Suggestions for new tracks thread

[dinoracer]

OK folks. We've been thowing ideas within a couple of threads here, lets try to get it all in one place. Let's try to get some useful input from everyone please:

A couple of ground rules-

- We all want better tracks, and better dates. The fact is we have to take what we can get, as supply and demand rules here. We always ask for summer weekends, and get what's open. So no "Lime Rock in August" requests please

- Please try to bring some "tech" to your post. If you're suggesting a track you've been too, tell us what you liked and didn't about it.

- If you're responding to a track suggestion, post something more than "that track sucks" - a lot of members have not been to a lot of tracks.

- Costs are going up. deal with it. But lets keep this thread focused on getting tracks and dates, deal with what it will cost second.

- Please feel free to volunteer to call the track and otherwise help YOUR club get some dates. Your BOD can use all the help it can get

Thanks Tom

[Crusin]

Hi Tom

This is a great idea. As a suggestion, why not start a list of all tracks within a nine hour travel time. This is an abitrary number based on the approximate time to Summit Point, which I believe is our most distant destination. There are members in COM who participate the other organizations like SCCA, EMRA and others and have experience on tracks that COM typically does not approach. They would be a valuable source of information.

I have overheard conversations regarding new tracks with comments like, it sucks. Perhaps the comments could be more subjective. Using the COM tracks as an example, Mosport, Tremblant and the old course at Summit are the best we drive. Watkins Glen is right up there, then you have NHIS which is a moderately fast autoX course and Lime Rock which is so cold in November, who cares. See, my perceptions of these courses are probably different from others. What would be good is a description of track length and typical lap times for cars similar to COM vehicles. This would allow us to have some idea of the track. Links to the home page would be good also.

I would suggest a track committee be appointed to review our situation with the tracks we currently visit and also try to develop a relationship with new tracks.

Finally, and this has been discussed several times, usually with negative results, but try to cooperate with other clubs to share track dates, especially at away events where we have low turnout, except Mosport......Clubs are seeing a down turn in attendance. As an example, BMW host a 4 day event at NHIS every fall with good success. Last year, it was shortened to three days, with the first and third day having less than 70 cars.

Kevin Foote posted a message on the forum about attending new tracks, stating he likes to add one new track per year and last year, added three. My guess is there are other COM members who feel the same way. I believe this would be of interest to many COM members. The challenge of learning and driving a new course is interesting. The track may not be "world class" but then again, we are not SCCA, FIA, F1 or world class drivers. Just my 2 cents.

[offcamber09]

What tracks are there within 9 hours that we don't already use ? Pocono and Beaverun must be more travel time. Valley Motorpark I guess would be an option if it is ever done.

Lead Sled driver's list of favorite tracks:

1. WGI
2. Mosport
3. Tremblant
4. Summit long track
5. Lime Rock
6. NHIS
7. Shenandoah...although I had fun there.

[christine]

Pocono is a lot closer than Summit, it's in NE Pennsylvania. I've never driven there, some call it rinky-dink. I believe it is a high-speed, non-technical track. I'm sure several who read this have driven there and will pipe up.

BeaveRun is in Western PA. Some SCCA folks from this area also travel to Nelson Ledges in eastern Ohio. That is probably a litle bit further than Summit. Shannonville is on the way to Mosport, probably about an hour closer.

Other future options may be new tracks such as Calabogie and Rauch Creek. Don't know when or if they will open. There's also a track going in in NJ, Thunderbolt or something like that. I don't know if it's a road course.

I would love to go to VIR. I guess that's one or two hours further than Summit.

Christine

[boltonite]

Actually Pocono (PA) is considerably (2+ hrs) closer to New England than Summit Pt (WV).

A new track that looks like it might actually get built is New Jersey Motorsports Park, http://www.njmotorsportspark.com/.

BeaveRun is in western PA and would be 9+ hrs for most COM folks.

I think all the current tracks that COM runs are worth going to. Tracks a bit further worth driving are VIR (12+ hrs), Nelson Ledges (9+hrs), and Mid Ohio (11+ hrs). I've never been to Putnam (IN) nor Gingerman (MI) but there are many driving school/club event at these tracks.

[mr2sc]

http://www.shannonville.com/body.php?se ... &page=info
Its about 1/2hr west of Kingston on the #401 (1-1/2hrs before Mosport).
Prices are pretty reasonable and there may even be weekend dates...

The longer 4.03km LONG Track has some pretty tight sections so most people prefer the faster, 2.47 km PRO Track. This is the configuration used for most racing that goes on there and I think would likely be prefered by COM, although some clubs alternate mid-day for variety.

I have a couple of old, in-car videos of this config on my mr2 site
http://www3.sympatico.ca/mr2sc/

[kfoote]

Pocono is one of the new tracks I drove this year. It's about a 7 hour drive from Seacoast NH.

The configuration I used included about 2/3 of the oval with a chicaine on Long Pond straight. This 2/3 of the track in a Miata makes the back straight at Mosport seem short.

The infield section was somewhat interesting, but very flat, and there is a HUGE transition bump coming back on to the oval. IMO, the infield is similar in character to turns 10-2b running the South Chicaine at NHIS. I felt like I had the track figured out after 2 10 lap sessions, and it is very rare that I feel that comfortable on a track that quickly. Compare that to the other new tracks I drove this year, Mid-Ohio and Nelson Ledges, and after 50+ laps and 4+ sessions, there are still sections that I fell like there is a lot of room for improvement.

There is a new track being built in Englishtown, NJ. The info I have is that though it may not be the most interesting track, or a track to race on, that for COM events would be a decent match. The info I have is that this track may be ready next year, and is certainly further along than the new track in Tamworth.

http://www.etownraceway.com/

[BrianCleary]

Hi COMSCC:

Some of you may remember me as I was the person that secured the club some of the original COMSCC dates at great tracks such as WGI and Mosport. I think the club should consider going to VIR (Virginia International Raceway). It's on the North Carolina border of Virginia (going to be a 14 tow for many of you). The people that run this track would love to have COMSCC hold an event. Sound isn't a big issue and the staff at this track is very accommodating and goes out of their way to make sure that you have a good time. They have dates, but weekend availability might be limited.

If you love Mt. Tremblant, WGI, Mosport or the infamous Bridgehampton, then this is the track for you. It's fast and technical, but never boring. Camping facilities are available at the track and plenty of hotel rooms are within a 30-minute drive to the track.

If the club gets a date I'd love to come, as long as the track agrees to let formula cars run with all the full body cars. I just want an opportunity to show Bruce how fast a formula car can actually go - if I show Bruce kiss the FTD trophy goodbye at this track

Brian Cleary
F2000

[Crusin]

Am I mistaken or was that a challenge???? :ttiwwlt:

[therooster]

Yes Brian some of us do remember and appreciate the work you put into getting COM the events at WGI and Mosport in a season, as I recall, that we would have only a few events otherwise.

I agree that VIR is a great track with a number of options available, the ride however seems really long (but I have only been there once). For the people taking the extra day on either end of an event (the day before and the day after) off of work for travel I do not think that this is that big of a deal as the ride is pretty easy. Remember it was not too long ago that we thought that 7-8 hours was a long tow. (If we do this though I would suggest looking at limiting the number of away events to one event per track per year)

I would be interested to see how many members would make the ride. Also, given the area and the large amount of events, I am sure we could draw a local crowd to offset the cost.

Chris A.

[BrianCleary]

Hi Chris:

You are correct, it is a long drive but the track rental fees are much lower than you will find at many tracks in the Northeast (at least on the test days that I've priced out which were end of week days). There are other clubs in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions that might share the expense for renting the track. If COMSCC needs someone to investigate just let me know, I'll be happy to help out in any way I can as this is the least I can do for a club that helped me to move to the next level of competitive driving.

Brian

[WillM]

I'd make the trip and would even head to Mid-Ohio. Isn't it about the same distance?

I think that VIR was brought up at the December meeting. If I recall correctly, Herb contacted them but the only thing they had available was a single day. Probably too much of a haul for a one day trip. That said, how about Mid-Ohio?

Also, would anyone be interested in a one day event at Limerock, if it were sometime in warmer weather?

[Mick]

..how about Mid-Ohio?

...would anyone be interested in a one day event at Limerock

Yes and yes.

[offcamber09]

Yes and yes.

Ditto.

[MiataSteve]

Yes and Yes........


Single day events at Lime Rock or NHIS may be a way to fill out the schedule. Could be run like as Time Trial day.