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Re: More course design

To: Ron Katona <ron3b@cris.com>
Subject: Re: More course design
From: John Lieberman <johnlee@softdisk.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 20:07:04 -0800
I agree with you, in part, Ron.  Though I don't necessarily think it's
something we should include on EVERY course.  

A few years ago, I drew out a course that was nothing more than three
interlocking circles (skid pads) with a fourth circle (skid pad)
imbedded in the last one.  I never had the guts to actually put it on
the ground until last year.  The first and third circles had a
300-foot outside diameter while the middle circle and the circle
imbedded in the third circle were about 200-feet.  The course width
was 30-feet all the way around.

We ran it two times in one direction, then two times in the other
direction to equalize tire wear and oil/fuel starvation problems.
Everybody who ran it said it was an absolute hoot to drive except for
the sea of cones it took to set it up.  It gave you a sort of picket
fence effect out of your peripheral vision.

Just a different approach to something many of us have thought about
but never tried.

John (Old Fartz & TLS #37) Lieberman


Ron Katona wrote:
> 
> What's wrong with a 180 or even 360 degree skidpad turn? I understand
> the original post said only to "try" to avoid those, but I'd rather try
> to include at least one such turn in every event even on large lots. I
> think a steady state 180 or 360 is a work of art if done properly by a
> talented driver. You often see rookies hopelessly understeering or never
> achieving a tight steady line in such corners.
> 
> To me, this is one feature that separates autocross from road racing.
> You can't do a 360 on a road course (on purpose). It doesn't have to be
> gimmicky, just include one in the normal flow of a good course.
> --
> Ron Katona

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