Anyone here running with Chin at Sebring on Jan 23rd? Has anyone run with them before? Pretty well organized?

It's my first HPDE event, and I am pretty psyched. I've got about 8 total autocross events under my belt (7 with the CTS-V) but I can't imagine much of what I have learned on the autocross course will transfer to the road course... or will it?

I read up on some different sites on some of the basics of what you should know before going to a HPDE, but I would also appreciate some tips and tricks from you racing gurus.

Luckily, I was paired up with an instructor who also drives a CTS-V, so I should be getting some great input, not only on my driving technique, but how I can set up the car better.

Also, one thing I made sure I did was since this was my first track outing, I definitely opted for the HPDE insurance through Lockton Affinity. For me, it is a $130 peace of mind for when I am out on the track, and was actually an extremely easy and smooth process of purchasing it. Took a total of 5 minutes on their website.

 

I'll be there instructing/driving saturday and doing private coaching with a GT2 on sunday. Have one person interested in renting my car out for sunday which would be awesome. hope that comes together.

 

Chin is great for first time instruction, you'll get a lot out of it.

And your autocross skills will actually serve you quite well on the track. You'll have a better idea where the limits of the car are than the average joe who just shows up with nothing but street driving experience. It's a pretty well known truth that track drivers who started out as autocrossers almost always make faster track drivers, and track drivers (without prior autox experience) make crappy autocrossers.

Sebring is hard on brakes. You've got a really heavy and really fast car, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to put a set of track pads on it. (not "performance street pads", but actual track pads) Whether you do the pads or not, definitely flush the brake system with good high-temp fluid.

Having some familiarity with the track will help, search for videos of clean well-driven laps and watch them while studying the map. Other than that, just listen to your instructor.

Biggest difference from autocross aside from the higher speed and danger level is that in autocross you focus about 95% on the course. At the track, you have to focus on the course, but you also have to be watching ahead and behind for traffic, and spotting each corner worker station as you approach it looking for their signals. If you can master that and drive a decent line, your instructor will love you!

 

well said

only other big difference is that while a road course is faster... it is slower. A big focus should be on keeping the hands as slow and smooth as possible. There are no quick direction changes like in an autoX.

 

great advice as always Loren. I got rid of the stock GM fluid and flushed the system with ATE Super Blue about 3 months ago... should I go back in and at least bleed the system again before the event? Also, does the ATE hold up as good as the others like Motul RBF?

I am also very stuck on what pads to go with... Hawk makes the DTC track pads for the V, and I think Raysbestos, Porterfield and Pagid also make pads for the V. I think i'll just browse the cadillac forums and see who is running what on road courses and how they like it. Good thing though is pad swaps are easy with the brembos.

Yes, I have been watching a ton of Sebring laps, and this may sound kind of funny, but when I was home over the holidays with my family, my brother has an X-Box and I played Forza 3 for like hours and hours each day racing the Sebring full-course with a CTS-V, and I think it actually helped a lot with the track layout and braking zones. I've printed out the map that Chin has for the passing zones so I know where to pass and where I can point-by others, and have also printed out a bigger map and trying to get a feel for the lines, braking zones, and am marking out where the track worker stations are as well (from what I can see in the videos).

 

that might be a lot easier for me driving a 3900lb car, it doesnt like quick direction changes much, lol.

 

Don't get too worked up on exact braking zones and such from a video game. They may or may not translate to reality. Just be familiar with where the turns are and listen to your instructor. He'll tell you what to look for and where to brake, turn in and track out.

3 month old ATE is probably okay, just give it a bleed. I've had good luck with EBC Yellow pads for mixed duty. They're good for the track (especially with big brakes) and not TOO aggressive for the street. But, any track-rated pad would work. You just want something that's not going to have a melt-down when it gets hot... and they will get hot.

The difference between ATE and something like Motul is the boiling point. Check the specs. ATE is a really good "bang for the buck" fluid. It's got a pretty high boiling point and a good price point. To get higher you generally have to spend considerably more money.

 

I have a recent video from a Chin event I instructed at. It's just me taking my student for a demo ride. I'll put some narration bubbles on the video and post a link here. It's not the fastest lap, but it's pretty text book for line.

I really like Chin events and plan to do the one in March.

Are you going for both days? I wouldn't worry about bleeding if the fluid is just 3 months old. I wouldn't get Hawk DTC pads...they have a really high initial bite. I've been running Hawk HT-10 for years with ATE fluid and never an overheating issue. My car's not as powerful as the CTS-V but I generally run an r-comp tire. Another good intermediate track pad is Porterfield R4...not R4S.

Just seeing Loren's post...I hear a lot of guys running EBC but just not in my circles of BMW guys....mostly Hawk and Performance Friction.

 

Nope, I'm just going for Sunday only. and please, post up the video!

also, is their paddock area covered, or do I need to bring a pop-up tent?

 

I think EBC yellows would be borderline depending on how quickly you pick up the speed. They should be fine if you only want to use one set of pads for track and street, but if you plan to have a separate set then I would get something a little heavier duty. If you really want an endurance pad then I would look at the pagid yellows. Like already said, the hawks have a really high bite and like to tear up rotors.

as for the video games they give you a good idea of where the turns go, but like loren said, they dont teach braking zones. you will pretty much "feel" it when you are out there.


they do have covered pit stalls, but more registrants than pits. If you are going for sunday only then you will want to get there around 4:30-5 on saturday to look and see who is leaving.