High Def video - Oulton Park

General Meets + Track Day Reports
1

Another great trackday organised by Lotus on Track, this time at Oulton Park.

I’ve driven Outlon a fair bit, but this was my first day there in the Exige S and it was like being at a different circuit compared to the other cars I driven it in.

The video shows an early session during the day and lots of room for improvement. I have video of a later session but I am having problems processing it as the video stutters. Will keep working on it.

I decided to try heal-and-toe for the first time on this day. I found it quite difficult and after talking to some other drivers on the day found my approach to be wrong. I was depressing the throttle rather than just blipping it. As a consequence you’ll hear the car over-rev on some of the corner approaches.

By the end of the day the heal-and-toe improved but it will take a few trackdays to get it right.

As for the circuit driving the video will shows a few issues that I worked on during the day and improved:

Over-braking for Lodge - I have never got to grips with this corner, I am sure there is more pace to be had through the corner. I think because of the drop-off and camber I am being tentative.

Use of 2nd - in Lodge, Shell Oils, Foulstons and Hizzies (Knickerbrook) in the afternoon sessions I kept the Exige in 3rd through these and found the smoother entry and torque of the supercharged engine was overall quicker than the higher revved 2nd and subsequent need to shift up shortly after exit.

Cascades - In the morning I balanced throttle through most of the corner, but as confidence in the car grew I was able to gradually apply gentle throttle earlier and earlier. I also began the slight righthand turn-in at the end of The Avenue earlier. Rather than waiting to see the kerbing begin I was turning in a little earlier in anticipation of the straightening before Cascades. This brought more stable straightline braking.

Island - I began to reduce the braking to settle the car on approach and turn a little earlier (at the beginning of the exit road on right), this felt better and kept a tighter line with more pace (IMO).

As always the more constructive feedback the better

The video is in High Definition (HD) and can be watched in full screen mode if you click the icon in the bottom right of the video panel.

Best

Damon


http://vimeo.com/1190331


[image]http://images36.fotki.com/v1161/photos/5/537502/6349498/XSP_0446-vi.jpg[/image]

2

Firstly, Damon, vids are of great quality - thanks for posting up

Secondly - once you’ve cracked “heel & toe”, I’m sure that you’ll wonder why you’ve waited so long to use the technique on both track & road .

Only other comment, apart from the above (& using 3rd instead of 2nd which you’ve already sussed), it’s obvious that you know the circuit well

Just rubs it into me, that I missed a great day’s driving with you guys - ah well, see you there in October

3

Bloody heel and toe, I’m all over the place with my S2 pedals. JP (instructor) showed me in my car, so it not impossible but right now I’m more fingers and thumbs!

Oh btw Damom…excellent!

4

Great vids, thanks !

I think next time you do Oulton you should put yourself in the top group because you were catching a lot of people who were slower than yourself.

One thing, I dont think there is much time to be gained (if any) by crashing off the kerbs. I find it upsets the car going into the corners and unbalances it as you are trying to turn in. It also feels awful and cant be good for the springy bits. Just my 2p which might, of course, be complete boldax.

5

Hi DSE

I put myself in the novice group as it was only 3rd day out in the Exige and the first time at OP in it. I asked to be moved to the inter group after two sessions, but they couldn’t move me. So yes not great for the peeps I was asking to move over and slowed me on good laps.

Kerbs a bit much I agree. In the CSL it was more compliant and it gained some time/straightened some parts.

6

Excellent Vids! What camera was that?

I bolted on an ‘Oregon’ camera to the side mirror. Quality rubbish! All out of focus and lousy definition with no sound to boot!

Pity you could not have taken my ‘place’ and got into the inter class in the morning as I was ‘out’ till p.m with my noisy exhaust! Worth waiting for thought… great track!

What strikes me from the vid is just how well the ‘S’ pulls from low revs all the way… My VHPD is seemingly just as quick… I was not left at all by a yellow ‘S’ in the last session… but it is all at the top rpm end!

‘Heel and Toe’ comes very quickly… just practice on the roads!

7

I am using a Sony Handycam HDR-CX7

[image]http://inventorspot.com/files/images/sony%20hdr-cx7.jpg[/image]

Mounted

[image]http://images33.fotki.com/v1139/photos/5/537502/6150462/IMG_5299-vi.jpg[/image]


Records direct to SD card. The quality of the output for online hosting is a little more involved. Resolution changed to 1280x 720, bit-rate 3000, key frame 30secs (frame reordering on) and deinterlaced. Audio set to AAC 128kbps.

Vimeo hosting is currently free, limited to 500mb per week.

8

Jees that really is top qaulity footage!

What make of mount is that?

Tmepted to flog my bullet cam package to got one of those!

9

Arrrgh why did you have to post that, just makes me realise that I’ve missed another great day. Need to get myself something booked soon.

Great vids.

10

Jees that really is top qaulity footage!

What make of mount is that?

Tmepted to flog my bullet cam package to got one of those!

Manfrotto 484RC2

[image]http://www.missnumerique.com/images/produits/large/manfrotto_tete_484RC2_a.gif[/image]

and a Superclamp


[image]https://sslrelay.com/s139675512.oneandoneshop.co.uk/sess/utn1547f8a775adf91/shopdata/0002_Mounts+for+camcorders=2C+cameras+and+bullet+cameras/0020_Fixed+and+roll+cage+mounts/images/100_0563_346x259.jpg[/image]

11

Damon, great footage - it reminded me what a great circuit OP is.

I did it for the first time on my bike on 30th May and had a fantastic day - apart from a trip into the gravel at Lodge during that “over confident” last session - no damage though and re-joined to finish the session off surprisingly smoother and faster than “pre-off” !

[image]http://widget.slide.com/rdr/1/1/4/S/40000001f3f7531/1/99/XCn29_7Y7j9TGNMbUCMDJjoUBfVRWlbm.jpg[/image]

12

Damon, didn’t realise how expensive that cam was!

Do you know of anything a bit cheaper which will be of similar quality? (HD)

I’ve missed out on a few Ebay ones!

13

Not the cheapest, I bought it in the US so it helped.

Haven’t looked into to any others as I have this one.

Do you know anyone going to the US? Exchange rate makes it more affordable.

14

Hey hey hey used my new HD cam today, it’s so clear it’s untrue! I would up load but most of the runs I did today were in the wet…I drove shamefully slow in my R888’s

I’ll point it rearward at Spa Marky, maybe get you on camera

15

I’d recommend vimeo for HD hosting, free with 500Mb per week restriction.

If you want some help with processing settings let me know

16

Rearward

I might have 270 bhp by then Johnny Not that it will increase my driving skill!

Damon, I do know someone in the US. Presume there are no PAL / NTSC issues?

Ta

17

No issues, just plug in and go.

I am using iMovie on the mac to process the HD video. Takes a fair bit of space, but a 1TB external drive sorts that.

SD cards are best bought in 4GB or 8GB, giving approx 30mins and 1hour recording respectively.

18

Very nice. Great video. Looks like a nice track too.

19

Thanks Damon, I’ll wait til I have Marky flying by in Spa then before I upload any

20

That looks suspiciously like a very tasty 1098R - am I right?!