[Lara]

Originally Posted by GaryGanoo

Just received word that I am able to make it. Registered and confirmed to go. Just waiting on a new set of rear tires from Paul at Radial and replace pads. See you all on Friday.
Swimming daughter is happy that I can go. I told het that I would facetime her after the meet to check on how she did.

Yay! You have a great daughter -- in so many ways.

[thelittlemrs]

Originally Posted by GaryGanoo

Just received word that I am able to make it.

We lost M&T but gained a Ganoo! I don't know if I can take this rollercoaster of emotions!!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ausgeflippt951]

Originally Posted by rbpeirce

[brevity]

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.

Originally Posted by Dr K

For those who haven't been there, here's a quick and dirty turn-by-turn (all from memory but it's a start) (remember, this is in a LOW horsepower car):

1. Fast turn. Brake but turn in fast, using ALL the track on track-out which includes a little of the access road on your right. Don't forget to downshift if your car needs that. I'll post video with but one major problem where I forgot to downshift for this turn at the start and a bunch of other cars kept passing me...
2. Kink - flat out!
3. There are 2 ways to take this: maintaining speed on the straight, which will mess up turn 4, or setting up for turn 4 by braking a bit sooner. Turn 4 leads to a STEEP downhill, so acceleration comes quickly and I generally opted to brake a bit later and take 4 from the inside.
4. This is a good place to remember that shifting slows your car down - I generally stayed in 4th in the Miata because I had gravity-power at that point.
5. You want to line up correctly for this, taking a straight line to the outside and not turning-in as late as you would if this were flat, because unless you have a Turbo you'll need to maintain as much momentum as you can leading to the steep uphill.
6. Already on the steep uphill, maintain momentum but remember it's easy to drop 2 wheels off on the left doing that, which kind of defeats the purpose. Ask me how I know... Leads to a STEEP uphill that makes any car wish for more power.
7. This leads to a series of turns that are too close to be separate but too far to be "esses." This section reminds me a LOT of Mid-Ohio, and at least one of these turns is blind (I believe that's 10). Your line through the turns will depend a lot on tires - street tires take the turns late and get to turn-in on the outside of the track esp. for 7 and 8 as they are pretty sharp turns. Hoosiers can take this faster and probably don't need to get all the way to the outside except for possibly turn 8.
8. See "Turn 7" above.
9. Higher-speed than 7 or 8, but as 10 and 11 are less-sharp turns, a good turn-in and on the accelerator may pay back for 3 turns in a row.
10. I think this one is blind, but much easier than 14 (see below)
11. More of a kink, but get to the outside for the 90-degree turn 12 coming up. You should now be on the newly-repaved part of the track again (you left it right after Turn 1) so things might have changed.
12. Uphill, 90-degrees. You'll need to brake, even in a Miata
13. Kink
14. BLIND! This is a good place to teach your student "eyes up" because you can't see track out. I picked a particular tree, and nailed this almost every time allowing me to gain on other cars through the upcoming straight (not that I could always pass them...).
15. Kink. I took this flat out.
16. Another kink, but you'll be getting on the brakes soon. [note: if racing and in traffic, this is where you need to pick your line for 17-18 to decide on speed with the "ideal" line or passing around the inside. This was the best place for me to pass on the track]
17. Very much like Turn 1-2 at Summit Point. Not sure how it will feel with new, hopefully-grippier surface.
18. See 17
19. Kink into the pit straight.

[brevity]
https://vimeo.com/183867601

This is now one of my favorite tracks. Unfortunately, I won't be there for the DE as I'll be racing at VIR that weekend.

Peter

Originally Posted by rbpeirce

My reference for Caymans and Boxers is still Bill Lehman's video from a couple of years ago. This was when the south track first opened and there were not very good markings yet. It was also his first time on the track and he was way better than I had ever been. Studying his recording really contributed to reducing my times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1wfct2gZ1U&t=58s

Thanks guys for the great writeups. Wanted to re-highlight these perspectives to make sure no one misses it. Preparedness is key, everyone! Plus it gives me something to do while sitting in meetings.

Originally Posted by GaryGanoo

As many of you know (or may not know) I am a travel agent. I am holding 3 rooms at the Park Inn in Beaver Falls for Check in May 4 - Check out May 7. The total estimated rate is $355.35 for the 3 nights including taxes. Feel free to contact me at (301) 294-0222 (Thats $118.45 per night) if you are looking for a Hotel close to the Track.

Unfortunately I have to cancel and will not be at Pitt since my daughter is swimming her tush off and qualified for JR Olympics and has a swim meet on May 6.

If I wasn't a Marriott guy I would've taken you up on this. Thanks for putting this out there -- and glad you can make it after all. Many congrats to your amazing daughter! I will definitely follow up with you up in PA; I swam in college.



If anyone wants to share a room with yours truly down at the Fairfield (about 25 min from the track), let me know.

[Lara]

From my dad, who is traveling today. This toll road is close to the track.

PA Turnpike Launches Cashless Tolling At Beaver Valley Expressway
April 30, 2017 12:49 PM

BEAVER (KDKA) — Beginning Sunday, you won’t be able to use cash on the Beaver Valley Expressway.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike is trying out a cashless tolling system. Cashless tolling allows all Toll 376 customers to pay without stopping at the toll plazas.

Customers must pay tolls using E-ZPass or PA Turnpike TOLL BY PLATE. E-ZPass customers will have their toll deducted from their pre-paid account as usual. Customers without E-ZPass will receive a PA Turnpike TOLL-BY-PLATE invoice.

“Agencies across the country are introducing cashless systems and we owe it to customers to continue to use the best technology available in every facet of our operations,” said PTC CEO Mark Compton. “At the same time, our system is somewhat unique and we want to be sure that the technology makes sense for our customers.”

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has assured employees that there will be no layoffs associated with cashless pilot projects.

For more information on the project, including a video about how cashless tolling will work on Toll 376, [go to https://www.nocashzone.com/].

[Hunter]

Thanks Lara,

EZ Pass...check.

[Shizzly]

Anybody know the implications of an existing ezpass in my tow vehicle but now towing a trailer? This is a first time for me.

[Dr K]

Originally Posted by Shizzly

Anybody know the implications of an existing ezpass in my tow vehicle but now towing a trailer? This is a first time for me.

In the early days, you'd sometimes get billed as a car. They're way better now at determining you have a trailer and billing you a lot more!

[Nerfbar]

No problem. You're good to go.

[Dandelion]

Originally Posted by Shizzly

Anybody know the implications of an existing ezpass in my tow vehicle but now towing a trailer? This is a first time for me.

Jail, strip search, Gitmo.

ed

[ausgeflippt951]

Wonder what they mean by, "Our system is somewhat unique."