Izzys Cages Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 So... with all of our non track time on Saturday, we were free to notice how many drivers stuck close to the right side wall coming down the straight, then moved left once they passed the garages.Whats the idea there??? Less wind resistance than on the grass side of the track?Seems less than ideal there with cars coming out of pit road and the possibility of this when there's a slow mover on the right: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JohnInKansas Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 Ouch. That looks expensive.The wind resistance thing is what I've heard before. I thought that was typically in a cross-wind (East/West) situation though, so I'm not sure what to tell you. In a cross wind, you could tuck in behind the wall and it wouldn't blow you across the track nearly as much. In a head/tail wind, I can't see where tucking to the wall would do much good.I got swarmed coming out of the pits once this weekend by a whole mess of fast-movers, so I relate to your point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Jim Slade Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 I noticed that too and didn't like it. I like to draft slower cars on the left and then tuck out to the right only to pass and then right back in. For anyone that doesn't know about this multi million dollar demolition derby, it's from the 2005 Brian Redman Vintage races. The starter didn't like the way the formation was shaping up and did a wave off. Since drivers towards the back of the formation can't see up the hill, they went full throttle. The cars up front then slowed for another formation lap while cars at the back were hitting 150+. The pile up was multi car high. Ideally the start at Road America is a job left to a spotter with a radio. Since this is rare in Chump, running down the left side is about all that can be done. Any cars with engine trouble can move right and hopefully avoid the same fate. Since there's no flag station between 14 and the starter bridge, even a white doesn't really help in this situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technical Advisory Committee NigelStu Posted April 25, 2012 Technical Advisory Committee Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 Various reasons for keeping right going up the hill, at least for many cars/situations. Wind, track shape, drafting partner or not. Testing is best way to determine what is best/fastest up the hill, but in a nutshell its a quicker line if you are solo/lead car.For purposes of line, lap times, braking point and stability, a single car hugging right side should be starting to move over well before pit out. And should be completely on the left side for the braking zone before the end of the blend line. There isn't any additional benefit to run the right side all the way to the end of pit wall, since the track has already flattened out by then. Running that line should not have impact to anyone coming out of the pits, as long as they use the blend line and realize that there is a HUGE speed differential for a standing start at end of pit lane to a flying lap... Multiple cars racing into 1 is a different story all together. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skierman64 Posted April 27, 2012 Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 Anyone exiting the pits into multicar traffic should really stay right all the way to the turn one apex. the speed differential is huge with some cars at 120 plus at the turn 1 braking point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csadn Posted April 27, 2012 Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 For anyone that doesn't know about this multi million dollar demolition derby, it's from the 2005 Brian Redman Vintage races. The starter didn't like the way the formation was shaping up and did a wave off. Since drivers towards the back of the formation can't see up the hill, they went full throttle. The cars up front then slowed for another formation lap while cars at the back were hitting 150+.Ah, like the old cadence-call:"A-double-S, U-M-E!Makes an donkey of U and Me!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubby Posted April 27, 2012 Report Share Posted April 27, 2012 I had heard that this accident is what motivated RA to install those lights on that straight. Don't know if that's fact or "paddock lore." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Adam@EasternBlockAttack Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 I saw that too...did not like that as well. I stuck to my left side. Also I saw a few cars that were coming out of the pits and going straight into the left side. Got almost taken out that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogren-Engineering Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Drivers meeting should address those areas. Straight,stay left,pit out, stay right. Common sense, and if we had any, we would be someplace else. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogren-Engineering Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Pretty sure that the thread is Road America . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salna Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 In John's defense, I'm pretty sure I heard him say to stay to the right out of the pits at the novice class and/or the driver's meeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izzys Cages Posted May 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 Yeah, although I didn't attend the drivers meetings at RA (wasn't driving) EVERY drivers meeting I've been to since starting with CHUMP has addressed blend line safety.Mike, while this thread was specifically about R/America, Johns point is that in black and white terms, you can't say:"Straight,stay left,pit out, stay right."as every track is different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogren-Engineering Posted May 12, 2012 Report Share Posted May 12, 2012 Every track is different?? really scott? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izzys Cages Posted May 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2012 Really! I've checked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pstrbrc Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 Every track is different?? really scott?Really! I've checked I went all the way down to the bottom of a 4 day old thread for this!!??? Sheesh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izzys Cages Posted May 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 It was going to get a lot more interesting, but I decided not to be snarky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csadn Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 Every track is different?? really scott?We're not.[signed]Bruton's Smith's 1.5-mile ovals.> 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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