Rate that Track

[Paul_E_D]

Holy track list!!! I'm hoping to add one or two to ^

NYST- a real rider's track with sick elevation and good variety
NHMS- Just a classic beast of a track
NJMP- Fast with only 2 real technical challenges
Beaver Run- More fun than it should be, short, technical laps
Big Willow- Fast, unique, but not very technical at all.

Coming soon: Thompson, VIR, ????

[OreoGaborio]

1 Chuckwalla
1 NHMS just cuz I know it so well
1 NYST downtown
1 VIR North
1 NJMP Thunderbolt
6 Monticello North
7 Monticello 66
8 VIR South
9 NJMP Lightning (in the rain for 10 laps. Couldn't get a decent feel for it but it needs more turns)
10 Unofficial center garage pit bike race at 2am, racing Gerard's XR70 against Peter Kates on his scooter. Track officials were super bitchy.

[SVRACER01]

while VIR is great and the fact that ive done grand east is awesome, i have to say that calabogie is probably at the top. not really a little bike track but neither is VIR and it just means that youre OTG more often. 6th gear pinned down the front straight, then knee down through the kink without letting up was a rush thats tough to get most places. really need to plan another trip up there.

[scottieducati]

while VIR is great and the fact that ive done grand east is awesome, i have to say that calabogie is probably at the top. not really a little bike track but neither is VIR and it just means that youre OTG more often. 6th gear pinned down the front straight, then knee down through the kink without letting up was a rush thats tough to get most places. really need to plan another trip up there.

How about July 26-28.... ?

[SVRACER01]

How about July 26-28.... ?

love to, but i think my "new track" for this year is going to be Thompson. ive got a funer...uh...wedding to pay for.

[MikeBike]

Ok, Tracks I've raced at...
1) NHMS - A rider's workout and all the above
1B) NJMP Lightning - Very safe and fast. I raced there in Sept for the first time.
2) Daytona - A wallet's workout and the quickest way to toast your new race bike
3) Bryar Motorsports - Great memories, but T6 lives on.
4) Pocono - Fun & Fast after the deer herd is chased out in the AM
5) Summit Point - Sweet track layout.... Is it still bumpy under the bridge
6) Bridgehampton - The best, I loved the blind downhill T1
7) California HWY 35/Skyline Drive- The quickest way to the Bay or Alice's Restaurant on Sundays (LOL!!!)
8) Charlotte - Is that the banking or a wall at the end of the straight?
9) Saniar, QE - Crazy Canadians racing on a drag strip/short track oval....
10) Nelson Ledges - I completed in Six 24 Hour of Nelson Races as well as years of sprints. The track is Spartan....
11) Trenton - WTF!!! Someone's going to get hurt......

Edit (7/21/14): And now #12/Mid-Ohio Sports Car Track (July, 2014). This track is a BITCH! You Guys (and Gals) really need to race this track. It is loaded with blind apex corners, off camber corner exits, slick paved surfacing, long straights, 140 VF elevation change and blind S-Curve transitions which make this one of the most challenging tracks I have raced to date..... I'm going back next year for sure!

[OreoGaborio]

Is that in order of best-worst?

[Jim]

I'll let you know about summit this weekend. I'm 2 hours away right now.

[Jim]

time to update this. Need to add Summit next month.

1. Daytona
2. VIR (riding the repaved course in June)
3. Roebling
4. NHMS
5. NJMP
6. Summit Point
7. CMP
8. Monticello (south)

definitely doing the other 2 rounds at Summit this year

[Pittenger5]

1. COTA
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Everything else.

[Jim]

So out of the two tracks you've ridden, COTA is best?

[Pittenger5]

Ive ridden 4. And yes.

[greeny]

I've been hanging around the track lately, i'll play:

1. Putnam - fast, flowing, great grip, 12+ passing opportunities per lap. One of those tracks I just "get" better than others.
2. Barber - smooth sailin', wide, fun, love the elevation
3. Road America - top of 3rd gear 3 times a lap, top notch facility
4. Blackhawk - probably my NHMS for you guys. familiar and a good club track
5. Heartland Park (HPT) - Only here 1 weekend but caught on fast and had some good races
5. Gingerman - haven't ridden in years but had lots of fun here when I was starting out. I'm sure it would be higher if I revisited
6. ACC North - short and fun, nothing special
7. Jennings - Had trouble getting on pace here, only have a couple days
8. ACC full/south - bumpy, stop-and-go, bleh

Can't wait to ride NHMS... until next year I guess. Looks pretty technical and I prefer more flowing, but maybe it'll make me a better rounded rider!

[Jim]

4. Blackhawk - probably my NHMS for you guys. familiar and a good club track

tell me more. i think i'm going next month

[greeny]

Hey Jim, I was the guy hanging with Ray and Jesse this weekend on Sunday (old MW friends). It's a really fun place - and even better atmosphere. The midwest group is a very accommodating bunch and it's like a big camp grounds (with the same general camp-grounds attitude to go along with it). They've made some serious improvements to the facility and actively approach issues on the track as they start to cause problems. I've never imagined that someone would travel from as far as NH for a track like Blackhawk, but maybe we take it for granted a bit. I always imagined people would drive the extra hour and head to Road America, but in terms of experience, I guarantee you'll love it. It's much faster than NHMS... deceivingly fast in fact. Want a free half second? Get back on the gas hard after T2, no lollygaggin' ;-)

Some people will tell you it's dangerous. There aren't any walls like NHMS but the forest can close in fast if you head off track in some spots... but they've been good about adding a significant amount of airfence - especially thanks to our good friend Fred Duncan who isn't with us anymore. He put together a killer event every year raising thousands and thousands of dollars until NESBA in the Midwest was toast.

[Jim]

i've done Roebling, CMP, VIR, Summit (3x), NJMP (3x), NHMS, and Dayonta this year.

Need to do the ASRA races at Blackhawk to secure my championship, because the 1000's will crush me at Daytona.

let me know if you have suggestions on travel, and places i should stop. i'm mainly concerned that there's no friday practice and i've never been there.

[greeny]

hmmm you sure there's no Friday practice? or at least a track day with another organization? that's usually when they have their licensing school...

[Jim]

hmmm you sure there's no Friday practice? or at least a track day with another organization? that's usually when they have their licensing school...

not for this event. event called the track to confirm. there is a Wednesday track day, but no one has rented the track for friday

[nhbubba]

From a middle intermediate track day weenie perspective:

1. NYST - Downtown
2. NYST - Uptown
3. NHMS
4. Thompson

[Jim]

I'm heading to Blackhawk Farms tomorrow. I'll be updating my post next week.

[OneCheekRider]

Thunderhill, CA - awesome track, especially with a repave. Used to be my local go-to. They have recently updated it though.
ButtonWillow, CA (both directions) - fun track although bumpy in spots. Was another local go-to. Has had a recent repave I havent experienced
Sears Point, CA (Sonoma now) - kinda reminds me of NHMS
Reno Fernley, NV - one of my favorite tracks. Has a little bit of everything and scenery is awesome.
VIR - what's been said
CMP - was my 'local' track for a few years. I got pretty good at it and loved it. Eats tires.
Road Atlanta - fast and fun
Jennings - one of the tracks I picked up quickly. loved it.
NHMS - I need more time here.
NYST (both directions) - i loved uptown. Need more time here though.

[Jim]

just got home from Blackhawk & updated my list

1. Daytona
2. VIR (riding the repaved course in June)
3. Roebling
4. NHMS
5. NJMP
6. Summit Point
7. Blackhawk Farms
8. CMP
9. Monticello (south)

[tsorfas]

I thought you liked NJMP better than NHMS

[Jim]

NJMP is a better track, but I dont like it that much

[FirstDuc-1098]

just got home from Blackhawk & updated my list

1. Daytona
2. VIR (riding the repaved course in June)
3. Roebling
4. NHMS
5. NJMP
6. Summit Point
7. Blackhawk Farms
8. CMP
9. Monticello (south)

Jimmie, you've got to do NYST. You'd love it. We'll do a road trip there next year.