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Layouts on Trackpedia...
First One is a 'who knows what' deal (probably some public relations folks)... definitely produced after the major renovations w/ new stands, VIP boxes etc... if I understand you correctly Stacy, you added the numbers to this one as made sense to you...
The Second Layout is the original plan which I dug out a couple years ago so a more accurate version would be available... it was distributed to several people in hard copy and PDF format... perhaps I should have put the damn turn numbers on the design plan, but they were so obvious to everyone back then it would have been superfluous...
Some background... and comments...
For a stadium infield track, notwithstanding the Nine Turn scenario, it doesn't have too many turns as a lot of other truly 'mickey mouse' layouts that IMO definitely went for quantity instead of quality.... e.g. for purpose built infields; IIRC, Texas, Phoenix, LV, etc... others built w/ no real infield course in mind, such as Michigan, use 'access' roads...
This plan purposely made sure to avoid this as it woulda turned it into a Kart track... sure, it'd been nice to have more... but try fitting stuff in an 450 foot wide area with outbuildings scattered all over, and wanting to keep some area left in the western end for camping, spectators, etc... even if this area were available it'd only have made the straights longer... unless of course we'd added some worthless 'wiggles'... another strict rule of mine, unless it is absolutely necessary for some reason, never, ever put a slow turn leading into a fast turn... the reason for this should be obvious...
As an aside, Frank [Williams], the General Manager who pretty much did everything back then when it was only used for the two NASCAR races and some round track schools contacted us... his initial budget was $40K... I told him he was jes a tad optimistic, but he went ahead as he was convinced it was a good thing... turned out the cost was $60K... but not a single gripe from Frank... I mention this since more turns, 'wiggles', etc, meant more pavement and more complex construction with the resulting additional cost...
Oddly, he didn't do it for spectator proceeds, or track rental, but 'ink' generated by the road course events held there... yeah, it didn't seem justified to me either, but who were we (NCR / CCR SCCA) to object... there'd already been a couple dozen 'proposed' road courses during those years, none which ever got past the 'napkin' or basic layout stage... and of course the semi-annual 'for sure' revival of VIR...
As for Nine turns... I didn't know that info was used in our 'promo' stuff... in any case I have a strong opinion that the 'new' T3 / T4 and T8 / T9 sequences are definitely problematic for instruction...
As for The Fishhook being designated as two turns... I ain't too keen on that either, but it's not as problematic as the others... any way you slice it, it's one decreasing radius 'carousel' turn... the use of A & B designations has been historically used for carousels, or similar turns and have always made sense to me... this was an offshoot of these turns historically having two apexes which was the 'classical' line... in today's world it basically gives one an easy way to distinguish the 'entry' and 'exit' portions for describing various techniques for real 'long' turns... e.g. at The Fishhook... 1) At A turn in, angle straight in (close to a verge apex), brake late, at B, initiate major rotation, squirt out the exit w/ apex at verge, 'vague' track out... 2) In A, trail brake from turn in, or less desirable straight line parallel to track then off brakes... this into an arc to about 2/3s around, into B, initiate moderate rotation, more 'gradual' exit w/ verge apex and verge track out... 3) At A turn in, trail brake, or straight line as w/ 2), into an arc that scribes a 'circle' defined by three points (remember your geometry); A = turn in phase, start B continuing the arc to verge apex, track out to verge (usually an earlier apex)... 1) generally works best for high power cars... 2) can be used by all... and 3) mostly for 'momentum' cars... it is however IMO possible to apply all techniques to all cars with some 'unconventional' effort to develop them...
Reckon I'll quit now... after taking up half the afternoon composing this... then having the van refuse to start to take 87 year old Mom-out-Law to hair appointment and having to use Miata which she hates getting into and out of, causing us to run late, a capital offense... oh yeah, coincidently the van passenger side window decides to disconnect itself from the drive... come back home, van starts fine; appears perhaps the 'jerry rigged' permanent key in ignition fix for mucked up lock cylinder was 'operator error'... we can hope, as alternatives aren't pretty... of course now it's one more thing 'hanging over me 'ead'... and that's just for starters... aarrrrgggghhhhh!!!
Steve 'who can't seem to get a break 'bout half the time...' Coleman
PS: If ya'll give a rat's arse about my opinion I'd like to see the turns numbered as original and revise any layouts that we have access to so it'll be reflected in the public domain as many places as possible...
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See nothing... Know everything.
'ol corps rac'r...
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