toedrag
03-03-2011, 09:13 AM
Here is the first of what I hope will be more notes & walk-throughs. Contribute whatever you have, and I'll update this post as such. I think having such a walkthrough for every configuration on the tracks we frequent would be incredibly beneficial. So, here's the first. I've left some placeholders to fill in later. Feel free to suggest other ways of formatting this too. I'm not married to the approach below. It was just the first thing I thought of. And, if you know where this information already exists, please also let me know because I hate duplication of effort.
The experience levels I've noted below don't necessarily correlate to a run-group. It's a relative way to gauge and categorize skills, so don't take it personally.
Links to other walkthroughs
Track Notes & Walkthroughs, MSR-C 1.3 (http://www.dfwautoclub.com/forums/showthread.php?p=67273#post67273)
Track Notes & Walkthroughs, MSR-C 1.7 CW (http://www.dfwautoclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9725)
MSR-C 3.1 mile - link to thread when available
(other tracks/configs to follow) - Anyone else care to start some?
TWS
Eagle Canyon
MSR-Houston
etc
Motorsport Ranch, Cresson, TX (MSR-C)
1.7 mile Counterclockwise (CCW) configuration
Map
http://motorsportranch.com/images/misc/Track_Layout_1_7.jpg
Line Notes (there are many different lines, we'll keep this generic and get into specific variations at various skill levels):
Rattlesnake:Starting on the straight headed into Rattlesnake, dive deep into the corner. Don't hug the left edge, take a bit of a angled approach slightly to the right. You brake much, much later than where you instinctively want to. Rattlesnake is difficult to do well. Remember to set the car's weight up front before turning, but be balanced through the turns.
Wagon Wheel: float out wide to the right, hold it for a beat or two then begin your turn-in up the hill. Look far up the hill and get on the throttle.
Ricochet: Need some forward weight transfer to set the car before the turn in. How you do this depends on your speed & skill level. See variations below. Full throttle on the straight after Ricochet. Check your mirrors!
Little Bend: (Similar to the entry into Rattlesnake) start out left and approach slightly angled to the right. Late braking and slightly lazy turn-in, aiming for a late apex. On the straight after Little Bend, stay left, give a bit of full throttle, check your mirrors.
Buzzard Neck: right hander with uneven pavement in the braking zone. Brake hard for the sharp right. After the turn, let the car float naturally to the left. Don't pinch it to hold it to the right. Swing back to the right to prepare for Horseshoe.
Horseshoe is an up-hill off-camber curve that requires a lot of power to be applied. The combination of these factors can cause some "stability control" systems to freak out and apply the brakes and cut power while you're trying to apply power. The back half of Horseshoe resembles Wagon Wheel. Once you've got it pointed up the hill, make sure to look far ahead and give it lots of throttle to climb up.
Boot Hill, To set up the turn, go wide right. Use a lazy turn-in and DON'T clip the apex. If you can stay a few feet away, it sets you up nicely for Tombstone. As you exit Boot hill, you'll be at varying levels of throttle depending on speed and skill. But, you can pretty much keep the wheel turned the same amount throughout the complex.
Tombstone: Coming out of Boot Hill, go wide to the right (not necessarily to the rumble strips) and look for your exit. Early apex here is bad. Aim for a late apex and apply full throttle when you know you've made it. Full throttle on the straight. Check your mirrors.
Big Bend: Fast sweeper. This is the fastest corner on this configuration. You need to lightly set the front of the car for turn-in, get on the power early. The turn-in is lazy and should feel slow. As you progress through the turn, linearly increase throttle. Where you go full throttle may depend on your skill level, but the goal is to be on full throttle at the apex. Gradually build your speed and confidence lap after lap; don't be a hero your first lap. Full throttle at or after the apex. Check your mirrors. Head into Pits or keep on going. Set up for Rattlesnake by heading to the left side of the track. Don't force it; let it float. Once you've hit your mark (you'll find your own mark based on speed) on the left, begin the approach to Rattlesnake by angling slightly to the right - just a small adjustment in your wrists on the wheel, and you'll end up about 1 car length from the left hand side curbing
Beginner Notes:
Learn the flags and mind the flag workers.
No shifting; drive the course in 3rd. As you are more comfortable at speed, add 3-4 upshift after ricochet, 4-3 downshift before little bend, 3-4 upshift after Big Bend, 4-3 downshift before rattlesnake, not necessarily in that order.
Light lift or very light brake before turn-in at ricochet and Big Bend. No lifting DURING the turn.
Practice Heel-Toe downshifts as you get comfortable
From the middle of Horseshoe through Tombstone is actually one big curve not multiple and the proper line means you set/turn the steering wheel once and hold it through the entire set. Be looking far up the track and looking for your track out -- The car is going to go where you're looking.
The first curve into Rattlesnake off the long straight, there's a groove in the pavement that a beginner should practice planting the right-side front tire on and following it through the first curve to learn a good beginner entrance line.
There's a dip in the middle of Little Bend that sucks your car to the pavement if you hit the apex properly. If you're not feeling the dip then you're not on the best line.
Intermediate Notes:
Mind your brakes -- As an intermediate driver you'll generally be going faster but won't have the confidence to carry that speed through the curves so you're going to be over-using your brakes
All downshifts should be heel-toe if car is equipped
Ricochet is a full-power-on curve with a slight lift (no brake) just before it to set the car up.
Begin trail braking on Little Bend, Buzzard's neck
Light brake before turn-in Big Bend
Potentially add 4-3-2 downshift or 4-2 downshift prior to Rattlesnake
Advanced Notes:
Consider using Left-foot braking
Increase the overlap between braking, turn-in, acceleration phases in all corners so as to attain the highest speed possible while achieving the desired slip angle.
Rattlesnake:
At entry, trail brake in 3rd gear to get up the hill. Turn up the hill and you should have a short straight line up, tap the brake (if you need to) and take 2nd gear for the left turn. Use as much track as you need to make the left hander, but try to get back to mid track, or at least across the seam. Power on to the right hander with a slight lift to turn down the hill. Full throttle for the straight chute down the hill.
Don't overslow for Rattlesnake. The car should feel like it is drifting sideways as you pitch it around the entry right hander and scrub your way up the hill. The pitch of the track will help catch and slow the car so you arrive at the top left hander just in time to throw it left. If you are not saying to yourself "wow I don't think I'm going to make this right hander" you probably slowed too much coming in. Trail brake and rotation city! It's amazing how fast you can actually take that entry.
Wagon Wheel: Tap the brake gently to set the front and turn into wagon wheel. Don't worry about how far you drop into wagon wheel, use as much track as you need, and no more. Power on until the yaw points you up the hill - you will need opposite lock here. If you're not having to catch the car from spinning, you are not going fast enough. Get to the apex and power up the hill.
Ricochet: Entry is at around 80MPH+. You need to turn in early for this corner (early apex) and get to power. The power is what will save you, turning in just a hair early is what makes it fast.
Little Bend: Trail brake into the corner and (if you need to) increase steering through the corner - it's not a single input corner. Get to the curbing, where the gravity well is. Done right, you will take LB over 65MPH at the slowest point.
Buzzard Neck: You'll need to move in from the edge a few feet, brake smoothly and input crisply. Oh, there are also big bumps at the apex. Get to full power by the apex and hustle to Horseshoe. You should try to get to mid track if you can, the farther you can get the better - but DON'T compromise speed on the straight for the corner, it's a slow corner so you should maximize time on the gas. If you get 1/2 way back across the track you can trail brake up the hill, and you should come very close to the apex. You will need opposite lock here as well. If you are not having to catch the car from spinning as you move up the hill, you entered too slow. The car should end up in the middle of the rumble strips on exit.
Boot Hill: Apex Boot Hill or displace it just a bit (2-3 feet max) so that you've got the right angle of approach for Tombstone. Short shift here so that you don't have to shift when the car has taken a set and is completely loaded.
Tombstone:: You should need a slight lift to rotate to the apex (trailing throttle oversteer). When the yaw is correct, power early. This is the hardest place to get your opposite lock done, as it's over 80MPH at the apex, but on exit the car might get loose. Remember, if you have to correct, don't lift or you'll be mowing the lawn.
Big Bend: Light braking and to power early. You need to get to throttle near the start of the corner to set the car, then increase power linearly throught the corner. At the apex you should already be at full throttle.
The experience levels I've noted below don't necessarily correlate to a run-group. It's a relative way to gauge and categorize skills, so don't take it personally.
Links to other walkthroughs
Track Notes & Walkthroughs, MSR-C 1.3 (http://www.dfwautoclub.com/forums/showthread.php?p=67273#post67273)
Track Notes & Walkthroughs, MSR-C 1.7 CW (http://www.dfwautoclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9725)
MSR-C 3.1 mile - link to thread when available
(other tracks/configs to follow) - Anyone else care to start some?
TWS
Eagle Canyon
MSR-Houston
etc
Motorsport Ranch, Cresson, TX (MSR-C)
1.7 mile Counterclockwise (CCW) configuration
Map
http://motorsportranch.com/images/misc/Track_Layout_1_7.jpg
Line Notes (there are many different lines, we'll keep this generic and get into specific variations at various skill levels):
Rattlesnake:Starting on the straight headed into Rattlesnake, dive deep into the corner. Don't hug the left edge, take a bit of a angled approach slightly to the right. You brake much, much later than where you instinctively want to. Rattlesnake is difficult to do well. Remember to set the car's weight up front before turning, but be balanced through the turns.
Wagon Wheel: float out wide to the right, hold it for a beat or two then begin your turn-in up the hill. Look far up the hill and get on the throttle.
Ricochet: Need some forward weight transfer to set the car before the turn in. How you do this depends on your speed & skill level. See variations below. Full throttle on the straight after Ricochet. Check your mirrors!
Little Bend: (Similar to the entry into Rattlesnake) start out left and approach slightly angled to the right. Late braking and slightly lazy turn-in, aiming for a late apex. On the straight after Little Bend, stay left, give a bit of full throttle, check your mirrors.
Buzzard Neck: right hander with uneven pavement in the braking zone. Brake hard for the sharp right. After the turn, let the car float naturally to the left. Don't pinch it to hold it to the right. Swing back to the right to prepare for Horseshoe.
Horseshoe is an up-hill off-camber curve that requires a lot of power to be applied. The combination of these factors can cause some "stability control" systems to freak out and apply the brakes and cut power while you're trying to apply power. The back half of Horseshoe resembles Wagon Wheel. Once you've got it pointed up the hill, make sure to look far ahead and give it lots of throttle to climb up.
Boot Hill, To set up the turn, go wide right. Use a lazy turn-in and DON'T clip the apex. If you can stay a few feet away, it sets you up nicely for Tombstone. As you exit Boot hill, you'll be at varying levels of throttle depending on speed and skill. But, you can pretty much keep the wheel turned the same amount throughout the complex.
Tombstone: Coming out of Boot Hill, go wide to the right (not necessarily to the rumble strips) and look for your exit. Early apex here is bad. Aim for a late apex and apply full throttle when you know you've made it. Full throttle on the straight. Check your mirrors.
Big Bend: Fast sweeper. This is the fastest corner on this configuration. You need to lightly set the front of the car for turn-in, get on the power early. The turn-in is lazy and should feel slow. As you progress through the turn, linearly increase throttle. Where you go full throttle may depend on your skill level, but the goal is to be on full throttle at the apex. Gradually build your speed and confidence lap after lap; don't be a hero your first lap. Full throttle at or after the apex. Check your mirrors. Head into Pits or keep on going. Set up for Rattlesnake by heading to the left side of the track. Don't force it; let it float. Once you've hit your mark (you'll find your own mark based on speed) on the left, begin the approach to Rattlesnake by angling slightly to the right - just a small adjustment in your wrists on the wheel, and you'll end up about 1 car length from the left hand side curbing
Beginner Notes:
Learn the flags and mind the flag workers.
No shifting; drive the course in 3rd. As you are more comfortable at speed, add 3-4 upshift after ricochet, 4-3 downshift before little bend, 3-4 upshift after Big Bend, 4-3 downshift before rattlesnake, not necessarily in that order.
Light lift or very light brake before turn-in at ricochet and Big Bend. No lifting DURING the turn.
Practice Heel-Toe downshifts as you get comfortable
From the middle of Horseshoe through Tombstone is actually one big curve not multiple and the proper line means you set/turn the steering wheel once and hold it through the entire set. Be looking far up the track and looking for your track out -- The car is going to go where you're looking.
The first curve into Rattlesnake off the long straight, there's a groove in the pavement that a beginner should practice planting the right-side front tire on and following it through the first curve to learn a good beginner entrance line.
There's a dip in the middle of Little Bend that sucks your car to the pavement if you hit the apex properly. If you're not feeling the dip then you're not on the best line.
Intermediate Notes:
Mind your brakes -- As an intermediate driver you'll generally be going faster but won't have the confidence to carry that speed through the curves so you're going to be over-using your brakes
All downshifts should be heel-toe if car is equipped
Ricochet is a full-power-on curve with a slight lift (no brake) just before it to set the car up.
Begin trail braking on Little Bend, Buzzard's neck
Light brake before turn-in Big Bend
Potentially add 4-3-2 downshift or 4-2 downshift prior to Rattlesnake
Advanced Notes:
Consider using Left-foot braking
Increase the overlap between braking, turn-in, acceleration phases in all corners so as to attain the highest speed possible while achieving the desired slip angle.
Rattlesnake:
At entry, trail brake in 3rd gear to get up the hill. Turn up the hill and you should have a short straight line up, tap the brake (if you need to) and take 2nd gear for the left turn. Use as much track as you need to make the left hander, but try to get back to mid track, or at least across the seam. Power on to the right hander with a slight lift to turn down the hill. Full throttle for the straight chute down the hill.
Don't overslow for Rattlesnake. The car should feel like it is drifting sideways as you pitch it around the entry right hander and scrub your way up the hill. The pitch of the track will help catch and slow the car so you arrive at the top left hander just in time to throw it left. If you are not saying to yourself "wow I don't think I'm going to make this right hander" you probably slowed too much coming in. Trail brake and rotation city! It's amazing how fast you can actually take that entry.
Wagon Wheel: Tap the brake gently to set the front and turn into wagon wheel. Don't worry about how far you drop into wagon wheel, use as much track as you need, and no more. Power on until the yaw points you up the hill - you will need opposite lock here. If you're not having to catch the car from spinning, you are not going fast enough. Get to the apex and power up the hill.
Ricochet: Entry is at around 80MPH+. You need to turn in early for this corner (early apex) and get to power. The power is what will save you, turning in just a hair early is what makes it fast.
Little Bend: Trail brake into the corner and (if you need to) increase steering through the corner - it's not a single input corner. Get to the curbing, where the gravity well is. Done right, you will take LB over 65MPH at the slowest point.
Buzzard Neck: You'll need to move in from the edge a few feet, brake smoothly and input crisply. Oh, there are also big bumps at the apex. Get to full power by the apex and hustle to Horseshoe. You should try to get to mid track if you can, the farther you can get the better - but DON'T compromise speed on the straight for the corner, it's a slow corner so you should maximize time on the gas. If you get 1/2 way back across the track you can trail brake up the hill, and you should come very close to the apex. You will need opposite lock here as well. If you are not having to catch the car from spinning as you move up the hill, you entered too slow. The car should end up in the middle of the rumble strips on exit.
Boot Hill: Apex Boot Hill or displace it just a bit (2-3 feet max) so that you've got the right angle of approach for Tombstone. Short shift here so that you don't have to shift when the car has taken a set and is completely loaded.
Tombstone:: You should need a slight lift to rotate to the apex (trailing throttle oversteer). When the yaw is correct, power early. This is the hardest place to get your opposite lock done, as it's over 80MPH at the apex, but on exit the car might get loose. Remember, if you have to correct, don't lift or you'll be mowing the lawn.
Big Bend: Light braking and to power early. You need to get to throttle near the start of the corner to set the car, then increase power linearly throught the corner. At the apex you should already be at full throttle.