Gauging interest: tour of a new track in North Texas
There is a new road racing track under construction in Slidell, TX, about 10 miles north of Fort Worth. The new track is called Eagle's Canyon Raceway.
The track is paved and people have been allowed to drive on it since Novemeber last year. It is over 2.5 miles, 40' wide in the straights and 50's wide the in corners. Drivers have to be restrained as the runoff is still being completed and the curbing has not been laid down. Last year I arranged a driving tour of the track for the Porsche community where about 15 cars drove out there are were allowed to run on the track. Some of the pictures from this tour are on the website. Many are used for the flash at the top on the main page. We have set up a second tour for the P-car community in a couple of weeks. This time we are expecting over 50 cars to be out there.
I have an opportunity where I could setup a driving tour for the Nissan community, so I am right now gauging interest. I was very disappointed at the lack of interest from the Maxima community for the cheap track day we had at Maxus last year. I am trying to determine if it is worhtwhile to set up a track for a community that haven't been...the type of enthusiasts I see in other oganizations.
So the big question is who would be interested in a nice spirited drive to the north side of Fort Worth? The road to get out there, 455, is a nice twisty 2-lane with lots of banked turns and hills. It is one of the best roads in North Texas to drive. Afterwards, some nice spirited laps for free on the best road course in Texas.
As a couple of notes, you must have a real vehicle to drive the track, i.e. no high center of gravity vehicles: no trucks, SUVs or Minivans. No bikes either. Bikes are not allowed to run on the track with cars.
Loren
__________________
1997 Maxima GXE 5-SP (Big boost monster)
1979 Porsche 911 S/C (wide body monster)
2002 Porsche 911 Carrera (current track car)
2009-10 Porsche 911 GT3 (NA 3.8l with direct injection, PDK 7-sp and 450 hp) -
coming next spring, on the list at 2 dealers
I would be very interested in checking this out whenever and if this happens. I have been hoping someone would build a decent roadcourse in North Texas...but I'm sure by the time it is comepleted, there will be so many rules to keep people away that it will fail....either that or be elitist. I like track driving, autocross, and drifting, with the later taking precidence. Most track authorities overlook the financial possiblilties with things like drifting....but of course, there is always a stigma attached to any style of racing in it's infancy......like the early days of drag racing in the 40's and 50's.....
Anyways, I got way off track, and I apologize,.....but yes, I would be greatly interested in touring this new track.
__________________
Plywood...think of it as organic carbon fiber.
I am very down... id love to see how the ve will hold up when driving it hard for a longer amount of time...
now when you say drivers have to be restrained... you mean-?
oh and raven- drifting maybe as a sport, but not as a race. Its more about style, not times. Therefore it cant really be called racing in my book. Call it what you will, but racing i will not call it.
now when you say drivers have to be restrained... you mean-?
As mentioned above, there is a lack of curbing and completed runoff. This means if you go off, you could be f*cked. You do get to sign your life away on a waiver though. There are also no corner workers or instructors, so everyone has to hold back a little...even those of us with a lot of experience doing this. I am a White in the Porsche club (the highest level of driver) with far more track experience than most of those here. I did almost 60 track sessions last year. I personally won't even try to push it 100% until the runoff and curbing is completed understanding the consequences of a minor mistake. Several of the AMA superbike series racers went out there to check the track out for a national event and they didn't even try to run 100%. A little restraint makes it fun for everyone. Overpushing it on the other hand, could have very serious consequences if done the wrong places right now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by allblackmax
I wouldn't mind coming out to see the Porsches run too.
P-cars will be out there on March 3rd (March 10th if it rains). I just got finished prepping the 996 for this and the PCA DE. In the last week I just switched over my brakes back the the Pagid Oranges, flushed brakes with AP551, put the race wheels with MPSCs on, installed a rollbar, Fiberglass Recaro racing shells and 6-pt harnesses. We are expecting over 50 to make it out, including several people and cars from Ruf.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ravenS13.5
I'm sure by the time it is comepleted, there will be so many rules to keep people away that it will fail....either that or be elitist. I like track driving, autocross, and drifting, with the later taking precidence. Most track authorities overlook the financial possiblilties with things like drifting
Most of the rules are already posted on their website. It is going to be very similar to MSR, just more fun and at a lower cost. Ruf, several people who work at Boardwalk and several of the better PCA drivers (including myself) are planning on being members. Everyone who has driven it, loves to drive it. As far as drifting goes, no you are not going to see formula drift out there. They do that in parking lots, not road courses. That doesn't mean you can't drift your way around the corners.
__________________
1997 Maxima GXE 5-SP (Big boost monster)
1979 Porsche 911 S/C (wide body monster)
2002 Porsche 911 Carrera (current track car)
2009-10 Porsche 911 GT3 (NA 3.8l with direct injection, PDK 7-sp and 450 hp) -
coming next spring, on the list at 2 dealers
Last edited by Loren : Feb 21st, 2007 at 12:00 AM.
See all that car prep you're doing Loren? Kencapel and I were discussing that last night. That track looks challenging to say the least; looks kinda difficult to see the turns as it is now.
It'll be interesting to see how the Maxes hold up on the track, especially the brakes. LOL!
I am very down... id love to see how the ve will hold up when driving it hard for a longer amount of time...
now when you say drivers have to be restrained... you mean-?
oh and raven- drifting maybe as a sport, but not as a race. Its more about style, not times. Therefore it cant really be called racing in my book. Call it what you will, but racing i will not call it.
That's how I meant it...as a sport...not so much a race.
And Loren....drifting at a proffesional level is done more on road courses than parking lots. Not trying to argue at all, I just think it is a misconception of the sport brought about by the lack of willing courses in the US. Ever watch D1, they race at Tsukuba, Suzuka, and several other real tracks...generally not in parking lots. That's the problem with Formula D, it's a sad departure from what D1 Grand Prix is....mostly do to people's misunderstanding of the sport. But those are my own personal feelings, and has nothing to do with the fact that this will be a kickass road course. I don't just drift, so I'll hopefully be able to enjoy it as well. As far as drifting the corners, I would almost definately get black flagged, as I'm sure the powers that be would consider any loss of traction "hazardous driving" and for the most part they would be right.
Watch a few option vids and you'll realize why this drifter is tired of parking lots.
I can't wait to take a look at it though.....might bring my wifey's P10 G20 out of hiding...so I don't scare the FWD's.....(just kidding, I love the maxi's....)
__________________
Plywood...think of it as organic carbon fiber.
See all that car prep you're doing Loren? Kencapel and I were discussing that last night. That track looks challenging to say the least; looks kinda difficult to see the turns as it is now.
It'll be interesting to see how the Maxes hold up on the track, especially the brakes. LOL!
My level or prep in the 996 is because I reached the limit of the suspension, the tires and the brakes as I did events last year. I upgraded as I needed to increase those limits as they were exceeded and became a limitation. My last problems were with staying in my seat from the cornering G's, so I now have race seats and harnesses. The rollbar was needed to mount the shoulder harnesses. This level of prep is not a necessity and only typical of club race prep or the highest levels in Drivers Education (DE) events. It all depends on how fast you are capable of driving. If you don't have track experience, don't waste money on upgrades. You need seat and instructor time to get better first.
Stock brakes are more than adequate on street tires, especially for those with little track experience. Most never see the limit of their brakes on the street and it takes a while to learn the limits on a track. The same goes for handling limits. If your brakes aren't fading, you don't need race pads. With my 996, I didn't need race pads until I was completely dialed in on race tires. On street tire, OEM pads never had a problem. Fully setup on race tires, they were fading badly already in the second session. With my Maxima, I will still be running my street Axxis Deluxe pads on my Skyline R32 4-piston brakes until they become a limitation.
What can you do as preventative measures? It is pretty standard that your brakes should have been bled within the last 6 months a s requirement for DE events. If you bleed them, upgrade to a better fluid like AP551 (best pedal feel) or Motul 600 (highest boiling point). While I would not expect it on a tour type event, I have seen people boil their brake fluid at DEs. Basically they hit the pedal and it drops to the floor and they go off. I run AP551 fluid in all my cars and they all get their fluid flushed at least every 6 months. It doesn't take very long to bleed them, especially with a power brake bleeder. This is the only major requirement for most track events and very good common sense.
Is the Eagle's Canyon track difficult? Yes...and no. It is far easier to follow than MSR. It is a lot wider everywhere. There are hills, but the turns aren't blind. For those of us with a lot of experience, even on the hills; the track follows the natural line where we would want to drive. The lesser experienced who have been out there with us tend not to use anywhere near as much of the track as we do. They stay very much in the center. For the lesser experienced, it isn't hard to stay on the track; they just aren't where the fastest line is.
I don't really care about the whole drift competition. To me it is equivelant to a burnout contest where you are rated on style versus an actual contest of speed. High drift angles may look cool, but they aren't the fastest way around a corner. Many of the D1 drivers have proven they are very capable of being competitive in other race series, but leave their drift driving style home to do so. Sorry, I'm into more go than show so it isn't my cup of tea.
__________________
1997 Maxima GXE 5-SP (Big boost monster)
1979 Porsche 911 S/C (wide body monster)
2002 Porsche 911 Carrera (current track car)
2009-10 Porsche 911 GT3 (NA 3.8l with direct injection, PDK 7-sp and 450 hp) -
coming next spring, on the list at 2 dealers
I don't really care about the whole drift competition. To me it is equivelant to a burnout contest where you are rated on style versus an actual contest of speed. High drift angles may look cool, but they aren't the fastest way around a corner. Many of the D1 drivers have proven they are very capable of being competitive in other race series, but leave their drift driving style home to do so. Sorry, I'm into more go than show so it isn't my cup of tea.
Fair enough. But there is much more involved you obviously no very little about considering drifting. I'd personally love to see someone race against some of the touge racers in their enviroment, there drifting IS USUALLY the fastest way around a very technical, demending, winding course. Also, if you think there is no racing involved in drifting...again stereotype has overtaken actual truth. In D1 or any other major drifting comp, tandems are also judged via who finishes ahead....hmm, a battle between 2 cars where 1 object is to pass the other????Now what does that sound like??
Also, comparing it to a burnout contest is insulting and degrading to those of us who take it seriously. Any bonehead can do a burnout.....many people on the other hand cannot initiate a controled slide, used in RACING EVENTS< such as WRC, AUTOX, and JGTC.
I have been a DNE member since late 04, and I've usually been very proud to be a member.....but I'm tired of people demeening a sport I love, and waving the banner for stereotypical reasoning. I try to respect all forms of motorsport, but everytime drifting get's brought up,.....it seems someone always wants to down it.
With that said........I am no longer interested in this tour. I might also add that I mean this with no disrespect to anyone.....just frustration from people feeling they have the right to insult a motorsport that they don't obviously know much about. Loren, I too prefer go over show, and I doubt highly that either one of our cars would be very competitive in a grip race with a D1 car, as most of them do time attack racing as well. Enjoy the track.
I'm sorry to have gotten off topic by mentioning I drift..
Please continue with the original topic....I will no longer be posting.
__________________
Plywood...think of it as organic carbon fiber.
Loren is talking about a certain kind of track and so are you Raven. Both are completely different.
Drifters are great on their own 'environment' type of track but would truly suck on a track like Eagle...same thing vice versa.
There should be no need to take offense. I don't think Loren would even think twice about trying to race on a drifting track so I highly doubt he was considering it in what he said.
__________________
HIS: '07 Mazda CX-7 Touring...20% tint all around
HERS: '06 Mazda 3s...tint/CAI/Mazda3 pedals
GONE: '99 Maxima...i/h/e/eibachs/b&m/17s
Loren is talking about a certain kind of track and so are you Raven. Both are completely different.
Drifters are great on their own 'environment' type of track but would truly suck on a track like Eagle...same thing vice versa.
There should be no need to take offense. I don't think Loren would even think twice about trying to race on a drifting track so I highly doubt he was considering it in what he said.
I am not really offended by what he said...
But he did say it was for parking lots. Any racecar driver knows a track called Tsukuba....
It's not some magical track just made for drifting...but it's one they use. If a track has turns, wide or small, it can be used for both drifting and grip racing.....fair and simple.
Simply look at the track schedule for D1 Grand Prix, then look at the tracks. Not Formula D...D1, real drifting.
I feel I have already probably pissed too many people off with my off-topic, and I apologize for it.
__________________
Plywood...think of it as organic carbon fiber.
lemme get 2 new front tires, take out the system and backseat and im ready to ride
Linear Mode