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JG Pasterjak
JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
9/28/23 11:47 a.m.
feature_image

These days, we’re pretty much the only media outlet bringing data acquisition to our testing protocols. Honestly, there are plenty of ways to subjectively evaluate a car, but since data rarely lies, whenever we can use it to provide additional context to our evaluation, we jump at the chance.

We’re currently in the process of bringing even more info to …

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David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
9/28/23 12:05 p.m.

Right-hand drive, huh? 

JG Pasterjak
JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
9/28/23 12:08 p.m.
David S. Wallens said:

Right-hand drive, huh? 

Editorial Director, Grassroots Motorsports & Classic Motorsports

I'm gonna drive one right into the Atlantic. 

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
9/28/23 12:11 p.m.

Do they make Snell-rated snorkels? 

Hoppps
Hoppps New Reader
9/28/23 2:27 p.m.
David S. Wallens said:

Do they make Snell-rated snorkels? 

You mean Shell-rated snorkels?

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
9/28/23 2:30 p.m.
Hoppps said:
David S. Wallens said:

Do they make Snell-rated snorkels? 

You mean Shell-rated snorkels?

 

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
9/28/23 4:17 p.m.

Actual footage of JG but pretend it’s just him sitting on the wrong side of a Miata.

 

JG Pasterjak
JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
9/28/23 5:19 p.m.

Y'all joke but in 53 years I've literally only ever driven one right hand drive vehicle, which was a motorhome we rented on a trip to NZ. Well, and the Radical in iRacing. Okay so you know what it's probably fine.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
9/28/23 5:42 p.m.

It’s like driving a mail Jeep. 

JG Pasterjak
JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
9/28/23 10:19 p.m.

Somehow all this stuff needs to go in this box.

Does anyone know how to fold a Garmin VIRB?

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
9/28/23 10:35 p.m.

Worse than folding a fitted sheet? 

JG Pasterjak
JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
9/30/23 12:41 p.m.

Welp, just checked my flight status for tomorrow. My ticket was apparently a "you get a seat at the gate don't worry there'll be plenty it'll be great you'll haave a good time" type of deal. So here's what Delta is showing for remaining seat from ATL to Madrid:

Cool.

I have a five hour layover in the Atlanta airport. In that time I intend to go to the Delta lounge and dump an entire bowl of free chicken salad into my backpack, and maybe steal a chair or an ottoman. And apparently I'll have 120V in my luxurious middle seat for nine hours, so I'm thinking maybe a drop or two of chloroform on the filter of my CPAP and I just check the F out.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
10/2/23 9:12 a.m.

Monday morning update: JG is somewhere!

CrustyRedXpress
CrustyRedXpress GRM+ Memberand Dork
10/2/23 12:14 p.m.

Safe (and enjoyable) travels!

I've really enjoyed the amount of time GRM has spent on data analysis in their articles. Maybe it's not surprising that you guys/gals are the only one doing that...nobody else seems as focused on helping competitors improve laptimes.

 

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
10/3/23 9:57 a.m.

In reply to CrustyRedXpress :

Glad to hear that you’re enjoying the data editorial.

JG has arrived in Gran Canaria, so updates coming soon. 

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
10/3/23 9:58 a.m.

Oh, and the view from his window. 

JG Pasterjak
JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
10/3/23 4:52 p.m.

Hi gang.

Heck of a long trip—about 26 hours from door to door—but I'm here and we hit the track in the morning. Really looking forward to getting some power user tips from the actual VBox engineers.

They've set up a pretty cool program for us. We've got a bunch of NB Miatas prepared to an identical spec that we'll be doing practice and qualifying with Wednesday, then we'll have like three actual races Thursday. The cars are all wired up with VBox gear and after each session we'll download and analyze data using Circuit Tools. Each of the drivers has a teammate that we can use to compare data with (I'm on Team USA with Austin Irwin from Car and Driver), and I think whoever wins gets the deed to a giant chocolate factory.

Now, I'm not here to compete, I'm here to learn about data systems to be able to do my job better. But, also, I mean, come on. 

I'm honestly not sure who the ringer in the group is. The fact that I don't know means it probably isn't me. Most of the other guests are EU YouTubers, and there's a couple rally drivers and a couple circuit guys in the mix, as well as some sim specialists. I just want to make a good showing for team GRM and not embarrass myself. Well, not embarrass myself on track, anyway. 

I'll start updating the thread from the track in the morning. My morning, anyway, which is your overnight, so look for some info when you get up.

JG Pasterjak
JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
10/4/23 4:46 a.m.

NBs on 500tw. What's not to like. 

JG Pasterjak
JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
10/4/23 5:05 a.m.

I drew #15. It seems to have fairly real rubber. 


JG Pasterjak
JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
10/4/23 2:06 p.m.

So it turns out I puled a dud. A few of the MX5s in the lineup had like taller 6-speed rear ends with five speed boxes, so on this track that's basically all digs, the cars with the shorter correct rear ends are out dragging me. I'm doing my best to keep up, though. 

But enough excuses, the real story is I'm really excited about our track test once we incorporate the VBox Circuit Tools package. We'll be able to dive even deeper into the data with side by side video comparisons, generated ideal lap videos, and some really granular analysis tools we can use to dive seep into the data. I'm really excited, and I think it's going to bring a whole new dimension to our track tests both in print and especially on YouTube.

Here's a taste. This is my best laps from to session compared side by side, with a speed trace, and delta trace (showing where one car is gaining or losing time) and a combined G trace—or of a G cloud expressed over time. Cool stuff.

 

JG Pasterjak
JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
10/4/23 2:08 p.m.

Also, how about that left hand shifting? Not bad for an American.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
10/4/23 2:13 p.m.

So you’re basically driving Moroso but counter-race. 

JG Pasterjak
JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
10/4/23 2:17 p.m.
David S. Wallens said:

So you’re basically driving Moroso but counter-race. 

Tiny Moroso. It's all 2nd and 3rd for me. Kinda fun, though, even though the guys with the better diffs drive away from me on the digs. 

ChrisTropea
ChrisTropea Associate Editor
10/4/23 3:20 p.m.

This looks awesome, I cant wait to start using this in our car reviews at the FIRM. 

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
10/4/23 4:25 p.m.

Glad to see you didn't drive into the ocean.

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