Laguna Seca corner speeds

[skyline23]

Hi guys,

Was wondering if anyone here runs at Laguna Seca a lot with their NSX and has a good baseline for what their speeds are through the various corners. I'm a novice and have done two track days with instructors there, and both times I essentially just would keep the car in third for 90 percent of the track, floor it in the straights, then hit the brakes hard in the braking zone, and turn. It has worked ok so far, but I couldn't even tell you how fast I was going through each of the turns and feel like I am not that consistent lap to lap. I know each car will be different depending on tires, mods, driver,etc, but if anyone has a good reference I would appreciate it.


thanks!

 

[stuntman]

Asking for cornering speeds might not be the best way to go about getting up to speed or finding where you are driving relative to the limit -due to numerous factors on which you've already mentioned.

It might be better to go by gearing.

You should be in 4th gear at Start/Finish (Turn 1) over the crest.

Turn 2 (Andretti Hairpin) is a 2nd gear corner. Upshift to 3rd at track-out.

Turn 3 is a 3rd gear corner. You might be able to stretch 3rd all the way to Turn 4.

Turn 4 is usually a 4th gear corner, but for a 5speed (especially the US gear ratio) it might still be a 3rd gear corner. Upshift to 4th after track-out.

Turn 5 is a 3rd gear corner. Only have to downshift 1 gear in the brake zone for Turn 5. You can probably stretch 3rd gear to Turn 6, or with a JDM 5speed or a 6speed Trans, you might haveto shift quickly up to 4th, then back down to 3rd for Turn 6.

Turn 6 is a 3rd gear corner. ***Make sure you are FULL THROTTLE at the apex/dip in the road. If you're off throttle, the car can hook-spin to the left side of the road, this is the most common problem and mistake at Laguna Seca. Brake at the 2.5-3 board, off the brakes and turn in at the 1 board (while getting to slight power), then roll to full throttle by or just before the apex.

Grab 4th gear on your way up the hill to the Corkscrew.

Turn 8 & 8A (The Corkscrew). Downshift to 2nd gear. Apex the curbing on the left, aim at the 3rd tree to the right, and full throttle at the crest. Track-out to mid-track at the most, and grab 3rd gear.

Turn 9 is a 3rd gear corner. To make the car less responsive to throttle input, you can short-shift to 4th gear and lug the engine through the downhill left-hander to make it more stable and easier to drive.

Turn 10 is a 3rd gear corner. If you used 4th in Turn 9, downshift to 3rd for Turn 10. You might need to shift into 4th before the brake zone for Turn 11 if you're using a JDM 5 speed or 6speed ratio, otherwise leave it in 3rd.

Turn 11 is a 2nd gear corner.


Great In-car video (despite the music which takes away from the revs/driving (IMO) -sorry Ryan ):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBHLKTpL_8s


Turn by turn track notes of Laguna Seca in detail:

http://www.motoiq.com/magazine_arti.../fast-lap-with-billy-johnson-laguna-seca.aspx



Focus on technique and execution. NOT speed at the apex of the corners. You shouldn't be looking at your speedometer at the apex anyway. If anything, only at track-out to dictate how well you did the turn (but this shouldn't even be done until you have a lot more seat time under your belt). Work on feeling the car, hearing tire noise throughout the corner (light, consistent squeal), balancing the car between under and over steer, and speed will come.



Billy

 

[Hrant]

I agree with Billy with the following clarification. He is a racer :biggrin:

Most of us trackers are weekenders not driving at the limit :wink:

Assuming this is a normally aspirated car, turns 3, 4 and 5 will work in the gearing that Billy states if you are an advanced driver. Otherwise, if you are abit slow coming out of turn 2, you don't have enough revs when you upshift to 3rd to take turn 3 and this will carry itself all the way to turn 5. The normally aspirated engines may fall right at or below VTEC in 3rd gear so you might find yourself lugging or wishing to have grabbed one lower gear. If you stayed in second - and most likely hit the rev limiter and coasted the last 30 feet to the turn-in of 3, by trackout you will have to upshift.

Taking turn 4 at the proper revs to keep in VTEC in 4th is a real sign of kahunas. The margin of error when you drop two or four off at trackout has been well documented. Turn 5 is a mix; sometimes I keep it in 3rd and hope the torque band will pull and sometimes I try 2nd but by trackout I have to upshift. To stay in 3rd you really have to nail that turn and be on full throtle right before the apex.

Since you are a novice, my key advice is to minimize your shifts and just focus on the lines and not the speed. Two track days at Laguna Seca is nice but nowhere to mastering the lines. Just my $0.02.

 

[NSXDreamer2]

I agree with Billy with the following clarification. He is a racer :biggrin:

Most of us trackers are weekenders not driving at the limit :wink:

Since you are a novice, my key advice is to minimize your shifts and just focus on the lines and not the speed. Two track days at Laguna Seca is nice but nowhere to mastering the lines. Just my $0.02.

maybe he has done enough practices in GT3, 4 and 5. :biggrin: i know Jeremy Clarkson did some comparison back then. As GT5 now even more realistic, how is it compared to the real track?

To op, you shouldn't even focusing on speed thru the corner while you driving; but you can do so at home, I can't stress enough how a little camera can help you. given that correctly recording your speed, hands movement, and of course the view outside. in the nsx, you may need wide angle lens to capture all that.

 

[SFNSXguy]

I've been racing at LS for over 45 years in all kinds of cars including various production and sports racers and am still trying to learn how to take turn 9 (old turn 7). :wink:
Enjoy!

 

[CB72]

A question to Billy?
What's the spec of the NSX seen on the video?
The driver is very good but the car seems well balanced and powerfull.
I would guess a minimum of 400 whp and R compound tires?
Thanks

John

 

[stuntman]

I agree with Billy with the following clarification. He is a racer :biggrin:

Most of us trackers are weekenders not driving at the limit :wink:

Assuming this is a normally aspirated car, turns 3, 4 and 5 will work in the gearing that Billy states if you are an advanced driver. Otherwise, if you are abit slow coming out of turn 2, you don't have enough revs when you upshift to 3rd to take turn 3 and this will carry itself all the way to turn 5. The normally aspirated engines may fall right at or below VTEC in 3rd gear so you might find yourself lugging or wishing to have grabbed one lower gear. If you stayed in second - and most likely hit the rev limiter and coasted the last 30 feet to the turn-in of 3, by trackout you will have to upshift.

Taking turn 4 at the proper revs to keep in VTEC in 4th is a real sign of kahunas. The margin of error when you drop two or four off at trackout has been well documented. Turn 5 is a mix; sometimes I keep it in 3rd and hope the torque band will pull and sometimes I try 2nd but by trackout I have to upshift. To stay in 3rd you really have to nail that turn and be on full throtle right before the apex.

Since you are a novice, my key advice is to minimize your shifts and just focus on the lines and not the speed. Two track days at Laguna Seca is nice but nowhere to mastering the lines. Just my $0.02.

After further review of the NSX gear ratio/speeds/my data from a Grand-Am car at LS:

US 5 speed:

1st - 47
2nd - 80
3rd - 118
4th - 150
5th - 188

JDM 5 speed:

1st - 47
2nd- 74
3rd - 103
4th - 134
5th - 188

Turn 2 should still probably be taken in 2nd and you will probably be able to hold 2nd all the way to turn 3.

Turn 3 can be taken in 2nd but the car will be much more responsive to throttle input - especially the faster you go. I still feel it will be better to learn how to roll speed into Turn 3 by keeping the car in 3rd. Using 2nd will cause the car to decerate too much off throttle, and possibly loose on entry. Ryan in the video used 3rd with his JDM gear ratio and was ~4,500rpm.

Turn 4 should be taken in 3rd and you'll probably carry 3rd gear all the way to Turn 5.

Turn 5 should probably be taken in 2nd

Turn 5 is also probably a 2nd gear corner and possibly 3rd as you go faster and to make the car less responsive to throttle inputs.

You'll get into 3rd going up to the corkscrew.

The Corkscrew is still a 2nd gear corner.

Turn 9 - short shift to 3rd and carry 3rd through the corner, through Turn 10 and to Turn 11.

A question to Billy?
What's the spec of the NSX seen on the video?
The driver is very good but the car seems well balanced and powerfull.
I would guess a minimum of 400 whp and R compound tires?
Thanks

John

That's Ryneen on NSXPrime. He has Nitto NT01 235/275 tires, Penske double adjustable shocks, ~-2* front ~-3* rear camber and a big NASCAR-style spoiler on the rear. ~260-280whp. He's also one of the better NSX drivers i've seen on track.


Billy

 

[Dhalsim]

That's Ryneen on NSXPrime. He has Nitto NT01 235/275 tires, Penske double adjustable shocks, ~-2* front ~-3* rear camber and a big NASCAR-style spoiler on the rear. ~260-280whp. He's also one of the better NSX drivers i've seen on track.


Billy

I concur as I was lucky enough once to get a ride along with him at Buttonwillow..........of course just before that ride he told me he was lucky enough to get a ride along with you..........:tongue: