End of the South Oval ?

[Aricracer]

We were at the last White Mt BMW event at NHMS getting in some track time, and was told by the classroom instructor that it would be the last weekend their club would be running the South Oval. He said the track management doesn't want cars without full cages running the oval in the future. But because there was a club race(s) there that weekend, it was too much work to switch configurations between sessions, so were able to run the Oval "one last time"

He did not say if this news just affects their club, or all the clubs. COM being a competition club, and a school, maybe this won't apply to us?

It would be disappointing to loose access to the South Oval. I've only been doing track days at HNMS for 2 years, but 50% of my days were using that config. I personally enjoy running both configs.

Anyone know anything about this?

-Aric

[chaos4NH]

For the past couple of years NHMS Operations has been pushing to get the South Oval only for cars with cages AND proper head and neck restraints. COM was able to work around that on a trial basis. My only concern is that the 3 incidents in our last use of the oval happened on exiting turn 2, past the SAFER barrier area. I think all involved will agree, the incidents were not necessarily the speeds involved, but the improper dynamics in apexing and exiting the oval. If anyone paid attention during the NASCAR races, those cars are at 80 mph in the turn! Many of our drivers are faster through the center of the corner! Proper entry and exit is a must, it isn't so much the speed in the corner. That said, NHMS will do whatever is safest for the group using the track.

[brucesallen]

I have seen 100mph as low speed in oval at NHMS. 150 mph at brake zone start at Marker one in turn one. Indycar at NHMS: 200 mph max, 150 mph min. Awesome.

[CP]

Too much work to switch configs? They did it around 7-8 times at our last Friday practice day to accommodate the single Legends car in his own run group. All that was involved was moving some cones. It's a safety thing. Ask Wasilko how good he felt for weeks/months after riding shotgun for their T2 incident. I've wasted a caged car in T2 and I wouldn't want to do it without a cage. I think you guys that come to run with us on SCCA/NHMS practice days in an uncaged street car are crazy stupid (several blue E36 BMWs iirc).

[cuda6666]

In my estimation, the obvious problems with running the oval are:

1. High corner speed that agravates the consequences of any f***up.
2. Increased entry speed into turn 3
3. Wide entry to turn 2 that gives novices many opportunities to select a line that ends in the wall at exit

The first time I ran the Cuda through the South oval, I heard a series of loud bangs and pops. I didn't have a cage yet, and the sounds turned out to be the chassis spot welds breaking.

[brucesallen]

Frank,
Anyone who races a 1971 Barracuda on a road course is crazy.
But we already knew that.

[brucesallen]

Frank,
Anyone who races a 1971 Barracuda on a road course is crazy.
But we already knew that.

[cuda6666]

Maybe so, but at least I don't wander around repeating myself