First drive - Miller Motorsports Park
First drive - Miller Motorsports Park
So I spent the weekend at the new Miller track in Salt Lake City. It is the longest track in North America and an impressive facility ($80+ million invested so far in the build). Saturday was a driving school sponsored by the local Ferrari/Lotus dealer and Sunday was open track run by www.lappingdays.com. I instructed for both events.
There was some serious hardware. Lots of 360s, several Stradeles, an ALMS 360 GT, 2-3 Porsche TTs, lots of Exiges and Elises, a Ford GT, an Enzo and a Carrera GT. I spent most of the weekend instructing but I did manage to get 7 or 8 sessions in over the course of a couple days.
The Evo surprises a lot of people. While I was on RA1s and many of the cars were on street tires with novice drivers I could have my way with just about anyone. My car only has basic mods (intake, exhaust, cams, Bilsteins) but all the rari drivers would come up after every session asking about mods. I told them that I invested heavily in driver upgrades. I also took some laps in the spec Miata. You can drive half the track without lifting. Very fun.
There was some serious hardware. Lots of 360s, several Stradeles, an ALMS 360 GT, 2-3 Porsche TTs, lots of Exiges and Elises, a Ford GT, an Enzo and a Carrera GT. I spent most of the weekend instructing but I did manage to get 7 or 8 sessions in over the course of a couple days.
The Evo surprises a lot of people. While I was on RA1s and many of the cars were on street tires with novice drivers I could have my way with just about anyone. My car only has basic mods (intake, exhaust, cams, Bilsteins) but all the rari drivers would come up after every session asking about mods. I told them that I invested heavily in driver upgrades. I also took some laps in the spec Miata. You can drive half the track without lifting. Very fun.
Last edited by termsheet; May 7, 2006 at 08:44 PM.
The website is www.millermotorsportspark.com. The place has all sorts of infrastructure. Grand Prix pits, all sorts of observation points, lots of garages including full GP garages (like Cal Speedway) and dozens of garage rentals, private suites, lots of classroom space, press rooms, several cafeterias, major kart track with kart garages, dirt bike tracks, etc. The facility is the same general caliber as Cal Speedway without the oval. Everything is first class.
I drove the West loop. Every corner but one is a late apex. Early braking and turn in patience is rewarded. The track is wide (FIA standards) so there is lots of run out room on every corner. I wouldn't call it technical (like Buttonwillow). Instead it has lots of fast sweeping turns. There are lots of places to pass. I would guess 5-6 clean places just in the West loop. There will be some fun races here.
I drove the West loop. Every corner but one is a late apex. Early braking and turn in patience is rewarded. The track is wide (FIA standards) so there is lots of run out room on every corner. I wouldn't call it technical (like Buttonwillow). Instead it has lots of fast sweeping turns. There are lots of places to pass. I would guess 5-6 clean places just in the West loop. There will be some fun races here.