Short-Throw

I posted a few of these pics in the Katech Track Attack thread (C6 Z06 section) and decided to share more here for the true track rats.

Autobahn (Joliet, IL) just completed a surface maintenance update on the South circuit. Updated curbing has also taken place on the full track.

We ground down the surface roughly 1/2 inch, then applied 1.5 inches of new asphalt on top. This is the first step of many planned over the next several years to ensure we have prime conditions.

We are currently running on North track to allow maximum curing time.

The segments pictured here are between turns S5-S8.






















If I don't pick up a few tenths in this new section I'm blaming it on the surface, it's never the driver right?

Note:

Anyone looking for track time, the Katech Track Attack event is in 4 weeks, July 30, 31. The event is perfect for all levels of skill, with 5 separate 30 minute sessions for each group. Throw in the VIP list and catered meals and it becomes a destination. There are still limited spots open.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-z...al-thread.html

See you soon,

Mike

talon90

Wow. That's quite the undertaking. It sure looks like Autobahn does things first rate and that's awesome for the members. Thanks for sharing Mike. I'll step back now and let those more knowledgeable contribute on how other tracks do things.

MJM

Maybe the people who run Buttonwillow can catch a clue about this.

Hat_Trick_Hokie

And Summit Point...

There are about 6 different surfaces in each of the turns.

Rob31

They repaired turn 7 at blackhawk last winter , It already came apart

Autobahn T5 & T8 were always a washboard . try flicking a bike over at 100+ (T5) with the front wheel chattering

BEZ06

Wow - Autobahn will be great with the new surface!!!

Pretty much the same equipment and procedure at Daytona - they just have to hold it up on the 31 degree banking with big, heavy bulldozers.

BTW - The track was built and initially paved in 1959. They added a second layer of asphalt in 1978. They were going to repave it this year, but after the problems in the 500 in 2010 they ripped it up and did the project right after the 400 starting in early July 2010. No HPDE's were allowed to run that fall because they were letting the new surface cure.

Estimates are that 50,000 tons of asphalt was used to cover the 1.4 million square feet of surface, which includes the 2.5-mile tri-oval, the apron and runoff areas. Instead of replacing the asphalt in the pit boxes, Daytona is moving to concrete, which is found at most NASCAR tracks.

The infield, which contains the Rolex 24 road course, was repaved several years ago.

Bob

2 GTOs

I know NJMP just extended some curbing this year. I'm making good use of it.

Bill Dearborn

ISC [put some money into Watkins Glen again this year. They painted the curbing, extended the curbing and run off pavement at the exit of 1 all the way to the entrance to 2 so they don't have another big accident like they had last year. They also reduced the height of the curbing going into the bus stop but left the curbing at the exit the same height. You can literally put the whole car on the curbing going into the bus stop without knocking your fillings out now. The cup cars would ride at the top of the old curbing and brake hard to about half way through the bus stop before the changes. Wonder what the changes will do to lap times as they should be able carry more speed into the turn and still brake better now.

Bill

db2xpert

Lime Rock repaved, and Pocono did the oval for the stock car guys, but not the infield parts.

Everett Ogilvie

Mike that new surface should be awesome!

Painrace

Asphalt? That is for getting there!

Dirt? That is for planting potatoes!

Now grass, that is for racing! Right Mike?

Great improvement. It should only add about 8-10 seconds to my lap times!

Jim

dvandentop

Hell i wish mam could just do their paddock are so it wasnt broken up asphalt pebble city!

looks great!

UstaB-GS549

I was there Memorial Day weekend and was like someone dumped gravel in the apex. T1 & T7 were both shedding little ***** of black pea gravel. I don't think I will be back until they fix it. Usually this means the asphalt sat too long in the truck and was cooling off.

Short-Throw

I was looking to run an SCCA race up there in two weeks. Here's the latest email I received from the Chief Registrar at SCCA conveying what BHF stated:

At the end of the season they fixed the track surface at corner 7.
This has since not held up as expected.
Track management met with the engineers today to find a permanent solution but in the mean time I have been given a guarantee that they are putting in a temporary fix that will make the track in good condition for the event on July 7 & 8.

gfacter

I think I liked it better with the oil concrete patches, I was there the first weekend after the major repaving in 2007, It was so nice with the new asphalt.

But that didn't last long. SP was cheap and now it's cost them a ton with all the patches.

spazegun2213

SP will keep that surface for 20+ years and will put down concrete again before repaving. They don't cater to us track rats, as we don't pay their bills. The Secret Service and others dont care what shape the track surface is in.

JeremyGSU

Man I wish. My home track is Sebring and I have to have my wheels rebalanced every time I run there.

Short-Throw

Yup, Sebring reminds me of the grooved pavement warnings on the highway before a toll plaza.

JerryTX

H2R is going to be closed the next couple of weeks in order to completely fix turns 2, 9 and 11, good news for anyone who's ever driven the t t t ttrack as it can be b b b bumpy..!

KBow_Photo

I was up there today, felt like i was curbing my rims. Bad in 7, worse in 1.

Apex at 7