Re: Lime Rock Event(rather long).....

[Trisha Bethen <trishab@mv.mv.com>]

Now, did you duck your first time under the bridge?  If you said no, I'll 
disagree.....every driver does instinctively.......so, can you imagine 
doing that downhill turn flat out without lifting?  It can be 
done.......Can you imagine turning a sub minute lap there?  That too can 
be done and is quite a rush.....how about passing on the inside of the 
downhill turn.....or getting hung up on the burm on the inside of the 
uphill in a FA, S2000 race when the cars are coming at you at 
100+mph.......yeh, it's a rush.....a real rush.....glad to hear you 
enjoyed.....I'll let the folks to be at LRP know that.....Ray and I 
promote LRP at Racearama in W. Springfield every March......it's a great 
track......







On Thu, 22 Aug 1996, Lorens Kulla wrote:

> Hi All,
>     Just got back from my first track event at LRP. I must say it was as
> much fun as I have had with my pants on.:-) Steve Early and his gang did
> a great job putting on the event.
> 
> Sunday...
>    Arrived at around 10:00AM, there were about 10 cars there already(3
> 200's 4 5ktq's 2 Ur-Q's a neon and me('91 200q)). Pulled in to the
> outfield and commenced to shoot the bull with everyone there. Cars
> started rolling in at a steady rate the rest of the day. I took a couple
> of rolls of film. Will see about having the neg's put on CD rom. Sorry
> about your turbo being taken out of your S2 Bob.;-). Only 2 A4's at the
> event. Definitely the rarest Audi bird there. The rest of sunday was
> filled with tech and concourse voting, of which I did not participate.
> Hate beauty contests. The best part of sunday was the track walk. The
> uphill after the no-name straight was intimitating to walk on, with the
> guardrail about 8 ft. off to the left. As was the downhill right before
> the mainstraight. The instructors leading the group did a good job
> explaining the correct line.
> 
> Monday....
> 
> Started the day with a meeting prior to any track time. Followed by 90
> minutes in the infield at the slalom, skid pad and lane toss. I started
> in the slalom along with about 15 other cars. It was basically an oval
> with cones place on the back straight about 50 ft. apart. This helped me
> find the corners of my 200. Only mashed one cone( the last one due to
> turning in late about 2 cones before), I guess I should have aborted the
> last one, but I didn't.:-)
> 
> The skidpad was up next. Got to see all different cars do 360's while
> trying to correct oversteer. The skidpad is I believe a 200' diameter
> with sprinkler system. Pretty cool. But not much different then the
> idustrial park after a good snow storm. Had fun nonetheless. Watching
> the instructor straining with my E-brake to try to loop me. Finally he
> asks me to drop throttle so he can, didn't say anything about planting
> the right foot with arms all crossed up to catch it though. What fun!
>  Went over to the lane toss next but the line was long, still so I went
> back to the slalom that was vacant, and got in about 35 laps before it
> was time to stage for the first track session.
> 
> Staged for the first session at 11:00AM. Instructors drive your car
> first( for us virgins) for 2 laps to show you the line. Then its in the
> pits to swap places. Problem #1, no head room in a 200q with a helmet on
> your melon. Spent 2 days with my head tilted to the right and up against
> the headliner. Problem #2, not following the Idiot in front of you as
> they turn in for the only left hander on the circuit early. Took me a
> couple of laps and a couple of jokes about it from my instructor to cure
> me of that evil. Problem #3, with passing only on the main straight(
> signalled first of course) and 20 newbies on the track a train was
> continually forming on the track.  Pulled into the pits at the requesite
> 20MPH stopped and waited a few moments, and went back out. Only to catch
> back up on the no name straight. Oh well.Did have a moment following a
> blue S6 up the hill, he put a wheel off going up and fortunately
> collected it up as I was less than a car length behind him. I
> fortunately was able to lift without much drama and avoid a potential
> mess. So, whoever you are, nice save. 
> 
> In the second session I staged first so that I may have a little free
> running room prior to catching anyone up. Unfortunately not everyone was
> able to get out during my first lap(at reduced speed) so I was right at
> the end of a new train that was forming. I was able to pass a couple of
> aware cars in the early laps. But there's always one that holds everyone
> up and doesn't get the hint to wave people past or pull down the pit
> road. But I did get to learn the line at speed, which was nice. (for a
> couple of laps anyway. Third session of the day was alot better, must
> have started with the slower cars right behind me. Because I didn't have
> to wait long when I caught someone. Right at the bottom of the hill I
> was given the signal to pass. I was not caught in the back part of the
> track by the lighter cars like I thought I would. But was caught down
> the straight by an '89 200Q 10V with TAP chip,exhaust, and K$N filter.
> But I caught his non-UFO car right back up under braking and through the
> esses. I did get a ride in a '91 200Q with the hoppen chip. Instructor
> car. saw 120 down the straight everytime and braking at about the 700
> ft. mark(100 ft before the 6) couldhave seen more but he wasn't pushing
> it off the downhill. At track out he was seeing 4200 in 4th. I was
> seeing 4700 in 4th but could not get over 110MPH by the 500' marker.
> Will research the chip thing more later. Talked to Ivor, he's a little
> on the arrogant side. But wont get into that here.
> 
> Got a couple more rides in instructors cars, mine had a Jetta GLI and
> was hustling in the esses the way the lighter cdars should have been
> doing it. Very enlightening. 
> 
> Tuesday.....
> 
> My instructor talked to the powers that be and got me moved into the
> white group. In the first session out I found that I had to relearn the
> track. Much different when you don't have to lift for the slower cars.
> tried a couple of different lines through big bend and found the double
> apex to be the fastest way through and onto the esses. Also that a late
> apex going up the hill is faster. Riding the edge of the asphalt coming
> down the hill ( there's about an extra foot and a half outside the line
> on the run down the hill(use it) increased my trackout to 4700 on the
> main straight in 4th. Did turn in a little early once and put 1/2 a
> wheel off on the main straight, which aside from making a little dust
> cloud caused no drama. 
> 
> Lot's of faster cars in this group.Modified Ur-Q's S6's and S6 wagon a
> V8 3 200Q's .I think I let about 4 cars pass during one session.
> Unfortunately 5 decided to go by. The TAP chipped '89 200Q. The v8 was a
> little slower in the back section of the track so I was caught up bhy a
> couple of UR-Qs .So rather than pass the V8 and make everono wait
> another lap I gave each car a signal as I lifted down the straight. Well
> after 3 go by I still have 2 back there. But at the same time I am
> getting close to the braking area. So I don't give any more signals.
> Well Mr. TAP chip flasshes his lights aS HE DECIDES TO PASS ME ANYWAY.
> At least the guy behind him had the presence of mind to not pass. Next
> time around we are given the checkered and come into the pits. The club
> officials were on the ball and pulled him to the left side of the pits
> to have a chat. Other than the one A**H*LE I did have a great time. I am
> also looking forward to the next event I can attend. Steve Early said
> maybe to a winter/snow/ice event. E-mail him and keep watering the seed.
> smearley@aol.com. He is the NE region HMFIC.:-)
> 
> 
> 
> Later
> 
> Lorens
> 
> 1991 200Q 
> 1995 LHS ( wish it were an AUDI)
> 1985 4000SQ ( for sale soon) (maybe)
>