In case I can't budget two long trips, which is the better track for a HPDE? Dan Unkefer has said nice things about Lowes, and I'd like to see CMP after the descriptions of the first ECHC races. Give me your opinions, anyone who's been to either or both.

 

Having never driven on Lowes (only watched ALMS/Trans-Am/WC races on it), I'll wager a guess that CMP is more technical while Lowes is more of a suck it up and go type track.

Warren

 

I ran CMP once in July. Hot, dusty and a course with not alot of character IMO. The slow sections are autox slow. Now Charlotte Motor Speedway (no lumber is sold there) has 1-1/4 miles of foot to the floor with isn't the most interesting either except for the bump through N3 & N4, and braking into the infield section is a great plasce to pucker it up and pass. The infield has a little of everything, some elevation changes and off chamber turn. The exit fromthe infield back onto N1 is very rough on the car. The RF does take a beating from the banking. Even though there is a lot of open course on the main track I'd go to Charlotte.

And the facilities are just a tad better.

 

I would say Lowes because it will be another HyperFest...Actually the Lowes event will be a HyperBeer fest because of the amount of people comming to the event. I've heard that CMP is a course where second gear is used in most cars..Have not been...I'll find out in August.

 

You know, you just reminded me of something I've been wondering about.

NASA ran a VERY packed schedule up at Summit Point with their biggest turnout ever... handling several race classes and an HPDE. I'm wondering how the festivities of hyper-fest will effect the available time. Maybe the hyper-drive/ride/etc. were a function of BSR, not NASA...

Since I was driving @ Jefferson during the days, I wasn't sure exactly how much free track time was left over during the days.

I'm actually glad someone asked this question though... I had pretty-much ruled out lowes because 1) I thought it would be dull and 2) while I have yet to be "out of control", I am a little nervous about the lowes walls. Maybe that shouldn't be the case.

 

I assume we're talking about the HPDE/Race Weekend in september?

Ryan - who will be at CMP and VIR 3-day in august, lowes in september, NHIS in october, and a few FATT's in between and will also be spending too much money on brake padz and tirez...

 

I would go to Lowes ina heartbeat over CMP aka brake killer. With the ultra slow turns, CMP just doesn't flow. Despite spending a fair amount of time on the banking the road course is a lot of fun with several different types of turns thrown in

 

I'll see if one of the American Iron guys will post over here after the July 19th night event.

I've never been......

 

I think the only way you'd hit a wall at Lowes is if something broke. If you are concerned about walls don't even think about going to Road Atlanta.

 

We raced there two weeks ago (my first time to the track) and I liked it a lot (didn't feel all that proficient but I got tapes to study for my next trip there). The surface is very nice, the brake wear is minimal, seemed very easy on the tires, just not the place to have an off. There is very little run-off (infield as well) and I could count on one hand how many times I got a clear-sky drive out of 3B (meaning; without there being some degree of a clay-dust-cloud to drive through). All in all, it is a real fun fast scarry balsy track.

Personally, I am a big fan of CMP however - lots of run-off, easy on tires, mixed bag of tricks (tech/fast/slow) but the general consensus is negative because of brake wear (and I have heard others say they have tire wear issues although on the three cars - 3500# FWD, 2950# RWD, 2200# FWD - I've tracked there several times each, I haven't seen this at all). The part I am partial to is that every time I go there, there is a new building or something in process going up - just a year ago March (I think) they finally replaced the port-a-jons with bathrooms; now there are two sets; nice showers; gas pumps; registration building; Turn 1 building; etc . . .

If I had to make a decision of which one and it was budget oriented; budget a set of brakes (front rotors and front pads - and that isn't necessary - the CL destroyed brakes there, the 944 ran on the same Blues and Rotors all last year there, the CRX ran an enduro, 2 sprints, 6 practice/qualifying sessions and 3 track days on the same rotors and 1.5 sets of pads) for CMP, inexpensive hotel and food (Gus' rocks!), and a fun show leaving out past the Amoco on Sunday night. For LMS, I dunno, you'd probably be good on what you brung but an off could have much more budget-slimming consequences.

YMMV

Edit:
"I think the only way you'd hit a wall at Lowes is if something broke. If you are concerned about walls don't even think about going to Road Atlanta."

Hmm, 4 weeks away from that one and I don't mind being DFL-slow provided it brings the car home ;-)

Edit II: At the ECR and SARRC, no-one hit the oval walls. I am almost positive that all damage came from Turn 1 tirewall (entry to infield) and Turn 5 tirewall (exit from infield). I don't think any of it was mechanically induced however I can definately see how a mech failure in any of the banking (esp N3/4) would really mess up your day.

Edit III: For a frame of reference; the CL-S at CMP the brakes ended up nuked but lasted the weekend both times. At SP Jefferson Circuit, it warped the rotors (new OEs replaced after CMP) in 37 miles.


[Modified by phat-S, 8:21 PM 7/4/2002]

 

For a school weekend I say CMP all the way. It's a great place to learn. All the slow sections that some of us cuss about are GREAT places to work on your technique - things like trail braking and rotating the car in particular. And the visibility is great.

It's one of my favorite places to instruct at too, for what that's worth. As an instructor I actually have time to think between "Features" of the course. As a student I had some of my best weekends there. Your smooth driving would also be rewarded at CMP.

Plus, there's Gus' Pizza in town, a place that loves us racers and has some damn good food too.

--Karl, who has never driven Lowe's so he can't speak to that.

 

L0wes 0wnz CMP...

I have driven both (CMP = twice/LMS = 3 times) I like Lowes b/c it is ~ 5 min. from the house and has brake fluid disposal.

CMP = brake killer/ant nest/heat vortex source. Not too nice on the ITR's tires/brakes... but fun non-the-less.

LMS = hamma down top end track. (you WILL LIFT in the banking).... a few tricky turns but mostly WOT chasing the kaa in front of j00.

Will
-who would drive either one if given the chance. (but would like to take the turbo Brick out again and give those heavy, non-brake having V-8 f00ls a skooling)

 

Not after the second lap

 

2nd or last I don't have the nads to run flat out thru 3-4 (with the dip)..

Will
-who loves him some pass. side mudflap scraping.

 

Yeah, I thought about that after I went downstairs . . . I'm a thinkin' a Type R has a few more gonads than my little honda mower.

(Edit) I will say this, although it might be a psychological thing, it is significantly easier for me to flat foot the climbing esses (VIR), Turn 8 - old Turn 9, whateva - (RRR) and Nascar 3/4 (LMS) than it is to flat foot the kink at CMP.


[Modified by phat-S, 1:37 AM 7/5/2002]

 

CMP, I won't call it a brake killer... EVERY TRACK except VIR full kills my brakes... I think I don't like CMP because of the autox section.. My heavy car does NOT like going in those corners... T1 - T10 I love.. The rest could be cut off IMO... Nevertheless, its a track, and I get to race on it.. So

 

Since CMP is hard on brakes, it will also teach you valuable lessons on equipment management. If you plan to run 10 10ths all weekend expect to be replacing stuff, perhaps even on Saturday

--Karl, who has made a run into Camden for emergency brake pads more than once

 

Karl,

You needed emergency brake pads? Very interesting. So you use the e-brake pretty heavy huh? Did you duct enough air to it? You definitely have mad skills - I only let go of the wheel to shift and scratch my nose.

Scott, who only uses his regular brakes....and not well enough yet at that.....

 

I can't flat f00t either VIR (uphill esses) nor CMP (kink)... but that may have something to with stock suspension and street tires.

The penilty for messing up one of those turns is a whole lot less than smacking the wall at LMS.

Psychological detrement = well into 5th gear at LMS (on the back straight) with the wall and banking approaching.

willis
-who has a flat mud flap on the pass. side b/c of LMS

 

Ditto! LMS Rocks!

 

CMP sucks, no ifandorbuts.

CMS is rather cool, lots of viewing area also.

 

Anyone got a picture of what the Lowes track looks like? I went to their website but didn't see a pic of the track. I was thinking about skipping that HPDE because I heard its just a oval with some roadracing in the middle, but youall are making it sounds like its a good track...

 

I just found this. So theres road racing in the infield?




[Modified by jond, 11:13 PM 7/7/2002]

 

Yes.

 

It's covered up by the legend on that map...

You can see it better here:



-- I vote you just have the race on the 1/4 mile oval...