The Rock is a must try track. It is a combination of Nascar oval and infield road course. The typical lap starts on the oval at the start/finish line. In the RX8 you will have just shifted into 4th gear so the speedo says 90 -95. Ahead of you is a corner - Nascar turn 1. The track curves away to the left and the banking is in the neighborhood of 23 degrees. If you glance down at the speedo, you would see about 110. If you have big brass ones, you stay flat. If they are brass but a bit smaller, you breathe off the throttle and turn in. You need to look out the top left corner of your windshield to see where you are going. G forces tug at you and you wonder why you are turning so sharply at such a speed. Turn 2 comes at you fast and before you know it you are tracking out to the wall for the short run to the braking zone to enter the infield. It is a sharp left hand corner coming off the banking. Get on the binders hard and downshift to 3rd. Feed in the power for the squirt to "the fishhook". Careful as it may snag you! The pumphouse straight leads to a quick right left chicane before turning back onto the oval in the middle of Nascar 4. Accelerate as hard as the RX8 will go shifting into 4th and crossing the start/finish line. That's a lap of The Rock. It is an easy track to learn but to get the most out of it, you need to get lots of laps in.

Here are some videos to show you the track:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...91615134191413
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...78203749847220

 

I'm signed up! I'll see you there!

 

Make sure you also reserve a garage. It is nice to park in the NASCAR garage.

 

Dang it! I didn't know to do this! I saw it was only like $25. Wonder if I can add it? Do they assign you a space?

 

Try and add it or email Julie. Ask for a space near mine. When you get to the track for registration, they will tell you what space you are in. The NASCAR garages are like 2 long hangers with a row of garage doors on either side. Each space gets its own garage door and is pretty large so you can unload your stuff, put a chair down etc. It makes a good place to chill between sessions and stay out of the sun or rain. For $25 it is a no-brainer. I like to get to the track on Friday evening, get teched, unload my car and put on my track tires. I leave all that stuff in my garage space. Pretty convenient.

Chances are good you will wind up with me as your instructor. Are you in HPDE2?

 

Thanks for the info. I'm going to call Julie and try to get a garage space. HPDE2 is correct. If you're my instructor I'll be pleased.

 

TA,
If I end up with the weekend off, I might head up.
Let me know how to find you if I do. Haven't been there before.

Dano

 

The paddock is much smaller than Road Atlanta and the garages are all in a row. Won't be hard to spot me. I'll PM you my phone number too. If you come and can borrow a helmet, I'll take you out for a ride. so you can experience this addiction.

 

TA, I'm rethinking "working" on this one. Not committed yet but maybe.

 

Awesome!

 

I am signed up and will be there for Saturday only. It has been a few years since I raced there. Stop by and say hello I am driving the #34 Koni Challenge RX8.

 

Well, after talking with TA tonight, I realized I have obligations for this weekend.

 

I'll be in the 85X gray RX8. It will be nice to meet you and hopefully pick up some tips from you.

 

Got the brake pads on and switched in the wide tires this weekend. Gotta do an oil change one evening this week and I'll be ready for this weekend. Yahoo! I've talked my brother-in-law into coming with me to watch and take pictures.

 

You know new numbers make you go faster.

 

Not going to be at Homestead?

 

real nice guy--it is the guy I bought my hoosiers from.
olddragger

 

Looks like it might be a little wet this weekend. Hopefully that forcast will change. Gonna be warm though.

 

Did you say rain... OK, then you need my services...

 

This event is going to be a pretty light turnout. Should be fun! Rain at Rockingham isn't a recipe for a bad day. Last time I was there we had heavy rain. There was standing water in turn 3 but with a rain line, it was no problem. It can be a bit slippy coming out of turn 2 if you are hauling ***. I had a few "oh snap" moments but only because I kept seeing how much more speed I could carry in the wet.
Driving in the wet is an excellent learning experience because you must be smooth. You will end up being a better driver in the dry as well.

 

The schedule is posted here.

 

Saturday: Partly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Saturday Night and Sunday: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the lower 70s. Chance of rain 50 percent.

 

Well I'm not worried about the rain. My main goal is to learn to be smooth anyway. Guess I'll bring my rain jacket. That way it won't rain!

 

interesting they are combining the hpde 3 and 4 class.
yall have fun up there!
olddragger

 

Y'all be careful and have fun.....c ya soon!!!