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Post by Simon on Jun 27, 2011 11:41:47 GMT -5
Here's my helmet cam video of the main from yesterday (now with GPS telemetry overlay!) www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXjtxR-II2EI'll look at the heat races later and maybe do a highlights reel of those. Brad and I had a good fight but sadly Rich's clutch failed on the grid, so he didn't make the main. The locals were FAST ! I was really impressed how MBKC ran the event, 2 practices, qualifying, 2 heats and a main and we were all done by 4pm. Something wrong with the transponders though, they don't stay attached to the kart. To those that missed it, the track is like nothing else I have driven. A mix of concrete and asphalt gives a huge range of grip levels, often transitioning halfway through a corner with some big old bumps thrown in just for good measure. |
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Post by ron90 on Jun 27, 2011 16:20:19 GMT -5
At first glance the track appeared simple to learn. I walked the track and felt confident that I could adapt easily. Boy was I wrong. The changes in surface from asphalt to concrete, the angles of the corners, and the difference in weather as the day progressed, made it more complex then I thought.
When I was feeling confident (uh over-confident) I would dive deeper into Turn 1 and then find out my judgment was wrong. One time after watching others go deeper into Turn 1, I did the same thing. First I hit my mark. Then I hit my brakes. Then I pressed harder as I was still going wayyyyy too fast. Then I locked them, made some comments in my helmet, released the brake and cranked the corner hard. Having made the corner not so gracefully, I then saw someone fly past me, taking full advantage of my error.
I had a great time. Everyone at the track made me, as a visitor, feel welcomed. Thank you.
I also enjoyed watching the skydivers landing while we raced.
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Post by Brad Wunder on Jun 27, 2011 17:21:30 GMT -5
Very nice video Simon. I'm need to get one of those! As others have said, that is one challenging track due to the transitions from one surface to another. The other thing about that track is it EATS TIRES! Now I can see why they are the only club around that doesn't use Bridestones. What Simon's vidoe doesn't quite capture is that on the two left handers coming onto the straight I'm pretty much out of control in a full drift basically just hanging on hoping I don't take out the cones on the straight. The day before that wasn't happening (after a session or so trying to figure out the lines). It wasn't until after the second heat that I noticed on my right rear the tread wear indicator dimples were almost gone! WTH!? I've run 5-6 races (plus many practice days) on a set and they have never worn down to that point. All of us put on a new set before the first race at Davis so this would have been 3 races. It wasn't till on the way home that I realized that I only had ONE race on this set because I ran a 6 race set at PC (much to my regret)instead of these new ones. Holy crap! After the main I had NO dimples left. Very nice folks down there. They all made us feel very welcome and it would be fun to race with them again...somewhere in OUR backyard.  |
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Post by norcalacr on Jun 27, 2011 17:44:55 GMT -5
Good thing I didn't subject my YLCs to that surface.
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Post by ron90 on Jun 27, 2011 18:00:44 GMT -5
What Simon's vidoe doesn't quite capture is that on the two right handers coming onto the straight Right handers? |
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Post by Brad Wunder on Jun 27, 2011 18:08:01 GMT -5
Dang lawyers....always so picky.... ;D Yes, LEFT handers.
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Post by ron90 on Jun 27, 2011 18:25:37 GMT -5
I was just wondering if there was a shorter way around the track by turning right instead of left.
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Post by RichH on Jun 27, 2011 20:22:04 GMT -5
Want to echo the sentiments of everyone else. The track looked deceptively simple. But huge learning curve, with multiple surfaces, grip levels, racing lines, around the whole track. And who can forget the stray cone knocked out into the racing line around a blind corner. Or drifting thru a corner and looking right at a cone or hay bale!  My tread depth holes were nonexistent sitting on the grid for the main. Locals were cool. I needed a exhaust stud nut and someone just gave me one in the morning. Lots of advise on the track. I also want it on the record that at this race a certain WF pulled up and made a pass of a certain F200 on the main LONG straight. Thats right folks a WF pulled an F200 on the straight |
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Post by ron90 on Jun 27, 2011 22:13:19 GMT -5
I also want it on the record that at this race a certain WF pulled up and made a pass of a certain F200 on the main LONG straight. Thats right folks a WF pulled an F200 on the straight I saw that too. Rumor has it the F200 didn't practice Saturday like the WF. Then once the F200 gearing was figured out the F200 just pulled aawwwaaayyyyy!!!!  |
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Post by ron90 on Jun 28, 2011 12:12:57 GMT -5
One thing I wanted to commend Rich on was a great pass he made on me in Turns 1 through 3. He pulled along side at Turn 1 and we went pretty much side by side through those corners "without" contact.
To turn sharp left and accelerate hard, then right sweep and accelerate hard, then left sweep and accelerate hard, all without contact shows control and respect for the other racer.
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Post by brad42 on Jun 28, 2011 16:48:53 GMT -5
55 MPH on a sprint track is not too shabby in a WF.
How was the weather?
What tires do the locals run that the track does not grind them up?
Where did y'alls end up staying Saturday night?
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Post by Brad Wunder on Jun 29, 2011 14:45:29 GMT -5
Overcast and cold Saturday, Sunny Sunday
Maxxis (or something like that)
All over the place...hotels, camping.
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Post by Simon on Jun 29, 2011 16:09:55 GMT -5
If we do it again we should all do the Laguna Seca camping thing. They have some good camping facilities.
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My tread depth holes were nonexistent sitting on the grid for the main.