Cornering @ Watkins Glen

Hi all !! Some driving advice for WAtkins Glen... Im getting down to around 1:16.5xx on a flying lap w/ a full tank. Dont ask what I was doin bout a month ago... After the 1st corner(from the start/finish) which goes down a hill there is a straight and then it goes up and to the right and while still going up it then goes left. My problem is after the straight I have to lift to apex the first corner going right to set up for the sweeping corner to the left. By trying to shave some time off, I've tried coming flat out using up as much road before the apex and I end up drifting to far after the apex screwing me up for the next apex. This is w/ warmed up tires and 3/4 tank of fuel. What I would like to know is: can one take this corner flat out or am I already going through it as fast as the car can handle it ??? l8Ter ! Jude R 1996 AC Cobra(590hp) 1995 SHO(225hp) 1997 Windstar(It carries the kids and the spare parts)

The key for me is to go gently into the first part of the esses, get out to the right edge of the road, and then get on it. I just run out of 3rd gear by the top of the second sweeper, and use up all of fourth by the time I get to the 5 braking marker heading into the inner loop. FYI my best so far is 1:12.616 Moon

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>Some driving advice for WAtkins Glen... >Im getting down to around 1:16.5xx on a flying lap w/ a full tank. >Dont ask what I was doin bout a month ago... >After the 1st corner(from the start/finish) which goes down a hill there >is a straight and then it goes up and to the right and while still going >up it then goes left. >My problem is after the straight I have to lift to apex the first corner >going right to set up for the sweeping corner to the left. >By trying to shave some time off, I've tried coming flat out using up as >much road before the apex and I end up drifting to far after the apex >screwing me up for the next apex. >This is w/ warmed up tires and 3/4 tank of fuel. >What I would like to know is: can one take this corner flat out or am I >already going through it as fast as the car can handle it ???

The most important thing is to get your speed up at the exit of the final turn in the esses. You want to carry as much speed down the long straight to the Inner Loop, everything else is secondary. My gut feeling is that you need to lift slightly going into Turn 2, not because you can't make the corner flat out, but because it gives the fronts just a little more bite and allows you to get a good line through the esses. My best lap is in the 1:12's so there's definitely more speed to be had. Dave Sparks IWCCCARS Project: http://www.theuspits.com/iwcccars Late Night League: http://www.sequoia-dev.com/Hawaii/latenite.html Hawaii Handle: davids

<<My gut feeling is that you need to lift slightly going into Turn 2, not because you can't make the corner flat out, but because it gives the fronts just a little more bite and allows you to get a good line through the esses.>> That should work. Don't stay off the throttle too long, though. Just ease off enough to let the fronts get some grip, then you can go almost wide open until you get through the esses. Let the car push out a little, then try to keep a good line close to the rumble strips. The car will push up to the left as you fly down the straight almost 175-180mph. This is all with the stock "Ace" setup, anyway. I've managed a lap a hair under 118mph with it, so I've got some work to do on a good qualifying setup. As it is, I feel I'm "driving" at my limit. I just need some more work on the track and a better setup for qualifying. Nick ______________________________________________________________ #6 & #94 in the quest for the Cup! Owner, 1994 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra #728 My home away from home... http://www.mindspring.com/~ntotoro/ ______________________________________________________________

No thanks If you want some advice on the Stang' project drop me a line. Had a 92' that ran 10.60 1/4 mile! Turbo powered!