Jon Conlon...
10-09-2002, 07:23 PM
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Picture of you and Galati in the Ferrari ! + a review !
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/2206/untitled-1.jpg"></center><p>Jon,
My pleasure. I am glad you got to go back out with Galati in the instructor run group because he was clearly pushing the car faster than in the student group.
I am also glad I got a ride with him as well. The first few laps he was taking it easy (my friend Klaus said he was doing 1:25's) and I was a bit disapointed. About lap five Michael looked over to me and said "should I push harder..." I said absolutely, drive as fast as you feel comfortable. Well he took it up a few notches and was running low 1:19's according to Klaus. The track record in that car is a 1:17 and keep in mind Galati has never driven here before and he is in someone else's play toy.
He used every inch of the track (and some dirt and grass too) and his shifting was lightning quick. What amazed me most was what he mentioned at the dinner banquet about being "one with the car" and being able to feel everything. In five laps he was on the limit, constanly using the brake, the steering wheel, and the throttle to take the car over the limit and back again. Every lap. He practically drove the car sideways through the carousel and had the tail out in turn 10 everytime. People who race at his level do everything by instinct. He was trail braking in turn 3, something I have never seen anyone do before. He was carrying so much speed that he was still getting off the brakes (left foot braking) well after turn in. I asked him about it later and he looked puzzled and said what do you mean? I told him he was getting off the brakes late but then realized that he is doing everything by instinct and is never really thinking about it.
What surprised me even more was that he had fun driving my car. I pretty much expected him to be bored in my car compared to the Champion S4 which weighs much less and has more power. But he got out of the car grinning and commented how much fun it was to drive a real race car again. I asked him what he meant and he commented on the stiff ride and the "real" race rubber. Apparently he an all the Speed Gt racers hate those street Toyos. He said those tires make the S4 undriveable and the body roll is terrible. As most of you heard at the dinner, Capello and Kristiansen asked him how in the world he could drive that car with no grip.
Mike is also a very down to earth type guy and was willing to talk to anyone. he stood and talked with me for at least 15 minutes after we got out of the car and seemed to be enjoying himself with all the Audi Club members.
Special thanks again to Jon, Marc, Charlie, and all the other club organizers (also thanks to everybody who set up the great baquet dinner). Another fine event.
See everyone at VIR in Decemeber.
Regards,
Jon P. Conlon
My pleasure. I am glad you got to go back out with Galati in the instructor run group because he was clearly pushing the car faster than in the student group.
I am also glad I got a ride with him as well. The first few laps he was taking it easy (my friend Klaus said he was doing 1:25's) and I was a bit disapointed. About lap five Michael looked over to me and said "should I push harder..." I said absolutely, drive as fast as you feel comfortable. Well he took it up a few notches and was running low 1:19's according to Klaus. The track record in that car is a 1:17 and keep in mind Galati has never driven here before and he is in someone else's play toy.
He used every inch of the track (and some dirt and grass too) and his shifting was lightning quick. What amazed me most was what he mentioned at the dinner banquet about being "one with the car" and being able to feel everything. In five laps he was on the limit, constanly using the brake, the steering wheel, and the throttle to take the car over the limit and back again. Every lap. He practically drove the car sideways through the carousel and had the tail out in turn 10 everytime. People who race at his level do everything by instinct. He was trail braking in turn 3, something I have never seen anyone do before. He was carrying so much speed that he was still getting off the brakes (left foot braking) well after turn in. I asked him about it later and he looked puzzled and said what do you mean? I told him he was getting off the brakes late but then realized that he is doing everything by instinct and is never really thinking about it.
What surprised me even more was that he had fun driving my car. I pretty much expected him to be bored in my car compared to the Champion S4 which weighs much less and has more power. But he got out of the car grinning and commented how much fun it was to drive a real race car again. I asked him what he meant and he commented on the stiff ride and the "real" race rubber. Apparently he an all the Speed Gt racers hate those street Toyos. He said those tires make the S4 undriveable and the body roll is terrible. As most of you heard at the dinner, Capello and Kristiansen asked him how in the world he could drive that car with no grip.
Mike is also a very down to earth type guy and was willing to talk to anyone. he stood and talked with me for at least 15 minutes after we got out of the car and seemed to be enjoying himself with all the Audi Club members.
Special thanks again to Jon, Marc, Charlie, and all the other club organizers (also thanks to everybody who set up the great baquet dinner). Another fine event.
See everyone at VIR in Decemeber.
Regards,
Jon P. Conlon
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