tar6day

Can't seem to locate any track tips? Never been to the tack and I'm racing this weekend! HELP!!

Thanks

Mike in Chi

(I posted this a few years ago)

Here's an easy to follow Road America guide:

(leave pits)
Turn right
Turn right again
Long drink of coffee
Big brake and turn left
turn left
turn right
big brake and turn left
looooooong turn right
Pucker and turn right
Resume breathing and adjust radio
hard, hard brake and turn right
a fun slight left
turn right
climb hill and place cell phone call
repeat.

Hope that helps.

Kurt R

That looks about right.
I prefer CD's, as radio reception isn't that good between the kink and Canada Corner.
The fun slight left can be much less fun if you turn in too early, but you can use the crossover road if you need a little extra pavement on exit.

joey bagadonuts

Tim,

You've got mail.

joey bagadonuts

BTW, I love this write up, Mike. Decaf is okay, right?

Mike in Chi

I'm faster (if you can call it that) when I'm caffienated.

Tim

T1 is faster than it looks, but is very fast, so work up to it carefully.
Straight line into the turn in at 3. Track out there can be a little tricky, but you'll get the hang of it. Watch the line others take as they approach 5. It can help you a lot. Lots of guys use the rumble strips at Track out.

Have your braking done before you crest the hill at 6.

7 has lots of grip, but if you get on the rumble strips, you can hook it there. If you go off, just ride it out straight til the car settles. Don't try to correct too quickly or you'll hook it.

The kink deserves every ounce of respect in your body (note the rainbow of paint applied on the wall driver's right there are no minor incidents there). See note for T7 should you get on or over the rumblers at track out. Cautiously add speed there.

Kurt warned you about the Billy Mitchell Bridge turn. Don't turn in too soon. Know the escape route there. But that turn is a kick when you get it right.

Canada is really hard braking, but good for overtaking, as is 5.

Finally, you'll see someone you know at Siebkens in the evening. and the racer stickers go back 20 years. Try the chips at Lake Street Cafe, Go to Schwartz's in St. Mary's for a steak.

tar6day

Thanks Mike!!

Dave in Chicago

One of the nice things about RA is the access to various vantage points. Drive to them, as the hike is bloody long. It is well worth your while to take some of the downtime and explore. You can sit down in 3, 5, top of 6, on the hilltop over 7, outside of 8 (if you know how to get there), wander around inside the entire carousel, peer down into the kink from the cliftop above, sit in the stands in 12, wander out to the inside of 14, etc. There is a lot of topography that you will pick up that is not readily apparent from inside the car.

While Mike's drinking coffee, I was reading books in a 944 NA. I hope to be up to coffee-drinking speed this year (car in shop, loading up on goodies).

Respect the speed and just don't hook anything. All the hooks to the inside lead to concrete, not gravel. Worse, RA will make you pay them for concrete you damage.