Signed up for the trackmasters event there in March.

I have not yet driven Laguna Seca....any insight from those that have?

I'm definitely looking forward to this one....

Alan

 

Moved to Bay Area for you.

 

Play Gran Turismo 3, and you can understand the layout of the track.

 

I'm interested in this as well.

I've done about a year of autocross in Texas, but Laguna Seca would be my first track day (I haven't signed up for one yet, but I plan on it soon).

I have a WRX and am putting turbo legacy gt brakes on with ss lines. I have gauges (egt, oil press/temp), exhaust parts, lots of suspension stuff.

What do I need to do to prepare my car? What should I know about Laguna Seca in particular? How have other Subies done with the 90/92 dB sound limit?

 

Bring warm clothes! I froze my nuts off at LSIR last time i went.

Also, drive it lots of times in GT3. It's actually not too far off of reality in terms of track layout.

 

The sound booth is just after turn 6 * i think * going uphill.

To me, the trickiest turn was the left hander just after the corkscrew, i don't know the turn number atm. Take it slow, watch others and see how they take it. The majority of the crashes that day were on that turn.

If you can, take an instructor, and also get a ride with one *in thier car* on one of your off sessions.

This is one course you want to stay well below your limits. Too many places to crash hard. But man o man, it's the most beautiful course i've ever been on.

 

The left turn after the corkscrew under the Wayne Rainey bridge is turn nine. The reason a lot of people spin off there is because it is off camber and you can carry way to much speed going downhill. They are supposed to be cutting into the hillside to give more runoff in this turn to get ready for the MOTO GP races in July. But get it right and it is a blast. You don't want to set up for it by going clear to the right, try 3/4 of the way out to the right before you turn in. My favorite turn is four nice and flat but opens up pretty wide. Laguna Seca is a blast see you there with Trackmasters.

 

Seriously, I had the track (well at least the turns) memorized before I had ever seen the track. The elevation changes didn't translate very well. The demo for Forza Motorsport is better at that. I was amazed.

Before you go to the track, take everything out of your car at home that you won't need to take. If you have a big Rubbermaid tub bring that to hold crap like your jack, spare, etc. in the parking lot while you are there. Oh and bring a ramp (or you could just use your spare) for when you get back to the parking area after your run, so you have something to park against. Don't set you parking brake, because everything will be so hot it might seize.

I would suggest getting an instructor to ride along if you have that option.

Here is conservative advice: If you are taking it easy, you can go virutally the whole track in 3rd. That's what I did to get a feel. Just downshift to second (or first?) for turn 11 and you could probably dump it into 4th after turn 4. Watch the elevation changes on turns 6 and 7. Don't lift, be at the speed you want when you go into those turns. Pay attention to the little numbers near the corner to gauge where to start braking.

You might not want to do this, but I ran a line WAY up to the right before turn 9 and it shot me out the other end, got way back over to the left before turn 10, didn't even have to brake, and shot past a Porsche that waved me by. You probably want to take the advice of the other guys though. I had an INCREDIBLE instructor in the car with me and he was making me do crap I never thought I could do with that car... ON RE92's!!!!!!!

Oh: http://www.laguna-seca.com/GeneralIn...ction=TrackMap

Slow in, fast out. Have all your braking/shifting done before you enter the corner... um... keep everything smooth. Smooth braking, smooth application of the gas. Seriously, though, take it easy until you are comfortable.

And move your seat closer to the wheel than what you are normally used to.

Use the WHOLE track. What I mean is don't be afraid of the runnouts and the berms on the inside of the turns. Just keep it on the track. haha.

Anyone, please feel free to correct me if I am an idiot.

You are going to have a blast!!!

http://www.laguna-seca.com/GeneralIn...seAction=Video

*edit* Say goodbye to your tires and like 3 tanks of gas.

Oh, I just realized that I just assumed that you had never gone to a track event... you might already know most of that crap... Oh well, just there for general knowledge, then.

Also edited to take out some stupid advice.

 

All good advice... I had the opportunity to take a ride along in a modded (suspension) WRX before I went out, and that was great. There are some real tricks to Laguna, but I would say the biggest trick is - study slow to learn fast. Drive your first laps methodically slow, exaggerate the line and before you know it, you will be driving well. The only problem areas for me were 10 and 11. It would be very advised to have at least better than stock brake pads. RE92's will of course hamper your performance, but if this is your first time out they can be an essential tool to learn what your car is doing when.. They let go progressively and warn you VERY loud beforehand.

AFAIK the sound meter is on the hil between 5 and 6. We would get black flagged going up that hill @ WOT w/ Z06 with stock exhaust. Yeesh.

-Jacob

 

This is why I liked them for this track day. I agree 100% Plus it had the added bonus of absolutely destroying them. hahha. Oh well, have to get some new tires.

 

Then I won't need any preparation at all (got the gold medal on the S class license test).

 

pfff .. anyone can do that. The question is, how many seconds did you beat it by?

 

wheel nuts? -

 

why do they have a lower db level then the public roads?

 

I have an uppipe, scoobysport downpipe, 3rd cat is stock, stock resonator, and scoobysport muffler. Will this be too loud to pass the audited lane at WOT?