Grattan
 

Who's driven Grattan?


I've heard it's one of the most challenging and technical courses in the country.

I'm going there in September with the RX8 and I'd be curious on any thoughts that you might have about the track or your experiences there.

http://www.grattanraceway.com/grattan.gif

Grattan is my favorite track. Turn 1 is faster than it looks. The downhill turn 3 makes you feel like you are falling off the edge of the world. There is a hump coming into turn 5, wait to break after the car has settled and break hard. Turn 8 is slightly banked. Turn 10 is blind. Then hammer down. 11 & 12 are flat out. 11 is also a blind corner. Do it right and you can hit almost 120 mph before you break again for turn 1.
Did I say I like this track?

At the autocross or in another thread, I think you mentioned that you took the RX-8 there.

Was it all 3-4th gear? Any 2nd gear corners?

I took the main straight in 4th. Turn 1 could be taken in 3rd. 2 is a 2nd gear corner. Shifting back into 3rd exiting 3. Back into 2nd for 5. 3rd exiting 8. 2nd for 10 and 3rd when exiting 10. Hang your inside tire deep off the track for 11 & 12. Much as you see the F1 cars do with the rumble strips on tight tracks. It will improve your exit speed.

Then again, I am going from memory and I could be wrong. I've had 4 road races and 1 lapping day at that track.

Lots of shifting, good thing I'm starting to get the heel toe stuff down.

How's the SCCA autox stuff working out? Are you ending up on the podium yet?