[Handlebar]

It appears that my transmission should be done by then.

I will be signing up, I can't wait!

[BikePump]

Good news man

[Lara]

Can't wait! Jim and I drove it last year (See February DV article -- https://pcapotomac.org/images/dV/FebruarydV2017.pdf), and it is fun, fun, fun.

I'll send my school line video to anyone who wants it as long as you promise not to be mean to me PM me with your email address.

[smayst824]

Is the track as narrow as it looks in the video?

[thelittlemrs]

Originally Posted by Lara

Can't wait! Jim and I drove it last year (See February DV article -- https://pcapotomac.org/images/dV/FebruarydV2017.pdf),

I finally read the article - so much good info about the track and about amenities. Super valuable! thanks guys

[Handlebar]

Originally Posted by smayst824

Is the track as narrow as it looks in the video?

Track map says it is 36' wide.

[Dr K]

There are places (front straight and after turn 2) where you can go 3 wide easily. Most of the track is easy to go 2 wide, but it's hard to pass since there is so much natural side-to-side with all the turns. But for a DE it's totally wide enough.

[rbpeirce]

Thanks to Dr. K for a great write-up. I would like to add some comments from the standpoint of a guy who doesn’t race, only does HPDEs and maybe has driven at 10/10ths once, if that. Generally I’m just out to have fun. I push but hopefully not to an extreme, maybe 8 or 9 tenths. If this is you, read on. I hope it isn’t too wordy.

PittRace is my home track. If you assume you do 100 miles each track day, I have close to 5000 miles here. That doesn’t make me an expert because I don’t study it that hard, but you learn stuff just by doing it. Therefore, allow me to add a few comments to Dr. K’s notes.

I started driving on track 15 years ago. Until Pitt Race opened the South track I always used stock brake pads and high temp fluid. One day running the South track only (1.2 miles with three heavy braking zones) destroyed my brakes. I now use Pagid Yellows and have had zero problems. The full track is long enough to cool your brakes but braking into turn 5 is a killer. Keep this in mind if you are running stock brakes.

It is worth looking at the track on Google Earth, Dr. K’s race, and my favorite, Bill Lehman’s video from a couple of years ago. Bill’s is my favorite because he drove a Cayman, as I do, and he is a good driver and I suspect instructor. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1wfct2gZ1U&t=0s]

There are three turns I call throw away turns because the are setups for the turn that follows. That is the important turn. These are 3, 7 and 13. The tendency is to want to move toward the next turn but they are all very late apex turns and you will get screwed. Racers might be able to do this. I can’t You want to stay close to the side of the turn until it is time to turn in for the next one. Turn 12 is sort of a throw away but not as much. You can track out a bit here without getting into too much trouble.

1. Early apex. You’ll see it is the obvious thing to do here, but it isn’t what you have been taught.
2. Blind over a hill. If you look out to the tree line there is a gap. Aim for it and it will put you in the right spot for the straight. Some use the connecting roads but I like to look ahead rather than to the side. Watch the pitt out blend line. Depending on the event organizer this may be the official edge of the road.
3. See above
3-4. You are likely to be too quick or too slow turning into 4. I found counting a thousand and one is about right. At least it will get you in the ball park.
5. I find no matter what I do I can’t seem to get any more speed through five so I try to carry as much speed down the hill as I can and to come into five to the right of center. You will lose speed if you try to get over to the left side.
6. Ignore it.
7. See above
7-11. This is a widening esses. The experts can get through here faster with judicious lift/brake. I’ve never mastered that. I just try to develop a rhythm gradually increasing my speed.
10. Blind turn. I turn in at the connecting road to my right. After the first time you’ll know what to do.
11-12 Don’t coast. It is only a short straight but it is a straight.
12. Try to stay to the right of center going up the hill.
13. Stay left. Throw it away to prep for 14.
14. Blind turn. I turn when I see the guard rail (armco) across the track. You can carry a lot more sped through this turn than you think but I always chicken out.
15. Flat out for most cars.
16. “The Kink” is probably the most dangerous turn on the track. You think it is easy, discover you’re going to fast, say OMG and lift. I’m sure this is a lot of fun for an older 911! Again, I have not mastered lift/bake so I approach the turn at the speed I want to carry through it. Turn in for me is when I see the 200 marker (I think it is the 200) across the apex of the turn. Then accelerate through the turn. If you don’t accelerate you will lose 10-20 mph. However, remember you have to brake for 17 so be willing to lose a little speed.
17. The nice thing here is if you are going to fast you can go straight up the hill into the grass. I recommend it rather than try to force the car around the bend. Overdoing 16 can easily cause problems at 17. 17 is like 5 but uphill instead of down. No matter what I do I can’t seem to get any faster through here.
18. Ignore it.
19. Flat out for most cars.

17-1. This is the fastest part of the track for me. Cars with better handling and gutsier drivers will be faster in 14-17 but not me. Once you pass 19 you are on a long downhill straight with an uphill braking zone at the end. No talent needed except deciding how late to brake. The conservative point is just past where the dirt road comes in from the right but you can brake a lot later than that. Work up to it. You will easily be going 120mph or better in just about any modern Porsche so don't be too eager.

[rbpeirce]

You will notice I didn't mention cones. There are cones everywhere but they can get hit and moved so I try to find more solid reference points. Back when I belonged to the BMW club and they had events they used to go out on the last day and remove all the cones just to see if you knew what you were doing.

[N0tt0N]

Thanks for sharing. Lehman's video makes the track look quite bumpy.