Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump Nevada has just had a substantial upgrade to 3.8 miles! This makes Spring Mountain one of the largest tracks in the Southwest. It's a very technical track as well. The addition was so new, they were just finishing some of the curbing the day before!

This video represents one lap on the new SMMR road course. Here’s a brief description of events in the video:

1) Crossing the finish line in front of the paddock area begins the lap.

2) Notice how the passenger shooting the video is affected by the vibration and the lateral g-force going through the double sweeper.

3) Coming out of the sweeper, a Radical passes to my left. This is the beginning of the new long straightaway. Even a low horsepower car like mine (for the advanced group) will be going about 100 MPH before some serious straight-line braking for this turn.

4) The turn you see following the long straight is an off-camber tight turn they have appropriately nicknamed “the ego buster” or something like that.

5) A short straight; then a very tight turn (downshift, rotate the rear end), and then it’s up the hill and over “the drop.” If you push it, you will be airborne on this one. Take “the drop” in a straight line, and have a stiff suspension or slow down.

6) Please excuse my comment about the guy driving the STI. In the advanced group, occasionally one of the high horsepower cars will muscle you off your line so they can pass, instead of waiting for a more opportune moment. One more tight turn; a relatively high speed left turn and we’re back on the old section of the track.

The intermediate and beginner groups had no passing what-so-ever in the new section. The track was dusty and slippery, and they wanted to keep the off road excursions to a minimum. The advanced group was full passing throughout the course from the beginning.

There were more spins and cars going off the track than any other event I’ve previously attended. I slid off the track during this event as well; cosmetic damage to a mint Mugen MF10.

I hope you enjoy the video!

http://videos.streetfire.net/P...&p=14

1998 ITR #504





Modified by Tomcat at 8:52 PM 10/28/2005

 

Moderators: please move this thread to the Road Race/Autocross forum, thanks.

 

That track looks like a lot of Fun! but your driving

what group held that event? The reason I ask is you had a passenger with a camera, which in my book is really dangerous.

If was not that far I'd like to drive it one day.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ossabB &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what group held that event? The reason I ask is you had a passenger with a camera, which in my book is really dangerous.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Why do you consider that to be really dangerous, may i ask?
I know you ain't supposed to have any loose items in the car.


PS: Handheld cameras s0x.
You should mount it next time, to get some quality footage.

 

is it just me, or why does it look like you were doing a parade lap?

 

On what do you base your statement about my driving? PLEASE don't say you have no track experience.

Edit: directed toward ossabB


Modified by Tomcat at 9:04 AM 10/29/2005

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tomcat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">On what do you base your statement about my driving? PLEASE don't say you have no track experience. </TD></TR></TABLE>

was this directed at me?

yes. i have no track experience.

actually, i dont own a car.

i drive a bicycle.

it was just a question i wanted to know... but if you want to act arrogant, be my guest.

 

Parade lap? ...no, there is no passing during a parade lap. I'm just not pushing the car to the limit with a passenger trying to film on board.


Modified by Tomcat at 9:18 AM 10/29/2005

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by extrah &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

PS: Handheld cameras s0x.
You should mount it next time, to get some quality footage. </TD></TR></TABLE>

HAha yes, a mount would have been better! I was surprised to see how well he was able to keep the camera motion down though. I had a friend who had an I/O Port camera bar, but I didn't have time to borrow it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tomcat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">On what do you base your statement about my driving? PLEASE don't say you have no track experience.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hunting for gears, not carrying enough speed in some places, too late apex a lot of times and not using the whole track.

I've never been to that track. But that's what it looked like. I'm surprised you were using 1st gear so much.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tomcat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Parade lap? ...no, there is no passing during a parade lap. I'm just not pushing the car to the limit with a passenger trying to film on board.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Fair enough.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 255.255.255.255 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

was this directed at me?

yes. i have no track experience.

actually, i dont own a car.

i drive a bicycle.

it was just a question i wanted to know... but if you want to act arrogant, be my guest.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Whoa, relax that was not directed at you.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bbasso &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Hunting for gears
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep, I missed a shift when the STI passed me.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Not carrying enough spped
.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The purpose of the video was to give people an idea of what the track was like. I didn't want to make it impossible for the passenger to film the lap. Also the track was slippery due to dust and dirt on the track from construction.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
too late apex a lot of times and not using the whole track.
.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You're correct. half the track was new and this video was done at the begining of the second session. I was still working out the line in some places.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I'm surprised you were using 1st gear so much.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

? ...no first gear usage. 4.7 final drive.





Modified by Tomcat at 10:14 PM 10/29/2005

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tomcat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">On what do you base your statement about my driving? PLEASE don't say you have no track experience.

Edit: directed toward ossabB</TD></TR></TABLE>

Loose items in the car = bad. If you hit something then it becomes a projectile and can really hurt you.

 

track looked cool.
Heel-toe will save you a lot of time......this way you can be braking and downshifting at the same time, rather than braking, then waiting until mid-corner to shift (which really can upset the balance of the car).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chris1866 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">track looked cool.
Heel-toe will save you a lot of time......this way you can be braking and downshifting at the same time, rather than braking, then waiting until mid-corner to shift (which really can upset the balance of the car).</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, and thanks for sharing the video.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Loose items in the car = bad. If you hit something then it becomes a projectile and can really hurt you. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I can't argue that statement. I was however driving slower than I would be normally, due to the passenger making a video. The likelihood of an upset while driving at 7/10ths is much less I would think.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chris1866 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">track looked cool.
Heel-toe will save you a lot of time......this way you can be braking and downshifting at the same time, rather than braking, then waiting until mid-corner to shift (which really can upset the balance of the car).</TD></TR></TABLE>

You're correct on the heel/toe issue. I can only do it correctly about half the time. I have a set of MOMO racing pedals that are adjustable. I tried moving the brake pedal closer to the gas pedal to make it easier to use the side of my foot instead of pivoting the ankle. Moving the pedal just created other problems without making the heel/toe process easier.

The MOMO pedals have a flange on the left side of the pedal that allows you to keep (half) your foot on the brake and manipulate the throttle with the other side of your foot. I'm still working on it. Thank you for your input.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1GreyTeg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

...thanks for sharing the video.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You're quite welcome.