that doesn't look safe at all for track usage... I sure wouldn't want to even think about crashing with that on :eek: :scared:

Just dont crash. :wiggle:

I agree having the belt across your torso would be bad in an accident. You want the majority of weight to go across your shoulders and your hips.

Like I said, I would use it like a should belt.

What comes to mind is what happens if the seat air bags deploy?

Yeah, i had my only wet track day in March, and it was summer ice (barely wet), and I had to slow down from my usual 90mph to 70 mph on the track.

I only got a little loose on turning and accelerating a few times, but too many to count spun off at about 60 mph.

A lot of instructors have a hard-on for hard braking (because they have high hp monsters that are gonna need it)which I've never done much of on the back twisties.

After about 11 track days, I'm gonna brake more gently, and set up to shoot out of the apex (and enjoy it more-it's only me and the track).

Don't get me wrong, I brake hard. The longer you can stay on the gas and deeper you can take the car before slowing, the faster you go around the track, assuming you don't kill the turn.

I said smooth but hard instead of stomping on the pedal. The difference is that being smooth is less likely to lock up the wheels and activate the abs. Our abs is very good which helps a lot but smooth is and always will be faster.

Think of hitting a large pinching bag vs pushing that same bag. Both will cause the bag to move but when you hit the bag you cause shock and the chains rattle. Pushing it will allow the bag to moce faster and farther.

I had a chance to sit in an R3 at the car show on the weekend. Those bucket seats are way different from my stock Series 1.

I wonder what a used set of those will go for

One pair I followed went for over $800. My bid of $600 was ignored.

A pair for $800 is cheep. Considering they are leather, direct bolt in and include air bags, i would be happy getting a set for under $1200.

It may have been over $800, I was out of the running by then :(

As far as I know, the R3 seat is same as this one "Recaro Sportster CS"

http://www.recaro-automotive.com/us/...rtster-cs.html

And the Recaro Sportster CS, running new for at least $1300 each, 2600 a pair, so if u can get a set for under $1500, that's awesome !~

http://www.shopfesler.com/products/R...n-Leather.html

http://i51.tinypic.com/vq0c4x.jpg

except those don't have the side impact airbags that come in the R3 seats

Late, hard, controlled and compressed braking wins the corner. It's not that the instructors have a "hard-on" for it, late braking is one more tool in the kit that wins races. The longer you can stay at top velocity, the further you can stay at it, the faster your eventual lap time.

As for technique, Dan U., my NASA instructor, has a method that works: "Don't startle the car". ;)

Don't jerk the wheel, don't jump on the brakes, don't stomp the gas. You may see someone doing what appears as abrupt motions, but watch how their car responds to it. My -8 doesn't care for it (soft stock suspension), so I "ramp up" to threshold braking to keep the rear from stepping out. Moderate initial pressure to get the nose down, and quickly increase 'til the tires start bitching. Back end stays planted where I want it, the braking zone compresses, which is the "hard braking" the instructor is ultimately looking for.

Yeah, racers all know to try to brake later to pass at the corner, and smooth is where to get your mindset.

On one high speed track (ECR), I was outrun by a Mini JCW, but would catch him at each corner by braking later than him.

Nothing wrong with catching, just not the passing in corner by braking (racing).

What I meant by HARD-on for braking, this big girl instructor was on my ass the first day for not standing on the brakes; I mean, it was about the second lap, and I was going about 65 mph which is about what I planned to corner at.

So if I stand on the brakes at 65, I've essentily stopped on the track waiting to get hit, and I would hear her talking brakes a year later to guy in chit chat.

By the 4th run, and end of the day, with my newly bedded brakes, I was getting near all the car would give with braking from 91 into that corner, and exiting at about 65, no problem, and really not much braking.

But the other High Horse guys are getting up to about 110 one that corner needing to brake down to 65; apples to oranges.

Agree with "Striker-7", "40w8"
hard braking is nothing wrong, or i better use "late brake"
its a basic tech on track or racing, more 90% of the tracks has late apex corners,
it will be better if u use trail braking, late brake then slowly release the brake, bring the brake and "Weight" to the front, so that your front wheels have more tractions to turn, once u hit the apex, u can hit the gas gently, in this way, you can run in between understeer and oversteer


the front should suffer more, but depends on your driving style, if you like to drift a little, then the rear may suffer more

My Ventus V12's wear evenly with maybe the most on the inside fronts (camber alignment -1.7 front/ -1.6 rear).

At 6k miles, I'm gonna rotate to even out the inside wear to the ones that wore evenly on the rear.

Before alignment with, -.9 camber front, and -2.0 on the rear, the rears wore out twice as fast (SPT's), and I can't pop the clutch (6spd auto).

I get smashed in my car due to leather seat slippage. I have bought a seat lock system to help me get pinned in better, but will probably be trying a bucket style seat at some point soon....

good --not much mentioned point---dont abruptly release the brakes after braking for a corner.
Smooth dont upset the chassis as much as possible.
You can usually take a corner much faster than you think

Digressive braking rules, who drove non-abs cars usually knows this technique fairly well after a couple of picnics on the runways :)

I am rubbish at braking...... 8(

Like OD said, be smooth. You really learn the importance of being smooth by driving in the rain.

I am rubbish at driving in the rain.... 8(

half of being good in the rain is not being scared of it