Ron Wasserman (A.K.A SoCal Rebell)
2000 Viper, lots of mods, Hoosiers
431.4 RWHP 475.4 RWTQ
Ok here's my one lap at Willow Springs, this is based on a 3:54 rear end gear, some with a higher rear ratio (3:07 or so) will not need to go to 5th in the front and back straight:
Turn 1
I'm going in hot at 140 mph, you should be track right find your comfortable brake point, brake and downshift into 4th as soon as you come off the brake you're right back on the gas full bore, you can take this turn faster then you think as this corner is slightly banked. Pretty standard apex, hit it and track waaaay out right, USE THE WHOLE TRACK so you can carry speed. After you track out immediately go to track left to set up for #2
Turn 2
Pretty standard sweeper, basically a skidpad turn. Enter track left, stay mid track around the sweeper STAYING ON THE GAS, do NOT lift through this turn it will make your rear end light and if you're pushing it you will spin. As you start to get to the end of the sweeper start to decrease your radius and get tighter to track right, hit the apex with your right foot floored and again track out waaay left to carry speed. Immediately go track right to setup for #3.
Turn 3
Enter track right, brake HARD and downshift to 3rd, this is a turn I "give up" for 2 reasons, first even though it is the slowest turn it is the most dangerous with a double off camber set and there is a wall close by many people have hit because of this, second you will not make up time here use it to set up and nail turns 4 & 5 where you can make up time if you hit them right. After you finish your braking turn in early with your foot on the gas (halfway) to keep your rear planted try to feel how the car wants to respond to the double off camber, I try to hit the berm on the left and make a straight line up the hill to hit the berm on the right to enter #4.
Turn 4
Many ways to do this one, I double apex it, I am on the right hand berm entering lifting slightly no brake, go up to the top of the track and turn right about 1 car width from the top go to the appropriate spot for your second apex heading to #5, you must turn into this second apex earlier then you think and hit it perfect almost putting the right tires off track. Track waaay out left and watch for the rear getting a little light from a bump there .
Turn 5
A major turn for making up time, you're track left going downhill STAY ON THE GAS, go track right but don't hit the berm it will upset the car for the hard lefthander, as you transition to the right you are going straight and this is your braking zone, #5 is tough because of the off camber but you can take it faster then you think, the correct apex is VEEEERY late. When you turn into #5 you MUST stay on the gas to plant the rear or you will slide off the track. The reason for the late apex is so you're track left coming out of #5 to set up for #6.
Turn 6
Try to be as far left as possible out of #5 to take some of the "bump" out of #6, I am track left short shifting into 4th gear and am turning right REAL early into #6 turn in even before you see the berm on the right and straighten the steering wheel as you hit the bump, this does two things it allows you to take the bump straight on and because it's straight on you are at FULL throttle the whole time, track out left.
Turn 7
Not really a turn just an adjustment full throttle the hole way shift to 5th, take a breath check your gauges.
Turn 8
You are entering this turn FAST, you DO NOT brake just lift a little start your turn then back on the gas, I enter 1 car width from the right, if you go too far right there are washboard bumps that upset the car at these high speeds. I stay in the arc and it naturally tracks you out left to enter #9 as you finish your track out right there is a short straight before #9 to downshift to 4th gear and "brush" your brakes.
Turn 9
You enter the turn track left, you don't have to be waaaay left, anything mid rack to track left is OK the important thing is the LATE APEX, it is LATE, LATE, LATE if you turn in too early you'll go off-track. Stay out, stay out, stay out then dive into the apex FULL THROTTLE, track way out left to carry speed and repeat the above process.
After over a 1,000 laps this is what works for me, it may not be the best line for your car in every turn but it's a good starting point. Well I'm off to WSIR this weekend to repeat above instructions.
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