Driving with Matt Bell

[///Madman]

Doing HPDEs I don't often get on track with Pro Drivers (have been on track with Johannes Van Overbeek from Flying Lizard) so it was a treat this past October 26th at Thunderhill to be on the track at the same time with Matt Bell of Turner Motorsports in a 2003 325I TC in full Turner livery. I saw a lot of the rear end of that car. I did manage a 2:07.905 personal best to Matt's 2:02.818 (probably not even trying). Now to find 5 more seconds.

[Steve J.]

You should ask him to get a couple laps in their car and see what you can do

[///Madman]

Originally Posted by Steve J.

You should ask him to get a couple laps in their car and see what you can do

That would be a hoot but I'm not the kind of driver that can just jump into any car and lay down really fast laps. My M Roadster is the only car I've ever really driven on track and it has taken me a long time and a lot of laps at Thunderhill to lay down my current lap time.

Even better would be to let Matt drive my M Roadster to find out what he could do in it. But then I would probably have to kill myself.

[bheumann]

Getting a good driver like Matt to put some Data laps in your car is a great thing to do assuming you have Data Acquisition. Second best option is riding along while they drive your car.

While it can be good for entertainment, just having someone like Matt hop in your car and seeing what lap times he can do vs. you is likely to be frustrating and counterproductive. If he is 3 seconds a lap faster than you in your car what are you going to do about it? Drive faster? For most of us, that is the tendency and you go slower. If you are good developing driver with the car at the limit much of the time, trying harder won't help. You need to see what he is doing that you aren't.

[kishg]

him in your car with daq would be useful. else i agree, more fun than educational.

[///Madman]

Originally Posted by kishg

him in your car with daq would be useful. else i agree, more fun than educational.

Well, the daq is going in this year. I'll keep my eye out for Matt or others of similar skill and see if I can get a good reference lap. There are a number of local drivers who could give me plenty to shoot for.

[JS154]

Originally Posted by Steve J.

You should ask him to get a couple laps in their car and see what you can do

Or ask him to do a couple laps in your car and see what it and he can do....

[skiboard06]

I think Matt Bell is a very quality driver, and his performance this year in Grand-Am showed that. However he does still pay to play, his co-driver Bill Auberlen is the hired gun. I'd love to get data in my car from either guy, I'm sure there's loads to learn.

[badmonkey]

Originally Posted by ///Madman

Doing HPDEs I don't often get on track with Pro Drivers (have been on track with Johannes Van Overbeek from Flying Lizard) so it was a treat this past October 26th at Thunderhill to be on the track at the same time with Matt Bell of Turner Motorsports in a 2003 325I TC in full Turner livery. I saw a lot of the rear end of that car. I did manage a 2:07.905 personal best to Matt's 2:02.818 (probably not even trying). Now to find 5 more seconds.

Full course or bypass?

[///Madman]

Originally Posted by badmonkey

Full course or bypass?

Full course. My fast lap was the next to last lap in the session. The last full lap at speed was a 2:08.321 and might have been faster but I just caught the Porsche I was chasing in the previous lap at the exit of T1 which kept me from exiting at full speed. It was a really good day and fast track.

[jayhudson]

A few years ago, when Matt first came to CR, I watched some in-car video of him and Brett Strom at Buttonwillow. The difference in their driving styles was like night and day. I don't recall lap times or if they were in the same class but watching the differences was eye opening.

In hindsight I wish I had invested in data acquisition and more driver improvement. When Tony C drove my car while giving me some coaching he was easily 7-10 secs a lap faster than me.

Jay

[bmw_e30]

I had Matt Bell drive my M3 at Laguna Seca last year while I sat in the pass seat.

Eye opening on how much better of a driver he was. He easily shaved 10 secs off my time after a few laps. It was my first time at LS though.

I also learned alot by just watching him and observing his hand movement and braking zones.

After he drove my car, I got in and shaved 2 secs lol.

[Ebrainz101]

Wow, this is quite a flattering post! Thanks everybody! Now that I have some free time I hope to be present at a few more public track days-- I kinda miss them! It is ALWAYS nice meeting people at all these events and chatting about this and that. I'm available too for private coaching as well if anybody is ever interested... (shameless plug).

Thanks again for the kind words!

[///Madman]

Originally Posted by Ebrainz101

Wow, this is quite a flattering post! Thanks everybody! Now that I have some free time I hope to be present at a few more public track days-- I kinda miss them! It is ALWAYS nice meeting people at all these events and chatting about this and that. I'm available too for private coaching as well if anybody is ever interested... (shameless plug).

Thanks again for the kind words!

Hope to see you at Infineon on Nov 22. Maybe chasing you will help me shave a few seconds off my lap time there.

[patavakian]

Originally Posted by Ebrainz101

Wow, this is quite a flattering post! Thanks everybody! Now that I have some free time I hope to be present at a few more public track days-- I kinda miss them! It is ALWAYS nice meeting people at all these events and chatting about this and that. I'm available too for private coaching as well if anybody is ever interested... (shameless plug).

Thanks again for the kind words!

Willow???

It would be nice to have 3 pro drivers at the race...

[VonStrom]

Originally Posted by patavakian

Willow???

It would be nice to have 3 pro drivers at the race...

Sofronas, Matt and....??

[patavakian]

I believe VJ will be there...

[Greg S]

Originally Posted by patavakian

I believe VJ will be there...

So who's the third pro then?