Might as well have an ongoing thread for when things are going on at MSR Cresson or other news. 1.3/3.1 will be open first for PCA event end of month. I will be out tomorrow testing the RX8 and running the Challenge at least one session. If anyone is around I can give 1 or 2 rides in the Challenge. Bring helmet and driving suit or you can rent one from MSR.
Hey Rob. I said I might meet you Saturday but forgot about the FW Home and Garden show which we Exhibit at. Next time. Maybe a once a month or two get togeather there might work ?
Next weekend (18th and 19th) is supposed to be the grand opening for members. Saturday they will run the 1.3 and on Sunday they are running the tracks combined. I'll be out there, but won't have much of a track car. I'll probably be in Karen's tiptronic 968 daily driver with all-season tires and stock brakes. At least I'll have a chance to try and learn the new track.
From the looks seems they need much work on the 1.3. Fence is just poles and still plenty of tire and dirt work. Man, that track is just scary looking from the driveway. I'm liking it, but concerned about them having DE's and schools there. One of those corners will be called "Dead Man's" I'm sure. Ran RX8 3 sessions, all ready for double national next weekend. Ran the Challenge 1 session, started right up and ran perfect. Thanks for lunch Will!
No worries Rob, I'm glad I made it out there. Today has got to be one of the windiest & cold days I've experienced at MSR. I went ahead & walked the new section, It's coming along but there are still areas that need to be completed. I just hope they get everything completed in time. I took 43 photos so use the slideshow feature, this is so everyone can get idea on what to expect while driving this course. I agree with Rob that it's going to be difficult if not scary to master. Click here for photos
Hay Rob do they have suits to rent for little ones or even let kids on the track? My son would love a ride in the Challenge if possible.
I would call MSR tomorrow and ask them what they have. There might be an age limit too. However, if they are OK with it, I would love to take your son around. www.motorsportranch.com
Great shots. I've thought the same thing about the addition each time I pass MSR. Very twisty, and lots of elevation changes. Looks pretty difficult. Should make for entertaining racing (from an observer's standpoint). And Rob, next time you're offering rides, I'd love to take you up on the offer. Thanks, Todd
Will, thanks for the great pics of the new track! Gives a feel for some of the topo changes. Looks like opening weekend will be cold and maybe damp.
Will, very good pictures. It looks like the new addition will be a bit of a beast and should make for some interesting high speed exploits.
The schedule was officially changed to reflect the fact that the new track will NOT be ready for this weekend. I wonder if it will be ready for the PCA event the next weekend. Personally, I think its a bit dangerous to run that track for the first time in a DE event with Green and Blue students. Instructors won't know the line/handling characteristics of the track and corner stations won't have had proper testing for placement.
I would take that a step further - anything that happens to a car while the track is in its present condition will make for lots of complications for the organizers of any event IMO. I have driven the track multiple times in lead-follow mode with Kurt, and its not as difficult as it looks, but offers few places for clean passing where the power differential is small. I predict big Miata carnage on this piste! NASA just decided to decline its use for the March event. At Jack's present rate of completion, I doubt it will be ready by then either.
When I took those photos, I asked if it was ok to walk the track. I was told by one of track employees no problem as long as I don't get in the way to the construction workers. Funny thing was they were nowhere to be seen & from what I understand that has been an ongoing issue.
Indeed that has been. The financials are also very murky too ! Building the Apex turtles and ensuring that they do not separate from the ashpalt is a time consuming and exacting process that most road builders never have to employ. Building as they do a concrete highway or an asphalt one, but seldom both attached. When that's finished, they have to regrade the remaining earthworks to prevent mud from running accross the track from drain-off, put in the necessary surface drains (and they will not do enough so all will slip and slide the first time we run during a TX deluge) and then plant the top cover. They also have to build the tire barriers. So IMMHO, I am not betting on any time before the end of March and most probably the end of April.
Wasn't Jack talking November or December before? Just glad it is getting done. MSR is actually one of the rare track plans that became a reality.
Drove to Stephenville today, workers were present this afternoon. Tirewalls were present on one of the short straights (runs parallel to the driveway). Todd
Good news Todd thanks. And yes Rob it was supposed to be ready in December, which was why I was so confused by Jack's financial arrangements. Some on this thread may no tknow that we are alos supposed to get a restaurant, and gas station near the recently completed natural gas well. The restaurant is supposed to have large windows over looking the track and...the gas station will have 104 with direct access to the track without having to enter 377. I am from Missouri BTW but this would be a very desireable addition
The restaurant and gas station are not being developed by Jack. For the first time (other than the drilling for natural gas), Jack is allowing another developer to use the land. What do you find murky about the financials?
New aerial pics... http://nitrodyno.com/pictures/MSRC/ Looks better than I thought it would, I haven't walked or driven it yet.
I'm out of town, but got a call from someone that heard 3rd hand a Formula Mazda driver died racing a NASA event at MSR today. Let me know if anyone knows anything else. None of the websites have anything and I don't know anyone racing this weekend. I don't want to claim anything 4th hand, that bit me last year when I heard 2nd hand two people died at TMS in a C6 Panoz driving day. So I must really be wrong being 4th hand this time.
