[DeTomaso] Reno-Fernley track report

[Julian Kift]

<moconwell at msn.com> wrote: "Sorry I have to disagree balanced on years of racing with SCCA."
 
A key to rememer is this is not racing, it is an opportunity for Pantera owners to get out on track and experience their car in a safe environment. Similar driver abilities are grouped in the form of A, B and C run groups with cars stagger started and spaced out on the track. Yes there will be some drivers within each group that are faster and catch the car in front, but designated passing zones coupled with a mandatory 'point by' and courteous driving all make for a great day of fun. For the most part it is far safer than your normal Sunday road driving. 
 
Inherently group A with open passing is perceived to offer higher risk, but the level of experience of the drivers in that group mitigates that to a very high degree.
 
Mike and Larry Finch spent virtually the whole afternoon at the RFR track, firstly driving various configurations to arrive at the best option from a "minimum risk, maximum fun" (in that order) perspective. Once they had narrowed down the selections we walked and talked sections of the track, stood at corner worker stations and looked at all the angles, viewpoints etc. from a safety standpoint. Personally I'm excited about the layout they came up with, I see the RFR venue/track overall as an exciting prospect and a great mix, offering amany elements that Spring Mountain did not (a lot of which had been requested through use of the long track). I certainly don't see the selected track as any 'unsafer' than that used previously in Pahrump. After all even the best of them can end up in the Sagebrush if trying too hard.........;>)
 
All I have to do now is get my car back together in time, but after my visit to the track Wednesday I'm all fired up to do my darnedest to make that happen.
 
Julian

 
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:12:23 +0000From: MICHAEL ROCHELLE CONWELL <moconwell at msn.com>Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Reno-Fernley track reportTo: <mikeldrew at aol.com>, <adin at frontier.net>, <detomaso at realbig.com>Message-ID: <BAY113-W358E19B71F03E19CAEB1A7B7CE0 at phx.gbl>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"  Sorry I have to disagree balanced on years of racing with SCCA. Accidents normally happen at the end of a straight as this is the normal passing point/zone. Ideally drafting the person in front of you and passing on the inside before the turn with more top speed and braking later in the turn forcing the outside person behind you. Longer & faster the better. This is also where most accidents happen and the worst ones. Unfortunately I have been in a couple myself. Watch the Rolex this weekend and you will see most accidents are at the first turn combo coming off the long straight away. Myself, IMHO the tighter track is safer with lower top speeds. The only time I have ever done two full 360's is at the end of the front straight at Thunderhill. Every corner I know that is called a pucker corner is high-speed. There is NO WAY I would trust someone near me going into a high-speed corner off a high-speed straight who has not been to SCCA/or a professional driving school and has experience. Good luck!> 
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