Team3S Member Track Report:

The new facility is really 1st class and apparently they'll be re-paving the track before the next NASCAR race.  It's nice to be at a facility that has indoor plumbing and hot and cold water --- hell, back when I was a kid ---- well never mind.

Nothing like a little low speed push to get your attention as you slide towards the tire barrier, your tires shuddering and clawing for traction --- that occurs right after braking from 100+ while aimed straight at another barrier that forms the perimeter for the turn 11.  Once your tires hook up again you're headed off down the front 'straight' [ actually a dogleg left ] --- full throttle, a foot from the wall at the dogleg looking at a long black streak on the track and a big tire mark on the outside wall, damn, somebody did it wrong !!

You can carry a ton of speed into 1, a fast uphill left hand sweeper --- pucker factor kept me slow there both days.  Done wrong you go off track into the hillside, done too fast, you carry too much speed into 2 [ see paragraph 1 ].  Done right it probably feels great although I never felt close to optimum there.  2 through 8a form the portion of the track I'm familiar with, it was the shortened version that resulted while the $50 million renovation was taking place.

Coming out of 1 you brake hard and downshift for 2, clip the berm and head towards the hillside grandstands at track out --- last year I managed a nifty little 90 degree reorientation after getting too much berm.  From track out at 2 there's a nice short straight that allows us higher HP guys blow by the wannabes, hard downhill braking into the uphill left known as turn 3.  Late apex 3a and a fast down hill run into 4, a medium speed 90º right that flows into a fairly high speed right hand sweeper done at WOT in 3rd.

The 270º downhill known as the carousel is another of those turns that I have never taken at what I consider optimum speed.  Next is a 110 mph run to the turn 7 hairpin --- hard braking and downshifting to make the big 'U' turn.  Several methods recommended --- double apex it or run in deep and do a single apex.  I just go a little deep and do a constant radius turn with a lot of throttle about half way through, it slides a little wide but there's plenty of room to work with.

Next are the esses, and I finally feel in control of that mess --- last year the walls scared the poop out of me but now that the construction is done there is more room for error, while driving I like to repeat the mantra --- you have to drive it home dummy.

New to me but part of the original track is the 8a, 9, 10 complex ---- much speed can be carried through here and I got better as track time accumulated.  9 is 100+ with some room for error but that damn 10 is a high speed right with walls where you'd be if you screw it up.  There are also a lot of marbles [ balled up rubber ] all over the area and if you get off line you're off track.  10 takes you to that 100+ run up to 11 where you hope to hell you didn't overcook your brakes during the preceding 10 turns.  Heading towards a wall at 100 mph is no time to find out you've got brake fade --- for the most part I left a lot of leeway for error here.

That's the track, it's fun, it's fast, it's challenging, but the best part of the weekend was meeting with and being with friends who share a common bond --- not just 3S people but people who like cars and driving and having a good time.  Bonds and memories formed like that are not soon forgotten.  My condolences to those who could attend and didn't, and to those who wanted to and couldn't [ e.g. Bob and ET, you were missed ].

Thanks to all who attended and helped to make it a memorable weekend!

--- Jim Berry