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Another nice thing was I got to see Dave ( Bullitt 40) it has been a while since seeing him. it was a short visit but great to catch up and hope to see his GT350 on the track sometime soon... Can't wait for next weekend..
The FIRM july 22nd and 29th
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Ed- Did it change your track perspective as a corner worker? No wave, no save! Those are the drivers in tunnel vision.
Why are cars with the front windows closed. How can they give a pass point by or pit signal? BLACK FLAG them!
I am looking forward to running The Firm with Bullittheads next Saturday! BLLTT is resting since running AMP last weekend. Showing my addiction, 2 tracks in a month.
Why are cars with the front windows closed. How can they give a pass point by or pit signal? BLACK FLAG them!
I am looking forward to running The Firm with Bullittheads next Saturday! BLLTT is resting since running AMP last weekend. Showing my addiction, 2 tracks in a month.
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I am looking forward to it as well. it has been a while since I have been on track. also looking forward to seeing difference in brothers car after suspension change. and seeing if mine feels different after small changes..
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Thanks for sharing the pics, Ed. It looks like it was a cool experience to work the event. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again soon. My B is mostly ready. I still need to get my helmet and supplies together. I'm looking forward to breaking in my new driving shoes. I hope the weather holds out for the majority of the day. I'm not sure how I feel about track driving in the rain on an unfamiliar track. Did everyone register yet?
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the rain held off till 3 pm.... yes Rick, Bill, Todd and myself are all set to go...
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I just completed my registration. I'm stoked to know we'll be on track in less than a week. Also, I just registered for the 2-day CMP event in October They extended the early-bird discount until August 1st.
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I am going to try nd get to that
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OK, I am registered for The Firm too. It will be great to gather and run with Bullittheads!
What I have learned from running multiple tracks is researching the track. Print out a copy of the track map. Downsize and tape it to your steering wheel hub. Visualize the turns and learn their numbers. Look at the Google satellite view. See where the dark lane lines are. They are a hint to the safe track line. It looks like turn 8 is the only sweeper, with early apex, track out, turn in and then a late apex. Otherwise, Mustangs perform best with late turn in, late apex and wide track out with the other turns.
You Tube is good but only view similar cars. Mustangs! Rear drive solid axle. Not first timers. I found a great video of a Mustang line-"The Firm Track", "Track Attack at the Firm 11-19-16" by Matt M. He uses all of the track, curb to curb, with late turn in's, late apexes and nice track outs. Smooth is fast. Watch this video every night before bedtime.
If you watch the Spectro Racing videos, those guys are time trialing amongst each other. Beware of their lines and technique. They are using horsepower on the straights and not smoothness on the curves. Minimal use of turn in, apex and track outs.
When we are learning a track, we progress, letting our butt meter control our feet and hands. Once the track is learned, the envelope limits are pushed. In rain, keep off the brakes, and be even more gentle on the throttle!
We are not racing, just gentleman enjoying our BULLITTS at speed. Smooth is fast!
PS- DO NOT watch the line of the car in front of you.
What I have learned from running multiple tracks is researching the track. Print out a copy of the track map. Downsize and tape it to your steering wheel hub. Visualize the turns and learn their numbers. Look at the Google satellite view. See where the dark lane lines are. They are a hint to the safe track line. It looks like turn 8 is the only sweeper, with early apex, track out, turn in and then a late apex. Otherwise, Mustangs perform best with late turn in, late apex and wide track out with the other turns.
You Tube is good but only view similar cars. Mustangs! Rear drive solid axle. Not first timers. I found a great video of a Mustang line-"The Firm Track", "Track Attack at the Firm 11-19-16" by Matt M. He uses all of the track, curb to curb, with late turn in's, late apexes and nice track outs. Smooth is fast. Watch this video every night before bedtime.
If you watch the Spectro Racing videos, those guys are time trialing amongst each other. Beware of their lines and technique. They are using horsepower on the straights and not smoothness on the curves. Minimal use of turn in, apex and track outs.
When we are learning a track, we progress, letting our butt meter control our feet and hands. Once the track is learned, the envelope limits are pushed. In rain, keep off the brakes, and be even more gentle on the throttle!
We are not racing, just gentleman enjoying our BULLITTS at speed. Smooth is fast!
PS- DO NOT watch the line of the car in front of you.
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I watched the video he does have a nice run.. I also watched Scotts running at the firm that played afterward. he had to run thru the shoebox during the single laps and then when the afternoon open sessions started the shoebox was closed. Saturday they had the shoebox in to keep the speed down on the straight coming in because of the amount of people for the open house. and the free track and amount of people new to it driving. the track attacks we have been to the shoebox has been closed. so I am guessing it will be no shoebox for our track day.... I am printing out the map now.. A mustang lost his brakes and on turn 8 went straight thru and across turn 6 where I was... bring your GoPros if you have them or on you phones you can use track ATK and it will video with lap times... it going to be an adventure.....
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Great find on the videos. Thanks for sharing. It looks like Matt M. mastered the lines for his Mustang. Very smooth inputs and nice tracking out for sure. I especially liked how he double apexed Turn 8. I would have assumed to take that corner as a single late apex (I still might single apex this corner at first as it may provide additional distance from the wall).
Does Rick have 3.27s in Pandora, Ed? I've been trying to figure out which gears I should select. With the exception of Turn 7 (2nd gear from my guess), I'm assuming it's mostly a 3rd gear track. Perhaps an upshift to 4th on the straight after Turn 8. But that won't likely occur until I master exiting Turn 8 and carry enough speed. I remember you saying that Rick bounced off the rev limiter a few times. I'd be interested to know in which turns and in what gear.
I've been a good student and have been studying the track, Bill! Every night I've been watching videos and counting the corner # in my head. I already feel a bit better oriented without ever being there before. Great reminder about our purpose. I'd rather come home with my car in one piece than have passed a faster car only to crash or have an agricultural experience. I don't want to be the guy at Sebring that passed you and the Boss 302 on the front stretch only to crash into Turn 1. Hopefully we have a good crowd to share the track with.
Does Rick have 3.27s in Pandora, Ed? I've been trying to figure out which gears I should select. With the exception of Turn 7 (2nd gear from my guess), I'm assuming it's mostly a 3rd gear track. Perhaps an upshift to 4th on the straight after Turn 8. But that won't likely occur until I master exiting Turn 8 and carry enough speed. I remember you saying that Rick bounced off the rev limiter a few times. I'd be interested to know in which turns and in what gear.
I've been a good student and have been studying the track, Bill! Every night I've been watching videos and counting the corner # in my head. I already feel a bit better oriented without ever being there before. Great reminder about our purpose. I'd rather come home with my car in one piece than have passed a faster car only to crash or have an agricultural experience. I don't want to be the guy at Sebring that passed you and the Boss 302 on the front stretch only to crash into Turn 1. Hopefully we have a good crowd to share the track with.
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A racing lady expressed to me, "You race when you are ready to drive your car off a cliff". I love my BLLTT too much to do this. I am HPDE!
HPDE is a High Performance Driving Event. We are as gentlemen driving a road course. The turns are the fun! Learning ourselves and car on the turns. Smooth is fast thru the turns. That is where the skill is. Anyone can just accelerate on a straight, it is the turns and control.
I happily throw a point-by to a Miata!!!
I have learned that there is differences between HPDE, Time Trialing and Racing. The cars to watch out for during HPDE are ones trying to Time Trial. They want each lap to be faster than the last by less than seconds. They will take gambles on turns and pass with out a point by. Beware and report them to the track steward. I do.
Racers actually run slower than Time Trialers, as Racers want to be the first across the finish line. Racers actually are looking to block a pass, cutting off the fast line. Racers do not want to off track, cause they lose then.
OK, where does this lead? We have fun on the track! Leave the ego in the pits. Drive as fast as the buttmeter lets you. Learn your BULLITT! Your car has more capability than the driver. Focus on the track and learn from each turn.
It is one input at a time-brakes, throttle or steering wheel. Smooth application and smooth release of each.
In HPDE, our trophy is getting to drive our car home with an afterglow!
PS- Brian- It looks liked turn 8 can be also be driven as decreasing radius sweeper with late apex, but beware the late turn in with crud on the initial outside. I look at it as a sweeper with early and late apex, just like turn 1-2 at RRR. Do not fear the wall.
Also, looks like turns 1-10 are a sweeper.
It is going to be a great day with BULLITTS!
HPDE is a High Performance Driving Event. We are as gentlemen driving a road course. The turns are the fun! Learning ourselves and car on the turns. Smooth is fast thru the turns. That is where the skill is. Anyone can just accelerate on a straight, it is the turns and control.
I happily throw a point-by to a Miata!!!
I have learned that there is differences between HPDE, Time Trialing and Racing. The cars to watch out for during HPDE are ones trying to Time Trial. They want each lap to be faster than the last by less than seconds. They will take gambles on turns and pass with out a point by. Beware and report them to the track steward. I do.
Racers actually run slower than Time Trialers, as Racers want to be the first across the finish line. Racers actually are looking to block a pass, cutting off the fast line. Racers do not want to off track, cause they lose then.
OK, where does this lead? We have fun on the track! Leave the ego in the pits. Drive as fast as the buttmeter lets you. Learn your BULLITT! Your car has more capability than the driver. Focus on the track and learn from each turn.
It is one input at a time-brakes, throttle or steering wheel. Smooth application and smooth release of each.
In HPDE, our trophy is getting to drive our car home with an afterglow!
PS- Brian- It looks liked turn 8 can be also be driven as decreasing radius sweeper with late apex, but beware the late turn in with crud on the initial outside. I look at it as a sweeper with early and late apex, just like turn 1-2 at RRR. Do not fear the wall.
Also, looks like turns 1-10 are a sweeper.
It is going to be a great day with BULLITTS!
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Rick Still has the stock gears in his car.. I have the 373's in my B
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I'm well aware of the I-95 bottleneck in the Carolina's- just have to put her on cruise control and drive " with the mirrors".
I dread having to go through Washington DC.
Hopefully, I'll avoid bad weather ...and potholes.
I dread having to go through Washington DC.
Hopefully, I'll avoid bad weather ...and potholes.
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after a fun day at the track including a little Rain. here is a picture or Bill's, Brian's and my Bullitt at the FIRM...
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Guinness Book of World Records has certified that on 07-29-17, the largest group of Bullittheads (4 + Todd) congregated at THE FIRM for a day of road course track and Hoondawgism. And what a DAY it became!
Road course track driving, FL sweating, damn good BBQ and portalets (Cooler 30 days, Captain Virgil Hilts).
And a great day for a rain 360 agricultural experience! (Todd-"Bill, I thought you saved it").
And we all won our trophies, getting to drive our Mustangs home!
Damn good day!
Road course track driving, FL sweating, damn good BBQ and portalets (Cooler 30 days, Captain Virgil Hilts).
And a great day for a rain 360 agricultural experience! (Todd-"Bill, I thought you saved it").
And we all won our trophies, getting to drive our Mustangs home!
Damn good day!
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the only thing you forgot was the wind blowing over the tent and putting a hole in the side of Pandora's trailer... after blowing over earlier in the day and scratching the trailer.... needed heavier weight... and the tent was left there in the trash barrel. Bill I turn my John Deere name over to you...
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sorry I missed the track day, but sounds like fun. spending my 39th anniversary in the Ga. Mountains. How many cars where there Sat?
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Sorry I could not be there but it sounds like a memorable time .
Thanks for the photos.
Hope to see you guys after the trip...and when it gets a little cooler.
Thanks for the photos.
Hope to see you guys after the trip...and when it gets a little cooler.
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