New section of MSR - What do folks think?

Just looking to chew the fat.

 

I haven't had a chance on the new track, but everyone I have spoken with speaks highly of the new addition.

 

I have been out for several laps riding in a car with a very fast instructor and have also driven my car around it very slowly - I think it is great.

A couple of possible negatives:

It seems like it would be fairly difficult on a motorcycle. I have had mine on the old section, but not the new.

They need to get rid of the rocks and improve the runoff areas. Too much rubbish being brought back on the track from runoffs. And too easy to damage your car running off in some of those areas.

If you were just running the new section only, it seems like it would be a bit short and kind of dizzy-ing. No real chance to collect your thoughts and rest on straights.

 

It's alot of fun on a bike, if you are not pushing for lap times. I have a race there next month, and I am more than nervous about a couple of turns on that section, with 50 bikes running at race pace.

I'll be looking to run some laps at pace in the next couple of weeks, and I'll give you my report.

 

The 3.1 configuration is a blast! Without a doubt my favorite version of MSR. The only downside is that during a member day run session you only get about 7 hot laps in. I have a tendency to start slow and pick up speed with each lap so just as I am getting going I have to come off the track. Not really a fault of the track I guess, I need to learn how to come out of the shoot faster. Where do I get F1 style tire warmers?

Run as a 1.3 mile track, it is fun and challenging but a little repetitive and very hard work. You are always turning, no time to look at gauges or rest. In 90 degree weather, I was pretty spent by the end of the day. Time to put the cool shirt back on.

There are a couple of spots where an OTE can get you in trouble. One car has already hit the tire wall on the right hander when you enter the track. That turn it a bit trickier than it looks and if you are carrying a lot of speed a mistake will bite you pretty hard as there isn't much time to recover. One note here is that there is a bad section of asphalt right at the apex. There is a bit of a dip and a patch with very little grip.

One thing I learned my last time out, do not hit the curbs at the top or bottom of the blind hill! I accidently put a tire on each one (different laps) and the car gets VERY unstable very quickly. I recovered each one, but not without leaving a little stain on the seat. Most of the other curbs on the track are flat rumble strips and you can drive all over them to your advantage.

The toilet bowl (right hander after the hill) seems to have multiple ways to enter. Lots of people are going deeper and driving closer to the outside while the 911s seem to be better on the inside. I try to trail brake in and then throttle steer to get the back end out, rally style. Not sure if this is the fast way around but it is fun to do.

Keith probably has the line mastered already. I'd like to follow him through the new section and see what he is doing.