VIR Improvements
11-26-2013, 08:18 AM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
VIR Improvements
I'm guessing you Southeast guys are aware of this :
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/...nts-under-way/
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/...nts-under-way/
11-26-2013, 09:18 AM
#2
Safety Car
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The improvements were required by some of the big name sanctioning bodies before they would hold events there. I will not miss the pea gravel in the paddock. Every time I ran VIR, I brought about a half bucket of that mess home with me on the tires and in the car.
11-26-2013, 09:44 AM
#4
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What other area are you expecting to be paved?
11-26-2013, 09:52 AM
#5
Melting Slicks
Maybe I did not understand. The pictures show the area in front of the garages. Is the entire pit area paved?? All the way down to the classroom and in front of the race store and the bathrooms?? Thanks for the input. JD
11-26-2013, 09:55 AM
#6
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11-26-2013, 11:04 AM
#9
Race Director
I think anybody and everybody who has ever been there will give a big HELL YEA to finally paving the North Paddock. When I was just there, I considered getting a few boxes full of the old gravel. Whenever I was feeling nostalgic I could just go dump a box in the trailer, the truck, the toolbox... the washing machine.
With that said, I am really not sure about some of the spots they are widening the track...
The way I see it, pretty much everything we know about the front half of VIR is now out the window. T1, I have no issue with although I'm not really sure how widening to the outside will affect the line. With more pavement and braking room, it might be interesting.
2-3-4-5 scares me. I really hope that they don't kill the technical nature of that section and turn it into gas and go. That is a part of track where driver and car setup are huge. It is really fun and rewarding to get gains through there because it is being done with something other than power.
I really don't understand widening the lower esses. There was already more than sufficient room to pass there. Widening to track right seems like it will essentially straighten the upper esses as well if you can take a different angle on entry. If they screw up what is 1 of the best sections of track you will ever find... well.
Widening South Bend exit all the way through oak tree? I'll just have to see that. It seems to me that it will increase speed through that entire section drastically... 6 feet at South Bend exit alone will be HUGE in terms of speed, especially for non aero cars.
I am really curious to see what all of this + new pavement in general does for lap times. Previously (at least in my eyes) anything sub 2:00 was a very exclusive club. I think membership may have just opened up to a LOT more cars.
With that said, I am really not sure about some of the spots they are widening the track...
The way I see it, pretty much everything we know about the front half of VIR is now out the window. T1, I have no issue with although I'm not really sure how widening to the outside will affect the line. With more pavement and braking room, it might be interesting.
2-3-4-5 scares me. I really hope that they don't kill the technical nature of that section and turn it into gas and go. That is a part of track where driver and car setup are huge. It is really fun and rewarding to get gains through there because it is being done with something other than power.
I really don't understand widening the lower esses. There was already more than sufficient room to pass there. Widening to track right seems like it will essentially straighten the upper esses as well if you can take a different angle on entry. If they screw up what is 1 of the best sections of track you will ever find... well.
Widening South Bend exit all the way through oak tree? I'll just have to see that. It seems to me that it will increase speed through that entire section drastically... 6 feet at South Bend exit alone will be HUGE in terms of speed, especially for non aero cars.
I am really curious to see what all of this + new pavement in general does for lap times. Previously (at least in my eyes) anything sub 2:00 was a very exclusive club. I think membership may have just opened up to a LOT more cars.
Last edited by RedLS1GTO; 11-26-2013 at 11:06 AM.
11-26-2013, 02:14 PM
#12
Burning Brakes
I think anybody and everybody who has ever been there will give a big HELL YEA to finally paving the North Paddock. When I was just there, I considered getting a few boxes full of the old gravel. Whenever I was feeling nostalgic I could just go dump a box in the trailer, the truck, the toolbox... the washing machine.
With that said, I am really not sure about some of the spots they are widening the track...
The way I see it, pretty much everything we know about the front half of VIR is now out the window. T1, I have no issue with although I'm not really sure how widening to the outside will affect the line. With more pavement and braking room, it might be interesting.
2-3-4-5 scares me. I really hope that they don't kill the technical nature of that section and turn it into gas and go. That is a part of track where driver and car setup are huge. It is really fun and rewarding to get gains through there because it is being done with something other than power.
I really don't understand widening the lower esses. There was already more than sufficient room to pass there. Widening to track right seems like it will essentially straighten the upper esses as well if you can take a different angle on entry. If they screw up what is 1 of the best sections of track you will ever find... well.
Widening South Bend exit all the way through oak tree? I'll just have to see that. It seems to me that it will increase speed through that entire section drastically... 6 feet at South Bend exit alone will be HUGE in terms of speed, especially for non aero cars.
I am really curious to see what all of this + new pavement in general does for lap times. Previously (at least in my eyes) anything sub 2:00 was a very exclusive club. I think membership may have just opened up to a LOT more cars.
With that said, I am really not sure about some of the spots they are widening the track...
The way I see it, pretty much everything we know about the front half of VIR is now out the window. T1, I have no issue with although I'm not really sure how widening to the outside will affect the line. With more pavement and braking room, it might be interesting.
2-3-4-5 scares me. I really hope that they don't kill the technical nature of that section and turn it into gas and go. That is a part of track where driver and car setup are huge. It is really fun and rewarding to get gains through there because it is being done with something other than power.
I really don't understand widening the lower esses. There was already more than sufficient room to pass there. Widening to track right seems like it will essentially straighten the upper esses as well if you can take a different angle on entry. If they screw up what is 1 of the best sections of track you will ever find... well.
Widening South Bend exit all the way through oak tree? I'll just have to see that. It seems to me that it will increase speed through that entire section drastically... 6 feet at South Bend exit alone will be HUGE in terms of speed, especially for non aero cars.
I am really curious to see what all of this + new pavement in general does for lap times. Previously (at least in my eyes) anything sub 2:00 was a very exclusive club. I think membership may have just opened up to a LOT more cars.
11-27-2013, 11:32 AM
#13
Melting Slicks
"When I was just there, I considered getting a few boxes full of the old gravel. Whenever I was feeling nostalgic I could just go dump a box in the trailer, the truck, the toolbox... the washing machine."
If you look hard, you can still find a few boxes in those places!!! LOL!!!
If you look hard, you can still find a few boxes in those places!!! LOL!!!
11-27-2013, 12:20 PM
#14
Safety Car
IMO, the sections they are widening will make the track flow better. I doubt many will care once their apex speeds increase by several MPH. It will be like the old VIR except in fast forward, and more smooth. South bend in a fast car will probably be in the 105-110 range. That's very exciting!
And it will allow more room for passing for the pro groups. I'm imagining something more F1 like, but in the shape of VIR.
And it will allow more room for passing for the pro groups. I'm imagining something more F1 like, but in the shape of VIR.
11-27-2013, 04:38 PM
#16
Racer
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It was blazing hot in late June this year and as nice as not having the gravel in everything will be - I dread how hot that asphalt is going to be during the summer.
11-29-2013, 07:47 PM
#17
Drifting
IMO, the sections they are widening will make the track flow better. I doubt many will care once their apex speeds increase by several MPH. It will be like the old VIR except in fast forward, and more smooth. South bend in a fast car will probably be in the 105-110 range. That's very exciting!
And it will allow more room for passing for the pro groups. I'm imagining something more F1 like, but in the shape of VIR.
And it will allow more room for passing for the pro groups. I'm imagining something more F1 like, but in the shape of VIR.
11-30-2013, 07:57 AM
#19
Burning Brakes
11-30-2013, 08:05 AM
#20
Pro
