So I went to CMP this weekend and I took SS along as my driving instructor. I had a blast, not only is Scott a fun guy to hang out with but he is also a great teacher. I highly recommend the Siegel Racing Drivers Education Clinics to anyone who hasn't done it, I learned a lot about lines and corner entry speeds etc... Now a little background on me and the car before I tell you the rest of the story. The car is a 06 STI, GT30R, Stock Suspension with Sway Bars, and an alignment. The car is stupid fast and has more power than it does grip. I have about 10 track days of experience and some autocross, I consider myself a good driver but I'm not Mario Andretti. Now on with the story, as it turns out when you have almost 400whp and sway bars the car will slide just like a rwd car, its pretty fun, unless you're SS riding with someone you have never ridden with. There are Several Scott Siegel Pucker Points, they will now be called SSPPs Ill take you through one really fun lap at cmp. Turn 1 heavy breaking, I'm approaching this turn in 5th gear pretty much flat out, down shift to 3rd turn in is extremely early, hitting the beginning of the curbing and sacrificing some exit to setup for turn 2. Turn 2 Still in third gear, banging the last half of the inside curbing to setup for 3 Turn 3 This is a fun turn, turn in is early and I'm setting up for a 4th gear run up the straight. (SS and myself, discussed possibly shifting 4th early pre turn, when Scott did it, it worked fine, When I did it we almost went off, this is one of the SSPPs) Straight Top of 4th gear usually lifting early as opposed to shifting to 5th Turn 4 approaching in 4th slight braking early turn in 4th gear coming out. Turn 5-6-7 require perfection to get right . Turn 5 down shift to third on the brakes turn it in and touch the last part of the apex curbing. Turn 6 head to the outside of the track and start looking for the three black circles together, stay to the outside, the next point is one big black circle and you are still outside of it, Turn 7 turn in and hit the apex curbing and setup for a run to the outside of the straight. (Slight SSPP when car slides all the way to the outside under throttle) Straight Turn 8 5th gear when I'm hard on the brakes and turning in earlier than I would have thought. (SSPP3 , I'm approaching this turn in 5th I down shift to 4th, for this right hand turn, I turn the car left and then flick it right(that's right kids its the scandinavian flick) we slide it through the corner on the gas and we are on our way) Back straight 5th Turn 9 is pretty much a non event full throttle to the inside of the turn and onto the straight Straight 5th gear almost touching the rev limiter Turn 10 (the kink) Top of 5th touch the brakes and turn in touching the curbing on the inside of the turn and I'm full on the gas. (this turn is a non event if you are under 100mph) (SSPP 4 I put two off here at 120-125mph stay in it and recover nicely) Straight Turn 11 5th gear I'm hitting the ABS on the way in, down shift to 3rd and hit the apex curbing in the last part of the turn. (SSPP 5 This was a good one 3rd gear coming out of this turn I'm in the gas hard and the car is sliding tail out all the way down the straight until I lift lightly and get the car back straight so we can brake for the next turn) Turn 12 3rd gear much slower than you would imagine touching the last part of the curbing on the inside of the turn and running out to the inside. Turn 13 3rd gear smacking the curbing on the inside get the car to rotate 4th gear straight Turn 14 3rd gear turn in is super late hit the curbing rotate the car and proceed to the front straight. That's one lap with me around CMP, Ill see if I can get some video hosted later. Scott and myself will have a crazy announcement in a couple of weeks that I think everyone will be super excited about. Matt
Note all the crazyness didnt happen in one lap but it makes a much better story if you tell it that way. Matt
Sounds like you had fun Matt...plus an awesome learning experience...I want to take one of SS's clinics as soon as I can afford it... Mark
SRDEC sponsorship? Sounds like a blast, I cannot wait till he opens a SDREC there. I'll be first in line
Good news Alex he was inquiring about track rental when we were there. Its a quite expensive track to rent but I think it would be worth the money. The track has a lot of very complex corners. I would say that it is just as safe as TGP.
CMP is a great track and STI is super fast there. Its amazing how much fun the car is with just sway bars
Its great isnt it, the improvement alone from sways is quite enjoyable. From what I have been told, CMP is a safe, quick and enjoyable track. The largest downside is that it is hard on your brakes. This is obvious of course due the corners present and capability of carrying large speed through the straight(s).
How much is SS's lessons anyway? Also, i need to learn to heel and toe...i stand naturally with my feet apart point outward...so its difficult.
I'll let Scott tell you how much a private lesson is. I never even discussed heel toe with Scott so I guess that means I was doing it right. I think it is 2.3 miles but I'm not sure. Matt Cars current state, 3000 miles, 1 worn out and chunked set of tires, 2 track days and 1 car payment so far. \