Track Newbie COTA video complete with Bimmer spin out

[genVer]

This being my first “real” track experience, I had a mild case of butterflies as I turned into the paddock at Circuit of the Americas. After getting my first good look at the 133’ elevation immediately preceding the turn 1 hairpin and listening to the stories of the many drivers who met the wall in the previous event, I was seriously nervous. That apprehension was quickly replaced with adrenalin fueled excitement once I was actually on the track and by the time I began my fourth session I was confidently navigating the twenty turn course and beginning to push harder. Though I was at COTA for over ten hours that day, it still seemed to end too quickly and I found myself wishing for a second day of driving.
The fifth session was my best, however due to dead GoPro batteries, the fourth was the last where all three of my cameras were recording. Here is a lap or so of that session, including a bimmer spin out near the beginning of the video. Hope you enjoy!

[Snakebit10]

Wow that could have been ugly...Good thing you weren't 10/10th. That track looks gorgeous. Front of the car looks great

[FLATOUT]

That BMW must have spun 4 times. Lost it once in front of me and almost did another time. Thing was too slow to hurt anyone but damn.

Great video and great meeting you!

[Nine Ball]

Glad you posted. Your car was making an awful shrieking noise on that front straight, in front of the pits. Several of us noticed it, whenever you passed by. Sounds like belt squeal or something. Really loud. Might want to get it checked out. You can even hear it on your video, btw.

[C.J]

Fun video! Who was your passenger?

Guess that BMW driver learned that he isn't driving the "ultimate driving machine".

BTW, those stripes look incredible.

[Bruce H.]

Looks like you were having a blast! Like the multiple views...and love that blue on white!

Does anyone have footage of Nambo's orange TA or Ben Keating's TA?

[BadAndy]

Damn that was cool

[XSnake]

It was nice meeting you on Friday! Glad you had a good time.

[Nambo]

Looks like you were having a blast! Like the multiple views...and love that blue on white!

Does anyone have footage of Nambo's orange TA or Ben Keating's TA?

Bruce,

I should have some smarty cam footage soon. We are in the process of moving and should be at a point I can download it this weekend.

JD

[genVer]

Thanks for the positive feedback everyone. I really had a great time!

- - - Updated - - -

Glad you posted. Your car was making an awful shrieking noise on that front straight, in front of the pits. Several of us noticed it, whenever you passed by. Sounds like belt squeal or something. Really loud. Might want to get it checked out. You can even hear it on your video, btw.

Thanks for the heads up Nine Ball; sorry I didn't get a chance to meet you in person while I was there. Slowhatch caught me at the gas station at the end of the day and told me the same. It's funny, you couldn't hear it from inside the car and it felt like it was running strong all day. I plan to have the dealer check it out when I go in to have the brake fluid changed. Speaking of that, is there anything else I should check/change after a day at the track?

That BMW must have spun 4 times. Lost it once in front of me and almost did another time. Thing was too slow to hurt anyone but damn.

Was great meeting you as well Andy; I plan to go through all my footage soon so I can send you what I caught of your car.

It was nice meeting you on Friday! Glad you had a good time.

You as well Mark... it's been great meeting everyone in the VOA and I'm looking forward to the next event!

Fun video! Who was your passenger?

My instructor was Lance Adams. He was very laid back and pretty quiet while I was driving but I felt like I learned a lot from him.

[ViperSmith]

I bet you puckered up LOL

[genVer]

I bet you puckered up LOL

Surprisingly it wasn't actually that scary cause I had plenty of time to react. Was the second time it happened to me too (first time was a Porsche)

[FLATOUT]

Looks like you were having a blast! Like the multiple views...and love that blue on white!

Does anyone have footage of Nambo's orange TA or Ben Keating's TA?

Bruce I should also have some of Nambo's TA. I will try to get to it this weekend.

[Torquemonster06]

Very cool video and that sure is a beautiful track. Thank you for sharing.

[Brad00GTS]

I saw 149 on the speedo, didn't quite hit 150, looks like a lot of fun, on the best track in America.

[Steve M]

Thanks for the heads up Nine Ball; sorry I didn't get a chance to meet you in person while I was there. Slowhatch caught me at the gas station at the end of the day and told me the same. It's funny, you couldn't hear it from inside the car and it felt like it was running strong all day. I plan to have the dealer check it out when I go in to have the brake fluid changed. Speaking of that, is there anything else I should check/change after a day at the track?

At the top of my list would be the differential fluid...I'd just change it for good measure. Probably not absolutely necessary, but Viper rear differentials just don't hold much fluid, and they don't have an external cooler.

[genVer]

At the top of my list would be the differential fluid...I'd just change it for good measure. Probably not absolutely necessary, but Viper rear differentials just don't hold much fluid, and they don't have an external cooler.

Thanks for the tip Steve; I'll ask them about that as well. Sure wish I had the knowledge to do these maintenance items myself but without a lift and the proper tools I'm sure it would be pretty difficult anyway.

[slowhatch]

I saw the BMW almost spin on another video as well. Guess he was real ambitious out there.

OP, was nice meeting you!

[genVer]

I saw the BMW almost spin on another video as well. Guess he was real ambitious out there.

OP, was nice meeting you!

You as well! I must have been a magnet for this kind of stuff... Here's another car that lost it in front of me earlier in the day.

[SlateEd]

You as well! I must have been a magnet for this kind of stuff... Here's another car that lost it in front of me earlier in the day.

ohh yeah he was thinking about the pass more than controlling the throttle coming out of the turn.. like a baseball player trying to throw the ball before he's caught it. I've never driven a 911 but it looked like the initial slide was nice and smooth coming out, like he could have had adequate time to catch it?

Looks like you had a blast out there! What an awesome track!

The on-screen graphics look very cool - how did you capture that?

[genVer]

The on-screen graphics look very cool - how did you capture that?

I was running 3 separate GoPro cameras during the event; one was velcro'd to the steering column. I used computer software (Wondershare Video Editor) to put all the pieces together.