Tsukuba Time Trial in "Course 1000"

Tsukuba Circuit ,Ibaraki, on March 10th, 2001

Weather:Fair

Condition:Dry

Today's My Best Lap:53"302

FYI, the best of other participants today was 42"248.

- REPORT -

SUV and Circuit

Having breakfast at the parking of the convenience store just before Tsukuba Circuit, several "just the cars" passed. Maybe no one thought that this RVR would run on the circuit. Following them, I arrived at the circuit, and went to the parking. Though I expected that other SUVs were there, only my car of SUVs seemed to join today as well as the previous events.

Lesson in the Room

At first, I listened to the lecture at the room. It would be OK to go to the course without the lecture because I had done previously , but I did it to be ready of my attitude of mind. It was from I was worrying the blank that 3 months had passed since my previous joining. The contents of the lecture was the same as the previous one, but the lecturerTom Yoshidagave us went faster and faster because we did not have so much time.

Reminder

In the lecture, Tom told us, "Braking into a corner, the gravity of the center can be forwarder of the car, and then it can reduce your under-steering. But T (that is my name),don't do itwith your tall car because it might not balance!" ... I would try it.

For the contents of the lecture, refer to "Text Book" on the web site of YRS .

After that in the morning, we moved to "Course 1000". For about 3 months since the previous Time Trial, I had thought how to drive faster with looking at the drawing of the course. For the moment (because I would confuse), here are my own tasks.

1-turn: I had never gone to the clipping point of it. Do it with braking earlier.

2-turn: Step on the gas fully as long as possible with smoothly going to the next straight.

Just before the hairpin turn: Braking fully for fewer running than the previous one.

Straight - Left turn - Straight in the field: Step on the gas fully with smoothly steering.

To the oval: No idea. Think just at the point.

Last turn: Turn with letting my right foot out of the accelerator rapidly.

Practice

At thepractice, every group went into the course in order. Soon, I got a follower, but the practice finished while I thought how to be overtaken. I was not aware of the above tasks.

Sprint Race and Kurt

After lunch. we watched thesprint raceheld by YRS as well, which was exciting us very much. The winning HONDA Civic was too fast to let me think to try to join the next race, but I want if more people join and are classified by the lap times.
Before our Time Trial, we had a chance to try akurt. The response was so quick that I only could drive slowly, but I want to try it again!

Today's Subject

At the Time Trial, we drove 4 laps as a set and the 2nd and 3rd lap were clocked, and tried 3 sets. Only two cars were on the track at the same time. Then, I was called to go into the track with my RVR. At the first step, it would be OK if it was the 55" mark. Being different from the previous Time Trial, I could concentrate on the above tasks without thinking about any followers, and it might cause the54" mark, which was OK with me because my best time had been 54"189 (*). About the above important tasks, I was surprised that steering smoothly could let me step on the gas so long, although I was not aware of the task with "no idea". But anyway, at the second set, I got 53"351 that was faster than 1" and more by driving more smoothly. "No idea" turned "a little idea".
* On the record, it was the 51" mark, but some trouble was with the timer.

At the last set, it should get the 52" mark because it was the 54" mark at the first and the 53" mark at the second. I got the better time than the one at the previous set. I must do it! 1-turn through 2-turn, I did well. The hairpin turn through the combined turns, I could pass them with patiently turning though I had been about to go out of the track with fully stepping on the gas too early and too roughly in last November. At the straight, the left turn, and the next straight, I could pass by driving as smoothly as possible. Even on the "a little idea" turn, I thought I did it by fully braking and using the width of the track. Then finally, the next was the last turn! ... Too enough power was with my right foot. Once I turned off the accelerator just"roughly", my car turned too rapidly and the right rear tire went down out of the track. Soon it could come onto the track again, but I could not get the better result than before.