Road America April 12-13? [Archive]

tgentry

04-14-2003, 11:49 AM

In case anyone is wondering, we had a great time playing with the Midwest F-Body Association, but I need some serious mods for those dang Z06's!

The weather was good, but cold on Saturday and just plain good on Sunday. Sunday afternoon my car ate the belt tensioner pulley bearing. Luckily Ted S. had a complete spare tensioner assembly. Thanks, Ted, I couldn't have made it home without you!

BTW, I have been instructed to say that I did not pass Brian at any time and that I had nothing to do with Brian bumping himself down a group. :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

tgentry

04-14-2003, 11:50 AM

Who is this man, and why is he smiling?

tgentry

04-14-2003, 11:57 AM

One of the more unusual entries was this Cadillac. He was getting a claimed 500hp out of the Cad 500 cid v8.

tgentry

04-14-2003, 11:59 AM

This is what happens to a Cadillac drive shaft at 130mph. He made it one full lap before it self destructed and almost dismantled the car with it.

Cobra-R

04-14-2003, 12:19 PM

Originally posted by tgentry
In case anyone is wondering, we had a great time playing with the Midwest F-Body Association, but I need some serious mods for those dang Z06's!

The weather was good, but cold on Saturday and just plain good on Sunday. Sunday afternoon my car ate the belt tensioner pulley bearing. Luckily Ted S. had a complete spare tensioner assembly. Thanks, Ted, I couldn't have made it home without you!

BTW, I have been instructed to say that I did not pass Brian at any time and that I had nothing to do with Brian bumping himself down a group. :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

I agree, it was a great time with great people!!! No accidents and it was GREAT weather. :D Thanks to everyone (yes, even you tom ;) ) for all the help and fun times, you were what made the event for me. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

ps: Thanks for keeping that pass our little secret, Tom. :thumbsup: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

Andy M

04-14-2003, 10:16 PM

Originally posted by tgentry
Who is this man, and why is he smiling? Could it be that he is smiling because this is the first time he did not cord a Hoosier tire???:rolleyes:

I dunno who it is though?...:p

NJ2000R

04-16-2003, 12:13 AM

Originally posted by tgentry
Who is this man, and why is he smiling? what??? a REAL suit???? REAL gloves???? NO shorts???? and NO special racing LOAFERS???? :thumbsup: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

Cobra-R

04-16-2003, 12:16 PM

Just looking the part off the track. ;)

psst. I have my shorts on under the suit.:rotf: :rotf:

97whitevert

04-16-2003, 05:30 PM

Originally posted by Cobra-R
Just looking the part off the track. ;)

psst. I have my shorts on under the suit.:rotf: :rotf: well that sure is good to know

ya mean that is the elusive mr groth????:eek: :eek:

kevin

04-16-2003, 11:28 PM

glad to hear you guys had fun.

brian's new tog's were designed by dkny to give him a suave and debonair look.:D :thumbsup: :rotf:

97whitevert

04-17-2003, 04:29 PM

Originally posted by kevin

brian's new tog's were designed by dkny to give him a suave and debonair look.:D :thumbsup: :rotf: maybe he should ask for a refund....;) :D :rotf:

Cobra-R

04-17-2003, 10:26 PM

Originally posted by 97whitevert
maybe he should ask for a refund....;) :D :rotf:

:rolleyes: :doubt:

:rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :thumbsup:

NJ2000R

04-18-2003, 07:40 AM

Originally posted by 97whitevert
maybe he should ask for a refund....;) :D :rotf: :nope: now thats not very nice :nope:

:rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

97whitevert

04-18-2003, 07:59 AM

Originally posted by NJ2000R
:nope: now thats not very nice :nope:

:rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

maybe not , butt.... bubb knows how i feel..:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

ac427cobra

04-20-2003, 02:20 AM

What a friggin' weekend!!!! I would never have thought you could have that much fun with a street legal car on the track!!:rotf: :thumbsup: :rotf: :thumbsup:

Here is another picture of "Smilin' Jack" You know it was not that hard to get a picture of Brian smiling last weekend. He was smiling a lot. Then again I was giggling a lot too. I still can't believe how abusive Brian is to his tires? :D When I rode with him I would feel the car start to "break loose" (well, that's what it felt like, anyway) but NO, the car was not breaking loose, it was just digging in for a little better grip!!!:eek: It still makes me laugh (I mean giggle) just thinking about it.

Did we have a good time? Um, YES!!!! Tom, it was good meeting you. Brian and Terry; it was great having you guys around for my first event. I still can't beleive my insurance company covers me for that kind of activity?!??! Let's hope I continue to have uneventful outings?!?

I am a track maniac, hook, line and sinker!!!!! Look out, I plan on getting up to speed in a hurry!!!!!

kevin

04-20-2003, 11:09 PM

bruce, glad you had a good time. now pinch yourself to see if it was real. glad the "sunday cruiser" had his good tires on:thumbsup:

STU

04-28-2003, 02:03 PM

I read this on another list and thought I would post it here for those of you who did not know.

"quote"
I was up at Road America this weekend, and saw the changes being made to the track layout. The kink is being eliminated, perhaps not for all events, but at least for club and amateur events. There will be a left hand turn added in the short straight between the end of the carousel and the kink, then a right hand turn will put you on a new, short piece that rejoins the track at the point where the kink is currently. You will power out of that
right turn and head directly down the back straight into thunder valley. I may not have it exactly right, as I base my observation on the way the grading is layed out (looking down on the area from the bluff above turn 10), and no asphalt has been put down yet, but it is a certainty that the kink will be a thing of the past for our group, and that your old lap times will be of little relevance.

tgentry

04-28-2003, 02:12 PM

Dave, we saw a bit of that going on, but either it was too early to tell or just didn't look close enough to see what was being done.

Over the years I've seen a lot changes at my favorite track, but I believe this is the first actual course change. I have mixed emotions about the demise of "the kink". It's probably the most talked about feature of the track, but for some not so nice reasons.

I'm wondering what everyone else will have to say, but for myself I'll reserve judgement until I drive on the "improved" course.

Cobra-R

04-28-2003, 02:27 PM

I don't have the history at RA that some of you have, so maybe it is easier for me to say good ridence to the Kink. One good thing that came out of Daves accident two years ago was it showed me that it is a corner to be respected no matter how many years you have run it. I always back off in that corner and concede that I am going to loose time there and it is not worth the risk.
Anyone know if the changes will be done in time for the sept northwoods event?

Brian

STU

04-28-2003, 03:16 PM

Even though the kink is the spot my car met it's end, I still think it is one of my favorite corners on the track. I guess we all drive for the fun and adrenalin rush and the kink is one of those corners that makes you go "YEAH" when you sucessusfully blasted through the corner. We'll have to see how the new lay out is.

STU

04-28-2003, 04:20 PM

Hey guys, after sitting here thinking about this, I think that as far as club events go, this could be a package deal of benefits.

Not only will they hopefully see less accidents at the kink location, lowering the entrance speed to the back straight they will also be lowering the speed of cars approaching Kanada Corner. (another trouble spot.)

Less people sitting in the insurance claims office will help keep the sport healthy, club events alive at reasonable prices. (I am sure the accident history at tracks relates directly to what track and clubs pay for insurance.

ac427cobra

04-28-2003, 04:28 PM

Good point STU:

I think they have experienced more than enough trouble from the kink at amateur events. Most likely the reason it's being changed.

I think that the kink is an interesting nuance of the track but there are plenty of other areas that are of great interest also.

Should be interesting driving the track on it's new format whenever that is going to be?

kevin

04-28-2003, 07:28 PM

if they are adding another option for the open track events - ok.

i guess i'll see what happens at the brian redman races this july.

johnbasf

04-28-2003, 10:20 PM

This is related to this topic. I was told that VIR is also changing their track layout. It will be @4.6 miles long when it is complete. The sad part is that there will be no more uphill esses. This is what I heard from a SCCA racer that has been going there since the 70's. The new full course will bring the Roller Coaster from the South Course into play.

Dean95CobraR

04-29-2003, 07:38 AM

I personally hate to see the kink go. It's part of the personallity of Road America. You have turn 12 at Road Atlanta and the "b*tch" at Hallet and then you have the kink at Road America. It's one of those things that defines each and every track. Who wants a cookie cutter type track? Can anyone forget your first "butt pucker" moment when your car slipped a little going through there? I don't think anyone can.

If they are going to spend money to eliminate the risk then how about trying to make the corner a little safer? How about giving more runout room on the outside and inside of the corner?

Sorry to see it go.:(

Cobra-R

04-29-2003, 08:42 AM

Originally posted by Dean95CobraR

If they are going to spend money to eliminate the risk then how about trying to make the corner a little safer? How about giving more runout room on the outside and inside of the corner?

Sorry to see it go.:(

Now that I would be all for. If that corner could be made safe for instances when people do loose control, the fun factor would increase greatly. That wall 10' off the edge of the track just makes for to much risk for what we have to gain.

I think another byproduct of this change is the Carousel is going to loose some of it's appeal having a left hand corner at it's exit. Not knowing how far down that short straight away that turn will be, we are probly going to have a completly different line exiting the the carousel trying to be on the right side of the track which will slow us down in that as well.

tgentry

04-29-2003, 09:52 AM

FYI, direct from the source:

Your rumor, like most, has only a tiny element
of the truth in it, and is mostly wrong.

Road America would not eliminate the Kink.

Some groups have asked for a modification to
slow vehicles, especially motorcycles, before
entering the Kink because of the higher
speeds at which motorcycles, especially, run.

There will be no official announcement until
the area is complete, has been evaluated and
a decision has been made to use it.

If the new configuration works out, it will be
an optional course for groups to use.

Thanks for your interest, feel free to put that
rumor to rest.

Cheryl

Cheryl Barnes
Communications Director
cheryl@roadamerica.com

tgentry

04-29-2003, 09:59 AM

There is a way to make the Kink safer. I'm not exactly for it, but when Windy City BMW runs their school they have a radar enforced 80mph speed limit for the Kink.

It sure felt wierd really BRAKING for the Kink, and at my next event it took quite a while to get myself back up to speed there.

I do wish they could add some more room there for shunts, but I think the earth drops away there if you go much beyond the wall.

ac427cobra

04-29-2003, 12:27 PM

Tom:

I'm doing the Windy City BMW driving school this weekend at Road America and the kink speed limit is 85. Don't know if that's up from previous speed limits for that event or not. This is my first event with them.

It won't effect me all that much because I'm usually cruising only about 90 or so there. (kinda chicken still)

I guess it would kind of suck if you're used to going through there at a buck 10 or so? :(

Bruce

tgentry

04-29-2003, 12:58 PM

I recall an 80mph limit but it may have been 85.

I think you'll find it makes a difference in feel when you have to slow down, even 5 or so. Still, Windy City BMW does a good job. Have fun!

b_tone

04-29-2003, 12:58 PM

I have been running road america for over 10 years in my opinion the kink should stay. If some clubs want to slow cars down put a chicane in built of cones before the entrance to the kink. Sure it's a high speed corner without much runoff room but it's also a defining feature of the track. If people are going to run their car on a track and push the limits of the car they should be prepared to drop said car off of a cliff and not worry about it. If you are worried about bangin up your car simply slow down for the corner.

In reality the kink is not that dangerous of a corner. It's an easy corner to go through at 8.5/10ths but it's a mutha at 10/10ths. the moral of the story is that everyone driving at such an event should know their personal limit as well as the limit of the car they are driving and not rely on the facility to make it 'safe'.

If this trend continues we will be stuck running very round ovals on 4 square miles of pavement with at least 1 mile of run off room in all directions........

those are my thoughts and I am sticking to it.

Brian