Sandown driving lesson - oh what a lesson

On Friday I went to Sandown to get some practice laps with Driver Dynamics. Oh god what a day! I crashed again. Here is the story to tell.

I already battled with the flu all weak, with self diagnosis of viral tonsillitis. At the time of writing it, it is the first time feeling comfortable. So I was a bit run down. After 3 sessions, I was already equalled by best time at Sandown (1:31.78). I needed to do better. When I decided to chase the guy in front (a Z M3) to get a target, I oversteered coming out of turn 4 and could not get back enough. The road is too narrow and I brushed the barrier. Here is the damage! On first sight with Nelson it is cosmetic only. The oil cooler just behind that was pushed it but appear undamaged, since the bracket appear intact with no scratches or breakage. The oil pressure appear normal driving back from Sandown. More detailed assessment on Monday.

Sratches are in the side and the clear corner is cracked a little and there is a dent just next to the headlight set. Lucky is that the headlight is ok and the oil cooler ... finger crossed.

There is the video of the accident. Please comment if you can. I basically was not preparing the spin and was half a second late to wind the steering wheel down or to get the power off. The tyre so slap quickly when they are cold compare with they are warmed up. I guess that is the biggest lession to learn here.

  
Video = "What you should not do when you have cold tyres"

Otherwise it is a good day. It is time for me to drive the Dunlop tyres and so far I give it a BIG thumbs up. These are sticky tyres! They are so responsive to change in direction and so progressive when understeering. They create the best tyre - bitumen matching. You know Sandown is old technology tarmac and it needs some matching in compound. I am sticking with these for a while.

I have increase the caster (+7.9) with reduction of camber (-1.6) at the same time, in anticipate to rain (which did not arrive). The car understeer a bit but it is no big deal. The tyre temperature runs less than 5 degree across from inside to outside. RevSpeed recently recommend testing the tyre to up to 9 degree different across the tyre. So it is ok. The right front is reduced to about 1/2 the thread but it is expected. I guess too much camber on the front decrease the grip at turn 1, which is off camber sloped down left hander, so the right front will suffer no matter what you do.

Some randown shots!

  Here we are. This time I changed the ignition coil so there is no issue with misfire!

Another Z4M with no mods. They are very powerful

Mr Brown brought his tubroed renesis. We are comparing the oil and water temp during the day. He wins in these parameters. He did a 1:27 flat today, well done Craig!

Some dangerous wind slicing wing here. No cops with yellow canary around I hope.

 

Assyl with his new 911 black spec. Well everything is black, including the driver's suit and helmet.

 

Wayne brought a new helmet for this track day. Good on him. He needs it when he drive this magnificant BMW 135i with twin tubro flat 6, 225kW and 400Nm. That is a lot of power. I tried it. I love it. No money to have it though.

Next thread I will talk about the data I got and some video.