CME

I am not the fastest guy out there but by the end of back straight I am approaching 150mph prior to the braking markers. That was on street PS2's. As a comparision I was being passed at the end of the esses by Cup cars like I was standing still. I would assume that puts MY speed in the esses between 100-130mph. There are folks going a lot faster than that with the proper talent, car and setup.

Chet

LVDell

Chet, you are probably right on with reagrds to whom is carrying those speeds......the CUP CARS! It never ceases to amaze me just how fast those cars are compared to the street GT3.

Qwickrick

The "esses" at WGI start at turn 2 which is a very fast right hander that leads you up into the esses. You follow the yellow line on the curbing until the line ends, then transition left into turn 3 where the yellow line is now on the driver's side, followed by transitioning right into turn 4 which when you track out, leads you onto the back straight until turn 5A, the "bus stop or inner loop". There is a elevation gain of about 100 feet from turn 2 to turn 5A, and you will probably see your highest speed of the day right before you brake for 5A. In my 993TT, I was shifting into 5th between turns 3 and 4.

LVDell

So if it is roughly 3500 ft from the exit of T1 to the bus stop at 5A at WGI and at VIR the exit of oak tree (T11A/12) to the end of the back straight (T14) is roughly 4000 ft with the fast cars hitting 155-160 then you must be in one fast @ss car to hit 165 at your braking zone at 5A. Not doubting at all, just curious what car we are talking about to hit those speeds at WGI. Cup?

Qwickrick

Certainly wasn't me claiming 165mph at the braking zone at 5A but I don't have big enough brass ones to go full throttle from turn 1 to turn 5A.

LVDell

I know rick, I was referring back to the original claimant of those speeds.

btw, the brass ones come in time

Qwickrick

Watkins Glen from turn 1 until turn 5A, is about 4600-4700 feet. If you take turn 4 correctly, the car will track out perfectly without any winding or unwinding of the steering wheel. I "learned" WGI from "Trackmasters"

Phokaioglaukos

I've ridden with Larry Herman in his GT3 and Geoffrey Ring in his 964(?) at the Glen and I think they were getting to 155 or so at the bus stop. Larry I know was flat out from T1 to the bus stop, and I know he could hang with the cup cars, even the well-driven ones. I signed up to drive the Glen with Kojote this summer. It's for advanced drivers only, but they let me squeak in. I was cautioned that there will be at least two 962s on the track with us and that I will check my mirrors going into the bus stop, see nothing there, and be passed in the outer loop. I'm looking forward to experiencing that, repeatedly!

LVDell

Almost 5K feet? Are you positive? Then we are looking at different track schematics. Where are you getting your info from? I'd love to hear that it is almost 5K feet. Then I could believe speeds of 165. I'm not doubting anybody, just curious to learn more about the track since I will be up there at some point soon.

Qwickrick

Oops:
Turn 1 to turn 2 is 800 feet/turn 3 and turn 4 is another 800 feet and the back straight up to the bus stop (inner loop) is 1839 feet/total of 3639 feet.

Front straight is 1214 feet.

Rick

fhp911

Interesting -- I started this thread and it moved away from my subject of the motor mounts, to the details of the esses at Watkins Glen.

My GT3 is (for now) bone stock. I feel kinda uncomfortable in the esses at the Glen and I don't give serious throttle until I'm almost finished with the turns. Even so, I get to 145+ before the busstop.

Will the improved motor mounts make the car more stable in the esses?

Which are the preferred mounts?

ps: How do I get a neat photo to appear to the left of my postings??

TIA, etc.

LVDell

Re: the esses and stability. Yes, in theory.
Re: the pic to the left. Click USER CP in the top left. Then on the next page click EDIT AVATAR down the left side menu. Take it from there!
Re: the esses at WGI and speed. I can't wait to get there soon and see what the fuss is all about

Phokaioglaukos

This is the classic description of the line. My first instructor there told me to transition from T3 to T4 when the left-right balance of the car became neutral. Depending on speed, that can be a bit before or after these visual markers. I find the feel of the car an easier guide. When you do it right it feels like I'm dancing with a beautiful girl who likes me, a lot.

Unlike the fast guys, I cannot stay flat on it in my GT3 from T1 to T2, but I can be WOT from T2 turn in to the bus stop. I'm working on being faster through T1 and getting on throttle down between T1 and T2.

Ed Newman

Ray must be hitting at least 300 mph at the end of the straight if he is going 150 up through the esses. I just checked my traqmate (wonderful toy) and my T2 (bottom of esses) speed is about 100 mph and my exit speed on trackout is about 127. This brings me to a top speed of about 142 at the end of the straight. Lap times for this were 2:15 to 2:16. I think there is a lot of hot air blowing about straight line speeds at the Glen.

Anyway, interesting point of note: the Cup car mounts DO NOT fit any of the street cars. Apparently the rear engine bracket is different and the three bolts (two to chassis, one to engine bracket) are in-line instead of having the center (engine) bolt offset. My plan is to look into the 993 RS or the WEVO mounts.

Phokaioglaukos

Ed, my point exactly. No 150 mph up the esses (but maybe in an IRL car?).

Please let us know if you choose WEVO oir 964/993 RS mounts, and why.