Nashville Road Tour

Joe Ricard · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 6:35 pm Post subject:

Cool video

So my question is. If the national office does not want to abide by thier own rule of 50 ft for kart to hard objects is it ok for everyone to do the same?

I think I would have packed up my kart and went home. Certainly would not have let my son run the course.
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Arrow AX-8/ Rotax Sr.

Bill Schmidt · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 7:29 pm Post subject:

Back in the old days KC region ran a few events at an asphalt oval, with steep banking. I think it was either 3/8ths or 1/2 mile. Anyways we had a guy tear up a stock Lexus SC400, hitting the banked wall. The car was about a year old. I remember a few people loosing bumper covers as well. SCCA shut down that practice, when they finally woke up. I would say it will probably never happen again in KC.
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Bill Schmidt

'95 Trackmagic 125 shifter (Kawi)
'88 Red Devil F500 4-link rear (Rotax)

Danny Kao · Joined: 17 Nov 2008 Posts: 192

I am 100% sure there were at least 50' away from the line to the wall. I would guess the line from the banking wall to be about 80'-90'. The closest wall was turn-in to the 1st infield, which is about 60'-70'.

Honestly, when I walked the course Friday night, I didn't think it was going to be unsafe unless the course was wet. Saturday morning was just unfortunate: it was cold, the said S2K was in his first run and many people said he was exiting the box faster than any other car and was a little late on some of his previous elements. He made a turn in up the banking for the slalom after exiting the box away from the banking, then his rear wheel immediately came around and slide uphill for about 100'. His front wheel was on concrete and rear wheel was on asphalt when he initiated the turn in, and he was fully locked up for quite a bit of time and the car just didn't stop. (I witness the whole thing from the grid and you can hear the slide and impact, and you can see the tire track from the video below)

The wall was on my mind all weekend; so is the gravel, tire wall, and grass. There are torn bumpers from cars piled into grass: I think 5 or 6 cars were in the grass and gravel. I didn't feel unsafe when I drove it in 3rd heat, and the site actually has a ton of grip which is really nice. The course designers did the best they can, and on the 2nd day they significantly slow down the elements and made it as safe as possible. But the wall, gravel and grass are still on my mind.

Well, Newman called me a big wuss and I finished 2nd - from DFL that is. I actually enjoyed the event a lot. We had covered garages, the bathroom was clean and big, it feels like a autocross country club, people are nice and fun, and the courses were exciting too. I would actually do it again - but I won't drive 10/10 regardless what Newman said, and the wall, grass and gravel will be on my mind.

Here is the side view of the run so you can see how close things are for your self... Enjoy:

http://youtu.be/VMbHQ7FvrlE

James Newman · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 5:43 am Post subject:

Jason Vehige · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:00 am Post subject:

Tim Walsh · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:03 am Post subject:

"fully locked up for quite a bit of time and the car just didn't stop." Going uphill? That doesn't bode well. BTW here's what the S2K driver had to say on another board.

James Newman · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:28 am Post subject:

I didn't see the video but the damage was limited to the front right portion of the car. His explanations do not explain why he stuffed the wall nearly head on. His skid marks do not match what he says he did.

All things aside, he admits that he's an inexperienced driver on cold tires taking his first run, who doesn't want to "drive like a granny" even though it's below 40 outside. He basically Darwin'ed himself by trying to rip 100% in that situation. It sucks that he stuffed it and I'm glad he's ok, but you gotta use your head...
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#35 AS, SCCA WDCR

Brian Garfield · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:46 am Post subject:

You should be able to rip 100% all the time at an autocross, shouldn't matter the temperature, weather, etc. In fact, you're faster if you go 100% on your first run. Perhaps this is why Sam Strano suggested he wasn't as happy about this...

The wall is just as reachable in the dry/warm as it is in the cold/wet. If it was warm, you'd carry more speed from the previous corner and slide far enough.

The road course becomes even more of an issue if the grass is just damp from the morning dew.

As a karter, I would never feel as threatened, simply because the extra distance they provide us isn't even needed, we slide less than they anticipate. That said, I understand the extra distance since we have nothing to protect us in an impact.

Brian

Tom Reynolds · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:50 am Post subject:

Thanks for all the accounts from the event guys. Glad everyone is ok and sounds like the ones that attended had a good time at least.

Alan Sheidler · Joined: 09 Aug 2001 Posts: 471

Some photos of the open class karts beginning here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/116511746312170569817/2011NashvilleRoadTourDay1Heat2#5670259034640368850

More than that, the whole heat thumbs here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/116511746312170569817/2011NashvilleRoadTourDay1Heat2#

Eric Clements · Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 1:29 pm Post subject:

Pic #194 looks like Newman getting ready to DNF!

James Newman · Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 3:57 pm Post subject:

Alan Sheidler · Joined: 09 Aug 2001 Posts: 471

Christian Hubbell · Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 8:21 pm Post subject:

Looks like a ton of fun, wishing I would have went now. Its going to be a long summer.

Edit: winter Smile

James Newman · Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:18 pm Post subject: