BENNETTON B191 F1: ? LARRY CONNOR

Don't know him personally but have been on the track with him. He won the 2000 and I believe the 2002 SCCA Run Off's in Formula Atlantic. He's raced Formula Fords, Formula Mazdas, Toyota Atlantics and other open wheel cars.

CMP is a neat little track. What lap time did he set? A guy at the Glen in one of MS Bennettons last year did a 1:34 on the long course (anything faster than 2:00 minutes is flying). Don't think it was Larry but might have been.

Regards,

Jon P. Kofod
www.flatoutracing.net

 

One of the worst crashes I've had came courtesy of a meeting at Road Atlanta with Mr. Connor. I am convinced it was his fault and, from his body language at the time, it was clear to me he felt it was my fault. In any event, Connor certainly was quite fast in his Atlantic; prior to Connor, the class seemed to belong to a Mr. French - another F1 car owner, if I'm not mistaken.

Jon - as for CMP, I think it's a fine track - the uphill leading to the back straight is fun - until you reach the last three corners. Then it becomes idiotic.

 

Will,

I seem to recall that Connor forced someone off the track at the 2000 Run Off's on the first lap.

I like CMP but yes you are correct those last three or four corners gotta' go. the person who designed those last few turns never heard the term "UNDERSTEER" apparently.

Hope to make it out to the FOW/FCA event in October. Hope to see you there.

Regards,

Jon P. Kofod
www.flatoutracing.net

 

Off topic, but come on, those last few corners at Kershaw were my FAVORITE when I was there last! 2nd gear, high up in the RPM's, trail-braking in, sliding the car through them, using all the kerbs and then the dirt! That's awesome! It's just like Montreal F1 circuit, and while it doesn't really make you hang on for dear life, it is challenging to squeeze more time out, get on the throttle sooner, use more road, and be aggressive enough through there. The 360C was REALLY a handfull through there, but a LOT of fun.

 

Jeff,

Yeah, in a 360 C it would be some fun. But in a fwd car with 150 hp I spent more time in the grass and dirt than on the track.

And those rumble strips.......................Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh they shook my steering wheels so badly my hands hurt. Not to mention the ball joints I had to replace on the car.

Great reading about your racing accomplishments in Forza and watching the 360 in Grand Am on Speed.

Hurry up and win the GT class at Daytona next year so I can tell people I know you.

Regards,

Jon

PS: Someone told me Sunir won his first BMWCCA race.

 

Yeah, see, you should have just gone BMW CCA Club Racing instead of dealing with that Honda!! I'm sure even 370HP with RWD would be amusing through there.

As for Daytona, or any GT win for that matter, I think my focus for right now is to finish a race with all of the original bodywork intact. Once I get that down, I can set the sights higher!

Hope to see you soon, it seems like ages since the last FoW/Algar event at Summit.

Jeff

(Thread hi-jacking now over, I think)

 

Hijacking not quite done:

Jeff, great description, you make me want to drive!

For a lower speed corner at CMP, I like the corner at the end of the back straight. The next three right handers/short straights are fun in a sort of autocrossy way, but IMO have no business on a race track. I think it's chicken stuff deliberately inserted for the "benefit" of club guy wannabes like ... me! There are some fine lower speed corners in the US - but those aren't on my list. Just not my cup of tea, I like more drama, and I don't want track designers looking out for me by neutering tracks.

Cheers, Will

 

For what it's worth, Alan Wilson is probably the top track designer in the U.S., and has a reason for pretty much everything in his designs.

CMP/Kershaw is mostly used as a test track -- quite a few top teams have tested there, and with the inclusion of those last three corners, the track has virtually every corner and combination of corners available. A team can test a car for almost any corner there -- combine that design with easy access, generally good weather, and a location well away from the usual prying eyes, and it's understandable why the track is booked so much of the year.

 

And I believe they are one of the very few tracks with a renter friendly rain policy and good rental rates - very nice people, to be sure. Great place to test and, like Roebling, within the reach of the not so well funded teams. Guess I'm not a fan of Mr. Wilson. Is Beaverun another of his designs? Beaverun is another track I'd lump in with the Jefferson Circuit as an autocross course in search of another couple miles of pavement.

Old Guy, I think what frustrates me about CMP is that most of the track is well done. We are blessed with so many great tracks within a days drive of the east coast - Mosport, Lime Rock, Watkins Glen, VIR, Atlanta, Sebring, Mid Ohio, Road America, etc etc. - a pretty high standard for the newcomers to reach.