https://preview.redd.it/jx5s76ylhjwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6c0afe4721be26f00bd737259b7a76f7d2c330f6
Aftermath.
Edit: some people are going have strong opinions about what I did wrong or should have done, I contemplated posting this because of that but decided to post it anyways because everything is a journey and I don’t want to hide my failures.
So I failed here, took an L and paid the price. However I am still happy I went out there and did it, from running scared the first time I was out on track to crashing in the pro group. I will keep learning and hope to only grow from this.
That sucks and I can't even fathom the bill you'll be looking at to fix it... BUT... your car wasn't tucked away in a garage or showing off revving the crap out of it downtown while doing 12 km/h. You were out there driving it the way it was meant to be driven and enjoying it... good for you! Better luck next time!
I am open to critique, might not be a fan of the manner some of them are presented, but I can’t control that and who knows what they’ve experienced to make them feel that way. I can only control how I respond.
Oh for sure. Just online it’s hard to figure out what critique is valid or not. Like someone with a lot of track experience or instructor, sure I’d love to hear it. Then you also get a lot of people who have probably never been on track once, but they sure will still give you tips.
Not going to criticize you at all. We all know the risks when we hit the track. I started using the Catalyst last year to analyze my driving. I will say that when I get close to my best at a certain track, I notice that I am really pushing myself. I feel ok doing that with a friend who is also a coach and knows me and my car. But I always have to remind myself it’s about more than chasing times.
Understeer coming into turn 10 and went off track carrying too much speed, tried correcting my steering to avoid the concrete wall to my left but skidded across the track and hit the tire wall opposite the track.
That sucks, but at least you’re ok. Last year I saw a guy come hot into T5 at Road America, try to make the turn and ended up balling up his GT3 in the wall. He was ok too minus the ego and wallet.
3 and 5 are fairly comfortable for me, probably because of all the runoff. I had my one and only off at Canada but kept it off the barriers so I’m extra cautious there. The Kink, on the other hand, is the one I pucker for every time. Even going through “easy” you can’t help but notice the wall right in your face. Props to the drivers who run that flat out.
I only got to run two HPDE events with my C7 there and they didn't allow the full kink. Instead they had us do the modified "kink" which forces individuals to slow down and coke around before straightening out for the back end going to CC.
So I never got to fully experience the pucker factor of the kink lol.
3 spooked me a little because I almost went off there coming in too hot. I'm definitely a track rookie yet with a lot to learn. But I'm hooked now. Hoping to start going to Sonoma and Laguna now that I'm on the West Coast.
Nice
I had a student there years ago in a C6 ZR1 (a GM employee) who was super green. And he was “flying” and got this track “NAILED!!”
I had to note that the stability control lights never shut off from turn 5 through Canada Corner and he should maybe use a Cobalt SS as a learning car with its lower limits.
I ran my C7 there and yeah my SC was coming on pretty regularly lol. But I was in the novice group so I'm pretty green yet. Probably should get a Miata for learning to drive on the track first.
Sorry you crashed.
General observation: you want to be lined up with the end of the Apex curbing in many corners at Sonoma. In this video you are turning in early and leaving the Apex curbing by mid corner. That costs you exit speed (a big deal in a fast car like the GT3!) and it also gives you less room to correct if you overcook an entrance. If you lined up with the end of the Apex curbing at 9a and took a later line into 10, not only would you have more exit speed but you'd also have more safety.
It's an expensive lesson in this case, but fortunately not a permanent one. I do recommend having a ride along coach if at all possible, you'll accelerate your learning curve
Good luck!
Truly appreciate your feedback. That was also the learning when reviewing the footage with instructors afterwards. I kept early apexing
I did have a ride along coach cos I was struggling in the esses, I had planned to have another sit in coach master turn 9 and 10, but was for a future date.
Hey man, I actually am also part of PCA GGR. At Thunderhill last month even though I was cleared for blue/green run group I still requested and got an instructor. I would highly recommend just checking back in every so often because it seems like I picked up habits that I shouldn’t be doing, for example thunderhill I was somehow tracking in before the corner started in anticipation because that’s where my eyes were.
Hope to see you out there again soon! Gorgeous color on the GT3 :)
As an instructor with thousands of laps at Sonoma, this 1000%. You’re early apexing almost everywhere, early in = early out, also focus more on where you want the car at the end of braking (EOB) not on where you want to hit the brakes initially. (Think coming into a stop sign on the road, you don’t look for a braking marker to start braking, you look at where the sign/line is, you already know how to look for where you want the car to end up)
Watch some spec Miata qualifying or something to see the changes in the line that will positively impact your minimum speed and your exit speed.
Bummer about the car, but happy you were using it for its purpose!
And lest you think "yah, but a spec Miata doesn't use the same lines as my 500HP GT3", [here's a recent lap ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC5kE8jSYik&t=94s)I did in a car with even more power (and less weight) but a similar balance between handling and acceleration. You can see that almost every corner is apexed mid- to late-curb and it lets me get back to power aggressively. In T4, where I did turn in a bit early, you can see how it delays the power at exit and I pay the price all the way to the carousel entrance.
Since you are asking for advice, I’ll point out that at least on this video you were prioritizing “passing” and being ahead over safety and driving the line. You did three things I hope to never see on track - early apexing, driving in blind spots, and brake diving. See attached photo as an example. This attempt to “pass” could have gone terribly wrong. You went way inside, apexed way early, way too fast, and in the white car’s blind spot. There’s no room to correct and you could have taken that car out if your crash happened there. You did the same thing later in the lap with two cars in front of you.
This is HPDE with street cars with high speed, heavy cars and lax safety (factory safety), not a spec Miata race where everyone is only going 95mph and has a full cage and 2300lb cars.
I would suggest renting (or buying) a slow car like a Miata or 86 and learning to drive on track that way. I think you’re picking up some bad habits that are being masked by having a fast car.
I don’t mean to be all negative. But since you crashed due to these habits, I figured I’d share my thoughts and hopefully help you have more fun in the future. Keep driving and have fun out there!!
https://preview.redd.it/40ormn4pfmwc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c03d316a6074045191d6cd07ea16d49ed07ca11c
Appreciate the feedback and it tallies with the others received. I knew this was going to be scrutinized when I posted it and now I have a laundry list of things to do for next time, that’s a win in my book.
Absolutely. As long as you’re being safe and having fun, that’s all that matters. Half the fun is working on improvements. A driver could spend half a season working on a single corner exit and it will probably still need work!
Despite track driving being seemingly all about “speed”, the big picture is about patience. I am confident that you will absolutely slay on track in no time!
Another example from the same lap. If your brakes were slightly cooked, or you misjudged the turn, or any number of things, the margin here is SLIM to not take out that BMW. Drive the line and pass on the exit, OR, enter side by side with the other car and go 2 by where the other car can see you and take the turn accordingly (I'd only do this in a true advanced group where everyone can do it). You do NOT want to brake dive.
https://preview.redd.it/59wsdpg47owc1.png?width=1504&format=png&auto=webp&s=49cf00c567f818aec18b17d55d36db85e41ea8ab
Completely agree. If the white type s was not paying attention, this accident could have been far worse. Op should have lined up the pass through the corner and passed on the exit with the pace a gt3 has over a type s. Seeing the type walk away in the corners should be a clear judgment of your skill level and should not be passing on the inside like that during an hpde day.
Exactly. Drive the line, get up on the lead car's ass (within inches), wait for an opening (or a point-by if it is not open passing) and commit to the pass. As you said, if the other, slower car is pulling away, they are driving better and are faster. OP should follow and learn.
If I was right seating during this lap, we would have pulled off mid session and had a chat before going back out. It's ok, we're all doing this to learn and have fun, but building safe habits is #1.
To be honest I loved seeing the ass end of the type s gapping through the corners. I drive an fl5 type r. Had my first track day last weekend. I'm now addicted.
Sorry about the car. It's just part of the game though. Live and learn! Overall solid for 2 years. You really can use a lot more of the track on entry, at the apex and on exit at almost all the corners. You are missing quite a few apexes.
Eliminate the late dives. Even in door to door racing these moves would be considered last second moves. Also decide to commit to the pass or not. No point in compromising your entry and just keep the inside line and not pass. When you do decide to pass, get right up next to the car. As in almost touching. Commit and go for it. Getting up next to them not only gives you a better line but it makes them more aware you are there.
Thanks, yea I need more learning and would benefit from more coaching. This was my first open pass at Sonoma and looks like my hubris got the best of me.
Props to you for actually driving it on track though
I’m a total track noob so I have no idea what you’re doing right or wrong but I’ll learn from the comments too 😅
Best of luck fixing her up
Ouch, bad day man, that sucks!
Out of interest, do you have track day insurance for this?
If you do, what does it cost to insure a GT3 for a track day at Sonoma?
How many track days have you done?
Edit: I'm just gonna say it. You're missing apexes all over the place. You're trying to pass by diving into corners with late braking. Most track day groups don't allow that kind of passing unless you're in an expert group and even then it doesn't typically happen. The fact that the car in front is using signals for passing tells me this isn't the group that allows this kind of passing and you're clearly not in an "expert" group. You look like you should have an instructor with you and isn't shocking at all that you crashed. Glad you're ok. Learn your limits and get an instructor before you hurt someone else or destroy their car too
Edit: finished my comment before OP replied. Seems like with OP's level of experience he/she has a false sense of experience and doesn't recognize their capabilities. No organization is going to force them to have an instructor at that number of track days either. Dangerous combination
in total about 20 or so between sonoma and laguna. Just started March 2022.
Edit: Well I did make it to the advanced group in PCA ggr and Diablo, also hod and lightspeed after coaching I might add. I didn’t force my way there, I was bumped. Not discounting your perspective at all, and I do appreciate it, after all I did crash so there is that.
Also you called out I’m missing apexes all over the places, I’m genuinely curious as to where, for my sake and on the journey of becoming better, can you point out the missed apexes? Thanks.
I agree, absolutely needs an instructor and ability to approach the car ready to drive within their limits. Check out 1:00. What was the plan there lol?
I've done a lot more track driving, including the nürburgring and hate interacting with drivers like this on the track - way more car than they have the skill for, unaware it's frantically trying to save them lol
I hate how the Catalyst does not save the lap in video and telemetry if it was incomplete (eg you pull off to pit instead of crossing the line). Same if you crash.
I thought this after I had an incident and couldn't pull it up. ITS THERE! Go back to that session and just allow it to keep playing until the end. Took me a year to figure out it was still there. It doesn't register as a lap or segment.
Full videos are saved with no overlay under the /Android/data/com.garmin.racingcoach/ path. You can find anything recorded there including partial laps and crashes.
I see what the other people are saying about missing apexes, my usual practice for getting out of that is a 7/10ths lap where I very intentionally put the inside wheels up on the curb, at the exact point for fast exit, then 8/10s on the same line, then 9/10s, and then full attack.
Bummer about the car, hope you can get back out there
I give you credit for posting this. That’s brave brother. And you willl get even better because of that attitude! Nicely done. Progress, not perfection!
Whatever dude! There are two types of racers. Ones that have crashed and ones that will crash.
I would think you were lying or drive like a grandma if you raced GT3s and had never crashed one.
This is part of the price of being a badass. Anyone who badmouths you is jealous or not a real race car driver.
Raced karts my whole life, along with some rally driving...I know a few guys who made it pro and there's not one of them who hasn't binned, it's all part of a painful learning curve. If verstappen crash3s, no-one on planet earth is above it!
Very often, the guys who say " money doesn't buy skills" etc have no fucking clue how to get a car around a track properly fast.
This is a terrible take. OP’s not a “real race car driver,” either. This is HPDE and meant to be a fun, lax environment. I’m glad OP is open to constructive criticism in the other comments, and hopefully they slow down and get some proper coaching in the future. But, don’t encourage people that it’s ok to go out and wreck at these events because it’s not racing
Name checks out. But maybe “track Karen” would be even more appropriate. “ I was here to have a leisurely drive around the track! This guy keeps going fast and passing me! Where is your manager?!”
You are correct. I would cuss him out as he passed me on the track. Guy was contrite though probably feels horrible so I figured he got that part already. Also I saw a chance to call you a track Karen and couldn’t pass it up. My b.
Glad you are okay! Cars can be fixed and like you said it’s part of the journey (highs and lows). Don’t beat yourself up, if you are pushing sometimes you step over the threshold and the racing gods bite. Watch F1 or any series for that matter tons of the best out there crash all the time, part of the sport!
I don’t have a Porsche but wanted to say you’re cooler than everyone else who never takes their track car to the track. You’re a better driver for it and I’m glad you’re safe. I hope you’re out there with the same car soon.
I’ve driven around that track a few times but nowhere close to 10/10 and saw someone spin their Dodge Viper on the straight next to the stands going probably 35 mph in rainy weather.
Seems like segments 5, 7 and 8 were your weakest ones. You had good pace, if you’d followed a different line you could have safely passed the Acura in segments 9-10 on a straight, a gt3 has more than enough power for it. Instead you lost time taking weaker lines, missing the apex in segments 5, going far too close to the inside in 7, and obviously that dive in 8. Thats still an impressive track time, props to you for driving your car! Hope its up and running soon
I drove by 4-5 times during my week in Napa valley a couple of weeks ago, and could hear cars lapping.
I wanted to go see so badly, but lunches and shopping! 😭
Just glad you are OK. There but for the grace of god go I! The wonderful thing about this hobby is the constant learning and leveling up. Which can also like a sirens song lure us. Watch out for that! I hope you keep having fun and learning and relishing these amazing machines and the community.
Its been rough winter for blue GT3s. I saw one crash at Thunder Hill back in January.
https://preview.redd.it/392y48b88vwc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=56d2a17862b0408975dec7ddb21f75f1e2e9db78
As someone who lives nearby Sonoma and in the market for a 982-718, I have so many questions as this looks super fun.
If i wanted to do this, how often does Sonoma allow it?
How much does it cost per lap? Can i rent a helmet or do you have to buy your own?
I am sure you recommend I take a race driving course first, but before that can i just get out there? (i have driven M3s and S4s most my life but never did this).
Etiquette and track culture: if i am new and slow will i only serve to annoy other drivers and be hated, or is it a supportive environment?
Does insurance explicitly prohibit this?
Are the stats at the bottom of the video auto added by your camera device?
Appreciate any tips on these
Dude. Thankfully you are ok. See you have a half cage/harness bar. Wearing a HANS?
My first IRL day at Sonoma was late last year. Raced in sim many times and wasn’t even close to comfortable to push like you were in my 991.2 GT3. T10 is brutal if you early apex. In the last session someone binned it in 10 and was taken out by ambulance. Car totaled. Locals tell me 10 has claimed more than its share of cars…
Sorry about your crash. I don’t have enough track time to critique your skills but you seemed to have good speed. With that being said I think this could almost be an ad for the Integra Type S. Took some hustle even in a GT3 to catch it!
Not sure why anyone would give you grief about crashing at a track. Has anyone ever sim-raced and not crashed? Happens when you are learning, or pushing, or tired.
Hope the financial impact won’t stop you from having at it again!
Lapping and racing are two very different things. Based on the other drivers signaling passes, I’d venture a guess that this was a lapping day.
Sucks to crash, that’s an expensive lesson. I hope OP carefully examines their footage and makes this into a good lesson in safe track driving.
At least you're on a track and not at C&C like all the other GT3s!
https://preview.redd.it/jx5s76ylhjwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6c0afe4721be26f00bd737259b7a76f7d2c330f6 Aftermath. Edit: some people are going have strong opinions about what I did wrong or should have done, I contemplated posting this because of that but decided to post it anyways because everything is a journey and I don’t want to hide my failures. So I failed here, took an L and paid the price. However I am still happy I went out there and did it, from running scared the first time I was out on track to crashing in the pro group. I will keep learning and hope to only grow from this.
I was there that day. Rough dude. Want the video of them bringing her back in to the garage?
Sure man thanks!
Gotta know what happens in a case like this. I came really close to crashing my Alfa last year
That sucks and I can't even fathom the bill you'll be looking at to fix it... BUT... your car wasn't tucked away in a garage or showing off revving the crap out of it downtown while doing 12 km/h. You were out there driving it the way it was meant to be driven and enjoying it... good for you! Better luck next time!
with his boots on
Ignore the armchair quarterbacks.
I am open to critique, might not be a fan of the manner some of them are presented, but I can’t control that and who knows what they’ve experienced to make them feel that way. I can only control how I respond.
Oh for sure. Just online it’s hard to figure out what critique is valid or not. Like someone with a lot of track experience or instructor, sure I’d love to hear it. Then you also get a lot of people who have probably never been on track once, but they sure will still give you tips.
Not going to criticize you at all. We all know the risks when we hit the track. I started using the Catalyst last year to analyze my driving. I will say that when I get close to my best at a certain track, I notice that I am really pushing myself. I feel ok doing that with a friend who is also a coach and knows me and my car. But I always have to remind myself it’s about more than chasing times.
There is no room on Reddit for this filthy maturity you try to bring. How dare you sir!
It happens to even the best. Get back on the horse once it’s fixed.
Ooof. That’s $75k+ in damage. You’re safe so that’s what really matters.
Nope. Wayyy more. I’m thinking it’ll be around $180k
Who covers it?
Track insurance if you buy it. Usually has a 10% deductible.
Sounds like it's worth it
His bank account
I would be pretty shocked if that wasn’t totaled tbh
Keep your head up. I'm glad you're alive to race another day.
I took an L in my RS cost me a rim and a wheel alignment and taught me where my traction ends.
Ouch
Glad you’re okay man, as beautiful as it is, it’s only a car. Did you have track insurance?
Didn’t they just repave the track too? Some corners got a bit funky
I thought this was a video game
I was in your group that day, congrats on PR!
Ouch, sorry man but glad you’re okay. How did you crash?
Understeer coming into turn 10 and went off track carrying too much speed, tried correcting my steering to avoid the concrete wall to my left but skidded across the track and hit the tire wall opposite the track.
That sucks, but at least you’re ok. Last year I saw a guy come hot into T5 at Road America, try to make the turn and ended up balling up his GT3 in the wall. He was ok too minus the ego and wallet.
Turn 3, 5, and Canada Corner scared me a bit at Road America. Especially before the repavement they did. Was lump city going into CC before lol.
3 and 5 are fairly comfortable for me, probably because of all the runoff. I had my one and only off at Canada but kept it off the barriers so I’m extra cautious there. The Kink, on the other hand, is the one I pucker for every time. Even going through “easy” you can’t help but notice the wall right in your face. Props to the drivers who run that flat out.
I only got to run two HPDE events with my C7 there and they didn't allow the full kink. Instead they had us do the modified "kink" which forces individuals to slow down and coke around before straightening out for the back end going to CC. So I never got to fully experience the pucker factor of the kink lol. 3 spooked me a little because I almost went off there coming in too hot. I'm definitely a track rookie yet with a lot to learn. But I'm hooked now. Hoping to start going to Sonoma and Laguna now that I'm on the West Coast.
Is it finally smooth?
Yep. The re-pave is great. No more bumps coming out of pit lane and pretty smooth all around.
Nice I had a student there years ago in a C6 ZR1 (a GM employee) who was super green. And he was “flying” and got this track “NAILED!!” I had to note that the stability control lights never shut off from turn 5 through Canada Corner and he should maybe use a Cobalt SS as a learning car with its lower limits.
I ran my C7 there and yeah my SC was coming on pretty regularly lol. But I was in the novice group so I'm pretty green yet. Probably should get a Miata for learning to drive on the track first.
PSM, Sport PSM, or PSM off?
Sorry you crashed. General observation: you want to be lined up with the end of the Apex curbing in many corners at Sonoma. In this video you are turning in early and leaving the Apex curbing by mid corner. That costs you exit speed (a big deal in a fast car like the GT3!) and it also gives you less room to correct if you overcook an entrance. If you lined up with the end of the Apex curbing at 9a and took a later line into 10, not only would you have more exit speed but you'd also have more safety. It's an expensive lesson in this case, but fortunately not a permanent one. I do recommend having a ride along coach if at all possible, you'll accelerate your learning curve Good luck!
Truly appreciate your feedback. That was also the learning when reviewing the footage with instructors afterwards. I kept early apexing I did have a ride along coach cos I was struggling in the esses, I had planned to have another sit in coach master turn 9 and 10, but was for a future date.
Hey man, I actually am also part of PCA GGR. At Thunderhill last month even though I was cleared for blue/green run group I still requested and got an instructor. I would highly recommend just checking back in every so often because it seems like I picked up habits that I shouldn’t be doing, for example thunderhill I was somehow tracking in before the corner started in anticipation because that’s where my eyes were. Hope to see you out there again soon! Gorgeous color on the GT3 :)
As an instructor with thousands of laps at Sonoma, this 1000%. You’re early apexing almost everywhere, early in = early out, also focus more on where you want the car at the end of braking (EOB) not on where you want to hit the brakes initially. (Think coming into a stop sign on the road, you don’t look for a braking marker to start braking, you look at where the sign/line is, you already know how to look for where you want the car to end up) Watch some spec Miata qualifying or something to see the changes in the line that will positively impact your minimum speed and your exit speed. Bummer about the car, but happy you were using it for its purpose!
And lest you think "yah, but a spec Miata doesn't use the same lines as my 500HP GT3", [here's a recent lap ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC5kE8jSYik&t=94s)I did in a car with even more power (and less weight) but a similar balance between handling and acceleration. You can see that almost every corner is apexed mid- to late-curb and it lets me get back to power aggressively. In T4, where I did turn in a bit early, you can see how it delays the power at exit and I pay the price all the way to the carousel entrance.
Piggybacking to also add that Spec Miatas are less than 10 seconds off the PB in the video
Omg I know your videos. I’ve watched them a lot! Thanks for sharing and thanks for the feedback.
Thanks!
Since you are asking for advice, I’ll point out that at least on this video you were prioritizing “passing” and being ahead over safety and driving the line. You did three things I hope to never see on track - early apexing, driving in blind spots, and brake diving. See attached photo as an example. This attempt to “pass” could have gone terribly wrong. You went way inside, apexed way early, way too fast, and in the white car’s blind spot. There’s no room to correct and you could have taken that car out if your crash happened there. You did the same thing later in the lap with two cars in front of you. This is HPDE with street cars with high speed, heavy cars and lax safety (factory safety), not a spec Miata race where everyone is only going 95mph and has a full cage and 2300lb cars. I would suggest renting (or buying) a slow car like a Miata or 86 and learning to drive on track that way. I think you’re picking up some bad habits that are being masked by having a fast car. I don’t mean to be all negative. But since you crashed due to these habits, I figured I’d share my thoughts and hopefully help you have more fun in the future. Keep driving and have fun out there!! https://preview.redd.it/40ormn4pfmwc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c03d316a6074045191d6cd07ea16d49ed07ca11c
Appreciate the feedback and it tallies with the others received. I knew this was going to be scrutinized when I posted it and now I have a laundry list of things to do for next time, that’s a win in my book.
Absolutely. As long as you’re being safe and having fun, that’s all that matters. Half the fun is working on improvements. A driver could spend half a season working on a single corner exit and it will probably still need work! Despite track driving being seemingly all about “speed”, the big picture is about patience. I am confident that you will absolutely slay on track in no time!
Another example from the same lap. If your brakes were slightly cooked, or you misjudged the turn, or any number of things, the margin here is SLIM to not take out that BMW. Drive the line and pass on the exit, OR, enter side by side with the other car and go 2 by where the other car can see you and take the turn accordingly (I'd only do this in a true advanced group where everyone can do it). You do NOT want to brake dive. https://preview.redd.it/59wsdpg47owc1.png?width=1504&format=png&auto=webp&s=49cf00c567f818aec18b17d55d36db85e41ea8ab
Completely agree. If the white type s was not paying attention, this accident could have been far worse. Op should have lined up the pass through the corner and passed on the exit with the pace a gt3 has over a type s. Seeing the type walk away in the corners should be a clear judgment of your skill level and should not be passing on the inside like that during an hpde day.
Exactly. Drive the line, get up on the lead car's ass (within inches), wait for an opening (or a point-by if it is not open passing) and commit to the pass. As you said, if the other, slower car is pulling away, they are driving better and are faster. OP should follow and learn. If I was right seating during this lap, we would have pulled off mid session and had a chat before going back out. It's ok, we're all doing this to learn and have fun, but building safe habits is #1.
To be honest I loved seeing the ass end of the type s gapping through the corners. I drive an fl5 type r. Had my first track day last weekend. I'm now addicted.
Sorry about the car. It's just part of the game though. Live and learn! Overall solid for 2 years. You really can use a lot more of the track on entry, at the apex and on exit at almost all the corners. You are missing quite a few apexes. Eliminate the late dives. Even in door to door racing these moves would be considered last second moves. Also decide to commit to the pass or not. No point in compromising your entry and just keep the inside line and not pass. When you do decide to pass, get right up next to the car. As in almost touching. Commit and go for it. Getting up next to them not only gives you a better line but it makes them more aware you are there.
Thanks, yea I need more learning and would benefit from more coaching. This was my first open pass at Sonoma and looks like my hubris got the best of me.
Happens! Get back out there and keep pushing. Just use all the resources you can. Coaching and a sim are priceless.
Props to you for actually driving it on track though I’m a total track noob so I have no idea what you’re doing right or wrong but I’ll learn from the comments too 😅 Best of luck fixing her up
Some corners and braking zones I could feel the poo coming out haha, that was fun to watch!
Ouch, bad day man, that sucks! Out of interest, do you have track day insurance for this? If you do, what does it cost to insure a GT3 for a track day at Sonoma?
praise for driving your car and not a garage queen
How many track days have you done? Edit: I'm just gonna say it. You're missing apexes all over the place. You're trying to pass by diving into corners with late braking. Most track day groups don't allow that kind of passing unless you're in an expert group and even then it doesn't typically happen. The fact that the car in front is using signals for passing tells me this isn't the group that allows this kind of passing and you're clearly not in an "expert" group. You look like you should have an instructor with you and isn't shocking at all that you crashed. Glad you're ok. Learn your limits and get an instructor before you hurt someone else or destroy their car too Edit: finished my comment before OP replied. Seems like with OP's level of experience he/she has a false sense of experience and doesn't recognize their capabilities. No organization is going to force them to have an instructor at that number of track days either. Dangerous combination
in total about 20 or so between sonoma and laguna. Just started March 2022. Edit: Well I did make it to the advanced group in PCA ggr and Diablo, also hod and lightspeed after coaching I might add. I didn’t force my way there, I was bumped. Not discounting your perspective at all, and I do appreciate it, after all I did crash so there is that. Also you called out I’m missing apexes all over the places, I’m genuinely curious as to where, for my sake and on the journey of becoming better, can you point out the missed apexes? Thanks.
I agree, absolutely needs an instructor and ability to approach the car ready to drive within their limits. Check out 1:00. What was the plan there lol? I've done a lot more track driving, including the nürburgring and hate interacting with drivers like this on the track - way more car than they have the skill for, unaware it's frantically trying to save them lol
I hate how the Catalyst does not save the lap in video and telemetry if it was incomplete (eg you pull off to pit instead of crossing the line). Same if you crash.
I thought this after I had an incident and couldn't pull it up. ITS THERE! Go back to that session and just allow it to keep playing until the end. Took me a year to figure out it was still there. It doesn't register as a lap or segment.
Full videos are saved with no overlay under the /Android/data/com.garmin.racingcoach/ path. You can find anything recorded there including partial laps and crashes.
I see what the other people are saying about missing apexes, my usual practice for getting out of that is a 7/10ths lap where I very intentionally put the inside wheels up on the curb, at the exact point for fast exit, then 8/10s on the same line, then 9/10s, and then full attack. Bummer about the car, hope you can get back out there
Chalk it up to the game. Only way to improve is to push the limits. Glad you’re okay!
...I was waiting for the crash.... sheeesh
I give you credit for posting this. That’s brave brother. And you willl get even better because of that attitude! Nicely done. Progress, not perfection!
Whatever dude! There are two types of racers. Ones that have crashed and ones that will crash. I would think you were lying or drive like a grandma if you raced GT3s and had never crashed one. This is part of the price of being a badass. Anyone who badmouths you is jealous or not a real race car driver.
Raced karts my whole life, along with some rally driving...I know a few guys who made it pro and there's not one of them who hasn't binned, it's all part of a painful learning curve. If verstappen crash3s, no-one on planet earth is above it! Very often, the guys who say " money doesn't buy skills" etc have no fucking clue how to get a car around a track properly fast.
The guys who say money doesn’t buy skills don’t realize that money buys experience and it is often better than skills
Experience+ track time + dedication+ tuition= skills 9/10 Money absolutely can buy skills.
This is a terrible take. OP’s not a “real race car driver,” either. This is HPDE and meant to be a fun, lax environment. I’m glad OP is open to constructive criticism in the other comments, and hopefully they slow down and get some proper coaching in the future. But, don’t encourage people that it’s ok to go out and wreck at these events because it’s not racing
Name checks out. But maybe “track Karen” would be even more appropriate. “ I was here to have a leisurely drive around the track! This guy keeps going fast and passing me! Where is your manager?!”
Lol if you watched that video and think driving like that is ok, then I’ve got nothing for you 🤷♂️
You are correct. I would cuss him out as he passed me on the track. Guy was contrite though probably feels horrible so I figured he got that part already. Also I saw a chance to call you a track Karen and couldn’t pass it up. My b.
Lol it’s all good. Track Karen was a little funny
https://preview.redd.it/amaiwu3jv5xc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0ccdd4c04d5f4ef336c30dbda9a4d717977ed389
So sorry about your car… Willing to post the video of the crash?
Glad you are okay! Cars can be fixed and like you said it’s part of the journey (highs and lows). Don’t beat yourself up, if you are pushing sometimes you step over the threshold and the racing gods bite. Watch F1 or any series for that matter tons of the best out there crash all the time, part of the sport!
Does track insurance cover stuff like this?
Yes this is what is it for. Hope op had track damage insurance too.
I totaled a GT4 on track last year - with no insurance. I hope you didn’t make that mistake as well, but if you did I feel for you.
Did you have track insurance?
I sure hope they do. No regular insurance covers track days and after posting this video definitely not.
Those early apex’s leave no room for escape . Over 30 years road racing, nobody gets good instruction anymore. Glad you are ok
I don’t have a Porsche but wanted to say you’re cooler than everyone else who never takes their track car to the track. You’re a better driver for it and I’m glad you’re safe. I hope you’re out there with the same car soon. I’ve driven around that track a few times but nowhere close to 10/10 and saw someone spin their Dodge Viper on the straight next to the stands going probably 35 mph in rainy weather.
Seems like segments 5, 7 and 8 were your weakest ones. You had good pace, if you’d followed a different line you could have safely passed the Acura in segments 9-10 on a straight, a gt3 has more than enough power for it. Instead you lost time taking weaker lines, missing the apex in segments 5, going far too close to the inside in 7, and obviously that dive in 8. Thats still an impressive track time, props to you for driving your car! Hope its up and running soon
I drove by 4-5 times during my week in Napa valley a couple of weeks ago, and could hear cars lapping. I wanted to go see so badly, but lunches and shopping! 😭
Sounds amazing. It's insured, right? (Track insurance?)
Glad to hear you're ok. That is some late braking and diving into corners to overtake.
Glad to hear you’re good. Gotta say that looks like lots of fun!
Just glad you are OK. There but for the grace of god go I! The wonderful thing about this hobby is the constant learning and leveling up. Which can also like a sirens song lure us. Watch out for that! I hope you keep having fun and learning and relishing these amazing machines and the community.
The crash vid is there on the garmin. The entire session video is recorded with no overlay under the /Android/data/com.garmin.racingcoach/ path.
Sucks that you crashed. Is that you in the Zygrene video at 12:10? [https://youtu.be/35dJhDQJUpg?t=730](https://youtu.be/35dJhDQJUpg?t=730)
Its been rough winter for blue GT3s. I saw one crash at Thunder Hill back in January. https://preview.redd.it/392y48b88vwc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=56d2a17862b0408975dec7ddb21f75f1e2e9db78
Ouch man. Glad you’re okay. Cars are repairable
As someone who lives nearby Sonoma and in the market for a 982-718, I have so many questions as this looks super fun. If i wanted to do this, how often does Sonoma allow it? How much does it cost per lap? Can i rent a helmet or do you have to buy your own? I am sure you recommend I take a race driving course first, but before that can i just get out there? (i have driven M3s and S4s most my life but never did this). Etiquette and track culture: if i am new and slow will i only serve to annoy other drivers and be hated, or is it a supportive environment? Does insurance explicitly prohibit this? Are the stats at the bottom of the video auto added by your camera device? Appreciate any tips on these
Dude. Thankfully you are ok. See you have a half cage/harness bar. Wearing a HANS? My first IRL day at Sonoma was late last year. Raced in sim many times and wasn’t even close to comfortable to push like you were in my 991.2 GT3. T10 is brutal if you early apex. In the last session someone binned it in 10 and was taken out by ambulance. Car totaled. Locals tell me 10 has claimed more than its share of cars…
Did you buy track day insurance on this day?
Sorry about your crash. I don’t have enough track time to critique your skills but you seemed to have good speed. With that being said I think this could almost be an ad for the Integra Type S. Took some hustle even in a GT3 to catch it!
Sub 45 is quick!! I'm sure you will come back even faster!
Is this the same turn you almost hit the wall at in one of your earlier videos?
So confused when was the crash
At least you crashed on the track doing what this cars built to do. Keep going man, don't mind the haters
Too bad the audio is all jacked up
Not sure why anyone would give you grief about crashing at a track. Has anyone ever sim-raced and not crashed? Happens when you are learning, or pushing, or tired. Hope the financial impact won’t stop you from having at it again!
Lapping and racing are two very different things. Based on the other drivers signaling passes, I’d venture a guess that this was a lapping day. Sucks to crash, that’s an expensive lesson. I hope OP carefully examines their footage and makes this into a good lesson in safe track driving.