Oh, man, look at
http://www.weather.com/activities/ot...ml?locid=44231

Dave

 

Yeah, meteorologists predict scattered showers till mid afternoon.

I'm punting. Maybe next time gang!

Deetz

 

As it turned out, the rain, which was never heavy, stopped at 10:00 and we were on track drying things out by 10:30. The track drained pretty well but the ABS kicked in braking for T1 every time that first session.

By noon it was sunny and the track was great. I was taking T1 much faster by the end of the day. Deetz, you were right about no landmarks. I don't think I took the same line twice!

Oak Tree is a little bumpy on the way in, but wicked fast on exit. I took it in 3rd and ran out of gear on the way out.

For the carousel I eventually got around to entering about 3/4 left and just winding in slowly until the new pavement, then coming in for the apex of T9. I need a lot of work on that one yet.

From the little observation stand it looks like there's a perfect, fast line through 11/12. But man, I could not stare that thing down without a lift, or, when I got a really good, clear run from 9, a love tap. I was at the rev limiter in 4th and that was fast enough. It's really choppy braking for 12 and it seemed like you had to be on exactly the right line or you bounced around like crazy.

I was the only Evo, but there were a few Eclipses and several Ukranians in 3000GTs! There weren't a lot of people there but even so there were a couple pecker-heads, something I haven't found at NASA events with lots more drivers. On the cool-down lap I like to really hit the line and look for markers. Well, one ***-wipe just about takes me out, screaming by on the inside of 10. I ratted him out and he was a little better behaved after that.

Dave

 

Welcome to the never ending fun of Nelson.

The faster you get, the more "challenging" becuase the bumps compress the time you have to accomplish a manuever.

I really love that track. It's so laid back and intense at the same time. It really is fast, and takes ***** to do quickly. Turn 1 and the kink make me pucker on every lap, it's such an adrenaline rush.

As to the specifices, T9 you want to *unwind* a little until you can get a straighter shot down the backstrech. You know the old adage - "The most important turn is the one before the longest straight".

The kink is just the best. To hit it just right, at speed, nip the apex and 4 wheel slide til just the edge of the track at exit. Man, thats just perfection.

The bumps between kink and 12 are even more fun - the more experience, the faster you go, the less time you have to brake, the bumpier it gets, the more "corrective input" you have to make. Fun fun fun.

The same for 12 and 13 as for Carousel, it's the last corner before a long straight. Double apex gives you a run on the frontstrech.

Hope to see you all out there soon. Glad you had a good time djh!

Deetz

 

Coach......errr Deetz, we gotta get out there sometime. You're knowledge of that track is jaw dropping.

 

^ I agree!
I'm down as well, I need to get out to the track and get some Professor Deetz instruction.

 

Awwwh Shucks... You guys....

But really - there are guys that have been there since the early 70's. They knew Paul Neuman, Roger Penske, etc. personally and they knew and helped the Porsche Engineering teams that did the development of the 944Turbo (at Nelson!) Now they have forgotten more than I'll ever know. They know the groundhog that lives by Oak Tree by name! They even knew the Oak Tree before it became history ;-)

But what I know, you guys are welcome to. Just here to make converts from the Drag quee^H^H^H^Hscene (do you guys get dressed up and everything ;-)

Deetz

 

Just to keep y'all thinking about this, upcoming FunDays are
25-May, Wed
17-Jun, Fri
1-Jul, Fri
13-Jul, Wed
27-Jul, Wed

BeaveRun's a possiblity, too.

Dave