NHMS - what would you change

[Woodcraft]

Looking for constructive feedback. I'm heading up to NHMS to talk to them about general track stuff and discuss the plan for implementing more safety stuff for 2014. The track has been really good in recent years about making upgrades as we have asked for them, and there are more coming in 2014. So with this is mind, I ask one question -

If there was one thing that you could change about the racetrack at NHMS to make it more fun / safer, etc....what would it be? Add airfence where - change one particular corner how - add runoff where? For example, I got a big wish granted when we added airfence on the left side of the turn 3 chute recently....it made an area that had hurt a few guys substantially better. Anyone who has experience hitting foam barriers as opposed to a tire wall knows what I mean. For this year, I'd love to have the bumps from turn 10 to 11 smoothed out....that may or may not happen, but it would fix the one part of the track that irritates me every lap.

Thoughts?

[Paul_E_D]

If they fixed the bumps in 10, I'd have to change my whole bike set-up. LOL I found that most of my tuning efforts had to address that one particular turn, or at least had to to also work for that turn.

As much as I like T8, straightening it out a hair might be the biggest safety improvement that could be easily made at this point.

[Tricky Mike]

I'd second the bumps in 10 for sure.

My leathers would thank them for updating the curbing in 6/7 to the new FIA/FIM style they added in 4,9 etc.

Maybe even do something about the lunar landscape on the outside of 9?

[GingahNinjah]

love to see the bump in T1 go away, get rid of the rumble strip at the inside of T3 and curbing on the inside of 8 where the pothole always grows bigger. Thanks for doing what you do Eric to keep us safe and keep us going.

And I second Tricky Mike on the curbing updating in 6 & 7

[MHenry600]

As much as I like T8, straightening it out a hair might be the biggest safety improvement that could be easily made at this point.

Speaking of T8, but more about the gravel trap on the outside (or inside of T9 I guess). There were several times that gravel got pulled onto the track there last year, but I'm not sure what could be done there other than having the gravel trap. Even if someone isn't crashing and barely clips the gravel, it sometimes pulls enough onto the track to make things dangerous.

[Jim]

The bump in the braking zone for T3 before the 1st and 2nd cone.

[Paul_E_D]

While we are on curbing, flattening the mammoth curb in T1 so that you can safely apex with bike and body hanging over it would make the track much more satisfying, especially on a small bike.

[Rada]

I would also vote for eliminating all the raised curbing and using the FIM style on all turns. I agree that adding curbing to the inside of T8 would be nice too.
I was a victim of the gravel kicked out of the T9 area last year. Not sure what to do differently there.. Picking the rocks from the outside of T9 would make a graceful landing out there less painful.

Thanks Eric!!

[THE STUFF 187]

Turn 10 is all I care to have fixed. I hate that corner

[shortbus]

get rid of the rumble strip at the inside of T3

The bump in the braking zone for T3 before the 1st and 2nd cone.

agreed

[Petorius]

+1 to flat curbing

+1 to smoothing T3 and T3 chute

says the noob trackday rider

[Jewcati]

+1 on t3 and t10 bumps

The gravel in 9 is a must... That is a major hazard that should not be occurring on a track.

[nhbubba]

Remove 'NASCAR stripes' which get slick in the rain.
Smooth out the track everywhere.

[loudog]

Maybe even do something about the lunar landscape on the outside of 9?

+1

[Pittenger5]

Move the track to texas so I can ride it.

[TTD]

Inside of Turn 8 - add curbing. (easy fix)

Smooth Turn 10... Ideally starting with the transition, but I realize the Nascar track dictates that.

Make Turn 1 curb a normal rumble strip flat curbing.

Grind down bump as you enter Turn 1.

Turn 3 - grind down all braking bumps - possibly repave.

Turn 11/12 - repave to make it one consistent pavement

[OreoGaborio]

For this year, I'd love to have the bumps from turn 10 to 11 smoothed out....that may or may not happen, but it would fix the one part of the track that irritates me every lap.

I don't really mind the ones coming out of T10 but the last seam just before the first cone on the left entering 11 sucks.


It'd also be nice if they smoothed out the bumps mid turn 8 JUST before the treehouse.

[The Snowman]

Maybe even do something about the lunar landscape on the outside of 9?

Perhaps adding some fill and then creating a gravel run-off on the outside of T9, instead of having it go downhill.

[MaRce1o]

Middle of T2 right before it connects to the nascar track if I'm not mistaking very "worn out" section of pavement thats can be sketchy at times specially if it rains

[timmyho414]

only place I had a major issue with last year was 9.

a rider went down in 8, slide to the inside of 9, knocked gravel and cones onto the track. I hit one of the cones. I've watched the video over and over, I had no where to go. I go down and my bike and I go off into the abyss of the out side of 9.

suggestion...I know you said only 1 but...

maybe less cones
wider curbing or something on the inside of 9. I've seen the out down cement or something so the gravel doesn't get kicked out as easy.
fill in hole one the outside of 9

It was a weird crash and I know we can't plan for everything.

[Tunertype]

I'm down with fixing T10 that's where I dropped my bike last year when I flicked the bike over too aggressively and then ran wide and missed the inside apex and went over the bumps and slid out in the rain.

Still I have mixed feelings about fixing the actual road surface. It kind of adds to the fun to have a track that is so particular and has so many specific features that you have to get all your lines and timing just so or it will bite you. This is coming from a noob who's only ridden the track 3 times, but it was really cool hearing all the details from the experts on the track walk and then applying some of those detailed techniques.

[xsiliconkid]

The banking through T6 should be repaved...
The aggregate is so worn down it is polished and smooth... in the dry grip is passable even though there are no nooks and crannies for tires to grab.. When damp it's another matter.

[DZircher]

I'm for any improvements in 3, braking zone, rumble strip. It used to be my favorite before I shattered my knee cap. 😞 Bumps through 10 and 11 seems like a consistent safety issue too. I'm also always concerned about the tar ramp right at the air fence in 10a.

[Imbeek]

New track out back, reuse 5 thru 8 and make it useable both directions

[repete513]

Permanent dirt section for motard