Topic: Reno congestion Or Lack of

How long was the track in Vegas?  It looks like there was Tons of room compared to CMP. Looking at the videos I dont  think I ever saw more than 5 cars in a pack.
I may have to go out there to do a race just for the open road experience.  I would imagine a car with a good power to weigh ratio and good brakes would do very well.

Oh yea. a Turbo Miata would fall into that category.

Besides the heat, it looks like a nice set up. Hills, wide track. How was the surface?

Thanks for all the videos. I enjoyed them

Team EuroTrash.

#30 CMP

EuroTrash E30 - Lemons South 08 (cooling probs) 24th /CMP  Spring 09 (fuel tank damage) one day on track 69th /Lemons South 09 (Hit by an Escort) 27th
MSR Tx, 10 2oth, no issues other than rain. /CHump Homestead Miami 10- 2nd place.

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

Reno was amazing.  I'll say better than T-hill because of its size and complexity.  Best track I've been to for any event, but I have fairly limited experience.  The surface wasn't great and the paddock sucked, but totally forgivable.

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

I'm going to disagree with Erik on a few points... however, I do agree that the surface was rough and bumpy in a few spots. It was okay for a club track.  The 2 or 3 off-camber corners were interesting but, overall, the track was easy to learn (nothing really complicated except getting the line right for the exit of T19) and easy to drive because of the width.  The width made the track very forgiving and allowed easy passes (which broke up the congestion).  Very rarely did you have to "fight" for a position or "work" for a pass.  Thunderhill is tighter, which requires better car control and an exact line to do it right.  BW will be tighter than RF, too.  I also agree with Erik that the paddock was terrible -- no electricity, no water, no restrooms (hot-stinky portables only), no shade whatsoever.  IMHO, rather than expanding their venues, they should focus on improving a few basics.

John

"Age only matters if you're a cheese."  Helen Hayes

4 (edited by Pujo! 2009-05-29 11:17 AM)

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

Yes, Reno was great. This was my first Lemons race and beforehand I'd been warned that it was nothing like a real race, more like a fast parade. Well this one was like a real race. No parading (besides yellows), lots of passing and even a reasonable top speed on the straights. OTOH it was not too out of control, most everyone drove well, there were no big accidents and generally everyone was very in-control and polite. I'm hoping that the powers-that-be take this into account and come up with a way to use the full Thunderhill course this fall with minimal chicanes.

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

The track was set up to be a lot longer than other Lemons races I've done. Personally, I liked it a lot more. That and the lack of chicanes kept the packs smaller and further away from each other's bumpers. Obviously there were still incidents (especially ours) but I think all in all the longer track is more fun and less prone to issues.

The Sharks
Home of the E28 Turbo Tuner Fish and the Hammered Head 944 Turbo

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

Reno was my first race of any kind of motorsports and all I can say is WOW. The track was great and you couldn't ask for a better group of drivers and vehicles to race with. As far as the road conditions, the surface was smooth and aside from the occasional off camber turn (especially T5 at the bottom of the hill climb) the course was easily learned and technical enough to keep you interested. The 50' wide track, 2.5 mile course, and mechanical breakdowns kept everyone pretty spread out.

As far as the paddock is concerned, you'll find no argument from me that they sucked. Aside from the lack of power, water, and shade unless you have a camper or a 1" sleeping pad don't make the same mistake that I did and camp at the paddock. Also the dirt/rock paddock probably ate some of my sockets and a couple of bolts from when we were wrenching on the car.

Would I race there again? Definitely.

Stuntman Mike
I Wanna Roc

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

I would like to add, since I know Nick reads the forums, that a FALL Fernely race would be absolutely wonderful.  Just sayin, you know, in case there's an opening you guys could grab and throw inbetween buttonwillow and T-hill this year?  Remember, you guys aren't some big-fancy high dollar outfit so you can change your race schedule if you like smile  I'd be in line to go!

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

professional.dreamer wrote:

I'm going to disagree with Erik on a few points...

John, not all of us have 2394809238409 years behind the wheel of a race car smile

I thought the track was awesome!  Much better than Thill imo

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

professional.dreamer wrote:

I'm going to disagree with Erik

I think he's just sore bout coming in 25th....since we came in 24th!

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

Best track hands down that I have been on in a Lemons race yet. Only thing that could have made it better would have been hot pits. Awesome job on the track though, no chicanes ruled!

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

I like Thill better IMHO,
  I tore up both front tires in day 1 on the caltrans/grinch/frogger car ,too  many turns I was getting lost !!

Pit Crew Revenge Racing   Rolling chicanelimo,95Lamdspeeder,Gimp Pimp Cadi,300zx Car show kaboom!! 90 Wagovan, mazda v8 Lemons LOGO TATTOO!  Aces 84 Cadi Eldo Briattz I O E WINNER
Class C win with LemonOdy Cannonball Run Whambulance !EX K Captain
Lemons Trophy Truck ShaGuar Baby!

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

fabtoys wrote:

I like Thill better IMHO,
  I tore up both front tires in day 1 on the caltrans/grinch/frogger car ,too  many turns I was getting lost !!

I love this track and can't wait to get out there again.  That said, we took 5 new Falken Azenis down at least to the wear bars!

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

I liked Fernley, we also would do it again in the fall.  I liked T hill too but do not miss the chicanes (or the contact) Our car (#81 crown vic) demolished tires, we separated about 14 inches of tread from carcass on avon m500's by noon saturday.  Demolished, and after a phone call to tirerack asking "whats the best tire?"  Frick and frick.  next time we pick our own tires - at a junque-yard!

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

We ran the same 4 Falken Azenis all weekend with just rotating front to back after day 1 and they held up but wouldnt even make spares now lol.

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

Honestly, I think a lot of us are spoiled by T'hill.  Ten years ago, when I first went there, it was about like RFR is now.  The improvements made at T'hill have made it a wonderful place to race, and just an all-around swell place to hang out.
The gravel paddocks at RFR blow, as does the lack of permanent restroom facilities.  The track is technical and challenging, but rough as hell. 
I'm with John; they should spend $$$ on cleaning up what they have before they worry about a shopping center or airport complex.
All of that said, I had a blast!  I would have preferred more traffic, but we did OK with open stuff, too.

Jay, any chance we can run full-course @ Thunderhill?  Pleeeeeze?  big_smile

TST, fool.

It's a Bunny.  With a pancake.  On its head.  Really, is it that tough?

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

RFR was great in my opinion.  Crappy paddock but we where warned.  I am not sure what was wrong with the track surface you drove on but we did not have any issue.  Some braking waves at the end of Sunset but so what?  Everyone had to deal with them and these car's are just not that stiff.  We never bottomed or scraped and we where going as fast as anyone through that section.

More traffic?  Why would you want that?

Cars, cameras, and easy living...

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

My biggest complaint was there was now way to walk around to spectate the far side of the course, and the trackside view from the paddock area was very limited, but overall I loved Fernley. THill definitely spoils you on climate and paddock, I found the temp was actually pretty nice most of the time. I'm glad it wasn't August. I didn't have to spend any time under my car so I was ok with a gravel paddock. It seemed spacious enough. I LOVE the course and can't wait to race it again.

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

GnomeFabTech wrote:

I am not sure what was wrong with the track surface you drove on but we did not have any issue.  Some braking waves at the end of Sunset but so what?  Everyone had to deal with them and these car's are just not that stiff.  We never bottomed or scraped and we where going as fast as anyone through that section.

Nope, never scraped or bottomed (actually, we did bend one of our "teeth"), and our car isn't very stiff.  The track surface felt green, greasy in some spots, and chunky in lots of spots.  Not saying that it was like the 405/101 interchange, but could be smoother.


GnomeFabTech wrote:

More traffic?  Why would you want that?

We have a small, nimble car, and it's more fun to play in traffic than by ourselves.  big_smile

TST, fool.

It's a Bunny.  With a pancake.  On its head.  Really, is it that tough?

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

That Bump though on the last turn before the finish line was kinda sketchy though. A couple of times Our Rabbit bounced pretty hard and the car got light and wanted to kiss the wall. Or maybe I was just taking  a bad line? .....Probably the latter. I did see shawn take a pretty sweet three wheeled rabbit turn at some point on the track. Would've loved to catch that action on film. Pretty sick. I don't think you even hit the brakes before going into that corner.

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

ZZ Uber wrote:

That Bump though on the last turn before the finish line was kinda sketchy though. A couple of times Our Rabbit bounced pretty hard and the car got light and wanted to kiss the wall. Or maybe I was just taking  a bad line? .....Probably the latter. I did see shawn take a pretty sweet three wheeled rabbit turn at some point on the track. Would've loved to catch that action on film. Pretty sick. I don't think you even hit the brakes before going into that corner.

Is that the same corner that John almost put his Miata in the wall?  Luckily we didn't have much problem on that corner mostly due to the ridiculous curb weight we were sporting at the time.  Windmills are not light.

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

we ruined 6 junkyard salvage tires(400+ tread wear rated) that started about 60% and really ruined 2 really nice tires we got from Team Whaaa(?)(the red mustange dudes) that were also their take offs 50-60% but hella sticky on the front....and ended with the same tires on the rear that we started with. But thats what a fwd luxury liner does to em' on a race track.
watch the vid and you can hear why...:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vkfKeqEoMk

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

I think we were up on three a lot.  It's kind of the natural tendency of the semi-independent rear axle.  If you're talking about the 180* corner up on top (~14-ish?), that was a difficult one to get right.  There is a turn in point indicator and an apex indicator, but they're not where you expect them to be.  The turn in is waaay later than people were expecting, so the braking point is later, too.

The last corner, going onto the front stretch, was almost the most fun for me.  Brake a little on corner entry to settle the chassis, turn in, and hold it to the floor.  The car would finally stop pushing about 3-4 feet from the pit wall.  I think I saw the guys in the tower flinch at least once, but I never had to lift.  There was grip to be had there.  lol

TST, fool.

It's a Bunny.  With a pancake.  On its head.  Really, is it that tough?

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

Yeah, I thought for sure Oolong was going to eat concrete at some point.

1978 AMC Pacer - The Blue Flag Special
BFE GP '12 - IOE
BFE GP '13 - Co-Organizer's Choice w/ Speed Holes Wrenching

24 (edited by drvr5 2009-06-04 07:18 PM)

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

Paddock facilities sucked... but I have low standards so it was ok. Track is kind of a nightmare... bumps absolutely everywhere (we have almost completely non-functional shocks... that's a big problem) and the track doesn't lay on the elevation nicely. Sears Point- example of a fantastically designed road course as far as elevation goes. Laguna is quite good, but Reno seems to be more of a flat course laid on top of a bunch of hills.

All in all- great fun, and I could complain about getting free ice cream smile (I'm a driver... waddaya expect?) Tearing through the front esses flat out in the top of 4th was fun big_smile

WAAAGH!

edit:
Thanks a ton to the Joker guys for letting us use their tire buster- those "great" tires we gave them had flatspots to the base of the tread and were making our poor mustang hop like one of the Rabbits.

Re: Reno congestion Or Lack of

The RRT team video confirm my original post.  How many laps did you do and we didnt see another car on the track.  Compare the youtube videos at CMP where there is always a car in front of the car with the camera.
It does sound like there were many other challenges. RE surface, bumps- dips and the pit area.  etc.

EuroTrash E30 - Lemons South 08 (cooling probs) 24th /CMP  Spring 09 (fuel tank damage) one day on track 69th /Lemons South 09 (Hit by an Escort) 27th
MSR Tx, 10 2oth, no issues other than rain. /CHump Homestead Miami 10- 2nd place.