Driving Watkins Glen
03-19-2005, 06:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Fongu,Mar 17 2005, 09:25 PM
Yeah, I gotta even out the wear, 1-2-3 are putting an imbalance in my transmission 
03-20-2005, 03:49 PM
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Thanks, Doug. I'm going to start worrying about a room once I get my spot confirmed. It has been a week since the application was mailed, so it should be at the SCDA by now.
03-21-2005, 06:32 AM
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Originally Posted by wing,Mar 20 2005, 10:00 PM
3-4-5 that's FAST
I use 5th only going uphill on the back straight. As much as I hate to shift into 5th because there is so little pull in that gear going uphill, I have no choice because I've run out of revs in 4th.
03-22-2005, 10:41 AM
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Steve, sometime while you are up there you and I need to hook up, I'll take you for a guided trip around the original old "track" of which is now all public road. One lap is 6+ miles and when you see the roads you just have to ponder going 100+mph in cars of the 1950s, i.e. drum brakes on the front and rear...
03-22-2005, 12:33 PM
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True and I get your humor.
But also know a big part of Watkins Glen and motor racing in this country is the death of Sam Collier; he and his brother were instrumental in getting road racing started in this country. Sam died when his MG left the road and crashed in a corn filed, after killing some of the spectators...
My Grandfather was a mechanic for an MG TC that competed back then. My family is filled with stories from those days when Gramps was active. All you need do is drive around the old track any you are filled with awe, those men were really brave, they were real heros to me. I just can't get enough of this vintage stuff. In fact, I'm the chairperson for the Vintage Roadster Tour that takes place on the Friday of the Zippo Vintage Race weekend. I should have 100 roadsters spanning over some 60 to 70 years of production all driving around on the route that I get to pick out and plan. This is my first year in this position, and oh boy, are they ever going to get a great route this year!!!
But also know a big part of Watkins Glen and motor racing in this country is the death of Sam Collier; he and his brother were instrumental in getting road racing started in this country. Sam died when his MG left the road and crashed in a corn filed, after killing some of the spectators...
My Grandfather was a mechanic for an MG TC that competed back then. My family is filled with stories from those days when Gramps was active. All you need do is drive around the old track any you are filled with awe, those men were really brave, they were real heros to me. I just can't get enough of this vintage stuff. In fact, I'm the chairperson for the Vintage Roadster Tour that takes place on the Friday of the Zippo Vintage Race weekend. I should have 100 roadsters spanning over some 60 to 70 years of production all driving around on the route that I get to pick out and plan. This is my first year in this position, and oh boy, are they ever going to get a great route this year!!!
03-22-2005, 04:14 PM
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Well, there's the weekend before. Maybe I'll take the long way there and visit Gonzo.
The vintage stuff is a good comparison. Back in the days where there were no artificial rules to slow cars (really cutting edge), real possibility of dying, hell the real possiblity of taking the spectators with you. When you think about it a S2000 is essentially the equivalent to 1950's level race car performance, except safer and with better brakes. Going full out on actual roads ... it takes guts and/or stupidity. I think of this whenever I read a thread hear about a "newbie" driver racing the twisties on public roads. Pros died with this level of performance in similar conditions when racing....
The vintage stuff is a good comparison. Back in the days where there were no artificial rules to slow cars (really cutting edge), real possibility of dying, hell the real possiblity of taking the spectators with you. When you think about it a S2000 is essentially the equivalent to 1950's level race car performance, except safer and with better brakes. Going full out on actual roads ... it takes guts and/or stupidity. I think of this whenever I read a thread hear about a "newbie" driver racing the twisties on public roads. Pros died with this level of performance in similar conditions when racing....
03-24-2005, 04:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Fongu,Mar 22 2005, 08:14 PM
Going full out on actual roads ... it takes guts and/or stupidity. Pros died with this level of performance in similar conditions when racing....