MX-5 Computer Car

[TDW]

I will be doing my first computer car session at sebring this coming weekend. I am really excited about it and look forward to learning a lot. I am sure a large number of you on here have done this before and I was wondering if there are any things i should do differently from a normal lapping session to try and make the best use of the time.

I am also wondering if anyone knows what type of equipment will be used on the car for data acquisition??

[cdh]

moved thread to top forum, good topic, thanks TDW - I have not done a c-car so can't offer any info, others will

[TDW]

thanks for moving it

[Gerardo]

1. Should you drive any differently from a normal lapping session?

Not really. Better to continue doing what you normally do. Try to keep the session clean, gradually improving yourself so your best laps come at the end. Try to avoid traffic for cleaner data. But otherwise, you should continue driving as well you did in your previous session so that the data is more representative of your normal habits and philosophies.

2. What type of equipment is used?

The race cars are identical to the normal fleet except for the dashboard. We use the AiM MXL dashboard and the standard logging RaceStudio and Analysis programs. If you like, you can download the RaceStudio program from the AiM website download page (http://www.aimsports.com/software/index.html and choose the most current version at the top) to view the data on your own laptop. But the real value is in the interpretation and comparison data the instructors give you, which for this weekend is Jonatan Jorge and Phil Lombardi. Both are very experienced and have great ideas to share with you. They can also help to customize your installation of the software to be more useful for comparisions.

I'll be at Sebring private coaching, but having taught Computer Car about 900 times, I'd be glad to help you set up your laptop if the Computer Car instructors are busy. See Jonatan and Phil first, and if needed, they can find me to help you out.

Best of luck.

[oldredracer]

At the lower levels of vintage racing with which I'm most familiar, data acquisition is comprised primarily of hearing happy noises from the engine compartment.

Treating myself to a computer car session with Murph and Phil was a revelation. Bring a thick notebook to the debrief and if you think you missed something, make them repeat it. The minute adjustments you'll see will do wonders for your confidence and your lap times. When you lay your lap over the baseline and can see where the instructor started braking 12 feet later or was at full throttle sooner, your corrections are purposeful and the results come quickly.

I did mine at Lime Rock using alternate West Bend. Having done my first race there in 1973, the alternate was lots of fun and a huge change of pace. It feeds back onto 'Classic Lime Rock' as you enter the downhill. I have always done a small security lift just before turn-in, but with the slower entry I knew it wasn't necessary. Comes the debrief and Murph says "you're lifting in the downhill", to which I replied "no I'm not". This went on for a few rounds until he politely asked me to shut up (I think he'd find another way to get a student's attention if he weren't also a co-worker) and pointed at the overlay. Turns out old habits die hard. But without that session, I'd never have believed it.

Study your notes. Focus on the corrections and the suggestions. You're gonna love your progress.
Oh yeah. Keep your eyes high and have fun.

[GregS]

(im not an instructor so take everything below with a grain of salt until the real drivers can review it, but this is what works for me.)

i recommend doing at least one session prior to going out in the computer car and get urself up to temp.

try to focus on getting perfect laps, but do so at about 95% of what you can do - iotw, do not push it too hard

computer car is simply fantastic

try to always drive the same way in practice, quali and the race. be consistent!

ps. make sure the computer car is working correctly because at homestead it wasnt and i wanted to cry.

[dalyduo]

Between Phil, Jonatan and Gerardo you'll be in good hands and have more than enough info to process.

If it happens there are big differences between your lap and the base lap don't try and do too much at once. It takes time to find the limit and get comfortable with speed. If you make changes gradually you'll understand how and why they affect the car and you'll own them forever.

Have fun and good luck.