ltc

Next weekend I will be down at VIR (with my son for the US Kart Grand Prix).

The organizers will be using my Cup car as the "offical pace car", so when I'm not trying to figure out how to setup my son's chassis/engine, I'll be driving the car.
Pace lap speeds should range from 25mph to about 65 mph (depending on the class of karts on track).
The car has Hoosiers.

Given the ambient conditions expected (30's in the AM, maybe 50 in the day), am I going to embarass myself (more than usual) by skidding off the track (never been to VIR).
Also, during the 'heat' of the day (50), would it be safe to take a hot lap or two?
(I promised my son a ride, since he's never been in the car (too young)....and we're going to get my wife in the car (she hates my cars))

Thanks in advance

Bull

You should be fine at the speeds you mentioned, plus some. We had 30s-40s in the AM, and 50s-60s in the PM in November and had no problem on Hoosiers. Get a bit of heat in them, then do your hot laps with some consideration for the fact that certain parts of VIR always seem a bit "loose" to me.

richard glickel.

Lewis,

Surely they're not using the entire big (3+ miles) circuit for kart races? Do you know which configuration or portions of the big track will be utilized? I know there's also a separate, small kart track at VIR.

It's a terrific layout. You will love it.

Larry Herman

He asked for experts Bull.

ltc

Yes, they are using the full (3.14 mile) road course for the karts.
My son's longest sprint track experience was 0.8 miles; he's never done a road course before.

Everything from 8 year olds in 80cc Cadets to Superkarts....50 - 160mph.
My son will be in Junior Rotax class, and I've calculated at 13K rpm (about 1K below rev limiter), he should be running 100mph.

(100mph, no bodywork, your butt 1" off the deck, no harness, just a Leatt brace.....it's good to be young.....he can't wait, his mother will be in the pits holding her breath for about a 2:35 lap)

Bull

You are correct not to reply.

Larry Herman

Ouch!

Renn 951

Yes, the key is to get the tires warmed up. I've seen folks really get caught out by getting exuberant too early on cold tires in the Turns 4-6 area and end up in the tire wall. They are "slow speed" turns but can bite you on cold tires.

50 degree temps will be fine for running some hot laps, but show a lot of respect for Turn 10 - it's high speed and seems simple but that's where most of the really bad "offs" seem to occur.

richard glickel.

It's also a very safe layout, IMHO. Lots of run-off room. Tell Mom not to worry too much (I understand that it's impossible for moms not to worry at all).

Have a great time and good luck to your young (albeit experienced) racer!

P.S.: There's also a pretty good Larry Herman VIR-at-speed track video from a couple of season's ago. Not sure if it's still archived here or whether Larry can re-post it for you.

BostonDMD

Lewis, good to hear you will be getting in the saddle of your Cup Car again......

RJFabCab

Lewis, you'll be fine at those speeds as others have mentioned. A couple of notes:

1. There's a deep **** hole inside the apex at T9.
2. The drop from Rollercoaster to Hogpen can take forever to warm up due to the way the sun hits it.

Good luck to junior in the kart!

Sean F

wow, 160 in a kart - that sounds scary

mkd944

It appears to be very safe because of all of the run-off room but looks can be decieving. In a 3000 lb car at speed, you will slide a long way on that grass as I unfortunately know from personal experience . Your son should be fine in a kart thouugh since there is probably not enough mass to slide very far.

Bull

Yes sir! Like at the top of the Roller Coaster, where if you go off sliding at speed you will just about make it to the paddock if you don't hit something.

ltc

Thanks everyone