Spin at Turn 1 - Watkins Glen

Carried a little too much speed into turn 1 after a late pass and spun.

Sorry my big fat head got in the way of the camera on every right turn!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• lotus
• elise
• watkins
• glen
• spin
• turn
• gvc
• bmw
• cca

[seebeck911]

Wow this instructor is top notch. he really thought quickley to keep the car safe and then his discussion afterwards is right on. The driver did a good job of listening and taking a lesson away from this all. great video at a great track.

[zygotesoup]

@seebeck911 Thanks man! The instructor is Ken Buschner. He instructs with the GVC BMWCCA, the NE Ferrari club and is a Porsche club racer. Great guy and helped me keep my car off the armco.

[odortiz]

you need to stop leaning into turns. by doing so, you flex all your core muscles to fight the forces. let the seat hold you and you will be able to feel the tail begin to rotate and open the wheel. another thing you look like you are doing, pushing the wheel. you need to pull the wheel. if you can't keep shoulder contact with your seat with your hands crossed on the wheel, you are too far. your shoulder blades, back and but need to be on the seat at all times and relaxed to feel the rotation.

[zygotesoup]

@odortiz I'm glad I was filming because I didn't realize how bad I was leaning into corners. I'm installing harnesses today so hopefully that will help me stay put. also, I'm working on staying relaxed behind the wheel as everyone tells me I'm too "intense"

[truthnmedia]

I think I've had the same instructor before!

[littledan212]

Kudos to your instructor. Very composed.

[zygotesoup]

@odortiz all good info... looks like I've got some homework :)

[odortiz]

all this happens at lightning speed in a lotus, so you need to be ultra sensitive. get some skidpad time to pay attention to the steering effort changes as the car spins and to learn to relax your body while it is happening.

[odortiz]

once you relax your core and relax your hands, you will be able to feel the car start to rotate because you demanded a tight radius with too much speed. you would feel the tail begin moving sideways, and just as important, you feel the steering effort go down to zero as the front wheels always want to go straight. that would be your cue to open the wheel some, thus opening the arc of the turn and allowing the turn to be completed. it would be ugly, but straight.