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A couple of us are looking at doing NOLO weekend of 20Sep. That’s 3 weeks after Nationals and 2 weeks prior to VIR. AlK says the NOLA is fabulous on the order of COTA. There will apparently be a Friday TestNTune day available.
I have to plan my events a helova long ways out in order to deconflict race weekends with the wife’s calendar. I’ve rec’d a greenlight for 20Sep. This year’s bucket list track was Watkins Glen. Next year, NOLA. And, of course, Daytona.
I would not say fabulous on COTA levels. Very nice facility and a fun fast track but overall not terribly challenging and its flat flat flat. Don’t get me wrong it is a great place and it craves large fields and provides some great racing. Just don’t expect F1 to jump ship for NOLA.
It is a great track, and if there will be other SpecE30s there to race, I will be there as it is only 3 hours away for me.
Al K has been doing some background work. There is a track day Friday the day prior to the NASA event for $200. This price represents a $100 discount for being signed up for the NASA weekend.
Have they said whether it is the short course or the long course for that weekend? I have run the short course twice and the long course once, so I will pass on the Friday track day.
The quote was in the context of what would you rather do; Sebring or NOLA as a bucket list track this year, both are assuredly flat, flat, and more flat.
I likened NOLA to COTA in the fact that both are newly designed and newly surfaced tracks. I swear my tires were better after I got off COTA . There is something to be said for a new purpose built surface over a WW2 bomber runway with 70 years of patches.
Not that there is anything wrong with Sebring , been there and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, but there is just something delightful about racing on a modern surface when you can find one.
Memphis is freshly paved, come on over! :woohoo:
NOLA is still very smooth and new but there are a couple dips and character marks as the track has aged a little (we’re talking “bump”, then 45 seconds later “bump”). Tire wear is nil. The esses are fun every lap as they can make or break your lap.
I wouldn’t say tire wear is nil. I have had some bad graining each of my times there and have gotten a groove in both my RA1s and RRs from running there. Lower tire pressures seemed to help though.