera. I have only seen your thill footage. I also noticed your camera moved around a good bit at times. I got lucky on a good set up in my car using a tripod. Would be happy to share how I strapped mine down. It didn't shake, rattle, or roll.I will watch more of your vids. Keep them coming.
Barry H.
Barry H.

My video mount is definitely on the bouncy side. I setup a tripod with the two front legs on the floor, and one on the rear seat and secure it with two tie-down straps. I actually don't mind the bounciness though because it helps give a sensation of speed. In-car videos never seem as fast as the real thing. Having a wide angle lens and mike setup that captures engine sound seems to help too. I haven't found a good location for an external mike yet. A friend of mine with a Cobra gets some really nice in-car video with a very wide angle lens and good engine sound pickup: http://teamvenomracing.com/pages/video.htm (It also helps that he's really fast)

 

[Andi]

Yeah Andi,
Hope you get a vidcamera mount or do the tripod thing. Can't see the wheel while you are driving (right hand) to see your turn ins and track out.
Barry H.

Barry,

Thanks for the info. Just ordered the harness. Please post some pics....

Andi "gotta buy a camcorder" B.

 

[Lee Darzycki]

Hey Eric,

Long time no see. Stubborn red 300ZX huh?...

In case you haven't heard, we've got another play day. Check out the web page when you get a chance. Would love to have you join us again. I'll unfortunately be out of town on business, so I'll miss it.

Cheers,

 

[Eric]

Hey Lee,

Unfortunately, I probably can't make the Z club event this year. I'm on call for jury duty that week, so unless I get lucky and don't have to go in, and there are some last minute openings at the event, I won't be there. Is Thunderhill making you run the chicane in front of 1 again?

Eric

 

[Lee Darzycki]

No chicane at Turn 1.

hmmm... have you been talking to some of the other Z guys? That's the second time I've heard that excuse now... Your just scared to get your butt wooped by Darryl's new monster Z. j/k

Maybe next time.

Z ya at the track,
Lee Darzycki
Red '93 300ZX TwinTurbo

 

[Eric]

No chicane at Turn 1.

hmmm... have you been talking to some of the other Z guys? That's the second time I've heard that excuse now... Your just scared to get your butt wooped by Darryl's new monster Z. j/k

Maybe next time.

Z ya at the track,
Lee Darzycki
Red '93 300ZX TwinTurbo

Lee,

Is Darryl the guy with the CCW wheels like mine?

Eric

 

[Lee Darzycki]

No. I don't believe you've seen Darryl's Z because it was in the shop still for it's ~1yr transformation.

Darryl was driving this when his Z was at the track.

Lee

 

[Eric]

No. I don't believe you've seen Darryl's Z because it was in the shop still for it's ~1yr transformation.

Darryl was driving this when his Z was at the track.

Lee

He modified the wrong car!

 

[Lee Darzycki]

Ya, your right...

He should have done a 240Z.



ha, ha..
Lee
Red '93 300ZX TwinTurbo