Here you go, Ben... And I missed the shift to 3rd (went to 5th). Not like I'd be able to keep up with you anyway. But I'm working on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwgK6HxJRNI

 

Thanks for the video and picture. I see a new screen saver at work! My son, Ian, and I will see you guys next month! Hopefully, a little cooler.

 

O.K. don't take any of this personally, but I'm going to put on my coach hat and scold you big time...

WTF are you bothering with a 6 point harness if you don't wear it properly! At the 57 second mark in your first video, you lean forward in the seat. And I mean _very_ forward. You can get yourself killed this way, man!!! Adjust your belts so tight they hurt. Then, after a lap or two, adjust them again on the longest straight (assuming you have time to do it safely).

You move your hands on/off the wheel - aka shuffle steer or pre-positioning. I know some coaches say this is O.K., and is a personal preference, but not me. You gotta lock your hands at 9 and 3 o'clock on the wheel and leave them there. I've never been on a race track where I had to turn the wheel so much that I was forced into taking my hand(s) off the wheel (I'm talking about being on the track - not spinning out of control). You never want to loose track of where the wheels are pointed, and keeping your hands locked down will help ensure this. Better to learn the proper technique early in your track experience.

O.K., just some general comments that apply to everyone:

Look as far ahead as possible. This tends to slow down everything and gives you more time to anticipate what's coming up. Which in turn gives you more confidence and allows you to actually go a little faster. Learn to keep your focus "out ahead" and spot your turn-in point, apex, etc. via your peripheral vision.

Always strive to be as smooth and flowing as possible in everything you touch in the car. The wheel, the gas pedal, the brake pedal, the shifter - everything.

Get out there and get lots of seat time to practice and you'll be duking it out for bragging rights soon enough!

Keep the shiny side up!

 

First, let me say thank you for taking the time to view and comment. I have thick skin and am still new at this and glad to have input from those that are far more experienced than I. I take advice very well.

I will lock down the belts during my next event. I'm just surprised nobody mentioned that, so I'm grateful.

I will also go with your recommendation on hand positioning.

I'd prefer to learn from other people's experiences than learn the hard way through my own. As I get more seat time (have 3 events in the next 10 weeks), I'll get smoother with my inputs and controls and will look farther ahead on the track.

Again, thank you, and I appreciate the advice.

 

Beautiful car, great video. How are the PCCB's holding up?

 

So far so good... But after taking a ride with some of the instructors from Porsche HPD in their Cayman R's, I found out that I'm hardly pushing my car. On the front straight, I'm starting my braking at marker 3. Those guys were pushing past marker #1 and getting on the brakes REAL hard... I think the limiting factor right now is the driver behind the wheel.

I suspect that steel rotors/calipers are in my future.

 

It was great meeting you last week and thanks again for the tip on TrackMaster. Your car is absolute gem to look at and and even cooler to listen to. I have some in-car up on You Tube under RedC63AMG including nearly 10 minutes following behind the black GT3 as we worked our way through traffic. Good luck with your sessions and look forward to seeing you out there again.

PS: 9.5 and 2.5 is a little more comfortable and you will be more inclined to keep them in one place. Works great for us paddle shifters.

 

Nice to meet you as well... Watching you guys makes me realize just how much more my car has to give and how much more I need to learn. The C63 seems like it isn't really trying very hard to kick everyone out of the way. Was cool to see myself in front of you for about, oh, 15 seconds...

See you up there soon!

 

To the the guy in the big Merc: I was the guy in the black GT3. Nice video. It was like a critique of my line. I enjoyed the point of view. I thought my car sounded great but, damn, hearing that thing powering down the straight and as your throttle into 2 at apex is amazing. As Erez says, looks too easy.

 

Beautiful car and great video. Thanks.

Quick comment about the comments about the visor. The visor does serve a purchase if you're involved in an impact. It will keep flying debris, airbag gases, and glass from hitting you in the face and getting in your eyes.

 

Thanks for the compliments, Bart, and good point. Now I'm conflicted - No visor with sunglasses... or Smoked Visor closed without glasses and lots of heat. I'm leaning towards that later of the two.

 

I've battled with the same thing being from Texas. It's like wearing an easy-bake oven on your head with the visor closed. But I can tell you that not only can things can happen out there, but they do.

 

Your definitely progressing nicely Erez. Ben must have let Jose drive his car to stay in front of that C63

See you guys in September.

Steve

 

Jose? He prefers to go off-roading when pushing too hard! How many front splitters have you purchased my friend? Hitting 120 on that long sweeper is really not that important, or is it? See ya in September.

 

Steve,

Jose was at the dealership trying to figure out the weird noise coming from his front end after driving in the grass a few times while I kept the Mercedes in check. Just saying. Video to follow. If i knew I was being video'ed I would have pushed a little harder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOKxE...layer_embedded