Favorite Track

[BobNovas]

So, what's your favorite track that Potomac runs at?

[Charlie Stylianos]

I can only choose between 3 (VIR, Summit and Mid Ohio). Mid Ohio is my favorite of these probably because it's much more technical. Really makes you focus hard to link the turns together to produce good, consistent laps. And the straights aren’t really straights, just mini 'breathers' for you to relax a bit and barely let the faster cars by.

[TD in DC]

I, like Charlie, can only choose between the three I have been to, and I will probably end up falling into the category of "never met a track I didn't like." For me, it is very tough to choose between VIR and Mid-Ohio, but I have a special place in my heart for VIR, maybe because I have been there twice and it was my first DE ever (you know how the first one is ;) ). Mid-Ohio is a very close second for the reasons Charlie mentioned.

[BobNovas]

I have to think my fav is Mid Ohio. But, I'll tell you, the Glen is a close second. If a track can be said to have a soul, I think it would be the Glen. A lot of history there.

[racer]

Since I have yet to drive the "full course" at VIR, Watkins Glen is my favorite. Mid-Ohio is fun, but to me WG gets the nod given the F1 history there.

[Lucky]

I've been to the same 3 as Charlie (SP, VIR, and MO).

MO is my favorite so far, but to be honest I love all three.

I think I like MO so much because it is really a great equalizer of cars and although horsepower helps one be a bit faster on the straights it is speed through the turns that determines a good lap time. I find that MO is less forgiving of jerky driving and really rewarded smooth use of steering, brakes, and throttle more than those other two tracks.

I can't wait to try WG. Maybe it will make the agenda in 2006.

[Manny Alban]

VIR full course my first choice.
Sebring (Yup, I know that Potomac doesn't run there, but still, it's awesome)
Lowes Motor Speedway (only track that scared the crap out of me and taught me that the nascar boys weren't just going in circles. consequently, I'm a big nascar fan now).
Summit Point. A hole in the wall, but it's our hole in the wall :)

[Dave O]

My DE experience is quite dated now (1986 to 1991) but at that time included Summit Point, Mid-Ohio, Charlotte Motor Speedway (turns 2,3,4 then infield :D ) and Pocono. Mid-Ohio was by far the most fun of that group.
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[racer]

Its tough to have just "one" favorite. Those tracks not listed that I would always go back to are:

1) Lime Rock - while the pavements a little rough now, the track is still lots of fun

2) Le Circuit Mont Tremblant. Both great fun. Both with elevation changes (mm elevation!) LCMT has (had?) some fantastic off camber and "blind" apex corners... a true blast!

3) Pocono - FOR THE FULL COURSE, or DOUBLE INFIELD only. Like Manny said, a track like this (or charlotte) makes you respect the Nascrap community a little more (bit not too much :wink: ). NNJR PCA would run the Full course and enter Nascar turn 1 (also called the "bowl") in the opposite direction (clockwise instead of counterclockwise). I used to be intimidated entering the corner at about 100 mph in my 914 when I realized that Nascar enters the corner at about 140, in 3500lb cars. By the end of my 914 days I wouldn't touch the brakes and 2 things would happen.. 1) the 911's following me got real small in my mirror and 2) the 911's in front got real big in my windshield :D

I think in the end though, any track I am at is my current "favorite" or I wouldn't be there!

[Mackpipes]

VIR full course. Although I only have SP, Jefferson and VIR to draw from. :roll:
Mid Ohio sounds like the foshizzle from Charlies disciption. Can't wait till next year to try it out.

[Chopper Dropper]

In order.
Mt. Tremblant by a long way
Mosport
The Glen
VIR Full Course
Mid Ohio
S.P.
Lime Rock

Am returning this July to Mt. Tremblant for the 3rd year and doing Mosport as well for the 2nd time. The only track i would probably not go back to would be Lime Rock. Great location but track was too short that my 88 Targa was at max RPM pretty much the whole time in 3rd and 4th that I had to come in with high temps.
Dirk

[TD in DC]

In order.
Mt. Tremblant by a long way
Mosport

Dirk,

How far are Mt. Tremblant and Mosport from here? How did you get your car there?

TD in DC

[}{arlequin]

I'm with Dirk, the Canuck tracks are awesome. Mt. Treblant has just been "refreshed" so it's wide, smooth, and basically perfect w/ lots of elevation changes.

Mosport also has F1 history and a really long back straight...

TD,
Mt. Treblant is an hour away from Montreal...
Mosport is 1/2 hour from Toronto (really really far)

[BillJ]

Never been to Mt. Tremblant, but Mosport was almost a religious experience. We had 3 days with only about 65 participants, so the sessions were 35 minutes or so with 4 of them a day. Heaven. A couple sections take a great deal of courage and patience, but provide the requisite reward. My favorite track for sure out of the 9 that I have tried, with VIR full course being a close second. MO is third for me, even though it favors my car better than the other two.

[Chopper Dropper]

Mt Tremblant can be done in a day, but I would not want to drive on the track the next day.Last yr left Mt Tremblant at about 8.30 am or so, got screwed up around New York probably lost an hour and got home about 11 to Easton Md. Its about 3 hours from Plattsburg New York 60-70 miles from Montreal. About 6 hours between Tremblant and Mosport. This year about 14 of us Eric S, mostly red/black run group (not by intent) are going up and doing Tremblant with Rennsport region on Monday/tuesday/Wednesday, driving to Mosport Thursday and then doing Mosport with Upper Canada and NNJR Friday/Sat and Sunday. This is in July. Eric did a write up of last years trip with some pics on the Potomac site.
Dirk

[racer]

I'm with Dirk, the Canuck tracks are awesome. Mt. Treblant has just been "refreshed" so it's wide, smooth, and basically perfect w/ lots of elevation changes.

Mosport also has F1 history and a really long back straight...

TD,
Mt. Treblant is an hour away from Montreal...
Mosport is 1/2 hour from Toronto (really really far)

I kind of liked Tremblant before the refreshening.. seemed more exciting without some of the new sight lines and curbing... Although it is still a great track to drive either way.

I have only heard good things about Mosport. Would have loved to have done "the double" but it just ain't in the cards this year.

[Eric S]

Every track has its merits; I find that it isn’t so much a matter of ranking as it is acknowledging the best characteristics of each. Also, those tracks we drive a lot tend to be taken for granted while those once-a-year destinations in prime season always rank high. That said, here are my personal preferences:

1. Le Circuit Mont Tremblant. This former F1 Canadian GP circuit is my favorite for its high-speed, elevation change corners! Big G forces in every combination; the most like a driving roller coaster I’ve found! A very active circuit; 2.4 miles that feels like 4 with no time to rest. Includes my favorite passing zone: up the hill out of Turn 10 to blind apex under the bridge at the crest – Wow! Extremely fast sweeper in Turn 6, followed by a high speed undulating Turn 7. Top it off with the best après-track destination imaginable with the Village of Tremblant only 5 minutes from the track, and you have the makings of an incredible resort vacation. The centerpiece of our Road Trip destination for three years in a row.

2. Mosport. The best “pucker factor” of any track I’ve driven. Extremely late apexes require gradual turn-in with glacial patience, and the crown in the track that you traverse tracking out of Turns 1 and 2 had better have your attention – or you’ll be adding your signature to the many colors of car paint on the opposite wall. Blind apex into the downhill double apex Turn 2 is where many have claimed to have seen God. Turn 5 follows an incredible fast downhill/uphill blast. 10 turns – four of which are 4th gear – makes for a very fast track! Also a former F1 Canadian GP circuit. Nice paddock; but will never forget how nervous I was about driving my rig through the tunnel under the track – think Watkins Glen but about half the diameter! 25 miles from the nearest civilization.

3. Watkins Glen. Very fast and flowing; my favorite pre-Canada track. Only after driving LCMT did I realize how comparatively easy it was; smooth and fast, but low effort. The esses are the obvious highlight, and my favorite turn is Turn 6. The origin of road racing in the US; full of US racing history, including the F1 US Grand Prix. Expansive paved paddock areas; large garage is a fantastic social gathering place. The quaint town of Watkins Glen is charming and has a couple choices for great ice cream while watching the fireworks over Seneca Lake.

4. Road Atlanta. A combination of The Glen’s speed and Mid Ohio’s rhythm. And the 10 story downhill under the bridge and into Turn 12? Well, it took me more than one event to gain enough confidence to take it at speed – and it is a blast, especially when you enter with enough speed to power chirp the tires at the crest! Great esses and blind apexes, good blend of turns and straights. Highly recommend you stay a couple of extra days for golf and spa treatment at Chateau Elan.

5. Mid Ohio. Of all I’ve driven, Mid Ohio has the best “rhythm”. More than any other track, when you get it right at Mid Ohio it is like a dance. My favorite section is from Turn 6 to Madness, then to Turn 8, from 9 to thunder valley to carousel to Turn 1 to Bus Stop and then into and out of Keyhole; only Turn 5 (back straight kink) is a yawner! Nice garages and paved paddock.

6. VIR Full Course. Our home away from home. Fast, flowing, and technical; every section has something to offer. The climbing esses are most people’s favorite section; my favorite passing zones are out of South Bend (Turn 10 – the fastest turn on the track) and into Turn 14 at the end of the back straight – passing signals given anytime before the arrow are fine with me! The grand Course East was okay but a tad tedious; if the crossover was improved it would be more fun. North Course is next best, but short and hard on instructors. The South Course is extremely short and boring; the Patriot Course would suck big time.

7. Summit Point Raceway. Its close. Probably the fastest Type 1 turn (Turn 10 onto the long, downhill front straight) leads to very high speeds. Oh yeah, and its close.

In all, they are all fun and will receive many return visits. And as they say, variety is the spice of life, so I’m always in search of the next “new” track experience.

[Jase007]

I voted for WG above ...

My preferences:

1. Sebring
2. WG
3. VIR
4. Mosport
5. LRP
6. Road Atlanta
7. MO
8. SP
9. The "Bridge"
10. Daytona
11. NHIS
12. Moroso
13. Roebling Road
14. Putnam Park

Jase

[Eric S]

Jase and Manny -

You both rated Sebring the highest; what is it about Sebring that you like so much?

[Manny Alban]

I've only done Sebring for a club race, never a DE, so with that in mind.....
Turn 1, at race start 7-9 abreast and whittling down to three for turn 3. Four very nice straights that are great for drafting and passing.
Huge paddock that is flat and if you can see the entire back straight.
The club race is held in February. Temps are in the low 70s usually. Slightly better than what we usually are experiencing in the mid atlantic area.
Lots of history to the track. Watch The Speed Merchants and it'll blow your mind how they could even find the track at night during the 12 Hours race. Now it's less like a WWII airbase and more of a dedicated race track.
Finally, the turn of a thousand apexes, Turn 17. Been there 7 times and still can't get it right each lap :)

[Mark in Baltimore]

VIR is my favorite, Sebring second and Watkins Glen third. VIR is so rock 'n' roll fast with rollercoaster, hogpen, the climbing esses/Turn 10 combo and that monster front straight. I also like that the facility is clean and groomed with not a bit of rotting wood and scrub weeds in sight.

I've only been to Sebring once but, after finally figuring out where all of the lookalike right turns went (very flat course leaves very little reference points), I learned to love it.

And Watkins Glen has so such incredible history (and so much armco/styrofoam; ask me how I know) and is such a flowing track that it's hard for a track nut to not be drawn to its grand beauty.

[Vicegrip]

Good poll by the way.

I am surprised that MO is leading the list. It is a great track but by this much? I wonder if the fact that it was the most recent visit has anything to do with it. I like MO and my car works better on MO than another track overall.
But. VIR is still my fave even if I get eaten on the long parts with no turns. The climbing esses and the rollercoaster are both a blast and a gut check. You need to get hog pen right in order to get any entry speed for the front straight and the esses and on through Oak tree are as close to sex on wheels as you can get while alone in a car. (both hands on the wheel) The trail brake into the top of the roller coster is fun too. Even early car low tech brakes can get a good neg G in the uphill braking zone.


The Glen is one that I did not like all that well untill last year. I think it clicked and I found that it is not all HP and momentum has its place there. No one has enough HP on the toe of the boot. No one.

VIR Even if my car is not well suited.
MO Best for my car.
SP Home town and more techinical that folks think.
WG Smooth flow but HP helps.
CMP If it were the home track I would go back to Wreck Diving.

[Jase007]

Eric:

I like Sebring the most b/c of its featurless right hand turns and challenging layout. :wink: :lol:

Like Manny, I have never run a DE there and my only experience is racing there. For me, one of the greatest reasons is 17 very different corners, and a night-time enduro I run there. Feels like you are in the twilight zone. The accoustics on the front straight are deafening in and out of the car. Something to do with how the two-tiered pit stands are set up. ALL cars sound great heading up the F straight and across the S/F line. :lol:

Panoz has recently sunk $$$ into the track in improvements and plans on doing more. The facility has everything you need, isn't as "nice" as VIR or Barber MP but, has enough. The history is hard to beat as well.

Cheers,

Jason