Conditon of Turn 9/10 at NHMS

[modifiede30]

Its been a long time since I've run NHMS and I always recalled the transition between turn 9 and 10 as you cross the oval very violent for the car - has this changed at all? I'm getting my car ready to start running again and figured it would be worth asking.

[dradernh]

the transition between turn 9 and 10 as you cross the oval very violent for the car - has this changed at all?

Still very violent, depending on how stiffly your car is set up.

[savage217]

I think you mean turn 11. Yes it is actually worse than years passed in my opinion.

[Stynger]

I think you mean turn 11. Yes it is actually worse than years passed in my opinion.

No, he means the transition into 10. It is brutal.
There is talk of the track changing it, we'll see.

[modifiede30]

Yes, the transition into 10 - as you come down the hill and hit the apex turning to the right - I swear my right front shock tower was going to shoot out of my hood everytime I hit that corner. I really hope they make a change or I'll probably never take that corner at full speed when I get back there.

[savage217]

Are you talking about the curbing? The only really abnormal rough section of the back segment is the exit of 11 with that bump or the curbing to the right as you come down turn 9. Is there something else I am missing? The whole track is rough.

[paultg]

The transitions across the oval portion of the track (straights) to the road course at turn 3 and turn 10 (especially 10) have always seemed really ruff to me in my car. It's very hard to stay in the seat.

I think the issue with 10 is the steep angle of the hill changing quickly to the flatter straightaway of the oval track. Be interesting to see what they come up with to improve it.

Paul G.

[WillM]

There is a dramatic change in slope at the transition of T10. If you don't believe me, ask the guy who broke a wheel and rolled to the outside.

Low and stiff cars get the worst of it, and there are some drivers with aluminum-chassis Lotus Elise/Exige who won't return to NHMS until that particular transition changes. The transition at T3 is about as dramatic, but the higher speeds through T10 make for a harder impact.

It is my understanding that the fine folks at NHMS know this very well, and that the transitions at T3 and T10, particularly the one at T10, need to be changed if they hope to attract big-name events to the track (Sports car / GT, etc). From what I was shown, the entire experience from T9 to the front straight could be quite different. next year.
Crest 9.
Drop into a sweeping ~180° right hand turn (driving on to the area at T9 that is currently covered in grass).
Another sweeping turn / ziz-zag which would point the car straight toward the north chicane.
Cross through the wall and onto the NASCAR racing surface, straight-sh into the chicane.

Anyway, the general idea is to extend the track onto the grassy area at Turn 9 and re-enter the track much further down than its current location at T10.

Its main purpose, as far as I understand, is to ease the transition from the 'back side' of the track to the NASCAR portion of the track.

[modifiede30]

I'm talking about the transition between the motorcycle track (what I always knew it to be), and the oval. No curbing is involved, just the pavement. I'll run NHMS again for sure, but might take a different approach to that corner in particular to save my chassis. Would be great if they extend the turn a bit, and adjust how the hill intersects the oval. That alone would probably correct things. Not knowing motorcycle riding, you almost have to assume the line is much different, otherwise the motorcycle riders would be thrown off their bikes during that transition.

[dradernh]

From what I was shown, the entire experience from T9 to the front straight could be quite different. next year.
Crest 9.
Drop into a sweeping ~180° right hand turn (driving on to the area at T9 that is currently covered in grass).
Another sweeping turn / ziz-zag which would point the car straight toward the north chicane.
Cross through the wall and onto the NASCAR racing surface, straight-sh into the chicane.

Anyway, the general idea is to extend the track onto the grassy area at Turn 9 and re-enter the track much further down than its current location at T10.

Its main purpose, as far as I understand, is to ease the transition from the 'back side' of the track to the NASCAR portion of the track.

That would be a welcome improvement. I hope it happens.

[TroyV]

Wow! That sounds cool. Anything to make the place better than it is will be appreciated.

[iamrazor]

Wow! That sounds cool. Anything to make the place better than it is will be appreciated.

agreed.

Is this change hearsay or is this officially happening?

modifiede30: i might recommend hopping over to the NHMS-4 pics / vids thread so you can see how different cars handled that section of the track.

[WillM]

Wow! That sounds cool. Anything to make the place better than it is will be appreciated.

Is this change hearsay or is this officially happening?

Neither!

The desire and plan is there, but last I heard (several months ago), nothing was set in stone (or funded).

[StephanAlfa]

You mean this one???
Bah, piece of cake!!!
Ooooppps! well, that was when the suspension was fully stock ...
You are right, with stiffer suspension it gets "complicated" ...

BTW: No comments on how I took this line ... like Kimi said recently: "I know what I am doing, just leave me alone ..."

[brucesallen]

when you are only going 50 mph lines don't matter.