A day at the track with Jack Olsen

[ted]

The driver's view of ride alongs....

Among track drivers and racers there is much discussion about riders or instruction.
Many drivers now would prefer to pay for their track day to avoid having the liability of having to teach a student and have them ride along.
Or worse putting yourself in danger by having to ride with a student in their car.

The option of driving someome elses car is equally undesirable.
You can't trust the new to you car you are driving is track ready.
It's sucks to drive someome elses car and to have it break down, even if its not your fault.

I can do free track days too.
Fwiw riding/instructing in exotic cars at speed with only a helmet and no other track designed safety equipment exceeds safety limits imho.

Roll cages, 5 or 6 point belts, nomex clothes, hans device, race seat, fuel cell some of the things I think about before getting on track in any car.

[Jeff Higgins]

Great perspective, Mike - thanks for posting it. While I have never instructed, nor have I ever aspired to do so, I do hear a lot of that kind of discussion among my friends who do instruct. It seems the ante has been raised substantially in the last decade or so, with factory hot-rod track cars getting faster and faster by the year. At some point everyone is going to be forced to acknowledge that these cars are indeed approaching the capabilities of dedicated race cars, and come to grips with the fact that they need safety equipment commensurate with their speed.

As an old drag racer in years past, I well remember the NHRA's approach. Below certain E.T.'s, or above certain trap speeds, safety requirements increase in steps until at some point a full cage, seat, harnesses, suit, fire, and more are required. Granted, that's easy to implement across the board as a quarter mile never changes, but even with the variety of road courses out there, there is going to have to be a way, based on lap times or something, to take the same approach.

Like mom used to say, it's all good fun until someone loses and eye...

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by ted

At a local AX years ago as I headed into the AX esses section it appeared my passenger's shoulder belts were loose?
Nope just her ample chest acting as a G meter, bouncing off the door and my right shoulder.

Video or it didn't happen.

(edit) Tabby, Jack's thing is Willow Springs, what's wrong with that? In a way, I'm jealous of those who keep a razor focus on one recreation only. I've never been able to do that. From these ranks of focused people, champions emerge.

On the other hand, no regrets that I've delved into more than one thing, but never getting much past mediocrity in any of them. The wider range of experiences allows me to appreciate the talents of those who are very skilled and the dedication it took to reach that level.

[ted]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Video or it didn't happen.

its something I can't erase from my memory...

search you tube, seems to happen often.
https://youtu.be/2B9bnwb9rDM

[ted]

the video I wish I had...I misjudged a passenger.
End of track day had the official track starter/flag person ride along.
55 year old lady reacted like she had vertigo, like this model.
She dehydrated tired from flagging and I was overstressing her body driving at 7/10.
I was concerned for her well being.
https://youtu.be/8GKqHGBKBCA?t=2m42s

[ted]

Originally Posted by MFX

That is a great way of putting it. It is very much like martial arts.

I might agree, fun track to race on too.
https://youtu.be/SpRtZMpqY2A?t=13m19s

[MFX]

Originally Posted by kach22i

Okay, what the heck was that flash of blue?

How big of a difference if the approximately 200 lb passenger was removed?

Nice video, thank you for posting it.

It was a Radical. Those things looked scary fast. Plenty of power, Aero, and weigh nothing.

As far as how the weight disadvantage. His best with me in the car was a 1:31. He was saying that lately the best he has been doing is 1:28's so my weight was around a 3 second penalty.

[rattlsnak]

Cool video/story.. Surprised to see Jack still walking his hands around the steering wheel though..

[ted]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

Cool video/story.. Surprised to see Jack still walking his hands around the steering wheel though..

is this what you mean where the wheel spins, when he loosens his grip.
letting the forces of front caster straighten out the wheel.
https://youtu.be/qdPrLzG64r0?t=4m16s
of even on a save get behind on steering let go of the wheel and caster fixes it?
https://youtu.be/qdPrLzG64r0?t=7m7s

compared to holding the wheel in the first half of the omega like this.
https://youtu.be/SpRtZMpqY2A?t=12m31s

different driving style, I've seen it before.
releasing and catching the wheel.

[sc_rufctr]

Thanks Jeff. Great video as always!

[pwd72s]

Willow Springs lap times - FastestLaps.com

Jack turns 1:28? Tells me he's hustling that 44 year old car pretty good!

[MFX]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Willow Springs lap times - FastestLaps.com

Jack turns 1:28? Tells me he's hustling that 44 year old car pretty good!

His best is a 1:26

[bkreigsr]

Originally Posted by Craig T

I'd think that Jack would be sick of countless non-compition laps around that non-technical track by now.

You're missing the point of 'driver education' and 'testing' days.

He's searching for the perfect lap, where he hits every turn exactly, and the car responds as if it's being mind-driven. (and stays on the track).

Simple as that.

Bill K

[ted]

Originally Posted by MFX

His best is a 1:26

That landed him in the top ten of west coast racers of racers on TrackHQ.
I know my GT-1 car is twice his, my 1.25.8 was first day in a new car during a race on 3 year old slicks.
Can't wait to get back to big willow.
It's a fun track once or twice a year.

Top 50 Willow Springs Lap Times

1:18.555 (Billy Johnson; FXMD NSX; Yok Slicks; ~600whp/~2800lbs w/driver;
1:23.54 (Bill Brinkop; 99 ST2 Corvette; A6; 387 whp/3180lbs; 2/28/15, NASA Socal)
1:23.812 (Bob Blizzard; Spec truck; Goodyear 11" slicks; 486rwh/2800 lbs w/driver;
1:24.20 (Oli thordarson/Alvaka, 2002 C5 Corvette; Pirelli DH; 420whp/3003 lbs
1:24:854 (Kevin Vogel; 98 ST2 Corvette; A7; 405 whp/3240lbs; 7/16/2016, NASA
1.25:217 (Clint Boisdeau, Novak Racing 98 Subaru GC, Nitto NT01, 500whp, 2800lbs
1:25.56x (Zhong Cheung, FFTEC Motorsports 06 Evo 9, Hankook TD 255/40/17,
1:25.80x (passmenow,'93 Camaro, GY slicks, 650whp, 3000lbs w driver, November
1:25.874 (Jim Tway/PA Construction; C5 Corvette; Hoosier A7; 390whp/3150lb
1:26.141 (Jack Olsen; 72 Porsche 911; Hoosier R7s; 248 rwhp/2652 lbs w/driver;
1:26.17 (Charley Hoyt, 2010 Radical SR3, Michelin slicks, 260HP, 1300 lbs, April 16,
1:26.22x (Dieter Heinz; C-Spec Tuning Evo8; R888; ~520whp/~2976lbs w/driver; Mar
1:26:549 (Kevin Vogel; 98 ST2 Corvette; A6; 398 whp/3280lbs; 2/28/2015, NASA
1:26.566 (Mark Jager, Yimi Sport Tuning 06 STI, Hankook RS-3 265/35/18 500whp,
1:26.823 (John Carson; JD Motorsports 2003 Mitsubishi Evo 8; NT01, 400whp/3000
1:26.895 (Steve Schmidt; C5 Z06 T1; A6; 360whp/3077lbs; May 10; Sheet)
1:26.91x (Jeff Klavir, 2004 Radical SR3, Hoosier slicks, ~300HP, 1,300 lbs, May 6,
1:26.993 (Gordon Jennings; 94 Miata; Hoosier R80; 400whp/2350lbs w/driver; Oct
1:27.087 (Andrew Kidd; 94 Trackspeed Engineering Miata; NT01; 350whp/2180lbs
1:27.134(Cody Kishel, 2013 M3 DCT, 400 whp, 3,700lbs w/ driver, 285/30/18 Hankook
1:27.315 (Ryan Cashin; 01 Z06; A6; 370hp/3270lbs; Feb 10; sheet; video)
1.27:436 (Alex Peng, momofoolio Racing 07 S2000, Hankook TD, 400whp, 2820lbs w/
1:27.613 (Jack Fried; 2008 Lotus 211; Yok Slicks; 240whp/~1860lbs w/driver; March
1:27.89x (Amir H; Mazda RX7; NT01; 310rwhp/2720lbs w/driver; June 2nd 2012)
1:28.189 (Will Wattanawongkiri; WWR/MW Nissan 240sx S13; Hankook RS-3;
1:28.xxx (Ed Nazarian; RRE Evo 9; 250/650/18 Hoosier; 345whp/3260lbs w/driver;
1:29.026 (Emilio Cervantes; 99 Kraftwerks Miata; NT01; 230whp/2460lbs w/driver;
1:29.041 (Mike Bonanni; BMW 135i; RS-3; 380whp/3,200lbs w/driver; May/11)
1:29.080 (Erik Islas; 06 Evo9; NT01; 378whp/3300lbs w/driver; Feb 10)
1:29.15x (John Carson, KTMotoring 06 Evo 9, Nitto NT01 255/40/17, 350whp, 3200lbs
1.29.24x (Jeff Klavir, 2015 SRA Ariel Atom, Hoosier A7s; 200rwhp/1650lb w/driver

[ted]

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

Y
He's searching for the perfect lap, where he hits every turn exactly, and the car responds as if it's being mind-driven. (and stays on the track).
K

Bill most of us are trying to make every lap perfect, what's the difference?
That is every track driver's mantra.
No one is thinking I want to f up every corner this lap, simple?

Some find Jack's same track repetition lacking the challenge of adjusting car and driver to new tracks and conditions.
Since Jack is such a good qualifier
...if his racing budget and time allowed many racers would like the chance to test his racecraft in a wheel to wheel race.

Big Willow is only 9 turns, with Jacks heavy areo set up T8 is not a turn just a flat out bend.
I've had my 911 aero equipped too and T8 was a hoot, with a more powerful car T8 becomes a real turn and an additinal challenge.

At Big Willow on occasion there is no wind.
Or the wind pushes you into T 2 and off of T8.
Or the opposite, the wind pushes you off T2 and onto T8, most desirable.

[ted]

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

You're missing the point of 'driver education' and 'testing' days.

He's searching for the perfect lap, where he hits every turn exactly, and the car responds as if it's being mind-driven. (and stays on the track).

Simple as that.

Bill K

That's old skool pelican got your back there!
Jack should acknowledge that in a pm.


I would add Jack is in charge of training at Big Willow with OTR.
That is a blessing to all that attend his track days to learn Big Willow.
http://www.opentrackracing.com/

[Joe Bob]

I did a 129.9 once....don't think I could do it again.

[Charles Freeborn]

Not sure I concur with "best track in N. America"... Willow sounds a lot like PIR up here. Relatively flat & about 2 miles, but ours is 12 turns with the chicane. A well set up GT3 or the like get's into the 1:20's.
For a more technical experience Oregon Raceway Park is akin to a roller coaster with many of the turns blind going in, and The Ridge is somewhere between - fast and technical... Pacific Raceway Park is the old school course with lots of ways for your day to go wrong...

We're kind of spoiled up here. All of the these are within 3 hours of Portland. PIR is 15 minutes from my house...

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

I did a 129.9 once....don't think I could do it again.

In your cab? Impressive!