NHIS Configuration

[Seven]

Thanks for the insight Andrew....

While they are at it, they might as well eliminate the road course portion as well. That way they can be pretty sure to eliminate any possibility of an accident. We can just run chicane - to straight - to chicane - to straight!!

What a joke. NHIS has pulled their veil off, there is no longer any question about the fact that they want to push car clubs off of their dance card.

The worst track in the region has managed to out do themselves. This has clearly put a new wrinkle in the "NHIS subsidizing away venues" debate. It also may answer the question as to why other clubs have had difficulty selling-out NHIS. I, for one, will no longer be wasting the effort to drive @ NHIS. I will only participate as an instructor (non-driver) when available.

Ridiculous.

[Seven]

Any chance the club would prefer to change the designation of our "home" track to Lime Rock? Obviously this is dependent upon the ability to secure a greater number of days at LRP.

It is most likely just a matter of time before COM is afflicted with the same member apathy toward NHIS events that the other goups have experienced.

How many people are interested in running more than 2 (max) chicane/chicane events at NHIS per year? Big bore (none 4WD ) folks will most likely have their fill at 1 c/c event per year. I'd be surprised to hear other folks clamor for more than 2.

[jlwhorf]

I would not be surprised if the decision was a result of the fatality at the BMWCCA club race last year. NHIS has taken some tough hits in the number of fatalities. Eventhough NHIS is not great track, it does not need the clubs to survive. It could easily survive with the 2 cup dates alone, then add in the motorcycles, Richard Petty experience, vintage oval, etc. We should be glad that we have a close and accesable track. When travel expenses add a third more to the cost of an event, NHIS looks even more appealing.

Jonathan
900 Monte Carlo PA

[JayBay]

Maybe it's because I haven't been to the big tracks yet, like Mosport or Tremblant, but I love NHIS.

Sure it's not super fast, but it's tricky and technical, and has one of every type of corner out there. Besides, my stupid little car wouldn't do more than 100 on the Bonneville salt flats.

I grew up watching my dad and uncle race bikes at NHIS. I did bike days there years before I thought about driving a car around the track. I live only an hour from NHIS, and I just don't have the time or money to do big trips to the other venues, so I've only been there and LRP thus far. So I consider NHIS my home track, and I'd be bummed if COM moves the majority of it's days elsewhere.

Sure it stinks to lose the option of the oval, it is a blast to fly through there. But guys... it's an oval. Anybody can make the same left turn over and over again, even those NASCAR monkeys can do it. I thought we were road racers!!! Chicane/chicane is where it's at.

Cheers,
Jay

[rajito]

Hear hear! Oval = dumb. Bring on the chicanes. I want to try a new line through 1 that involves staying on the tarmac (as opposed to my usual line).

Raj

[timmmy]

Yup - Ovals are fun the first couple of times, but then the oval ebcomes just another part of teh streight whcih is boring. Sure its high speed but the best part of the streight is seeing how late you can brake for the chicane.

I am happy to run chicane chicane at NHIS as I live under an hour away.

Plus I drive a miata so the track is well suited to my current ride. I doubt however that i will think any differntly when my big HP rig is ready. For me road racing is all about corners, we should put a chicane in the middle of the front streight too

Timmmy

[rajito]

For me road racing is all about corners, we should put a chicane in the middle of the front streight too

Timmmy

How about a jump in the middle of the front straight instead?



Raj

[Grippy]

or a chicane with a jump in the middle! The more turns the better!

I just voted for the south oval because we haven't run that config in a while.

[Mick]

or a chicane with a jump in the middle! The more turns the better!

Wait... we already went to Shenandoah.

I'd personally like to run the south oval. But hey, I'll take what they give us. ...so I guess I'll put my 2 best tires on the front as opposed to the right :/

[TroyV]

I have run chicane/chicane and what I believe was the north oval this year.

Personally, I prefer the chicanes over the oval...even though I have a car that does not turn so well.... That could be the autocrosser in me talking..

[zip4zat]

For me road racing is all about corners, we should put a chicane in the middle of the front streight too

Timmmy

How about a jump in the middle of the front straight instead?



Raj

what I believe you mean is that we put a 'yump' in the front straight...

[Seven]

Yup - Ovals are fun the first couple of times, but then the oval ebcomes just another part of teh streight whcih is boring. Sure its high speed but the best part of the streight is seeing how late you can brake for the chicane.

I am happy to run chicane chicane at NHIS as I live under an hour away.

Plus I drive a miata so the track is well suited to my current ride. I doubt however that i will think any differntly when my big HP rig is ready. For me road racing is all about corners, we should put a chicane in the middle of the front streight too

Timmmy

The Oval is boring for miatas and low HP cars because you are full throttle all the way from the straight to turn 3. Again, chicane/chicane is great for low HP as well as (arguably) 4WD cars. For high HP cars the oval creates quite a thrill to manage the drift and stay off the wall while building good speed into the braking zone of 3. Bottom line is that NHIS is BRUTAL on cars to being with, Chicane/Chicane is the worst. I've had the pleasure of driving on nearly a dozen different tracks and none of the following exacts even a fraction of the abuse on the car as NHIS does (even with South Oval).

NHIS
Mt Tremblant
Mosport
The Glen
Lime Rock
Summit
Road Atlanta
Sebring
Thunderhill
Sears Point
ButtonWillow

This is not to say there aren't worse tracks...I'm sure many folks here will be able to attest to some of the crap that's out there. I just wanted to bring some perspective to this discussion. Btw, LRP is 1.25 hrs from Worcester (sort of Central Mass) NHIS is 1.5 hrs.

What exactly is the target demographic of the club? Should it cater to Northern NE or Southern? Eastern or Western? I'm sure the number of active participants are weighted toward the Northern and Eastern part of New England. Does this mean NHIS should be the "Home" track? I would argue that the existing demographic is merely a byproduct of the number of NHIS events historically run by COM. With the track reducing the number of available dates for COM, and forcing the single configuration upon its membership, this seems to be the right time for the club to evaluate its options going forward.

I'm just trying to stir some discussion here. However, I stand behind my assessment that NHIS events will steadily drop in popularity and will no longer be cherished as the club's cash cow. Should the club move toward anticipating this potential and assess the options in advance or wait till it's upon us and react. I prefer to move out of the way instead of pick myself off the ground.

Just take a look around, I haven't noticed many events not sold-out (well in advance I might add) at LRP, while the same can NOT be said of NHIS.

[Seven]

For me road racing is all about corners...

Timmmy

I really don't mean offense, but... that's called autox.

[Don P]

Seven -

Seems to me like you've made your points & choice.

I'll be instructing this weekend - how 'bout you?

And what is the aka seven real name? Would help with any ongoing discussion...(nice to know who you're talking to)...

Best,

Don P

[Don P]

HI again -

Also meant to say that a Miata can do the white knuckle drift in the oval...dp