Charley Hoyt

In a couple of weeks I am going to drive at Road America for the first time. Any advice or tips would be greatly appriciated. Because I am flying out from California I will not be using my car...I will be driving a Porsche 944.

Thanks for the help.

Charley

AU N EGL

have fun and take it easy. high speed & vary hard braking track

It is a BIG KAHONA's track

drivinhard

bring a wheelbarrow full of brake spares, and a wheelbarrow for the 2 big steel ***** you'll need

Everett Ogilvie

For me there is always a big pucker factor down the "back" straight heading into T5. It goes downhill and the track sort of narrows and moves back and forth a bit, so just watch your speed there and work up to where you are comfortable - it is a HARD braking zone. For T6 brake before you go under the bridge while you are still on the uphill part - the apex will surprise you but once you get your braking point it won't be a big deal. Be careful of the Kink, they tell me you want the car neutral when going through it, so brake before, get off the brakes and give some slight constant throttle as you go through the Kink.

Hopefully the above tips are fairly accurate if I recall what Mike teaches me every time I go there!

Have a great time and let us know what you think.

trapp

Very high speed track.........funniest track I have been on.

Hard on the brakes....but not alot of risk of boiling brakes due to alot of time between brake zones. Pads will wear.............

Kink is a place of caution...be neutral going into it..

I think you will leave with a smile on your face!!

Short-Throw

Charley,

Here are a few suggestions as too many will just clog your brain. Of course being a new track to you, get acclimated first and ramp up comfortably. Road America is not a technical track and fairly straight forward, but as others said, the only way for great lap times is to go through turns at silly stupid speeds. Be happy you're not driving a GT1 car there for the first time.

Turn 1 is faster than it looks, you will see a small extension of pavement track right just before turn in, put your left front wheel on it.

Point the car directly under the Briggs and Stratton sign between T1 and T3 as the track comes back to you, no need to stay all the way track left initially.

Going into T5, way off in the distance you will see an elevated scoreboard, most likely turned off, that's your line, no need to get over to the right early on. The track dips between the 3 and 1 marker which compresses the suspension making it a great place to brake even though you may feel it's too late, it's not.

Going up the hill into T6 the car gets light so get you're heavy braking done in time before you trailbrake.

T7, like T1 has a track right concrete extension, put left front tire on it just before turn in.

Going into the kink an easy lift or gently tap of the brake just before the 1-marker will set the car, put your right front tire on the rumble strip (car is loaded right so it won't disturb balance) and accelerate through it.

There is an access road track right between T13 and T14, you can drive over it (usually two wheels) if you're carrying enough speed through there, don't worry about pinching the curve.

Have fun and be safe.


Mike

Ls240sx

Try not to let the kink scare you too much

Lawdogg

To expand on what has been said about the brake zone for turn 5, if you are braking on the right side of the track (as you would normally do for a left hand turn) the pavement will upset the car enough that the abs might not be happy. Many find that you are better off braking across the track from left to right for this turn.

Also, when you crest the hill for turn 13, be careful not to apex over the curbing in the inside. Milner did that in the C6R and the crash wasn't pretty.

GT Racing Tires

What event are you running with? If I am there I would be happy to take you for a ride or ride along with you for a few sessions.

Rob31

What club are you running with ? I see alot of people not looking far enough ahead in T5 and they over brake .
Got an Iracing account ? , its dead nuts accurate on the track .

Charley Hoyt

Thanks for all of the great advice. I am really looking forward to experiencing the track


I am going to be there on the 28th with the Shelby club. It would be great if that is a day that you will be there....i would like to get a ride with someone that knows the track, to see how it should be done


Charley

BuckeyeZ06

Don't hit the walls.

GT Racing Tires

Charley,

I will be there with Shelby club. I will be there all three days. #777 C5 Silver.

Todd
<-----

GT Racing Tires

How are you feeling a month or so removed from your accident?

SLandstra_Z06

I have a very good write-up for Road America from an instructor. He updates it every year as pavement or other changes are made at the track. Shoot me your e-mail address in a PM and I'll send it to you.

It's a fun track.

Steve

SLandstra_Z06

E-mails sent to all who asked for a copy. Let me know what you think of the notes after you drive the track.

Steve

Charley Hoyt

Great! Thank you very much.

Charley Hoyt

Got it.... Walls = bad..... Don't hit. I unfortunately learned that at Daytona, and that is a lesson that I hope I never learn again.

I saw your video....that was incredible. Glad you are alright. My incident was very minor compared to your experience.

Charley Hoyt

Great. I will look for you. I will be driving a red 944.

Charley

Bad Karma

Looks like I'm going to be up at Road America next month (8/12). Going to be reading through this thread before I leave.

I'll have to buy Road America for iRacing and give it some laps too.