### Track time at Watkins

[sspano01]

Hello

I took my cobra to two instructor based courses within the last week.

The first was at Pocono with Bertil-Roos.
We ran one of the bends and the little curley-q-curve-chicane thing through the center and back onto the bend.

The second was at Watkins Glenn. I signed up for two days of novice track time with Phoenix CMR, a friend of my also does it as well with a Nissan.

The Pocono track/setup/etc was quite differnet.

At Bertil-Roos, it was a Drive-Your-Own-Car performance session.
I was in a group with about 5 cars, maybe 11 overall in total.
We got up to speeds at maybe 80-90 on the bend and then working through the turns at maybe 50-60.

I had a mechanical issue with my car at Pocono which was limiting my speed to around 50-60, but I felt I learned alot about the turns and started to feel the cars response/etc. Before my mechanical issue, some of the porsches/mustang would catch up to me in the corners, but i could easily out-pace them on the straight sections between the corners and on the bend.


So....monday and tuesday today I was at Watkins with Phoenix.
Completely different experience!!!

I was almost worried I would not get to run because my instructor basically said he did not want to go out in a cobra. But we talked about it and I said I was not really here for high-speed max test. I wanted to learn about corners/response/etc. He was a nice enough guy, but he wanted to stay under about 80 at all times, even on the straights. I respected his wishes and rarely went about 80, and if I did, i let off the gas to coast it down.

It did get a little old allowing EVERYONE to pass me on the straights, but I was really there for the corners.


So I had a totally different experience at Watkins and am looking for some insight on this.

My issue is that is seemed like everyone was running MUCH faster than me. I worked up to running some of those corners with entry speeds near 70-75-80 depending on the turn.

Granted i was being speed limited to about 80 on the straights so I could not really 'catch' anyone.

It seemed like there was a very large difference between either myself, other people's skill level, or the cobra and the other cars? other cars were newer mustangs, porsche, corvettes, bmw m5 /etc.

Were these people not truely novices?
This was really my first/second time on a track in an 'instructor' event.
It seemed like everyone in the novice group was very fast.
At Bertil, it seemed like I was more well matched to the other cars (also porsche, bmw, etc).

I had 6 runs in at Pocono and then decided to sit out the last two runs.
Pretty much because my instructor had me worried and i figured i should not attempt any more runs now that i was actually nervous about the track. THey changed the track to run the short course (no boot) at watkins - so its "faster". My instructor basically said he did not want to ride in the car with me due to the speeds that other people would be at.

So i figured I had 6 good runs and i should leave it at that.

What are people's thoughts here?
Was i just plan crappy? I really didnt want to crash my car though!
Is there really such a large difference between the cobra and other cars?
Or do you think these folks had alot more 'seat' time ?

or .. other thoughts .. ?

thanks!

[vnvjeff]

https://vimeo.com/44780045 Hello this is my 5th time at mid ohio with ohio cobra club . I get better every time im on track getting more seat time makes a big differance for me . Also riding with instr. showing me the lines brakeing etc . Just have fun and adjust on your car .

[sspano01]

That is good video! Looks like you were running very nicely.

So...what club did you run with?
Do you have an SCCA license? Or how did they let you run without an instructor?

This is one my runs from watkins, again, speeds not reaching over 80 anywhere.

run4 062512 - YouTube

I am respectful of my car and I dont want to do something crazy, I think my instructor was more afraid of it than me.

Maybe it was just a fluke with these guys I ran with, Phoenix CMR?

I really really really do not want to get a miata or some mid 80's bmw-crap-box for track events. I want to run my cobra, or my 66 mustang, or maybe my 67 GTO when it is done. I agree the GTO may not be suited for it
But the cobra should be capable of doing good times at track events, even if I not going balls-out into the turns.

My plan was to go into turns at 'safe speeds' basically 60-70 depending on the turns and then power hard out of the turns and get up to high speeds on the straights. My idea was then that I could overpower other cars that would catch up to me on slower turn speeds. That didn't happen though, i basically stayed about 80 mph.

It got old after 4 or 5 runs of letting every volkswagon, subaru, mustang/etc pass me. I could see them in my mirror when i would get onto the straights. Then i would not exceed 80 and they would slowly keep coming and coming and then pass me. It did take some of the fun out of it I supposed.

I mean...there I was with my 512 inch big block getting passed by 0.2 liter volkwagon :O :O


Could anyone suggest some cobra-friendly clubs to run with?

[vnvjeff]

Hello I started at Mid Ohio school with the ohio cobra club . Then progressed from beginner to intermediate then to advanced . Mid ohio is great track with open track days where you use your car . I have other vids from years ago where i can really see the differance . At vnvjeff55 on you tube . Plus ive done fun days at Nelson ledges in ohio too. Started on auto cross course at mid ohio . Being comforable with your car knowing your skill limits and the cars takes seat time ! did for me anyhow ! Good luck youll be passing alot of cars in time . Jeff Bonnell ffr stock 302 efi 5 speed t5 trans 8.8 rear end 3.73 gears posi trac sway bars front n rear vpm