A thread with no controversey - Page 2

ERA535 · #21 (**permalink**) 09-21-2002, 10:13 AM

How about this question - what are the top 2 or 3 corners you have raced through? I am talking corners that required the most courage.

2 come to mind immediately for me -

11a (the kink) at Road America. If you do the carrousel really well you are rewarded with entering 11a even faster. It is a flat out (in most cars) right kink that in the 70's did not have any guard rails to speak of - a turn that caused you to hold your breath every lap. You are always happy to make it through so you can forget about it for the next 2 minutes! A lot of drivers I hold in high esteem have crashed there - drivers who usually don't crash -Jerry Hansen and Bill Wuesthoff come to mind.

I can't remember the turn number on the next one - it is at Moroso in Palm Beach FL. It is a quick left/right and is at the end of the straight coming back toward the staging area for the drag strip. In an FC car you are probably going 130 - 140. There was an unprotected canal (WITH alligators) on the left and a concrete wall on the right. That champagne heir was killed at this turn a few years ago. I have never been so "on the edge" as at that turn and I don't mind saying it scared the hell out of me on every lap.

Richard Hudgins · #22 (**permalink**) 09-21-2002, 11:20 AM

Pat,

Stuttgart: 73,74, and was there in 75 (Not driving) with our Dulon FF team. (I was the importer at that time).

Blachawk. I really liked that course as well. However, every time I ran there it was a combined group of FB, FF, and the dreaded SV. I would really like to drive the circuit without all of the oil that was always put down by the SV's. I never ran one race there without the oil. I remember turn four having to turn in at least 75 yards before the apex just to make the corner. Every lap. Really needed studded tires.

Best corners:

Most courage.

Spa Francorchamps = eau-rouge. Blinding fast, and no room on the exit.

Best from a technical standpoint.

VIR = section from braking for the downhill esses through hogpen and onto pit straight. You had to get this perfect to be fast.

Most fun. (Two in this catagory)

Brands Hatch = Paddock hill down into druids. Really fun in the wet.

Road atlanta = Bridge turn onto front straight. Turn one and the esses into 5.

Hillclimbs.

You just had drive them balls out. Much more intense than circuit racing. You had to get them right first time. No practice. Just got to walk the circuit. You got 3 runs at it. You needed to be young and still immortal to be competitive.

Jamo · #23 (**permalink**) 09-21-2002, 12:10 PM

Richard, Pat

Excellent stuff to read on a Saturday morning. Many thanks.

coyled · #24 (**permalink**) 09-21-2002, 12:20 PM

Firebird east, firebird main, phoenix international raceway, willow springs, and Road america. Scariest corner; the kink at road america. Dog leg with concrete walls 15 yards off the track on both sides. Biggest barke zone? turn 5 at road america. 165 mph to 40 mph in the cobra loaded going down hill. scott

mustang man · #25 (**permalink**) 09-21-2002, 01:16 PM

I had to scratch my head and think about this one.

Here goes:

Indy Road Course
New Hampshire
Pocono North
Pocono South
Nazareth
Summit Point-Jefferson
Watkins Glen
Nelson Ledges (college days in the 60's in my beloved Volvo P1800)

I assume that we are not counting drag strips as race courses since then my list would be too long to mention.

I envy the guys that have run the big name tracks in Europe.

Jamo · #26 (**permalink**) 09-21-2002, 01:29 PM

Don't know about anyone else who runs at Willow Springs, but I have yet to master Turn 9. You come into turn 8 carrying speed from the back straight and you sometimes hit some crosswinds here on 8's big radius. You look for that power pole to set up for 9 which is a smaller radius than 8. The urge is to carry good speed and accelerate for the main straight, which I always overdo and end up having to back off. Nasty place to make a mistake. The Audi is always forgiving here--the Cobra is not.

I love turn 5, the bottom of what I call Willow's corkscrew, but I hate it when there's traffic because of all the different lines everyone takes through there.

I've never taken the Cobra to Laguna Seca--but I love the corkscrew with the Audi...especially on wet misty mornings.

Slick67 · #27 (**permalink**) 09-22-2002, 09:12 PM

not much time on the road tracks like the ovals were there is plenty of dirt.

Only 2 road courses
Walkins Glen
Naha international, Japan

RICE BURNERS SUCK I WANT MY STANG BACK!!!!

RACER X #99 · #28 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 03:49 AM

AJ,
Tell the old man to have it ready for" track duty" so when you come back for a little RnR you can tear up the Glen once again.
Good to know your back from wherever Uncle Sam sent you.

RD

bonyhadi · #29 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 06:54 AM

Roger
=====
How about another thread on tracks driven in competition under SCCA or NASCAR?
Is open tracking racing?
God Bless America,
daniel

Pete C · #30 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 08:38 AM

There you go Bony! It's not racing, just guys ("friends") with fast cars trying to see who's is fastest and keeping close track of how many cars they pass while trying to forget who passed them. That is of course, until you get a chance to pick off one of those !@@#$$ that got you earlier. Just friends, testosterone and a chance to live out a fantasy .... that doesn't include twins. Damn!! It also gives you something to lie about beside fishing and your love life!

Cheers, Pete

RACER X #99 · #31 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 02:27 PM

Bony,
I doubt very much if any active real racers have any time for the nonsense that we do here or at the track. Just like Pete said, friends having fun at the track.
Hey none of us have a real Cobra so why would we be real racers?

Cranky

Turk · #32 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 09:02 PM

I am getting a real one. Can I play?

TURK

John McMahon · #33 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 09:13 PM

Toik,

You know you can! A handful of your crew have a standing invite to come and join us at the Glen...if you can ever make it.

Turk · #34 (**permalink**) 09-23-2002, 09:34 PM

I promise a few of us gonna show up someplace where we are least expected. Just like the Candid Camera. We probably won't have our cars, I promise we will show up one of these days, not too far in the distant future.
TURK

DanElam · #35 (**permalink**) 09-24-2002, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RACER X #99
I doubt very much if any active real racers have any time for the nonsense that we do here or at the track. Just like Pete said, friends having fun at the track.
Cranky

Hey hey hey!!!! It sure feels real to my budget and all the work we do!

After the Glen, we'll get you guys to Summit, get you paddocked with us racers, and get your blood pumping when you see a Cobra dust those big boys from a standing start! I'll bet I can even get you guys spots on the starting line as flaggers (you need a lot for the standing start.)

We'll get you guys here and get you sucked into some racing and then you too can pour money into the hole!

DanElam · #36 (**permalink**) 09-24-2002, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RACER X #99
I doubt very much if any active real racers have any time for the nonsense that we do here or at the track. Just like Pete said, friends having fun at the track.
Cranky

Hey hey hey!!!! It sure feels real to my budget and all the work we do!

After the Glen, we'll get you guys to Summit, get you paddocked with us racers, and get your blood pumping when you see a Cobra dust those big boys from a standing start! I'll bet I can even get you guys spots on the starting line as flaggers (you need a lot for the standing start.)

We'll get you guys here and get you sucked into some racing and then you too can pour money into the hole!

RACER X #99 · #37 (**permalink**) 09-25-2002, 04:35 AM

Dan,
I may not be a real racer but I do have plenty of experience of pouring money into the hole.

Cranky

John McMahon · #38 (**permalink**) 09-25-2002, 07:10 AM

Dan,

We gots about 7 Crankoids coming down in November. We have a local Crankoid living in Shenendoah Junction, he knows the folks at NASA and he'll be hooking all of us up in the Advanced group.

Fire up that grill....we're coming down to have some fun! I won't be run McStang, I'm bringing a bucket of money and I'm just gonna stand at the start/finish line handing out sawbucks to each person that crosses it!

I'll probably come out ahead in the long run!

Pete C · #39 (**permalink**) 09-25-2002, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RACER X #99
Dan,
I may not be a real racer but I do have plenty of experience of pouring money into the hole.

Cranky

Yeah, Cranky, I hear ya, I used to do that when I was younger. Now, I pretend to be a racer instead of a lover and spend my money on the Cobra!

Cheers, Pete C