Hey guys

Ill be hitting up Summit Point in March for Novice School as it will be my first stint in my new class (SRF - Spec Racer Ford) and ive never driven Summit in the DC region.

was just curious what you guys had to say about the circuit, anything to watch out for, any tips etc etc or just general comments about it.

thanks in advance guys!

 

the home track for many of us on here. my only advice? don't lift in the chute. do a search and i'm sure you'll find a plethora of videos.

 

As was mentioned, there's plenty of video of Summit floating around (I'll be happy to provide some if you desire). In addition, Art Jaso has put out a video called "Racing Summit Point" which is narrated and takes you through each turn. It's $25 and can be had from OG Racing.

http://www.ogracing.com

 

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

Ill be hitting up Summit Point in March for Novice School as it will be my first stint in my new class (SRF - Spec Racer Ford) and ive never driven Summit in the DC region.

was just curious what you guys had to say about the circuit, anything to watch out for, any tips etc etc or just general comments about it.

thanks in advance guys! </TD></TR></TABLE>


John,

Welcome to Summit and SRF. I racer SRF for two years at Summit with Hagerman Racing. I'll let everyone else comment on the track itself and make some comments in reference to driving an SRF at Summit.

For the most part the crucial corners are 3, 4, 6, 9 and 10. I assume you have no prior race experience so this is not really for the school but further beyond when you are comfortable in the car.

T3 - Car needs to be set up well to get good exit speed. Car should not be twitchy here at all.

T4 - Car is going to be twitchy here but that's the fastest way down the shoot.

T6 - You will eventually need to left foot brake here if possible to get the car to rotate and to keep the rev's up. From here on out until you get to T10 you are flat to the floor

T9 - Depending on set up, but the car will get a bit loose here but that's the fast way

T10 - Crucial to get good speed down the straight.

If you've never driven anything at the track this light you need to get used to not overbraking the car in turns 3 and 10.

Good Luck !

Jon

 

Well Just got back from an amazing weekend at the Washington DC region Novice School at Summit point. i have nothing but GOOD things to say about the program, the seat time, the classes the instructors and the stewards.

At the end of the weekend (my first EVER seat time in the SRF) i was turning low :27's. which from what i hear is not to bad (Regional times are in the low :25's.)....then again most of these were open track times, i wasnt in to much traffic. I did learn one thing though, when you're out on the track with the formula continentals boy can they f'n move. the grip on those things are insane.

all in all i just wanted to say i had a great time, the DC region guys were all super cool and i hope to perhaps do a few MARRs events once i acheive my regional licsence.




(and of course i took a nasty off road excursion coming out of turn ten.....i still cant find the right line out of that turn in the SRF....tracking out all the way left hanging my tires inches from the gravel lol......high speed turns like that still are something that leaves much to be worked on, especially in my class where its more of a "momentum" car where you need to carry your speed through a turn like turn 10 to get a good run down the straight.)

 

Glad you had a good weekend.

T10 is tough - it always seems to take me a weekend or two each season to build back up to doing it properly. Same for T3. Oddly, T4/Chute doesn't have the same effect on me, despite being faster.

 

agreed....i had no problem keeping it to the floor and running a smooth line from T3---&gt;T4 into T5.

T10 however leaves much to be worked on.

 

yes, 10 is probably the most difficult and important corner to get right. i only mentioned the chute because it is damned dangerous if you lift.

 

depends on who's driving. I think I lose more time in 3 than anywhere else. I have been brainwashed about the danger of that corner and it has become a mental battle to not brake too much for it.
I can fly through 10, assuming that I hit the apex, and not a point 8 feet away from it... the latter results in a nice demonstration of how well an EF can d0rift0 through the corner - and a need for clean underwear.

 

I too think 3 is harder than 10 but agree that 10 is certainly the most important. I think people have a tendency to apex early on 3, something I know takes me awhile to fix. I've followed some really fast guys around the track and the place where they really put distance on people is 3.

 

3 is a tough one, and some mental preparation (relaxing, visualizing, etc) is what really helps me get through there at a good pace. Its really absurd how little you have to use the brakes, apex a little early and get in that on-camber groove on the inside of the turn Its tough to be going in talking to yourself "dont brake, dont brake, dont brake"

 

I think it was 2 seasons ago that our Championship came down to the last race of the year. Racers that currently stood 1 & 2 in the standings were nose to tail on the last lap with whomever taking the checker winning it all. One of our more experienced racers decided he would try to go through 3 without braking <U>at all</U>. He ended up two wheels off and lost the race but came away convinced a 944 can get through there without braking. Yes... I know, 944s are slow and heavy and a Honda couldn't do it. Then again if Hondas are so light and nimble they should be able to do it too.

 

does "without braking" mean lifting, or keeping the pedal on the floor?

SMs cant get through it without braking, even on hoosiers. And they are light without much power

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Evan55 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">does "without braking" mean lifting, or keeping the pedal on the floor?

SMs cant get through it without braking, even on hoosiers. And they are light without much power</TD></TR></TABLE>

I didn't ask to clarify. Knowing the driver it probably meant a minor lift but not so much that you're totally off the throttle. It wouldn't surprise me at all, however, if he tried it WOT.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Apocalypse &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Knowing the driver it probably meant a minor lift but not so much that you're totally off the throttle. It wouldn't surprise me at all, however, if he tried it WOT.</TD></TR></TABLE>

For teh record, it doenst work in a lunchbox on street tires. You'll find yourself on top of the tire wall on the outside.

 

again, let me preface this with saying i dont have much seat time in the SRF, but i was making it through T3 with just slight brake....i think with more seat time i could feasibly get through there with just a slight left foot brake but i dont feel comfortable or experienced enough to try this yet.


it seems that the spec miata class is getting HUGE! just a quick question, whats the difference between the SSM and the SM?

 

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

For teh record, it doenst work in a lunchbox on street tires. You'll find yourself on top of the tire wall on the outside.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I have flagged that turn many times and have seen many cars go in to the woods OVER the bank..... on the inside

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr. Vapor &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it seems that the spec miata class is getting HUGE! just a quick question, whats the difference between the SSM and the SM? </TD></TR></TABLE>

The rules are available at wdcr-scca.org.

I just thumbed through them, and it seems not much if different. They use the same suspension kit, wheel/tire restriction, exhaust, etc.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NASAREGISTRAR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I have flagged that turn many times and have seen many cars go in to the woods OVER the bank..... on the inside</TD></TR></TABLE>

that's what I am talking about when I say I was brainwashed. I have heard a lot of horror stories about turn 3, and most of my HPDE instructors were really nervous about that turn. can't blame them, I would be too. I've always had a pretty good line through it, but I take the good line slow... I have to psyche myself into gradually taking it faster. I firmly believe that if I follow someone through there at the proper pace, my body/brain will start believing that it can be done.

 

true...that turn can be pretty nasty, but i forget that im going through it in a much different car than you guys, i'm not fighting body roll etc.....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr. Vapor &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">true...that turn can be pretty nasty, but i forget that im going through it in a much different car than you guys, i'm not fighting body roll etc.....</TD></TR></TABLE>

500-1000 lb springs so neither are we...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr. Vapor &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
it seems that the spec miata class is getting HUGE! just a quick question, whats the difference between the SSM and the SM?
</TD></TR></TABLE>
class fragmentation at its worst IMO.
the only significant change to SSM is that you have to use the mazda competition exhaust, 1.6 weights are lower and the 1.8 weights are higher. (oh and 99+ arent allowed)
1.6s do not get an intake (edited after re-reading the rules), and Toyos are the spec tire (IIRC) which isnt a big deal since the national rules have a spec toyo too.


Modified by Evan55 at 4:38 PM 3/28/2006

 

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

500-1000 lb springs so neither are we... </TD></TR></TABLE>


touche!

(go leafs )