Road Atlanta Review

#1

Many of the SE area Spec e30 racers were at Road Atlanta this past weekend at a BMWCCA driving school.

The schools don’t run on auto-pilot…Thanks to Kelly Childress and Chuck Taylor (fellow e30 racers) for their work to put on the school.

It was great to meet new faces (Jim Robinson) new racers (Craig Geiger) and lots of potential spec e30 participants.

The Spec e30 crowd can give some feedback on the new race surface. Laura, Skeen, Chuck, Kelly, Jim, Craig, What did you think?

I don’t really have anything to say 'cause I’ve got excuses for never running a fast lap. Oh well, the weather was nice.

Thanks in advance, Robert Patton

#2

Track looks great. There are bumps in a few spots there weren’t before, but nothing that really made me change my line. It’s grippier, so times are going to fall, but it’s the same track. From my video (which I took Sat afternoon), looks like I was running 1:48s and leaving some on the table. I’d expect a 1:47, maybe 1:46 in qualifying from the fast guys. Can’t wait for next weekend!

#3

The people I’ve seen complaining the most about the bumps have more stiffly sprung cars.

The only one that made me grit my teeth was at the bottom of the esses before 5.

Other than that 12 and 7 were my favorites in terms of being improved.

#4

Skeener, with cool weather (low 60s) and a little bit of sunlight it will take a 145.9 to be on the pole…At least that is my prediction based on some low 147s on the old pavement. The new pavement at Roebling was good for 2.5 seconds. Others care to opine? (thats my big, little word of the day)

Robert(one lap wonder) Patton

#5

Put me down for a 1:49+ … Lack of skill.

Track surface is definitely improved. There are bumps, coming through 3 into 4 (approaching the esses) seemed the bounciest to me. The bottom of the esses (outside gator) is bad news if you get two wheels on that thing… Look at the scrapes on the pavement to see what I mean (bottom out).

12 definitely feels stickier to me… "So I got that goin’ for me, which is nice." - Carl Spackler

#6

Overall, much more grip especially in five & seven. While running on the inside of four is bumpy it didn’t seem to effect the Spec E30 setup (but it was fun watching the rear of the car in front of you bounce).

The gators at 10a/b are designed differently, the bumps on them start small at the edge of pavement and increase as you go out so effectively you can use 1/3 to 1/2 of them without any ill effects. Plus I swear exiting 10b up the hill track left is wider (plus the gators can be used there also). I was getting significantly faster through 12 as a result and actually hitting the rev limiter pretty early on the front straight.

That being said there is a bump/transition at the apex of 12 that wasn’t there before.

#7

TheRedBaron wrote:

Craig, people still call me Carl because of my fascination with this character.

How bout this one…

"…tears in his eyes I guess as a he lines up for this last shot. Former greens keeper about to become the Master’s champion. (swing)… It looks like a mirac…it’s in the hole"…

Maybe with your recent testing at Atlanta you might become the "young Cinderella, from out of nowhere to lead the pack" at Atlanta.

:laugh:

#8

mskeen wrote:

Where’s your Video? When you posting it? Some of us need as much help as possible to get to know this track! Thanks!

#9

jhall1957 wrote:

[quote]mskeen wrote:

Where’s your Video? When you posting it? Some of us need as much help as possible to get to know this track! Thanks![/quote]

I really shouldn’t do this to myself:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5993672048856849857

#10

Mike, perhaps you’ll learn some day to not be such a nice guy…But, after all, it is just club racing. Thanks for the help.

Regards, Robert Patton

#11

Tom Hall, now that you’ve seen the video, why aren’t you racing?

Do we have to resort to name-calling?

Robert

#12

Where are the results so I can update the lap records? Thanks!

#13

Elephant4 wrote:

Just realized this was just a test, I’ll wait for the real race. I’m a dumbass :lol:

#14

Skeen,
Thanks for letting me snoop around and take pics of your roll cage. You’re just being a nice guy, once again.

#15

mskeen wrote:

[quote]

I really shouldn’t do this to myself:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5993672048856849857[/quote]

Looked good to me. I can’t wait to come down there this season.