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This Saturday I participated in something called The Drive, which was an event attached to the initial Coyote Creek Concours d’ Elegance in the SF South Bay. It was a three-hour drive to Laguna Seca on back roads. Once at the track we were allowed three laps at a moderate speed, which was a lot of fun. Unknown to me, a friend took a photo of me/girlfriend/’67 as we exited the famous Corkscrew. By chance I had the pleasure of following a friend’s ’63 coupe, as you see. A fine way to enjoy the Corvette Lifestyle!
Yup, that’s fun stuff! BTDT several times - see my avatar. It never gets old- every Corvette owner should have the opportunity to do that at least one! A definite “bucket list” item!
Yup, that’s fun stuff! BTDT several times - see my avatar. It never gets old- every Corvette owner should have the opportunity to do that at least one! A definite “bucket list” item!
You are absolutely right! There is nothing like it.... anywhere.
From: Middle TN by way of KY, OH, VA, IL, CA, FL, NY, SC, HI
A total bucket list item.
In my daydream superhero racetrack, the corkscrew is on the same mythical course with eau rouge, la source, tabac, parabolica, and maggots, to name a few.
You are absolutely right! There is nothing like it.... anywhere.
I'm sure you were going multiples of my speed on Saturday! About ten years ago I attended a track day/school at Laguna in my 67; for some reason they allowed convertibles without a roll bar. Unfortunately, it was raining pretty hard and going through the Corkscrew was purely frightening in my old car that didn't even have the street tires pumped up to a decent pressure. After a few laps, I voted in favor of living longer and parked it, at which point I resumed breathing. I sure wish I'd had the chance to drive a race Vette there once in my life, like you, but alas .....
I'm sure you were going multiples of my speed on Saturday! About ten years ago I attended a track day/school at Laguna in my 67; for some reason they allowed convertibles without a roll bar. Unfortunately, it was raining pretty hard and going through the Corkscrew was purely frightening in my old car that didn't even have the street tires pumped up to a decent pressure. After a few laps, I voted in favor of living longer and parked it, at which point I resumed breathing. I sure wish I'd had the chance to drive a race Vette there once in my life, like you, but alas .....
I was going as fast as I could in that '57. The car's owner had given me permission to race it at the Historics that year so I was trying to get comfortable with it. Can't say I ever did. The fuel injection wasn't set up for smooth throttle modulation and at the slightest tip-in, the back end wanted to go first. In fact, if you know the Corkscrew well, you'll see that I was completely off line and out of shape when that picture was made.
Moisture on the track is terrifying. During one race, there was a -->trickle<-- of water crossing the track at turn 9 (left hander after you exit the Corkscrew). I discovered that I had to just roll thru the water and go another 100 feet to dry the tires before I could get back on the throttle. Otherwise, I'd end up sideways.
Even with street tires, I can't imagine going thru the Corkscrew in the rain like you did. Was there a pace car keeping your group from going too fast? If not, it's beyond my comprehension that they let a convertible on track without a roll bar. You were smart to park and resume breathing.
Yeah, it was dumb to be out on a wet track, but I was new to track days and had to learn where the limits were. I found my limits fast that day! There was no pace car, just me and a bunch of Miatas with roll bars right behind me. I could pull away from them on the straights, then they bunched up behind me at the corners. Very nerve-wracking.
It didn't help that I’d done my very first track days only a few weeks before, at the now-defunct Reno-Fernley circuit. That was two whole days of going fast, and nobody mentioned a thing about the danger of driving a ragtop without a roll bar. Stupid of them, stupid of me. Anyhow, Laguna Seca in the rain was my last track day in the ’67. I later bought a 2007 coupe to enjoy out on the track and started to autocross the Sting Ray. But I never have run in a race car like you ...... sigh....
I didn't realize Fernley had shut down. I never drove that track but I've been around it in some of its configurations. It didn't look like a fun track. One of my friends said it was "diabolical".
A well driven Miata is annoyingly fast. Near as I can tell they don't have brake pedals. I've never noticed one slowing down for a turn.
Speaking of which..... I'm pretty sure you can rent race-prepped Miatas for track days. You could do that and check that one off your bucket list.
Wow what a great opportunity! Would LOVE to drive that track. Would have to change my bias ply goldwall tires though. They cause my car to be all over the road!!!!
Can you tolerate a further hi-jack of your Corkscrew thread?
This frame capture was made at Thunderhill. The car on the left is a Corvette which has just passed the car on the right, a Miata.
To get around Turn 8, the Corvette had to brake. The driver of the Miata didn't. This shows the Miata just after colliding with the back of the Corvette:
And the Miata went rolling and rolling and rolling. At Thunderhill, that's known as "going agricultural"
Look closely and you can see the Miata going over on its side..... again:
Just so you know, the driver of the Miata wasn't hurt.
About 25 years ago I took track lessons at Laguna Seca from the Jim Russell school using Mitsubishi Diamante sedans. Learning the corkscrew at speed was terrifying! Coming over the top of the hill into turn 6 where the track ahead was totally blind and dropped off sharp to the left was an act of faith! As I remember it the instruction was to tap the brakes to set the car, turn left and aim towards the top of the the large oak tree that appeared below even before you could see the track line, and immediately start to turn right as the car began to drop down the hill into 6A. Yikes - a pucker factor of 11 on a scale of 1 - 10!
One of the most amazing things I ever saw was Alex Zanardi passing thru the dirt on the inside of the turn on 6 - 6A going down hill thru the corkscrew, to take the lead on the last lap of an Indy car race. That must have taken ***** of cast iron! I was scared just doing it on pavement in a sedan..........
About 25 years ago I took track lessons at Laguna Seca from the Jim Russell school using Mitsubishi Diamante sedans. Learning the corkscrew at speed was terrifying! Coming over the top of the hill into turn 6 where the track ahead was totally blind and dropped off sharp to the left was an act of faith! As I remember it the instruction was to tap the brakes to set the car, turn left and aim towards the top of the the large oak tree that appeared below even before you could see the track line, and immediately start to turn right as the car began to drop down the hill into 6A. Yikes - a pucker factor of 11 on a scale of 1 - 10!
One of the most amazing things I ever saw was Alex Zanardi passing thru the dirt on the inside of the turn on 6 - 6A going down hill thru the corkscrew, to take the lead on the last lap of an Indy car race. That must have taken ***** of cast iron! I was scared just doing it on pavement in a sedan..........
If the Corkscrew is 6 and 6A to you, you are dating yourself!!!! Since they added infield turns 3 and 4, the Corkscrew is now turn 8!
And it's the third tree which, if you've set up correctly, is right in front of you before the road falls away.
I've seen passes in the dirt, too. Mine simply are not big enough to even attempt that.
Can you tolerate a further hi-jack of your Corkscrew thread?
This frame capture was made at Thunderhill. The car on the left is a Corvette which has just passed the car on the right, a Miata.
To get around Turn 8, the Corvette had to brake. The driver of the Miata didn't. This shows the Miata just after colliding with the back of the Corvette:
And the Miata went rolling and rolling and rolling. At Thunderhill, that's known as "going agricultural"
Look closely and you can see the Miata going over on its side..... again:
Just so you know, the driver of the Miata wasn't hurt.
Jim
Scary stuff. I liked Thunder Hill a lot, but eventually decided to stop tracking my 2007 .... because of possibilities like you show. My favorite pic is from cresting the hill at Turn 5, were the car got thrillingly light.
I didn't realize Fernley had shut down. I never drove that track but I've been around it in some of its configurations. It didn't look like a fun track. One of my friends said it was "diabolical".
A well driven Miata is annoyingly fast. Near as I can tell they don't have brake pedals. I've never noticed one slowing down for a turn.
Speaking of which..... I'm pretty sure you can rent race-prepped Miatas for track days. You could do that and check that one off your bucket list.
What a great idea. I will look into that .... thanks!
Down' the Corkscrew
)..Corvette Invasion...Austin, Texas
