Tracking The Esprit

[mamovaka]

I am taking my Esprit to Poconoo raceway for the first time..

I just want to have fun, I do not want to damage the car..

I know to take it VERY easy in 1st and shifting to 2nd, besides that what kind of behavior can I exhibit on the track?

this is important because I have just put so much time and love (oh and money) into this car since I have purchased it and I want to use it as it's intended but I dont want to do any damage.

Thanks

Pano

[Former_rotorhead]

Good luck. I'm taking mine to VIR for my first time ever on a road course. A client is the GM and is letting me run solo after the Ferrari Challenge May 20th. Gotta get my fuel cut @ 5k rpm fixed by then.

Of course I'd change the oil before going on the track. New brake fluid is a good idea. Spark plugs, regular tune up stuff is very important. Watch the boost going into turns... that's all I got, hope it helps.

[mamovaka]

Just had oil/brake etc. done a month ago..

I plan to just take it easy and have fun.. not push the car to the limits or anything.

[Günter]

a *hot iron* or *hot air*- tool is also usefull! As a beginner , i think, you run often not at the ideal race-line. After this your tyres have a lot of old "slik-rubber" on theire surfice. This gives a rattle and noisy rolling.

After my loss of virginity in "club-racing" at Hockenheim Race Circuit [short version] i think a limitet-slip differential is also a god idea...

[mamovaka]

car is tracked out already w/ a limited slip..

I am not talking about the tracking issue I am talking about the way I should drive it on the track.. I just want to enjoy the car but I do not want to do any damage right now.. just had this thing sorted...

[Günter]

...I am not talking about the tracking issue I am talking about the way I should drive it on the track...

do it in gentleman's stile

the Esprit is not the right car to fight for every tight corner, but you can use the god torque/wheight relation in the faster parts of any circit... .

[mamovaka]

Well, I suppose my other concern is the reputation of the Esprit on the track, for my own safety..

The car already has a fire suppression system with 4 hoses shooting into the engine, however I have been searching online for a racing suit/helmet/gloves that would make me feel comfortable driving the Lotus on the track..

After a few hours of searching I came up with this:

If I drive the car carefully, as well as wear this suit and keep one hand on the fire pulley AT ALL TIMES while tracking I think the chances of survival are at about 90% maybe 85% with a wet track..

Input?

[Günter]

oh yes, sure! if you lower the seats and modify the steering column as i do to maximise the available space, this kneebolster and leg protection would work

[DBredS4]

Hi pano, I have tracked my Esprit, done a sprint and generally looked at what could be done to make it more focussed, within a budget.

I came up with a few ideas such as this little gem of a device

http://www.lotusespritworld.co.uk/EGuides/...ns/CG-Lock.html

This will enhance the feedback from the car through your posterior. A must-have if you ask me.

I would suggest some high temp clutch and brake fluid and some decent pads for the front, I use Ferodo DS2500 and they are great, not as good as DS3000 which are AMAZING, but great nonetheless. SS hoses all round is a good idea too.

My car needs a geometry check and ideally poly bushes and the new Lotus shocks/springs but again the budget is the decider.

Build up the speed on track, get used to the grip/turn in and I expect you will see where the car needs to be improved on by the feedback it gives. Also, you probably wont use the 1st to 2nd upshift a great deal except when pulling away for the first time. Then its all through the other gears. Good Luck

Edited May 14, 2007 by DBredS4

[cweeden]

Track pads is a great idea, street items will struggle on the track and can cut your time short. If you can't replace them just 'nurse' them a little and you should be fine. In other words don't brake late and hard, ease of the accelerator early and apply the brakes earlier than you might want to.

I had some half decent pads and they were fine if I was gentle but once I decided what the heck and went out for a fast lap of the Nurburgring with a friend of mine. He had a BMW M3 and I had my previous V8 GT. About a third of the lap in, the judder at the front was too much and I had to coast the rest of the lap and the pads were completely ruined.

The CG Lock is also a must have, my same friend survived crashing his M3 at the 'ring despite flipping it onto its roof and onto the amrco barriers. He is in no doubt that the CG lock saved his life (in addition to the added feel).

[Fred Basset]

Wow, I have CG locks in all of my cars and agree its a must have, very impressive if it helped your friend survive that.

Regards

Gary

[CCMDoc]

I am taking my Esprit to Poconoo raceway for the first time..

I just want to have fun, I do not want to damage the car..

I know to take it VERY easy in 1st and shifting to 2nd, besides that what kind of behavior can I exhibit on the track?

this is important because I have just put so much time and love (oh and money) into this car since I have purchased it and I want to use it as it's intended but I dont want to do any damage.

Thanks

Pano

When are you going to Pocono and with which group? I have been to WGI, NHIS and LRP and recently moved to NJ, making Pocono a natural next choice. I have Corbeau racing seats and 5 point harnesses (and use a HANS device with them), but a CG lock is the next best thing from what I have read. I did replace the OEM steering wheel with one a bit smaller in diameter for easier ingress/egress. Also use R-compound tires and track pads.

Good luck and hope to meet you on the track.

[atgnat]

apply the brakes only when the steering wheel is straight. wait to apex. roll the power on. if you are in a struggle with another car for the same piece of track, pit in and get some clear track. when you are at rest, pop the trunk, and DO NOT!!!! engage the parking brake. don't grip the steering wheel to tightly. remember to breathe. brake earlier than you think you should. drink plenty of water between sessions. get an instructor if they are avaliable. and enjoy yourself.

you are going to ruin a set of brakes, and tires, so don't even worry about that. if you have a spare, or worn set of front pads, bring them along in case you go metal to metal and need to get home. bring a small took kit with some poly line in case you have to bleed the brakes at the track.

and have fun.

[CCMDoc]

apply the brakes only when the steering wheel is straight. wait to apex. roll the power on. if you are in a struggle with another car for the same piece of track, pit in and get some clear track. when you are at rest, pop the trunk, and DO NOT!!!! engage the parking brake. don't grip the steering wheel to tightly. remember to breathe. brake earlier than you think you should. drink plenty of water between sessions. get an instructor if they are avaliable. and enjoy yourself.

you are going to ruin a set of brakes, and tires, so don't even worry about that. if you have a spare, or worn set of front pads, bring them along in case you go metal to metal and need to get home. bring a small took kit with some poly line in case you have to bleed the brakes at the track.

and have fun.

EXCELLENT advice. It didn't occur to me that he may not have been on the track before (in any car) and to give him that sort of advice. I am glad you did, though. Always good reminder to anyone of any experience.

[Jonathan]

Just a quicky with CG, I used to have one in the Elise and they are excellent - however a lot of new cars have these things in the buckle that on detecting a crash they fire and pull the buckle in towards the car to combat the submarine effect by tightening the lap part of the belt.

The prob is usually the lap part is pretty loose but if you fit a CG in and yank it as tight as tight can go as I used to and this thing fires, well you can guess what injuries that might cause...

Not sure if the later Esprit has it but some other cars do have pre-tensioners - our Focus has it.

Just thought I'd mention it incase

[jfitz981]

Hey Pano,

I was just a car show last weekend and quite a few people were talking about how bad a shape Pocono is in. Tape up the front end, mirrors etc...just looking out for you..

Enjoy

Jason

[rydning]

I am taking my Esprit to Poconoo raceway for the first time..

I just want to have fun, I do not want to damage the car..

I know to take it VERY easy in 1st and shifting to 2nd, besides that what kind of behavior can I exhibit on the track?

this is important because I have just put so much time and love (oh and money) into this car since I have purchased it and I want to use it as it's intended but I dont want to do any damage.

Thanks

Pano

Hello Pano

I drive my esprit very hard at track.And since I also have put so much money and effort in to it I dont want to wreck it or do anything stupid.

So i drive about 90% of what I feel I`m competent at.And when overtaking other cars make sure they know you are there before you pass them.

If you are not used to drive hard and at the limit with other cars you have to use more time to build comfidence.It take a while before you are comfident with the Esprit at the limit on track.This is like most midengines cars its not forgivable if you have to much speed in a corner.

You can do some maneuering to get use to how it reacts on the grip limit.

Drive it and steer hard to it slips to feel how much grip you have and how it is to recover.On trottle and off trottle.

If you do this make sure you have room for a spin and no cars behind.

I try to keep the rev hige because of the week gearbox.At hige rpm the torque is down so you dont stress the box that much like you do in the max torque area(below 4500rpm).

And do normal "slow" gearchanges.

I normaly dont stay more than 10-12min at the track at the time so it doesent overheat anything.This also help to get the tires to last longer. And take the last lap as a cooling lap there you drive fast with out touching the brakes to cool them.

And before you go on the track make sure your brakes are up for the task,with new brake fluid and pads etc.

Check that all fluids are at right or max level.It very important to check that the oil level is at top every time you go for som laps.It might use some engine oil during a track day.

Every time I get in the pit I open the engine hood to get rid of heat.And let it idle a minute or 2 to cool down the turbo.

[mamovaka]

I am going on the 24th.. next week if anyone wants to join let me know it's like 250 bucks a car (we rented out the track for the day, about 18k total)

We have a large amount of awesome exotics coming and racing.. should be a cool day..

I think I am just going to drive slow and take it easy.. I am prepared to buy new pads/rear tires (I need new front rotors anyway) I just purchased the front pads, but they are carbotech panther plus pads and they SQUEAK FARRR too much for normal driving.. so I will use this track day to kill them off then buy normal standard pads..

[cweeden]

If you have leather seats try and get the CG Lock. Despite its safety aspect it will hold you firmly in your seat making the ride much more fun.

Sounds like a great day and I am looking forward to my next track visit although I have no idea when that might be.

Have a great time.

cheers

-Chris

[Jonathan]

We have a large amount of awesome exotics coming and racing...

You'll need your camera as well then

[mamovaka]

I shall bring a camera indeed!

I honestly dont plan on driving the car that hard.. I just spent a ton making the car perfect and I am in no mood to do any damage to this beautiful machine.. I'll have fun but I wont try anything serious with the car.

[ibandre]

I honestly don`t think you should worry to much. I also thought about all the rules for driving this car on the track, but You are not going to have fun, if all you think about is what will go wrong with the car.This car is made for driving, and yes, take the nesesarry precautions, but you can still drive this car to the limit without to many worries. I drove it to the max this last weekend, and the car was loving it!!! It handles like a bauty!!!

[CCMDoc]

I honestly don`t think you should worry to much. I also thought about all the rules for driving this car on the track, but You are not going to have fun, if all you think about is what will go wrong with the car.This car is made for driving, and yes, take the nesesarry precautions, but you can still drive this car to the limit without to many worries. I drove it to the max this last weekend, and the car was loving it!!! It handles like a bauty!!!

I agree 100% - I always drive on the track near my limit (I am sure I don't come close to the car's limits). I also agree - the point is to have fun.

[airbusdrvr]

Use your mirrors! You shouldn't be able to see the side of your car when adjusted correctly. Stay within your limits even if your feeling pushed. Take a break when your tired.

DO NOT FILL YOUR TANKS MORE THAN HALF FULL WHILE DOING TRACK DAYS! Trust me. Just make sure you give yourself time between sessions to get gas. Stay away from the super high octane stuff at the track.

Pop the engine bay to help with cooling after each run. Also do not set the parking brake. Bring some chocks. After the run do not sit somewhere with your brakes on. ( Like when you are debreifing with your instructor ) Yes use an instructor if available!!!!!

Your tires will last more than one track day. But bring spare pads. I've found that Carbotech

Panther plus or 8's will work good for the beginner. As you learn to brake later and harder you may need 10's. Do not use EBC reds. They will eat your rotors.

After the session while your brakes are cooling roll the car a 1/4 wheel turn every few minutes to keep your rotors from warping from uneven cooling.

Buy a nice( at least SA 2000 ) helmet. (Good for ten years) Get a single layer suit from Simpson so you don't get so hot. Also use good driving shoes. I use Pilotes.

Have fun. Your car does great on the track.

[mamovaka]

blue tape?

Is it THAT bad a pocono? where do I buy blue tape?