Had my Barbagallo cherry broken today

[Evman]

Just thought I'd pass on what I thought of it. That track is awesome. I've done a few track days at Collie which I enjoyed but Barbs wins on all accounts. I wasn't particularly enjoying it in the morning for a few reasons. Firstly I'm far from a pro so I was having a hard time working out the lines. That coupled with the fact that my car is pretty high hp and it was wet, and I just wasn't going very well. I got talking to a bloke that runs an FPV and he offered to do a few slow laps so I could follow and pick up the right lines. What a difference! Getting the lines right made it so much smoother and more enjoyable. I was turning in way too early on most of the corners which is where the problem was. I was still having a hard time making myself turn at the right spots at the end of the day but at least I know what I'm meant to be doing now.

It dried out in the arvo and I got to use the power properly. I overshot the corner at the end of pit straight twice but kept it in the run off area so just reversed up and kept going. I think I nudged 210km/h down the hill but I wasn't paying much attention to the speedo. I actually continually found myself taking the last corner too slowly so I've obviously got to get some bigger balls and brake later down the hill. I didn't really get any solid, clear laps together but most of my average laps were 1:15. Considering the power of the car it has a lot more in it, but my skill levels don't yet.

Anyway, loved the track, hated the wet (was wheel spinning over the crest of the hill in 4th which was scary), improved a lot but I've got a very long road to go before I'd say I was any good.

[thrtytwo]

Sounds like fun mate. It's one of those addictive rewarding things, chipping away at lap times.

I want to get out there some time.

What car/power do you have?

[Evman]

Thanks mate. It's a VY Commodore with a cammed and blown 6L. The lowest power it's done was 495rwhp with 60 degree intake temps. The intake temps stayed in the 30s today.

[Lonewolf]

that would be a handful....
its a slippery slide now, you'll be eying off brake and tyre upgrades in no time!

[RELEASE]

If your ass wasn't swallowing the seat over the esses, you weren't going hard enough :P

Street rubber Ev or ?

[Evman]

Haha already running 4 piston AP Racing brakes with EBC redstuff pads and brake ducting. Tyres are the biggest issue. I was running my half worn KU19s (19") with my usual 36psi street pressure (too low for the wet, too high for the dry). The HQ racecars were faster than me through the corners hahaha. On the straights I had no issues getting out far enough to stay out of their way for the remining laps but if I only got in front on the first corner I'd be slowing them down up the hill. The elevation changes take so much getting used to. Collie is pretty much flat so going fast around corners over hills was new to me!

[Denver]

I Think once you've done wanners a few times you'll find collie a better track in a technical sense.

[RK 86 WA]

I guess coming from someone who is local to Collie, you have the same thoughts as someone local to Barbs haha.

I thought the total opposite, Collie is the better track by far for me.

Btw was the guy in the FPV an older bloke in an orange 'sponsored' typhoon?

[Evman]

Haha fair enough. Maybe I was just getting used to Collie. Yeah that's him. Michael something. He was a huge help throughout the day for me.

[RK 86 WA]

Haha small world. That's my gf's dad lol

[Chompy]

I haven't had a chance to go around collie but never had a chance to go around barbagello's for some times during the day. Biggest thing is that you have fun out there :)

Good to see your getting the car and running it around the track, get some better tyres and get those times down! No better feeling then smashing your own PB.

Even for something different check out the rally sprints and Shannon one day classics if your into small stage eVents

[Evman]

Haha small world. That's my gf's dad lol

Is that Emma or something like that? Young chick was there timing his laps for him.

Cheers Chompy. Yeah tyres are definitely going to be next but I need to get my hands on some 18" rims too I think.

[Tocchi]

good to hear you had a good time.

if you want to improve even more, by reading your post it seems you do :) ... then enter at one of the upcoming No Limits nights.
they have instructors there that will teach you all the lines, braking points and so forth.
https://www.facebook.com/NoLimitEvents

[404]

Great effort Ev wish my bunky was still running as I was planning on going to that session as well. Glad the car behaved itself for you and it sounds like you are well on your way now.

[Evman]

Thanks mate :) Just had a harness arrive yesterday so I can finally get strapped in properly now too

[RK 86 WA]

Yup that's the one

[Evman]

Went on a driver training day today after I was invited along by Michael (mentioned previously, with the orange T6 Falcon). Got the lines going much better now and dropped my best time to 1:13.65 with TC on and intervening a fair bit. Not super, but I'm getting proper racing lines now and having a lot more fun. Can't wait to get out there again :)

Also, really need some grippy tyres!

[monk_13]

Don't make the switch to proper R comps too early dude. Get as smooth as you can on street tyres first, and it will translate across to R comps with much better results. (Or so I hear)

I'm going back to street tyres for a bit, purely to try and get a lot smoother. If you are not smooth on street rubber, then there will be a lot more unwanted excursions, understeer, etc, as they are not as forgiving when pushing.

[404]

Ev you should sign up for the Tuesday night ALM track night on the 30th. Not many cars at this point so plenty of track time up for grabs.

[Evman]

Fair call monk I'll keep that in mind. Thanks mate.

Is the ALM membership renewed in Jan? If so I'll just hold off until then and join up.