VIR Full Sept 7-8, 2013: Oak Tree is freakin' me out

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

This past weekend was pretty good, and if you hadn't been on track since the tree fell: turns 11 & 12 are weird as hell. There was also a nice variety of cars out there across all the groups, even Chrysler was represented with a Challenger and Viper ACR.

How was your guys' weekend?

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Sep 09, 2013 2:51 pm

Andrew Jonell wrote:

This past weekend was pretty good, and if you hadn't been on track since the tree fell turns 11 & 12 are weird as hell.

Agreed. They really need to transplant another Oak Tree for future generations to enjoy. I think I actually executed that turn better than before because I can now see the apex, but I'd still like to "have wood" in that turn. :lol:

Worthy of note, the weather was weather was FANTASTIC!

I wasn't on track with the Viper ACR, but that old school 2-tone Nova was bad- ass, looked to be handling well (still had leaf springs in the rear) and wasn't slow.

To top it all off my DIY brake ducts on the Mustang seemed to be worth my effort as I started the event with half-worn Hawk Blues and was able to do both days and still have enough pad for about two more sessions if I had time.

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Mon Sep 09, 2013 3:29 pm

The inconsistent checker flag was what I noticed most. I really enjoyed getting the checker under the tree.

clinehall · **Posted:** Mon Sep 09, 2013 8:24 pm

Great weekend, I had absolutely no drama with the car which was nice after about 6 Lemons and Chump races since the last HPDE I went to. Really good seeing old friends and making some new ones.

I was in the Red Group which was a tad bit aggressive the first day but settled down on Sunday. There was a lot of hp out there so I gave a lot of points. I was happy that I improved is some areas- carrying a lot more speed into South Bend, better through 14 through to hog pen , I still am having trouble going deep enough into 1 (go ahead Vincent)

The only thing I would improve is we need to make sure all the special people who can't seem to park there special cars in the sand like the rest of us normal folks pay extra for the privilege of parking on the pavement. I had a hard time getting my car out a couple of timet

RickyBeam · **Posted:** Mon Sep 09, 2013 8:43 pm

Scott Johnson wrote:

The inconsistent checker flag was what I noticed most. I really enjoyed getting the checker under the tree.

It wasn't really inconsistent; they were waving at T12 and Start/Finish. A lot of people had trouble adjusting to (and seeing) the flags at the new T12. Both my instructor and I missed the flag during one session; luckily, there was a car in front waving at corner workers. (Lynn missed another one, asking what was wrong when I wasn't punching it out of T12.)

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

imho - throwing checker at s/f is both unnecessary and negatively affects the session, all it does is waste half a lap (the fun half too) if you happen to catch it. one time i caught it and didn't slow my pace until oak tree since there was open track ahead of me but otherwise i was stuck behind another car for an entire lap. can someone explain the reason for making this change?

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Great event! thanks to everyone who helped pull it off. I had a great time riding along with my very skilled green group first-timer in his S2000. That was a fun car to ride along in the right seat in... fantastic track car.

Now, I'm not normally one to bitch about anything, but I have a gripe about the track. We make THSCC schools a family event -- drag the camper down, wife is in blue group, and the kids Nathan (9) and Rachel (6) come with us and hang out for the weekend. The highlight of these weekends for them has always been riding their bikes and scooters around the paddock, up the hill, to false grid, etc.

For the first time ever, they were busted by the Paddock Marshall and told they aren't allowed to ride bikes in the paddock. Now maybe that's some rule posted somewhere but it's never been enforced before on a DE weekend. I'll sign 50 waivers promising I won't sue the track if they get hurt or hit by a car. Please, VIR?

clinehall · **Posted:** Tue Sep 10, 2013 6:37 am

[quote="MikeWhitney"
For the first time ever, they were busted by the Paddock Marshall and told they aren't allowed to ride bikes in the paddock. Now maybe that's some rule posted somewhere but it's never been enforced before on a DE weekend. I'll sign 50 waivers promising I won't sue the track if they get hurt or hit by a car. Please, VIR?[/quote]

This was the first time I ever noticed the Paddock Marshall, reminded me of the grumpy yankee marshall every golf course has.

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Tue Sep 10, 2013 7:26 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

Great event! thanks to everyone who helped pull it off. I had a great time riding along with my very skilled green group first-timer in his S2000. That was a fun car to ride along in the right seat in... fantastic track car.

Now, I'm not normally one to bitch about anything, but I have a gripe about the track. We make THSCC schools a family event -- drag the camper down, wife is in blue group, and the kids Nathan (9) and Rachel (6) come with us and hang out for the weekend. The highlight of these weekends for them has always been riding their bikes and scooters around the paddock, up the hill, to false grid, etc.

For the first time ever, they were busted by the Paddock Marshall and told they aren't allowed to ride bikes in the paddock. Now maybe that's some rule posted somewhere but it's never been enforced before on a DE weekend. I'll sign 50 waivers promising I won't sue the track if they get hurt or hit by a car. Please, VIR?

Did you get a wristband (for 30 $) that showed you paid to ride bikes in the pit?

clinehall · **Posted:** Tue Sep 10, 2013 9:46 am

Michael Westerfield wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

Great event! thanks to everyone who helped pull it off. I had a great time riding along with my very skilled green group first-timer in his S2000. That was a fun car to ride along in the right seat in... fantastic track car.

Now, I'm not normally one to bitch about anything, but I have a gripe about the track. We make THSCC schools a family event -- drag the camper down, wife is in blue group, and the kids Nathan (9) and Rachel (6) come with us and hang out for the weekend. The highlight of these weekends for them has always been riding their bikes and scooters around the paddock, up the hill, to false grid, etc.

For the first time ever, they were busted by the Paddock Marshall and told they aren't allowed to ride bikes in the paddock. Now maybe that's some rule posted somewhere but it's never been enforced before on a DE weekend. I'll sign 50 waivers promising I won't sue the track if they get hurt or hit by a car. Please, VIR?

Did you get a wristband (for 30 $) that showed you paid to ride bikes in the pit?

yeah apparently you need a pit bike that is licensed or you have to pay that.

Zach Hill · **Posted:** Tue Sep 10, 2013 11:12 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

For the first time ever, they were busted by the Paddock Marshall and told they aren't allowed to ride bikes in the paddock. Now maybe that's some rule posted somewhere but it's never been enforced before on a DE weekend. I'll sign 50 waivers promising I won't sue the track if they get hurt or hit by a car. Please, VIR?

Bicycles or motorized bikes? Wonder if I need a permit for my kid-sized Razor scooter (disclaimer: it's the only pit vehicle which fits into the trunk of an S2000 for autox days).

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

clinehall wrote:

yeah apparently you need a pit bike that is licensed or you have to pay that.

Whitney does have a pit bike that has a plate on it... put the Trail 90's plate on the kid's bike?

Roger McDaniels · **Posted:** Tue Sep 10, 2013 11:38 am

Nobody yelled at me for riding a pit bike. There are advantages to looking like a crazy homeless person.

I had a great weekend and made a lot of improvement. I now drive 4-9 with my foot flat on the floor and I know what to do for 11-12, even though I just got it figured out (with some help) in the last session on Sunday. Red group had a lot of fast cars; but they tended to bunch up so I'd just have to do a couple of point-by marathons and I'd have some clear track. As usual, everyone left after lunch on Sunday so I had a couple of great sessions that were like I had rented the track out for myself. Either that or I got in the zone and stopped noticing the cars stacked up behind me. Either way it made for some very fun sessions.

clinehall · **Posted:** Tue Sep 10, 2013 2:17 pm

Roger McDaniels wrote:

Nobody yelled at me for riding a pit bike. There are advantages to looking like a crazy homeless person.

I had a great weekend and made a lot of improvement. I now drive 4-9 with my foot flat on the floor and I know what to do for 11-12, even though I just got it figured out (with some help) in the last session on Sunday. Red group had a lot of fast cars; but they tended to bunch up so I'd just have to do a couple of point-by marathons and I'd have some clear track. As usual, everyone left after lunch on Sunday so I had a couple of great sessions that were like I had rented the track out for myself. Either that or I got in the zone and stopped noticing the cars stacked up behind me. Either way it made for some very fun sessions.

I actually liked being one of the slow guys in the group. I would give them a point at 4 then dog them past oak tree before they pulled away. I got a lot of clear track that way.

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

clinehall wrote:

I actually liked being one of the slow guys in the group. I would give them a point at 4 then dog them past oak tree before they pulled away. I got a lot of clear track that way.

I was doing the opposite with a Corvette in Blue: I'd walk on him from T1 through Oak Tree, he'd catch up by the braking zone into T14, then I'd walk on him again until the tree on the front straight. He didn't mind me saving him on gas and brakes on the straights.

In me being a moron news: I deleted my data from this weekend! A+ would be an idiot again. I guess I now have to sign up for BMWCCA in November to get some more data.

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