SouthFL

I'll be lapping at Sebring this Sunday.
I've lapped there before (a few years ago on a modified course) but have never run the full course. The northern portion will be completely new to me.
Any of you guys have any pointers? I've been watching plenty of vids but first hand pointers would be welcome.

TIA.

SouthFL

Well, the track day was a success. The northern portion of the course was very intuitive. Turn 17 however needed to be taught to me, once it was learned I had a great time lapping out there. Again, the 8 was very balanced in its stock form. The stock 8090's took everything in stride at 34psi. No fade from the HP plus pads. The stock suspension swallowed the infamous bumps with no ill reaction.

Only problem was that I didn't represent 1979 very well :

its66

Who did you track with? Chin? PBOC? T17 is different. There are several lines through that work, especially with different cars. You can really tell when you get it wrong though. The bumps can unsettle a car, even with soft stock suspension. I've never had my 8 on the long course, but I've got a lot of time there in my 7 and a bunch of other cars.

I didn't see this in time to reply before you went

SouthFL

Yes, I was there with Chin and it was the first time I ran the long course and the first time I went thru 17 in its regular configuration (previously, I had run it in its club form).
I found that entering the initial brake zone in to 17, I would brake/ shed speed in gear, turn-in while feathering throttle (clipping the first apex), then I would straighten out a bit, drop to 3rd while braking, turn into the second apex and pour on the throttle as I would pinch in to the second apex and be WOT while tracking out to the front straight- pretty much as shown in the top right sebring vid on this website: http://www.rtrmotorsports.com/gallery_videos.asp

You are correct, the first few laps I was getting 17 wrong and I knew it very much so- enough to ask someone to show me their line.
Thanks for the response!

its66

That line is close to mine. (in the RX7) I'm staying on the throttle during the initial turn, then Brake in a straight line toward the black stripe. Turn in, squeeze a little to set the car, then flat to the exit. Watch the bump driver's right near the "2nd" apex. Stay on it flat out to the grass..not too far, there is a wall there.

That said, I don't know that would exactly work with a heavier street car on street tires with HPplus pads. I should try it sometime in the 8 to see how it does, and what the lap times are vs. my ITS car. (2500lbs/hoosiers/serious suspension/HT10 pads)

The RTR video is ok, but remember, it is a race car with sticky tires and over twice the torque of the RX8. All the lifting he does in the middle of the turn will have a more pronounced effect on a car with less torque. I usually try to find a line that will allow me to maximize my full throttle time.

SouthFL

^
Thanks again for the advice.
Good points on throttle modulation on T17. I'll be sure to focus on it more next time I'm up.

SouthFL

Just got this pic in the mail.
T17 in action