NOLC Guys - OLOA @ Nelson Ledges
NOLC Guys - OLOA @ Nelson Ledges
I'm thinking of heading out to Nelson Ledges on Friday to watch the One Lap cars and give AMS a hand if they happen to need it. Anyone else interested in coming out?
If I attend I'll be leaving early to get to the track by 8 or so.
If I attend I'll be leaving early to get to the track by 8 or so.
Cool, I'll probably end up leaving my house or shop or wherever I happen to be at around 7 or so. I'll keep an eye out for you, if I don't pass you on the way there. 
Evolving Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 400
Likes: 1
From: Columbus, OH
Originally Posted by Deetz
There's a Fundayz on Saturday too!
Dave
I've been wanting to do a one - but haven't yet.
At least here's a map in PDF format.
Nelson Ledges Track Map
Deetz.
At least here's a map in PDF format.
Nelson Ledges Track Map
Deetz.
Trending Topics
Let me clarify, I've done tons of laps at Nelson!
Just haven't done a corner description narritive.
Thing about Nelson, there are "various" lines - wish I had
this DL-1 GPS Datalogger to get accurate segment times.
Then we could *see* which line is better/faster...
Deetz.
Just haven't done a corner description narritive.
Thing about Nelson, there are "various" lines - wish I had
this DL-1 GPS Datalogger to get accurate segment times.
Then we could *see* which line is better/faster...
Deetz.
Evolving Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 400
Likes: 1
From: Columbus, OH
Originally Posted by Deetz
Let me clarify, I've done tons of laps at Nelson!
Just haven't done a corner description narritive.
Just haven't done a corner description narritive.
Any quick words about 4-5-6 (the 180 left on my map), the best way to hit 9 (the 90 right on to the back straight), and is 12-13 at all similar to the carousel at Mid-Ohio?
What's nearby for food and gas?
Thanks, Deetz
Dave
Nelson Ledges Turn-by-Turn Narrative
by Dieter "Deetz" Zebbedies, dhz@zh.com
Caveat Emptor - This is one person trying to help others, not sanctioned. Other's opinions to make this document better are appreciated.
Turn 1/2
I don't see the distinction between one and two, to me, they're just the same curve. That said, turn one is a fast sweeper type corner. There are very few landmarks to keep you oriented, and since the re-paving, any discernable patches are gone. Get you braking done early, get the car settled and all four tire patches working, get on the throttle (maintenance throttle) and turn in slowly. Do not come in too early for an early apex. Hit the apex, don't dwell there, riding the inside. Hit it and slowly track out with the car's slip angle doing work pushing you left. It is not easy to judge where you are, but you'll know at the exit if you've nailed it. There is a little patch of tarmac (sort of a extension) where the exit curbing should have gone. If you come close to that, or even *need* it to stay on track, you've nailed it.
If you haven't nailed it, chances are you've apex'ed too early, and find yourself with no track left. Good news - there is adequate runoff, and you can go 2 wheels off, or even 4, and still survive. That is not to say that you're going really fast, and there are tires walls down the line, and it will be very bumpy tearing bits of suspension off in the meantime. If you do go off, keep it straight, don't try to jerk it back on, or you will hook it, and go off to the right! Just bleed off speed and ease back on.
Take it slow. Turn 1 deserves respect, and should be gradually increased in speed lap to lap slowly till you get the rhythm of it. Watchword - Smooth - Don't come in too early.
Turn 3
Just a little kink, if you hit T1/2 right you will be carrying a lot of speed into the short chute prior to 3. A touch of left foot brake to bleed some speed off is sometime a good thing. Some do, some don't brake. There is a transition in color of the asphalt on the inside curbing. That is very close to the apex. Track out is similar to T1/2 with a little piece of extension tarmac. I use this at track out. Other have advised not to, as there is a very deep hole at the end of it, so you have to come back on track before to avoid it.
Turn 4/5 "Oak tree"
Line up about 2/3 of the track to the right, and start tracking in. There is very little support (banking, camber, whatever) at the start of the turn. Most people come in pretty tight and take on a "set" in the wheel. The corner's line will fall away from you, and then come back if you keep the wheel set. The corner also gains quite a bit of support/camber/banking just about mid and you can really add throttle and still have support. At exit you should still be at the left, and ready to aim straight at the entrance for T6/7/8/9 "Carousel"
Turn 6/7/8/9 "Carousel"
This is a decreasing radius turn. What feels good coming in will be a "Oh NO" when you are about 2/3 through it. There are various theories about what line to take, some of the racers say straight down the middle, but they have their racing line to protect. Others will be about a foot from the inside all the way around till just before the exit. The front wheel guys go real wide at the start, and continually pull it in until exit.
This is what I do: at the exit of Oak tree, I'm at the left edge of the track and make a straight line diagonal to the right side of the entrance to Carousel. I hug the inside about a foot or so from the right. I then am patient. It takes forever. I am looking at the tree line. Still looking. There - there is a tree that is much taller than any of the rest. When I am lined up looking at that tree, I start to track out a bit toward the left side of the quite steep banking. I ease out to almost 2/3 of the track to the left, but am careful about the speed here, remember this is the part of the turn that's decreasing radius. (T9 on the map) It is very possible to just fall off the track while easing out and radius decreases. Keep the throttle at a little maintenance, and then train your eyes to the inside of the track to the corner workers station. That is what you are aiming for. That is where the apex is, and you need to get as straight of a shot as possible through there to the backstretch. Hit the apex as close as you can without falling into the apex-hole. Yes, many a twin turbo has lost their front intercooler piping there. Track out - you'll end just to the right at the color transition of the asphalt.
Back stretch
The back stretch is a passing zone, so at the exit of Carousel note the patient cars waiting to get around you. Please be courteous and give them each a passing signal clearly out the window, and don't nail the throttle until they are all around you. If they caught you, they *are* faster than you. You might be able to out drag race them down the stretch, but be nice, let them pass you, and learn their line if you can keep up.
Turn 10
The backstretch has a slight kink before the real kink. Be prepared. This is very easy compared to the next one.
Turn 11 "The Kink"
The kink takes *****. It is seriously fast. Do not early apex (unless you're carrying more than serious speed and know what you're doing) or you will run out of track at the exit.
Short back stretch
There is the access road that crosses here (bumpy), and a little hump that makes this seemingly benign section of the track much more challenging. You have to bleed off speed for T12, but you have to do it in a short area after the hill, which is bumpy. Therefore most people have to do some braking before the hill, and come back onto the brakes as soon as the car settles after the hill before T12. This is really the only *hard* braking zone.
Turn 12
Another turn with various lines, I line up on the right at entrance, and take a bit of a late apex to end up at the right before T13. I try for not all the way to the right, but about 2 feet from the edge.
Turn 13
A "Keyhole" like turn. It is slow. If you think you're going slow, it probably isn't quite slow enough. You will get faster later, but this one seems slow, and is slow. There are as many ways to go through T13, as there are cars on the track. Most just do a double apex type corner. Here's how.
At the exit of T12 and a little from the right, look up, head towards the middle telephone pole of the 3 that you see. When you get to like 2/3's across the track, pull in sharper right and look for the second (very late) apex.
Front stretch
This is another passing zone. Please be courteous again and let the remaining cars that haven't lapped you already go by this time. It is the worst insult to be seen as the locomotive holding up a long train of cars. Be nice.
At the end of the front stretch, there is a bridge. Passing should be complete before it. While at the bridge, take a look to the right and note if there are any cars coming out of the pits onto the track. Stay to the left. You will want to be on the left for T1/2 anyways.
Just like the Shampoo Bottle - Lather rinse, repeat.
--
Some benchmarks that might not be all that valid, but take them for what they're worth.
A good lap at Nelson is 1:21 in a Porsche 944S with 150whp, Dedicated Track setup cars with Hoosiers run 1:12-1:17 and is very fast. T1 is a 85-95mph corner for these guys. Kink is 110-120mph for the fast guys. Backstretch is 145mph. Do not try this at home, Professional Drivers on a closed circuit! First couple of times out to Nelson, starting out 1:35-1:50 is fast. Start slow, gradually add speed, keep in mind you don't get any prize money or trophy at the end of the day. Just a smile from ear to ear.
Deetz.
by Dieter "Deetz" Zebbedies, dhz@zh.com
Caveat Emptor - This is one person trying to help others, not sanctioned. Other's opinions to make this document better are appreciated.
Turn 1/2
I don't see the distinction between one and two, to me, they're just the same curve. That said, turn one is a fast sweeper type corner. There are very few landmarks to keep you oriented, and since the re-paving, any discernable patches are gone. Get you braking done early, get the car settled and all four tire patches working, get on the throttle (maintenance throttle) and turn in slowly. Do not come in too early for an early apex. Hit the apex, don't dwell there, riding the inside. Hit it and slowly track out with the car's slip angle doing work pushing you left. It is not easy to judge where you are, but you'll know at the exit if you've nailed it. There is a little patch of tarmac (sort of a extension) where the exit curbing should have gone. If you come close to that, or even *need* it to stay on track, you've nailed it.
If you haven't nailed it, chances are you've apex'ed too early, and find yourself with no track left. Good news - there is adequate runoff, and you can go 2 wheels off, or even 4, and still survive. That is not to say that you're going really fast, and there are tires walls down the line, and it will be very bumpy tearing bits of suspension off in the meantime. If you do go off, keep it straight, don't try to jerk it back on, or you will hook it, and go off to the right! Just bleed off speed and ease back on.
Take it slow. Turn 1 deserves respect, and should be gradually increased in speed lap to lap slowly till you get the rhythm of it. Watchword - Smooth - Don't come in too early.
Turn 3
Just a little kink, if you hit T1/2 right you will be carrying a lot of speed into the short chute prior to 3. A touch of left foot brake to bleed some speed off is sometime a good thing. Some do, some don't brake. There is a transition in color of the asphalt on the inside curbing. That is very close to the apex. Track out is similar to T1/2 with a little piece of extension tarmac. I use this at track out. Other have advised not to, as there is a very deep hole at the end of it, so you have to come back on track before to avoid it.
Turn 4/5 "Oak tree"
Line up about 2/3 of the track to the right, and start tracking in. There is very little support (banking, camber, whatever) at the start of the turn. Most people come in pretty tight and take on a "set" in the wheel. The corner's line will fall away from you, and then come back if you keep the wheel set. The corner also gains quite a bit of support/camber/banking just about mid and you can really add throttle and still have support. At exit you should still be at the left, and ready to aim straight at the entrance for T6/7/8/9 "Carousel"
Turn 6/7/8/9 "Carousel"
This is a decreasing radius turn. What feels good coming in will be a "Oh NO" when you are about 2/3 through it. There are various theories about what line to take, some of the racers say straight down the middle, but they have their racing line to protect. Others will be about a foot from the inside all the way around till just before the exit. The front wheel guys go real wide at the start, and continually pull it in until exit.
This is what I do: at the exit of Oak tree, I'm at the left edge of the track and make a straight line diagonal to the right side of the entrance to Carousel. I hug the inside about a foot or so from the right. I then am patient. It takes forever. I am looking at the tree line. Still looking. There - there is a tree that is much taller than any of the rest. When I am lined up looking at that tree, I start to track out a bit toward the left side of the quite steep banking. I ease out to almost 2/3 of the track to the left, but am careful about the speed here, remember this is the part of the turn that's decreasing radius. (T9 on the map) It is very possible to just fall off the track while easing out and radius decreases. Keep the throttle at a little maintenance, and then train your eyes to the inside of the track to the corner workers station. That is what you are aiming for. That is where the apex is, and you need to get as straight of a shot as possible through there to the backstretch. Hit the apex as close as you can without falling into the apex-hole. Yes, many a twin turbo has lost their front intercooler piping there. Track out - you'll end just to the right at the color transition of the asphalt.
Back stretch
The back stretch is a passing zone, so at the exit of Carousel note the patient cars waiting to get around you. Please be courteous and give them each a passing signal clearly out the window, and don't nail the throttle until they are all around you. If they caught you, they *are* faster than you. You might be able to out drag race them down the stretch, but be nice, let them pass you, and learn their line if you can keep up.
Turn 10
The backstretch has a slight kink before the real kink. Be prepared. This is very easy compared to the next one.
Turn 11 "The Kink"
The kink takes *****. It is seriously fast. Do not early apex (unless you're carrying more than serious speed and know what you're doing) or you will run out of track at the exit.
Short back stretch
There is the access road that crosses here (bumpy), and a little hump that makes this seemingly benign section of the track much more challenging. You have to bleed off speed for T12, but you have to do it in a short area after the hill, which is bumpy. Therefore most people have to do some braking before the hill, and come back onto the brakes as soon as the car settles after the hill before T12. This is really the only *hard* braking zone.
Turn 12
Another turn with various lines, I line up on the right at entrance, and take a bit of a late apex to end up at the right before T13. I try for not all the way to the right, but about 2 feet from the edge.
Turn 13
A "Keyhole" like turn. It is slow. If you think you're going slow, it probably isn't quite slow enough. You will get faster later, but this one seems slow, and is slow. There are as many ways to go through T13, as there are cars on the track. Most just do a double apex type corner. Here's how.
At the exit of T12 and a little from the right, look up, head towards the middle telephone pole of the 3 that you see. When you get to like 2/3's across the track, pull in sharper right and look for the second (very late) apex.
Front stretch
This is another passing zone. Please be courteous again and let the remaining cars that haven't lapped you already go by this time. It is the worst insult to be seen as the locomotive holding up a long train of cars. Be nice.
At the end of the front stretch, there is a bridge. Passing should be complete before it. While at the bridge, take a look to the right and note if there are any cars coming out of the pits onto the track. Stay to the left. You will want to be on the left for T1/2 anyways.
Just like the Shampoo Bottle - Lather rinse, repeat.
--
Some benchmarks that might not be all that valid, but take them for what they're worth.
A good lap at Nelson is 1:21 in a Porsche 944S with 150whp, Dedicated Track setup cars with Hoosiers run 1:12-1:17 and is very fast. T1 is a 85-95mph corner for these guys. Kink is 110-120mph for the fast guys. Backstretch is 145mph. Do not try this at home, Professional Drivers on a closed circuit! First couple of times out to Nelson, starting out 1:35-1:50 is fast. Start slow, gradually add speed, keep in mind you don't get any prize money or trophy at the end of the day. Just a smile from ear to ear.
Deetz.
Last edited by Deetz; May 4, 2005 at 03:22 PM.
Evolving Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 400
Likes: 1
From: Columbus, OH
Originally Posted by Deetz
Nelson Ledges Turn-by-Turn Narrative
by Dieter "Deetz" Zebbedies
by Dieter "Deetz" Zebbedies
Vielen Dank! Sind Sie Deutscher, oder, vielleicht Schweizer?
Dave
Originally Posted by Shearer
Cool, I'll probably end up leaving my house or shop or wherever I happen to be at around 7 or so. I'll keep an eye out for you, if I don't pass you on the way there.
