Sprints 2008 - In circuit we trust  

HRD-GTR

there's lots of rumours getting around, and even the things I've heard from JT himself are a bit vague:

-improving run-off and adding some gravel traps. No harm in that.

-changing some of the cambers in the corners. At the time he was talking about the carousel, which is on camber to the edge of the track and then the run off (grass and gravel trap) goes downhill so you really don't stop until the tyre wall... I just hope they don't change the camber crests on the exit of carousel and hungry because they're a huge part of what makes Lakeside such a rewarding drivers track. But they probably will to "make it safer" because lots of people loose it on the exit of carousel and stuff it into the wall on the inside.

-at the last sprint he said cars will be running through the bus-stop next year this idea sucks! will slow the track right down - probably add about 5 or 6 seconds to the lap times for people who go flat out under the bridge. and turn one of the best corners on the track into a straight. boring! but I guess that's QR's MO... Will also take away one of my biggest advantages there - it takes a well setup car and a reasonably brave driver to go flat out under the bridge.

so to sum it up, QR obviously believe all race tracks should be as flat and straight as possible!


there's lots of rumours going around too:

-I've heard people say they want to slow down the corner onto the front straight to reduce the top speed. This would suck badly. Slow corners onto straights just make it more suited to big bhp cars - turns the straight into a drag race. Fast corners onto straights reward cars that handle well - carry an extra 5-10kph onto the straight and it takes a loooong time for the big power cars to make that headstart back up.

-also heard people who've been involved in the sport for 30 or 40 years say they're going to open up the kink. Again, this sucks! A well setup car can go through there flat out (I guess some of the extremely powerful cars might have to lift). Cars that don't handle quite as well have to lift. Some drivers even brake. So it is a corner that rewards handling. Which is what race tracks should do - they're supposed to be all about corners and who can go through them the fastest. Otherwise you may as well make a couple of drag strips joined by basic flat corners - ah hang on, what track does that sound like?

I fear they are going to do all those things - as I jokingly said before it just feels like QR's MO. But as they say, alot of truth is said in jest. They'll do it in the name of track safety. But the trade-off is that it becomes just another horsepower track. All you'll need to go fast is lots of power. And that's not the case at the moment. What you need is a car that handles well and a fair bit of track knowledge.

I hope I'm wrong. but look at the other track QR built and its hard to be too optimistic...

mosport

JT did say something that the old track would still be there for those who wanted to use it, so maybe they are going to keep that bit of road there ???

RE Kink - took me a few times there to work up to it, but kink flat out is easy once you are used to it.

RE Bridge - still working on going faster under the bridge, seen a few cars hit that fence on the right side.

HRD-GTR

I want to use it! the bus-stop idea is gay - that was only ever designed and used for bikes.

superdave

All I know for certain is that the tunnel has gone in just before the bridge.
It was dug out on last Saturday according to JT, I saw pics of diggers so it's got to be true.

260DET

Problem is that a lot of relatively inexperienced blokes are driving very powerful cars which is a dangerous mix with the present Lakeside. Five years ago 250hp at the wheels was pretty good, now its nothing. Plus you have a lot more driver aids in late model cars which tends to make some of the drivers think they are the greatest, that is until they go a bit too fast and it all ends badly.

I can't see Lakeside being dumbed down too much but having optional slow down bits like the bus stop may be a good idea, if the original part is retained. Then have two driver levels of competition, the Not So Scarey and the More Scarey

How much hp at the wheels? Some cars are arriving there at well over 200kph.

HRD-GTR

lol that's what us 4WDers call a "chicken track" - an easier way around a difficult section of track. I can't see it being optional - too much messing around between sessions. they can't even be bothered putting results up from the WAS 2 weeks ago!

clutch-monkey

lol. back to morgan park it is then

superdave

I'm not one of them

260DET

Its all a challenge as far as I'm concerned, to me its about pushing yourself past the self preservation barrier into the unknown. That barrier exists at any circuit although I'd agree that the old Lakeside has a big plus with the sheer corner speeds involved, just like Phillip Island.

I sometimes wish my car was not so powerful because you are always saying 'chicken' to yourself when you back off in the really fast bits

jezza323

ill swap you if you like rarely gotta lift in mine, lol

evaded

Do you even have to lift for turn 5 and 6

HRD-GTR

if it wasn't so damn hard to get a spot in their supersprint series! Bill said they get 300 applications for their 200 positions, and this year you have to write a letter asking to get into the series... not my style I'm afraid. I hear they're finally doing that extension too! should make it even more fun out there if they're still intending to do what they were talking about 4 years ago. but to tell the truth I still prefer the old short track (A) out the front over their full circuit. That short circuit is an absolute hoot!

I'll be doing more interstate tracks next year. I really want to go to PI - its a hell of a long way but that track looks awesome. More like a European style track. Lots of long high speed corners with a few other things thrown in and a blind crest... Should suit the big Sup OK too - it seems to like high speed stuff. And I'm already signed up and paid for Eastern Creek in March and will be doing Superlap at Oran Park GP again in March as well (same weekend as EC!). I'll probably head back to Wakefield again too. It was pouring rain last time, so I have no idea what time it will actually do in the dry.

clutch-monkey

never had a problem with the sprints at morgan park maybe you gotta join the right club
i did eastern creek in a mini, fucking hilarious. massive extensions planned for it though so might want to visit soonish if they go ahead with the work
phillip island looks great, seems to be the only track where the le mans cars can really let loose too

260DET

May as well say what I think, which is that Morgan Park is an opportunity lost circuit

The only good part is sweeping up under the bridge and down the hill. Then you get one of those MP speciality sharp corners and from then on, short straights linked by sharp corners, for ever. Of all the corners just one encourages some speed, QR has faster corners than MP.

Lets hope than the addition involves some high speed sweeping corners, stop start gives me the shits

mosport

sounds like we need a thunderdome in brisvegas

ttsoarer

i chased a big hp car around lakeside and there was nothing better watching him pull away down the straight only to catch him in the carousel and fill his mirror full of bluebird until we hit the straight again .i cant wait for next year to see what we end up with

There are 3 rounds at stanthorpe this year ... care for a steak on a rock jeff ???? that was a bundle of fun out there.. and i won my frist trophy :-)

260DET

Its all about corner speed, pants shitting corner speed

GOT04

Cusco 7 point cage went in today

evaded

Cage looks good.

Trying to organise to get mine done atm along with a couple of other things. *fingers crossed* I can get it ready for the beginning of next year.

wrxkilla

looks awesome!!!

wheres ya roof lining???

Mick

GTRVspec95

Mmmmm ... roll cage

evaded

Who has a roof lining

mosport

roof lining burns, not something that you want in a race car



fuck yeah !

OMG 3 night camping next to the dump

GOT04

ahhh padding a roof lining dont fit mate.......

wrxkilla

yeah but jay's is still a street car too...

Makes me think, I should probably look at removing mine....
Still have front dash, carpets, door cards and roof lining...

might be a xmas project...

GOT04

well it all adds up

ive saved 95kg

evaded

Keep the door cards and Dash, look at removing carpet, sound deadening, aircon, heater system unused wiring etc.

260DET

Look at the '09 sprint calendar, heaps, both weekend and week days at QR and Lakside. Oh happy days

http://www.qldraceways.com.au/event_calendar.html

clutch-monkey

x2
saved myself 45kg by removing aircon alone a few months back (forgot i still had it as it never worked )
dunno how much the seats helped

evaded

Haha I plan on doing a bit more weight reduction over these holidays plus a few other things!

superdave

Someone didn't get chocolate for Christmas

I too have made some changes

wrxkilla

fark 95kg! I think I need to put the 32 on a diet!

clutch-monkey

i might get some fibreglass guards, or an RS front clip over the next few months
all up the car is at around 1200kg, not too far off stock thanks to the cage i guess


look at it this way.. start with something heavy, you can lose more, easier!

MysteryRide

As much as Id like to put mine on a diet I just cant bring myself to. 1796kg (with driver) is just way too much.

cavey

I am going to do more of this shortly!




Plenty happening this year....gunna be great!!