Track Daze at VIR, stinger lap video

[turboAWD]

At the end of the day you can learn on any car. The only thing holding me back from being even faster is my experience as a driver. The stinger has tons more to give.

Side note, the transmission is good, but quite often its not ready to shift when you pull the paddle, so you pull it again, then it will jump 2 gears. That clearly is not set up for the track, but the only real downside is having to drop another gear. it
is a bit distracting at times but not the end of the world. But is definitely an example of a downside of the stock logic. It could probably be addressed with a TCU tune.

The Lozic TCU tune is decent in that regard - manual shifts are quite crisp. The auto shifting isn't perfect when paired with a pedal commander (seems like the pedal position confuses it?), but overall, it's a huge improvement for track.

 

[StingertimeNC]

How badly does it shift if you leave it in auto? Mash pedal, mash brake, mash pedal, rinse, repeat.

It's not the end of the world bad, but often times it will be at say 2000 rpm's, maybe 4th gear coming out of a 45 mph turn and you have to get into the throttle really far to get it to downshift, then bam it finally does and power comes on really quick. it's hard to modulate. also on the long straights, pedal to the floor, the car will go to redline before shifting, downside to that is the boost is tapering off. You need to pull the paddle around 5800 rpm's to keep the boost at it's highest through the pull. It's just way easier to control power out of those slow turns when the rpm's are above 3500 or so too since boost is up. From my first even to my second I dropped almost 8 seconds off my lap time on the 3.2 mile course. More experience sure, but also manually shifting...

All this track talk is getting me fired up! LOL.

 

[turboAWD]

It's not the end of the world bad, but often times it will be at say 2000 rpm's, maybe 4th gear coming out of a 45 mph turn and you have to get into the throttle really far to get it to downshift, then bam it finally does and power comes on really quick. it's hard to modulate. also on the long straights, pedal to the floor, the car will go to redline before shifting, downside to that is the boost is tapering off. You need to pull the paddle around 5800 rpm's to keep the boost at it's highest through the pull. It's just way easier to control power out of those slow turns when the rpm's are above 3500 or so too since boost is up. From my first even to my second I dropped almost 8 seconds off my lap time on the 3.2 mile course. More experience sure, but also manually shifting...

All this track talk is getting me fired up! LOL.

Yeah, I had Lozic drop the RPM a bit for shifting. 5800, IIRC. And I have it still auto-shift with traction control off. That way, if I forget to pull the paddle under acceleration (things can feel hairy at times, coming out of a corner if you're still new at this like me , it won't hit the rev limiter.

I have adopted a strategy of being in manual mode, using the paddles to downshift while braking, then either shifting myself, or just letting it shift automatically as I accelerate.

Edit: with the GT1 shifter, it's easier to be permanently in manual mode AFAIK - just flip the lever over. Is there an equivalent mode for the GT2?

 

[StingertimeNC]

Only way to keep it from shifting is have the traction control and stability control off. If you just have traction control off it will downshift if you get far enough in the throttle (like hit the kickdown switch) and upshift if you go to redline. If I was going to keep this car long term I think I would do a Lap3 stage 2.5 ECU and Lap3 TCU. Keep JB4 for meth control and to fine tune boost.

 

[turboAWD]

Only way to keep it from shifting is have the traction control and stability control off. If you just have traction control off it will downshift if you get far enough in the throttle (like hit the kickdown switch) and upshift if you go to redline. If I was going to keep this car long term I think I would do a Lap3 stage 2.5 ECU and Lap3 TCU. Keep JB4 for meth control and to fine tune boost.

Doesn't the GT2 shifter revert back to auto mode after some time, regardless of your settings? Thankfully, the GT1 stays in manual mode by moving the lever over - one of the reasons I got a GT1 instead of GT2. OTOH, I do miss not having an LSD in the back.

With the Lozic TCU, you can have it any way you want.. I.e. the first revision would bang off the rev limiter with even just traction turned off. I asked Lozic to adjust that to be like stock: only hit the rev limiter if you turn off traction AND stability. I hit the rev limiter a couple of times on track with the first revision and realized, if I forget to shift because I'm still trying to process everything going on, please just shift for me!

So now, either normal or traction control off, it up/down shifts when it thinks it should (but it's REALLY conservative about it - basically, 5800 rpm or 1500 rpm kind of thing, and even then, not sure if it actually downshifts much). So I try to get into the right gear to hold a corner while braking, maintain throttle during the corner, then power goes on after getting out of the turn (I'm still doing this too early at times, upsetting the balance of the car). I'm pretty happy with this setup. May also have to look into BMS rear diff brace and ATQ collars to help with that.

I'd like to try turning stability off some time, but I'm not sure I could handle full slides in corners if I mess up just yet, etc..

 

[StingertimeNC]

GT2 stays in manual, if you are in sport mode, unless you come to a complete stop.

It will still upshift and downshift depending on throttle inputs from time to time but does stay in manual. If you turn off stability too, then it will hold gear indefinitely.

I was hesitant to manually shift at first too, but once I started it was so much better. For months I practiced driving around in manual mode with my hands at 9 and 3 o’clock on the wheel and paddle shifting only. Next time I got to the track it was second nature. Your ears and seat of the pants tell you all you need to know about shift timing.

 

[turboAWD]

Just to add on to this: I picked up a BMS kickdown switch blocker, and plan to install it on my next track day to avoid the "floor it, drops a gear, then immediately shifts up" stuff..

 

[StingertimeNC]

I like that idea. I'm going to look into this...

Edit: Just ordered it!

 

[StingertimeNC]

Kickdown switch blocker is great! works as advertised. Had a great time at the track last week. Videos are on you tube: "Stinger Time NC"

Here's a link to one:

I added three from this trip so far...

Actually drove a little slower than last time I was there, but had issues with traffic and brake pads, etc. Just not aggressive enough. Also had the check ride done and was advanced to intermediate group. That's a big one as the novice group generally was a little slow overall.

Next time better brake pads, and will add a hans device to my list of track goodies.

The Braum Falcon S seats performed awesome. Great addition to the car.

I'll get some more pics and videos up, just need some time...

 

[MerlintheMad]

What fun.

 

[StingertimeNC]

Here's another one! This is the Grand Course, which is really just the entire track. Crazy track that just never lets up!

 

[MerlintheMad]

^^^135 MPH on the start/finish straight, faster than the other time (without slowpokes in front). That extended "infield" course is confusing, the "first time around."

 

[StingertimeNC]

Tell me about it, LOL. I ran off the track on one of the blind corners as I was going way too fast!

 

[StingertimeNC]

It would be awesome if we could get a bunch of Stingers at the track for the same event. I’m always the only one and tons of folks ask me about the car. It’s a blast.

 

[bfglitch]

It would be awesome if we could get a bunch of Stingers at the track for the same event. I’m always the only one and tons of folks ask me about the car. It’s a blast.

Always wanted to check out VIR, although I don't have the expendable cash for new sets of tires and brakes after track use. That and besides sways and intakes I'm stock. Only thing is, VIR is on the exact opposite corner of the state for me...about a 4.5 hour drive. Summit Point is much closer, only about an hour.

 

[StingertimeNC]

I grew up in Reston. Now in NC. It's only 2 hours for me. I've had the front tires on for 6 track days so far, and easily have another 2 day event in them. Running PS4S tires. Although, I only drive about 3k miles annually so I don't go through tires too quick.

I did go through about 3/4 of a set of Hawk HPS 5.0 pads though. It's definitely not cheap.

It's pretty awesome. Like Disney World for adults. LOL.

Summit point is a good track. That would be worth it too.

 

[turboAWD]

It would be awesome if we could get a bunch of Stingers at the track for the same event. I’m always the only one and tons of folks ask me about the car. It’s a blast.

Apparently another Stinger out here (same color even!) went to a few track events, just a week or two after one I went to.. Now if you guys are up for a trip to the west coast...