Full Disclosure: Ascendant Motorsport is a site sponsor, as well a close friend of mine. This thread is backed up with some data logs.
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Had an absolutely kickass track day with everyone.
Just wanted to share some interesting info about my track times. Car is completely stock except with Brembo BBK, street tires (quite worn Michelin PS2) with 3 previous track days on them, with an exhaust (dynoed before and after 1bhp difference with drop in panel filter - lol!) but anyway, the thing is not about my timing.
After a year of tracking and being stuck at a plateau for the last 2 track days, I managed to shave off 3 full seconds yesterday and keep it consistent for at least 4-5 hot laps, after "being stuck" for 2-3 full track days prior with the same timings (and i started to blame timings because of cars on track etc, poor car performance, lousy tires etc)
Couple of things to attribute to improvements was, understanding segment improvements, racing line changes and focusing on them. Also in the car was a performance box data logger (PerformanceBox - Datalogger and Performance Meter) to track accurately my lap performance. Ascendant Motorsport was particularly helpful in assisting me in understanding my weak areas on track and correcting them through data and close analysis over the past couple of months, and somehow everything just clicked yesterday.
The funniest part was that I filled up my car with Petronas 95 petrol 2nd link, and again at the Petronas outlet at the Sepang track because I didn't pay attention that different pumps had 97 fuel, but that aside, despite lower fuel quality, worn tires, cars on track yet I went faster this track day session.
Woot! Awesome when it's quantifiable by driver and not because of some power mod.
All in all, I didn't add any performance mods over the past year (except with 1bhp exhaust) and manage to reduce my track timings by 6+ ~ 7 full seconds(at 2:47s down to 2:43.7~2:45s) - when i started to track regularly) with help from Ascendant Motorsport for my track sessions. Yesterday was a full 3 seconds (2:40.8) (the best lap) because of how all the different segments went perfectly together, and results were consistently repeated over the next few laps at (2:41s~2:42s).
I'll be getting Ascendant Motorsport to post up previous data logs of my driving lines, map overlays before and after. You can see the difference in lines based on personal understanding of the track (not because of someone telling me to take a particular line because it's good for his own car.)
Most importantly is the timing improvements without having to bump up power for the car and enjoying tracking with a correct mindset. Looking very much forward to the next track day and try to improve more with the current stock setup and kill off 1 second and reach 2:39s, at least that's the mid-term goal for now.
I had someone put up a claim yesterday that my car had the potential to do 2:28s and I said it was impossible unless there was factual data to back it up. It was only after some more clarification that the car in question had huge power modifications etc. That was quite nervy. Until such people are officially logged, it's quite easy to BS numbers and track times. Heard it way too many times and different claims from too many people from being at track events for the past few years.
If you want to improve your driving and have a clearer understanding of how you drive and improve without the use of power mods, you will want to PM Ascendant Motorsport (link here -http://www.bmw-sg.com/forums/members/ascendant-motorsport.html or visit their business forum - Ascendant Motorsport - BMW-SG - The BMW Singapore Community)
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Had an absolutely kickass track day with everyone.
Just wanted to share some interesting info about my track times. Car is completely stock except with Brembo BBK, street tires (quite worn Michelin PS2) with 3 previous track days on them, with an exhaust (dynoed before and after 1bhp difference with drop in panel filter - lol!) but anyway, the thing is not about my timing.
After a year of tracking and being stuck at a plateau for the last 2 track days, I managed to shave off 3 full seconds yesterday and keep it consistent for at least 4-5 hot laps, after "being stuck" for 2-3 full track days prior with the same timings (and i started to blame timings because of cars on track etc, poor car performance, lousy tires etc)
Couple of things to attribute to improvements was, understanding segment improvements, racing line changes and focusing on them. Also in the car was a performance box data logger (PerformanceBox - Datalogger and Performance Meter) to track accurately my lap performance. Ascendant Motorsport was particularly helpful in assisting me in understanding my weak areas on track and correcting them through data and close analysis over the past couple of months, and somehow everything just clicked yesterday.
The funniest part was that I filled up my car with Petronas 95 petrol 2nd link, and again at the Petronas outlet at the Sepang track because I didn't pay attention that different pumps had 97 fuel, but that aside, despite lower fuel quality, worn tires, cars on track yet I went faster this track day session.
Woot! Awesome when it's quantifiable by driver and not because of some power mod.All in all, I didn't add any performance mods over the past year (except with 1bhp exhaust) and manage to reduce my track timings by 6+ ~ 7 full seconds(at 2:47s down to 2:43.7~2:45s) - when i started to track regularly) with help from Ascendant Motorsport for my track sessions. Yesterday was a full 3 seconds (2:40.8) (the best lap) because of how all the different segments went perfectly together, and results were consistently repeated over the next few laps at (2:41s~2:42s).
I'll be getting Ascendant Motorsport to post up previous data logs of my driving lines, map overlays before and after. You can see the difference in lines based on personal understanding of the track (not because of someone telling me to take a particular line because it's good for his own car.)
Most importantly is the timing improvements without having to bump up power for the car and enjoying tracking with a correct mindset. Looking very much forward to the next track day and try to improve more with the current stock setup and kill off 1 second and reach 2:39s, at least that's the mid-term goal for now.
I had someone put up a claim yesterday that my car had the potential to do 2:28s and I said it was impossible unless there was factual data to back it up. It was only after some more clarification that the car in question had huge power modifications etc. That was quite nervy. Until such people are officially logged, it's quite easy to BS numbers and track times. Heard it way too many times and different claims from too many people from being at track events for the past few years.
If you want to improve your driving and have a clearer understanding of how you drive and improve without the use of power mods, you will want to PM Ascendant Motorsport (link here -http://www.bmw-sg.com/forums/members/ascendant-motorsport.html or visit their business forum - Ascendant Motorsport - BMW-SG - The BMW Singapore Community)
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