Anyone have insight into the COTA resurfacing?
#16
I haven't been out there since the work started, but the pictures Peter posted and the ones I saw from Eric indicate that this is a very big grind and repave. I have seen pictures of the pit out to the top of the hill at T1 and the short straight between T2 & T3, what looks like T7 to T8 and exit of T9, the back straight from T11 all the way into T12, and then T15 heading into the T16-18 complex. It looks like this is a comprehensive repayment. The issue we experienced previously was just a surface grind that left all the grit (sandblast material) on the track. The experience I have on freshly paved surfaces is they are low grip and them polish the tires, so I expect this will be a low grip event, but hopefully without grit on the surface. I will have a brand new windshield, so my car will be sitting in the garage if there is grit on the track.
#17
The Penguin King
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Just finished a weekend with Chin at COTA. They did a great job of removing the bumps, and the new surface is very good. I was able to run at my race pace this morning (Sunday) with no drama. Keep in mind too that I think we were the first to drive on it so there was essentially no rubber down on Saturday. Those doing the PCA CR are going to really enjoy it.
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txhokie4life (02-02-2020)
#18
Rennlist Member
I agree with Mike. Superb job. There are some height differences between new pavement and off track areas near track outs, but this will be addressed . The new pavement is yummy!!
#19
Rennlist Member
Wow! Kudos to COTA and the workers...it's almost 2013 good! The bump in the braking zone into 11 is still there but hey, it's character. T18 is "yeeeee hawwwwwww" again with superb grip and no bumps. Cut a good second and a half off my previous times on heat cycled out cup 2s today. I imagine this track will be FAST after the WEC cars lay down some rubber.
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txhokie4life (02-02-2020)
#20
Rennlist Member
Sweet! Glad the repave was successful! I'm jealous and on the sidelines with no track car at the moment. Glad you guys enjoyed Chin at COTA with some nice weather!
#22
Wow! Kudos to COTA and the workers...it's almost 2013 good! The bump in the braking zone into 11 is still there but hey, it's character. T18 is "yeeeee hawwwwwww" again with superb grip and no bumps. Cut a good second and a half off my previous times on heat cycled out cup 2s today. I imagine this track will be FAST after the WEC cars lay down some rubber.
nice join date, noob. :jickel:
#23
Rennlist Member
#24
Thanks for the updates and video. FYI - There are a very small number of spaces currently available in the Advanced Solo DE Run Groups for the PCA Club Race at COTA being held Feb 28 - Mar 1, 2020. The racing should be phenomenal. I am looking forward to driving the repaved track! See y'all there!
#26
Track Day
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Carrera of the Americas Club Race and Advanced Solo DE
Wanted to reinforce the comments above about COTA track condition. Here is the blurb we are sending out to Racers and DE Drivers for our Carrera of the Americas Club Race and Advance DE.SMOOOOOOOOTH. Do you like smooth. Well that is what COTA is now. We talked to David Moore, owner of Moorespeed, who runs a GT3 Cup Platinum team; and Riley Wilkinson, who drives the number 53 Moorespeed car. They tested at COTA weekend before last and said the track was in great condition. What do they know about racing? Well the 53 finished third overall in the Platinum Series and Riley was awarded the IMSA Hurley Haywood Scholarship. Tim Strehl our DE Manager was there this past weekend and said the same thing. Drivers are setting PB’s. In addition to the track, we'll feed Racers and DE Drivers some Texas BBQ at Moorespeed's facility on Saturday evening. Extra meals are $20.00 PP. And for Racers, we'll hand out trophies to all podium finishers from the Sprints. Finishing order will be determined based on combining how you finished in both races.
So come on out and experience SMOOOOOOOOTH at the 2020 Carrera of the Americas at COTA February 28 - March 1. Any questions give us a call.
uffy von Briesen - 703 -980-4839
PCA Hill Country REgion
Club Race Co-Chair
So come on out and experience SMOOOOOOOOTH at the 2020 Carrera of the Americas at COTA February 28 - March 1. Any questions give us a call.
uffy von Briesen - 703 -980-4839
PCA Hill Country REgion
Club Race Co-Chair
#27
Rennlist Member
Ran COTA today on a private track day with les than 20 cars, open lapping, open passing.
Was driving an ‘arrive and drive’ 16 Clubsport from W2W Racing and did a 2:27 flat as my best lap and 27s/28s consistently all afternoon on scrub slicks, all bests for me who is an improving but not a great driver by any means and who’s had limited track time at COTA.
When we got there this morning it was drizzling and the track was wet, and that is the most noteworthy thing about the resurfacing. The new patches have a lot of grip, but the transition to the old surface make the track inconsistent and a huge challenge in the wet, at least for me. It’s basically like driving two tracks. I was on street tires in the wet and was plowing through T7, 11, 13, 20. T12 is resurfaced but stops after a few dozen feet, so on track out you have grip until you hit the old surface and the traction breaks loose. It was very difficult for me and hard to build confidence in the track.
Once it dried out there was little to no difference between the two surfaces, other that the old surface is less forgiving on older tires whereas the new one will still hold grip.
For reference by the time it dried out it was around 78F, high humidity, and full sunshine.
If you guys are running in the dry you’re going to love the resurfacing ... no more pant pooping in two and at the back end of the carousel. The only bit that I’m surprised they didn’t resurface is the apex of T10. I m guessing cause there’s no real need to pinch that corner, still, if you do get far inside be ready for the dip.
Was driving an ‘arrive and drive’ 16 Clubsport from W2W Racing and did a 2:27 flat as my best lap and 27s/28s consistently all afternoon on scrub slicks, all bests for me who is an improving but not a great driver by any means and who’s had limited track time at COTA.
When we got there this morning it was drizzling and the track was wet, and that is the most noteworthy thing about the resurfacing. The new patches have a lot of grip, but the transition to the old surface make the track inconsistent and a huge challenge in the wet, at least for me. It’s basically like driving two tracks. I was on street tires in the wet and was plowing through T7, 11, 13, 20. T12 is resurfaced but stops after a few dozen feet, so on track out you have grip until you hit the old surface and the traction breaks loose. It was very difficult for me and hard to build confidence in the track.
Once it dried out there was little to no difference between the two surfaces, other that the old surface is less forgiving on older tires whereas the new one will still hold grip.
For reference by the time it dried out it was around 78F, high humidity, and full sunshine.
If you guys are running in the dry you’re going to love the resurfacing ... no more pant pooping in two and at the back end of the carousel. The only bit that I’m surprised they didn’t resurface is the apex of T10. I m guessing cause there’s no real need to pinch that corner, still, if you do get far inside be ready for the dip.
#29
It is super nice, back to its youth, except for braking into T11. I think 2 sec faster maybe.
Two similar laps. Blue is 40F weather on fresh tires (stock GT4 w/R7) from 2018. Red is a week ago, 75F on dog-old tires, 12+ heat cycles which corded in the same session. You can see corner entry is a lot stronger in the red on the new surface, but ultimately the extra power and fresh tires from the 2018 cold spell won.
Two similar laps. Blue is 40F weather on fresh tires (stock GT4 w/R7) from 2018. Red is a week ago, 75F on dog-old tires, 12+ heat cycles which corded in the same session. You can see corner entry is a lot stronger in the red on the new surface, but ultimately the extra power and fresh tires from the 2018 cold spell won.
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ProCoach (03-10-2020)