Gary2KC5

For those that have never been to RA here are my impressions of what to expect. For those of you who have been here before and especially those with some good experience, like Lambinator, please add your comments and correct anything I may have forgot or screwed up.

Saturday morning, before things get started, there will be a drivers meeting to cover some basic rules and then group A cars will be called to the false grid. When the corner workers and safety trucks are in place the track will go hot and the group will pull out to pit lane.

Pulling out of the false grid onto the pit lane there was a 35 mph limit, last year, until the on ramp to the track. Because the pit lane is so wide I start to warm up the tires here by doing the right/left side to side stuff. Accelerate to the track and reach about 100 mph (these were my speeds as I recall them from my HUD and are just reference. Some of you guys with H/C and big motors like MattG will be much faster, check my mods for reference) and then brake to 70 mph and make a right hander accelerate to the rumble strip on the outside and full throttle downhill to turn 2. Keep in mind, that if you pull into the pits during the session and you re-enter you have to CHECK FOR ON TRACK TRAFFIC, cars will be approaching the braking zone to turn 1 at 130-150 mph.

During you 1st half of your first lap take it easy until your tires, oil, coolant, & brakes are up to operating temps.

After turn 1 you will see a big right hander at the bottom of the hill but there is actually a slight bend that counts for turn 2 before you get there.

Before you get to turn 3 I shifted from 3-4 @ 106 mph and then brake from 109 mph to 70 mph. Smooth through the turn from inside rumble to outside then full throttle shift just under the cross over bridge 3-4 @ 101 mph, then 4-5 @ 135 mph then @ 145 at the #5 brake marker I coast and and then nail the brakes @ brake marker #4 (work your way up to 4 start braking at the 5) stand on the brakes downshift to 3rd still standing on the brake pedal downshift to 2nd and still hard on the brakes. You’ve got to go from 145 to 50 mph in what seems like a short distance.

Turn 5 is the biggest braking area on the track and while not the longest straight away (not really straight) it is the fastest point on the track. There are brake markers on the heavy brake zones that are white signs with black numbers on them spaced apart and counting down from 5 to 2. If you aren’t standing on the binders by marker 4 or 3 you will not make the turn and there is paved run off area.

This run off area is also the short cut back to the paddock, so if you have a problem after turn 1 you can coast to a safe place off the track.

While the approach to turn 5 is the fastest part of the track, turn 5 is the slowest turn on the track (heavy braking) to negotiate 5 turn left, clip the drivers side rumble then the passenger side and head up a steep hill where all you see is a ped. cross over bridge. I accelerate to about 70 mph (I tried to go faster but the back end became very light in this steep up hill cresting brake maneuver…I put on the DRM brake bias spring this summer, maybe that will help) If you Accelerate quicker and brake harder at the top of the hill you will get the back end loose real quick. Brake smooth (always brake in a straight line, no matter where you are at on the track) to negotiate the left-hander. When you’re under the bridge and can see road again (going up hill all you can see is the bridge so be ready for evasive action if a car is off here.

While negotiating turn 6 you make a left hand arc and then a right hand arc to set up for turn 7 (an “S”). Turn 7 falls away from you (opposite of banking) and begins a downhill blast to turn 8. From 7 your 3-4 shift @ 106 mph then at 1011 you brake hard downshift to 3rd then 2nd (still standing on the brakes…no letting up during the downshifts, this is the 2nd heavy brake zone with markers) and then turn in left and accelerate between the rumble and get to the left side of the track to set up for the carousel (turn 9). The 6,7, 8 turn section of the track is called “the hurry downs”.

The carousel is about 4 times as big as a cloverleaf, which is done in 3rd @ 75 mph then acelerate to 80 mph @ the apex and down hill to “the kink”. Depending on yours tires/suspension you may be able to go a lot quicker here. You just keep taking the carousel faster and faster till you find your limit.

The Kink…while turn 5 is fast and heavy brakes turn 10, the kink must demand your total respect… R E S P E C T !!!

Some lower HP cars can take the kink flat out, Indy Cars can take the kink flat out, I couldn’t even try to take it flat out. The kink begins what called thunder valley which is a flat out portion of the track that is lined with concrete barriers and forest.

What impresses you coming to the kink is the concrete barrier relatively close to the Oh s#__t I’ve missed the turn area. Exiting the kink you have to be impressed by the number of skid marks leading to the concrete barriers on the other side of the Oh s#__t area. Oh yeah, at the end of the skid marks is the multi colored concrete barrier (multi colored from the race cars that have hit it!

So coming into the kink @ 115 mph I scrubbed off a considerable amount of speed downshifted to 3rd then hammered the gas 3-4 shift @ 106 mph then bend to the far right side of the track sweep to the left accelerating to 130 mph then setting up for turn 12 which is called Canada corner. It is a very deceptive braking area, it looks longer than it is – which can easily put you in the gravel catch pit. Hard on the brakes and downshift to 3rd. If you get it right as soon as you get hauled down to 70 mph you will be at the turn in point to the right which carries you out to the left.

To get setup for turn 13 you have to get back to the right side of the track. Turn 13 is uphill from 12 and your apex is directly under a ped xing bridge, which means you see nothing but the rumble strip at your apex. Easy on the gas after your set up and when you hit the apex you will drift to the inside of the track (passenger side) and onto some bonus pavement. Most people miss the bonus pavement because it looks like your going off track a bit. (you’ll see what I mean when your there)

When your car sets then full throttle shift to 4th @ 106 and head for your brake point for turn 14 – the last turn and then the front straight. Brake hard to 3rd then 2nd and make the right hander on to the straight.

@ 79 mph sift to 3rd, @ 106 shift to 4th. You are running up a major hill and as you get to the top you cross under the flag stand doing 125, @ 135 mph shift to 5th then @ the end of the straight at your brake marker (the 3rd actually the 1st heavy brake zone) your doing 145-50 mph. Stand on the brakes hard shift to 4th, 3rd, and then turn in to the right hander @ 70 mph. And do it again for 20-30 minutes per session.

One other note about heavy brake zones and gravel pits. Around the corners of heavy braking zones there are pea gravel pits (except at turn 5 where there is paved run off).

Pea gravel pits scrub off speed safely and don’t really hurt your car. At least it didn’t hurt mine when I visited Canada corner’s pit. With this said, you have to get into the pit properly. If you screw this up you could flip your ride real easy.

Here is the right way: When you know your not going to make the turn at 1, 3, 8, 9, or 12 (I think that’s where they are) go straight into the pit, keep the brakes applied, and hold the wheel straight. Wait for the corner/safety workers to arrive and follow their instructions. You get out of the car they hook up a tow strap (relax they know what they are doing) It’s amazing how quickly your out.

Here is the wrong way: Trying to make the turn (when your not) will still get you into the pit. But because you’re sideways you could bite into the gravel and flip over. If you don’t flip you will dig heavily into the gravel and it will take half a session to dig you out.




[Modified by Gary2KC5, 8:26 PM 1/14/2002]

Mr69Vett

Gary, very nicely done, I have been down to RA seveal times, including last year for this event, I did not participate last year and probally won't this year either, would like to but we'll see. Will most probally show up down there this year again to watch and possiblt get a ride if anyone is willing to let me ride shotgun. Would love to try the C3 but know it won't keep up, but I bet I could give a few stangs a run, see you guys down there. :yesnod:

Gary2KC5

It looks like 25% of the field will be Vettes. by the time April comes around I'm sure we will be organized enough to get paddocked in a group, so come find us. with 25 Vettes, you can pick and choose your rides.

Just J

Nice. I did sort of the same thing after my second visit their last year. Here's my version:

Fast Lap at Road America in a C5 with exhaust/intake mods and a computer reprogram with 6500rpm redline.

======================================== ===========================

Flash across the start finish line at full throttle at around 100 mph in 4th gear, accelerating as hard as your car can go. As you approach the pit lane exit onto the track, move over to the left hand edge of the track. By the end of the pits you're at 140+ and over 6000rpm. Hard on the brakes and put it into 3rd and sweep right through turn 1. After clipping the apex with your right tires, exit out to the left and roll into the throttle.

Stay full throttle as you drift to the middle of the track for the almost non-existent turn 2, then drift back left for the turn 3 turn in point. Brake hard for turn 3, putting it into 2nd and going hard right. Exit wide out of three and roll back on the throttle. Go to 3rd pretty quickly and then into 4th at turn 3a before the bridge, where you'll be at the right edge of the track. Run it up to about 140 in 4th and drift to the middle of the track through the nominal turn 4, then get back over to the right and get hard on the brakes as you go downhill into turn 5, getting into 2nd gear just before turning in. This tight left hander at the bottom of a hill is deceiving - lots of folks carry too much speed down the hill and can't make the turn. Exiting 5 on the far right, go full throttle up the hill, grabbing 3rd before the crest and the bridge and staying on the right.

Brief medium brake for the blind left hand turn 6 that is just over the hill, then back on the gas for the run to 7, crossing from the right side exit from 6 to the left hand turn in point for 7. Lightly brake to load the nose for the turn in to 7 and sweep through this right hander - go wide left and use all the pavement. Full throttle briefly, then brake hard on the downhill run into 7, moving right for the turn in. Through the tight left hand turn (2nd gear if you want), and swinging wide right, then balance the car and accelerate to 75 (going back to 3rd if you went to 2nd for the turn) for the seemingly endless 180+ degrees of right hand carousel (turns 9 and 10). Stay in the center of the track for most of the carousel, then ease in and clip the right hand rumble strip at the end as you roll on the throttle and swing wide out of the carousel to the left edge rumble strip.

Staying left, and staying at full throttle in 3rd, get up to 6500 rpm before brief medium braking and setting up for the right hand kink (turn 11). This is the scariest turn on the course, because you carry a lot of speed through it and the concrete wall is not very far away if you run off. Starting at the left hand rumble strip, come in to clip the right hand strip and drift back out to the left as you exit. Use your gas pedal to get as wide as you can without going over. Once you've finished exiting the turn and are pointed down the back "straight", go to full throttle and grab 4th pretty soon, then run it up to 6000 rpm in 4th (~140) as you sweep around turns 11A & B in this gently left hand curving "straight".

Get left and brake hard for turn 12 (Canada Corner) and grab second before turning in to this tight right hander. Exit wide left and go to full throttle, grabbing third halfway to thirteen and moving to the right. At the right hand rumble strip for 13, ease off the gas and sweep left, carrying speed through the turn, under the bridge, and very wide on exit. Go back to full power and move left as you run to 14, where you brake hard and grab 2nd to get set for the sharp right turn. Swing wide left out of the turn and begin your run up the front straight. Revs are high coming out of 14, so grab 3rd pretty quick, then grab fourth as you approach the top of the very steep hill. Pop over the top of the hill and flash across the line to finish the lap. 172 seconds start to finish, and the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

Gary2KC5

Just J,
Good lap! Some people might wonder why you made a long post to my long post about the same lap @ RA, here's why:

You go through the kink properly and you gaves better instruction that I gave. I will be working on the kink this year.

After the kink is Thunder Valley which is a long lazy left bending straight section. Carry your speed through the kink your building at full throttle. Don't clip the grass trying to straigten out the bend too much. Hooking a wheel here @ 130 will be a problem.

I forgot to mention that one of the reasons turn 5 and 8 are such heavy braking zones is that they are down hill.

Through the 6 / 8 combo some people, like me, just lift to set up for 8 but it is a very important point a lot of newbie's might not think about. Use the brake to set the front suspension, espeacially if you have a stock suspension.

MattG

Excellent write-up!! It makes the wait till the end of April even harder for me now!

One issue I have, it sure sounds like there is a lot of shifting on this track and I do not know how to heel-toe at all. Am I going to be able to downshift quick enough without heel-toeing i wonder? Can I pick up heel-toe within the day do you think?

Lambinator

Nice! :cheers:

I'll be bringing some handout track maps that will allow people to visually reference what they are doing - lines, shifting, braking, etc. I found them very useful between sessions to write down things I wanted to improve or try differently.

Additional thoughts from above:
T1 is fairly straightforward - faster than you think at first. About a 7 on a braking scale of 1-10.
T2 - the bend - don't follow the bend down to T3....go straight from T1 to T3 (unless there is someone beside you).
T3 - as mentioned - about a 9 on the braking scale for a short distance.
T5 - on the approach there is another bend in the track - don't follow it, aim straight for the corner. Also, this is a DOWNHILL braking zone - expect it to take quite a bit more distance to whoa the car. A solid 10 on the braking scale for a long distance.
T6 - braking uphill while cresting the hill - gentle is the key - about a 6 on the braking scale. Lots of room on the exit.
T7 - very fast, do not drop a wheel on exit - huge dropoff to gravel trap.
T8 - another downhill run to a braking zone - lots of grip for braking due to the compression at the bottom of the hill.
T9 (Carousel) - long high speed corner. Enter mid track, you probably don't need to brake for the corner (but see for yourself). Stay just to the right of the seam running down the middle of the track until you can see the exit, then apex. This is a balancing act all the way through the corner....a lot of steering with the throttle. No sudden movements. Increase speed as you go through the corner, but if you accelerate too much too soon you will be going too fast at the apex and the car will wash out. A sudden lift off the throttle will send you spinning in a hurry, so plan your speed carefully! Apex at the rumble strips (very late) and track out to the outside rumble strips.
T10 (KINK) - I think the description above said a lot about this corner and the respect it commands. Enter at the left edge of the track but make darn sure you don't drop a wheel off on the turn in. Brake early! About a 4 on the braking scale. You MUST be on power as you turn in....the track is slightly off camber and you have to keep weight on the rear wheels using moderate throttle. Make sure you are looking THRU the corner, so you can correct your steering far in advance of getting into trouble. The exit of this corner will throw you towards the grass, do not panic! IF you get into trouble, it is OK to drop 2 or even 4 tires off into the grass on the exit. I repeat - do not panic! Just aim the car straight down the grass strip until you can EASE it back onto the track. Do not force the car back onto the track or even attempt to make any major corrections to the direction of the car, as you will then end up one of those multicolored marks on the INSIDE wall when you hook the car back across the track. Very common mistake. In a race a few years ago the two cars in front of me spun in the kink on the last lap, blocking the entire track. I let the car drift wide, dropped 4 tires in the grass against the outside wall, and never lifted. 90 mph through the grass and I went on to finish 2nd. This part of the track is one of the last portions of the track to dry, and to warm up...it's all shaded.
T11 - just a bend in the backstretch....make it as straight as you can.
T12 (Canada) - Heavy braking zone, don't let the slope of the track pull you off to the left on the approach during braking.
T13 - another bend, stay right to set up for T14
T14 - blind, under the bridge turn. There is a lot of track on the exit (AKA "bonus track"). :D It is an uphill turn. Not sure of the braking for Vettes.
T15 - last corner leading onto the front stretch. Medium braking, about an 8 on the scale. It's a long straightaway after, so the general motto is "slow in, fast out".

70L46

Great stuff guys :cheers:

Can't wait to put all the suggestions/hints/theory into practice :yesnod:

Gary2KC5

Matt,
IMO I don't heel & toe, I just do what's natural and try to be smooth. Trying to develop this technique before RA might be more of a hindrance. Just my opinon.

gpflepsen

My question/comment on T5:

I had a hell of a time going through the brake zone, no just approaching the brake zone my first two sessions on the track.

For those that haven't been on the track- as you approach the crest of the hill before the brake zone you can't see the slight bend to the left. After you are cresting the hill and are in the brake zone the track bends left and is cambered to the outside, oh and it's downhill. All are great factors for finding your weak spot while thresh hold braking. My line developed into this, crest the hill to the left/center of the track so you brake in a straight line towards the turn in point. Following the right hand side of the track don't cut it, at least with my low downforce setup:)

What are your lines setting up T5?

Kind of the same situation exist entering T14 (right bend in brake zone). What is your line there?

Lambinator

For T5 you brake diagonally across the track: since you are approaching the corner from a bend in the straightaway, start to brake a few car widths off the outside edge of the track, aiming for your turn-in point at the very edge of the track.

For T14 you will do the same thing.

The key is to maximize the radius of the corner...so you want to brake in a straight line (for max braking ability) and aim for your turn-in point at the outside edge of the track entering the corner.

Lambinator

Almost forgot an important check:

ALWAYS ALWAYS check the brakes when leaving the pits! You don't want to accelerate all the way to the first corner and then realize you don't have any brakes. Make sure you don't have somebody immediately behind you, and do a moderate application of the brakes as you are heading down pit road. You can do this while still on the throttle so as to not jam up anyone behind you.

Lambinator

Here is a very important test for anyone that plans on going to RA this spring. If you don't fail, you can't go!
http://www.essbasetools.com/instest.htm

PS, I failed after 5 seconds! :D

Just J

:lol: OMFG! That's awesome!

Gary2KC5

I lasted 5.3 secongs before I bookmarked this. LMAO! This will be going to my buddies shop and tomorrow 20 guys will have stood around a pc while LTAO!