944Cup

944 Cup 2015 Schedule to date. Additional dates may be added. A June date at Autobahn is being discussed.

Van

What does the * designate? Does that mean Summit will be the Nationals?

944Cup

* signifies the event has an enduro. However, SP is under consideration for Cup Nationals in 2015. Much depends on the progress of the safety improvements being made at that track.

gums

PCA has listed a return to MMC, May 8-10, right between Lime Rock and Watkins Glen.
Not in on that?

944Cup

No Frank. My experience with scheduling tells me 3 race weekends in 5 weeks is not desirable.

Disappointed not to be there again for our Nationals, especially considering this year's event would not have happened without the 944 Cup. But we move on.

Ernie J

Where's Monticello ?

944Cup

See reply to Frank.

gums

And my experience tells me that DD knows what's best.

944Cup

Thanks Frank.

Discussions with Potomac Region are in progress about having Nationals at Summit Point in 2015. The changes and plans for more improvements of the Main circuit are very encouraging.

Would be a nice touch to be able to go back to the track where we held the very first 944 Cup event back in 2002 with NASA having a total of 11 cars in the race, and in the series for that matter. The field has grown since those days

captdownshift

I'm always for anything the aids in the progress of facility improvement! Thanks for being a catalyst in the push for the changes

Astroman

What about 2 race weekends four days apart? Man I hope that Mid Ohio date is still being negotiated.

944Cup

Agreed, too close, escpically if SP becomes the location for our National Championship. I understand the Mid Ohio date to have been requested by the region and approved by national.

We are hoping to replace the Mid Ohio date with one or even two events at Autobahn for the Midwest. Mid Ohio would stay on the our schedule for Canada.

944Cup

Thank you.

I believe much credit goes to Rennlist and the members who joined the discussion. Rennlist provides a platform for drivers to express their opinions, pro and con, which gave us a voice with enough volume to matter to club race organizers and track management.

Credit to drivers who stayed away from the track until something changed at the track. Credit to club organizers who spoke up. And credit to track management for listening and making the effort to improve our sand box. A win for everyone.

Here are some of the improvements made or planned:

1. Replacing the gravel traps at T1 and T10 with a paved surface.

2. Harvested deer.

3. re-worked the turn 8-9 area by increasing runoff to driver's right. removed the old guardrail that was 15' from track edge and increased the distance from edge of track to a barrier to approximately 50'. Drivers can now see into turn 9 past the apex, and the exit of the turn, much sooner than in years past.

4. also worked on the area from turn 9 to the bridge. reshaped the berm on the right to the tire wall, and also reshaped and improved the tire wall on both sides before the bridge. removed numerous trees in the area and added conveyor belting to the tire wall to improve energy absorption.

5.improvements planned for the same areas include pushing the remaining berms and tire walls farther back on driver's right at turn 8 into 9.

6.Also pushing the berm at driver's right as you exit turn 9 as far back as possible, if not eliminating it altogether. also plan to line the berms up the bridge straight with tire wall that is belted on both sides of the straight as you exit 9.

7. improve driver's left in the area by adding barriers and tires to the treed area that is currently open on the left.

8.Dirt removed from the turn 8 area will be relocated to the turn 5-6 area to reshape the berm much higher than it currently is, as well as reshaping the tire wall and adding conveyor belting. Trees will be removed and the berm sloped on the backside with fencing added to restrict access to the area.

9. The entire track will be re-examined with an emphasis on removal of "new growth" saplings and other greenery to improve driver sight lines and discourage wildlife in the area.

10. re-applying for a pest permit to remove deer in the new year. In addition we will be seeking a price quote to add deer fencing in key areas around the track.

11. committed $60,000.00 to the acquisition of barriers from the Baltimore Grand Prix, 10,000 tires, and equipment rental to complete the work listed above. The barriers have arrived, 100 of them, and plan to use them on both the Summit Point Raceway and Jefferson Circuits. 4,000 of the 10,000 tires are here and being bundled as quickly as we can. using bands as opposed to bolts to put them together as it appears the FIA is doing this method as well.

944Cup

Going back home. I am very excited to announce that Summit Point will be the site of the 944 Cup Nationals in 2015 and Annual Awards Banquet. The PCA Club Race Application is approved so the dates are firm: Sept. 25-27.

sbelles

Paving turn 1 might make it safer. I'm not so sure about 10.