Jet Jockey/A4 Pilot

Ok this is not the best video of the weekend. However it is the only footage shot on a DigiCam so that I could download it to my computer via firewire. I have much better footage with lots of passing especially in the rain but it is on an analog video camera and when I get it transferred to the digital format you will see it here.

Here's a quick description and an overview of the track (see picture). First the passing zones highlighted in pink for the advance driving school purposes.

#1 is the front strait away between turn 15 and 1.

#2 is after the "esses" between turn 5 and 7.

#3 is in a small strait prior to heavy braking (I reach about 115 mph)
and entering turn 8, the carousel.

#4 after exiting turn 8 you enter the long back strait
up to turn 10, it's uphill and there is a kink,
turn 9 about a third of the way. I reach about
130 mph here before slamming the brakes.

#5 is between 13 and 14. It is only allowed for the
RED/SOLO group. You will understand why when you
see it. The last portion is a sharp uphill,
followed by a steep descending right hander, almost
a 180 course reversal. You better have all your
braking done before you crest the top of the hill
because you get negative Gs and your car gets very
light and your ABS will trigger or your wheels will
lock up (no ABS). If too fast or too late on the brakes
results in you and your car going off the track strait
ahead in the deceleration area (gravel).

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/mlab601/LeCircuitMontTremblantPassingZones.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

The track is considered both fairly fast but also technical. It is a challenge to drive properly but also very fun to drive. There are lots of elevation changes and a few pay attention curves, especially turn #7 which is a late apex and off camber. It can suck you into making an early apex. If you are carrying too much speed and turn in early it will spit you out/off the track and into the barrier! Then there is the front strait after turn 15 which goes downhill and to the left into turn 1 (car's suspension very loaded) before going uphill to the right (turn 2)where the car gets very light and is basically tip toeing on its suspension completely unloaded (negative Gs and car being pushed towards the outside) before dropping into turn 3 and I mean drop! As you crest turn 2 you have to have blind faith that the track will reappear underneath you when you hit the apex (BIG *****). When they rebuilt the track to make it compliant to the new FIA standards they had to chop 10 or 15 feet off the top of the hill. Fast modern day cars would have gotten airborne here.


<b>TRACK AND CAR CONDITIONS:</b>

We woke up to pouring rain on Sunday morning. The track had several places with standing water. My car was running with its MAF sensor un-operational, so running richer and with less power. That was not going to be a problem on that day. Because of the heavy rain and the standing water, the almost slick RA1s were removed and my street tires were put one. My PS2s had some tread left on them when compared to the RA1s but not much, they are actually finished down to 3/32nd at best with the sides down to almost no tread. They need to be replaced for next summer. I was surprised how well they still worked in the rain and on a slippery track at those speeds. Very good tire.

This footage was taken in the last session of the day in the instructors run group. At this time the rain was light and the track at its driest we had seen it so far. I was tired and took it easy; it was my seventh track session of the day. Each session lasted approximately 25 minutes. The clip shows two flying laps and it starts and ends at the finish line. There were not too many cars out in the last session but I still managed to pass two cars. Entering the "ESSES" (turn 4 and 5) you can see the two cars. I pass the first one after turn 7 and before braking hard for turn 8, the carousel. Watch for some power on oversteer as I exit turn 8 and go WOT. Enter the back strait the longest strait on the track. It is uphill and there I pass the second car. In the dry I reach about 130 mph before braking hard for turn 10, in the wet about 115 mph. You an also see some power on oversteer at turn 12 just after you cross under the bridge. Keep in mind that before you pass another car you <b>must get a point by</b> by the driver of the car being overtaken. Sometimes the drivers are too busy concentrating and don't see you coming and that's why you hear my car's engine drop in RPM before accelerating again. You loose a lot of momentum and speed unless the guy sees you coming from far away.

Bauer

Fantastic write up and great work on the track.

Jet Jockey/A4 Pilot

Thanks. Wait until I get the other clips digitized.