Calabogie Motorsports Park Review - Best trackday ever
05-11-2009, 02:29 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Calabogie Motorsports Park Review - Best trackday ever
Wow, what an awesome weekend!! We had the rare opportunity to enjoy one of North America’s finest and newest racetracks, almost to ourselves. With only nine cars signed up, we had essentially unlimited track time. I did ~80 laps on the 5km track for a total of 400km on-track! Before lunch, I already had six sessions completed.
The track
For those that haven’t been to Calabogie, it’s a stunningly beautiful track with 20 corners, elevation changes, and corners with blind entries. For the most part, the track is very safe with room to spin and to push your car. I think to feel comfortable on this track, you need half a day (just to figure out where the track goes with 20 corners), but to go fast I think would take a year.
The track itself is picturesque and smooth as a billiard table. That smoothness allows you to really feel the car and the chassis through corners and in the braking zones. You don’t have to position the car based on bumps or have the grip disturbed by poor surfaces. Instead, it’s just you and the car dancing through the hills.
Warm welcome
I have to also give huge kudos to track manager Bruce Gregory for his hospitality and good nature. He welcomed us with open arms and treated us like we had been lifelong friends. I’ve never been to a track before where the track manager has been so kind, easy-going, professional and caring; a rare treat that I hope to experience again and again at Calabogie.
Lap around the track
A really fast lap on this track (maybe a lap record?) for a production car is 2:17 set in a 997 GT3. I was quite a ways behind at 2:26, but given how long the lap is, and being the first time out, I’m not too concerned. Regardless, I hope to get a lot closer the next time out as I understand the track and the fast way around better.
Let’s take a lap around this amazing track called Calabogie Motorsports Park (from the Calabogie Motorsport Park website):
http://www.calabogiemotorsports.com/...=47&Itemid=130
Love at first drive
For myself, the corners I loved the most are 4 (Easy), 7 (Candy Mountain), 9 (Deliverance), 15 (Spoon) and 16 (4Left). I love 4, 7, and 9 because they are blind, full throttle corners where the car comes over the crest and feels like you’re being shot out of cannon. I love 9 and 15 because they make your palms sweaty being such high speed corners if you get them right. The corners I struggled with the most were the slower ones (19, 20) and a fast one that requires a lot of confidence (the Kink at corner 1). I didn’t mind 8 (Temptation) because I love trail braking the GT3 and could carry a lot of speed in while still being at the right angle coming out.
Conclusion
I still have a long ways to go before mastering this track, but what a thrill and an opportunity it was to drive such a world-class track in my own backyard!! Thank you to Bruce for allowing us to enjoy a great day, on a great track, with stunning scenery, in a great car! When I get a chance later tonight, I’ll add some pics and hopefully an in-car video (does this track no justice).
The track
For those that haven’t been to Calabogie, it’s a stunningly beautiful track with 20 corners, elevation changes, and corners with blind entries. For the most part, the track is very safe with room to spin and to push your car. I think to feel comfortable on this track, you need half a day (just to figure out where the track goes with 20 corners), but to go fast I think would take a year.
The track itself is picturesque and smooth as a billiard table. That smoothness allows you to really feel the car and the chassis through corners and in the braking zones. You don’t have to position the car based on bumps or have the grip disturbed by poor surfaces. Instead, it’s just you and the car dancing through the hills.
Warm welcome
I have to also give huge kudos to track manager Bruce Gregory for his hospitality and good nature. He welcomed us with open arms and treated us like we had been lifelong friends. I’ve never been to a track before where the track manager has been so kind, easy-going, professional and caring; a rare treat that I hope to experience again and again at Calabogie.
Lap around the track
A really fast lap on this track (maybe a lap record?) for a production car is 2:17 set in a 997 GT3. I was quite a ways behind at 2:26, but given how long the lap is, and being the first time out, I’m not too concerned. Regardless, I hope to get a lot closer the next time out as I understand the track and the fast way around better.
Let’s take a lap around this amazing track called Calabogie Motorsports Park (from the Calabogie Motorsport Park website):
http://www.calabogiemotorsports.com/...=47&Itemid=130
Love at first drive
For myself, the corners I loved the most are 4 (Easy), 7 (Candy Mountain), 9 (Deliverance), 15 (Spoon) and 16 (4Left). I love 4, 7, and 9 because they are blind, full throttle corners where the car comes over the crest and feels like you’re being shot out of cannon. I love 9 and 15 because they make your palms sweaty being such high speed corners if you get them right. The corners I struggled with the most were the slower ones (19, 20) and a fast one that requires a lot of confidence (the Kink at corner 1). I didn’t mind 8 (Temptation) because I love trail braking the GT3 and could carry a lot of speed in while still being at the right angle coming out.
Conclusion
I still have a long ways to go before mastering this track, but what a thrill and an opportunity it was to drive such a world-class track in my own backyard!! Thank you to Bruce for allowing us to enjoy a great day, on a great track, with stunning scenery, in a great car! When I get a chance later tonight, I’ll add some pics and hopefully an in-car video (does this track no justice).
05-11-2009, 07:52 PM
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05-11-2009, 11:44 PM
#7
Race Director
Another good video: http://www.calabogiemotorsports.com/...138&video_id=3
Phenomenal track. Less than an hour from home
I posted in the Canada forum that one of my buddies is an automotive journalist and he was at Infineon recently testing the SuperSnake Cobra. His comment was "This place has nothing on Calabogie."
The secret is out ...
Phenomenal track. Less than an hour from home
I posted in the Canada forum that one of my buddies is an automotive journalist and he was at Infineon recently testing the SuperSnake Cobra. His comment was "This place has nothing on Calabogie."
The secret is out ...
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05-12-2009, 08:39 PM
#11
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Just a slightly nicer track than Mission, eh Farz? 
I'm calling you names right now, but don't take it personally.
Enjoy your track days out there!
Cheers,
I'm calling you names right now, but don't take it personally.
Enjoy your track days out there!
Cheers,
05-13-2009, 08:40 PM
#13
Drifting
Thread Starter
Hey Allan, great to hear from you. I know I'm being a bugger saying this, but I'm allowed given the winters we have to suffer through as compared to the balmy temps out west. One of the reasons I live on the east coast is because of the number of tracks nearby.
Within a few hours drive, we have Mosport, Calabogie, Watkins Glen, Mt. Tremblant, Shannonville, Cayuga, and Dunnville! I haven't even tapped deep into the east coast USA tracks in that list either. What more can you ask for, a GT3 and seven tracks within driving distance!
Within a few hours drive, we have Mosport, Calabogie, Watkins Glen, Mt. Tremblant, Shannonville, Cayuga, and Dunnville! I haven't even tapped deep into the east coast USA tracks in that list either. What more can you ask for, a GT3 and seven tracks within driving distance!
05-14-2009, 02:44 AM
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Yeah....you are a bugger Farz! j/k You have a great point about suffering through that winter. But we're all nice folks out here. Can't you send a track or two our way?
Enjoy your summer!
j/k You have a great point about suffering through that winter. But we're all nice folks out here. Can't you send a track or two our way? Enjoy your summer!
