Thursday, October 04, 2007
Buttonwillow Raceway - Race Configuration 1 Clockwise
Buttonwillow Raceway
I just ran there yesterday for the 1st time and that track is great. It's got lots of turns and configurations. I ran Race Configuration 1 clockwise with the Golden Gate Lotus Club. These guys put on a great bare bones event. There were about 60 of us divided into 2 groups. There are 3 20 minute sessions every hour from 10 to 12 and 1 to 5. The 1st group can run the beginner or intermediate sessions. The 2nd group can run intermediate or advance sessions. That comes out to 40 minutes of run time per hour for 6 hours. That's 12 20 minute sessions. NASA gives you 4 20 minute sessions. SCCA and most other vendors gave you 5 25/20 minute sessions. This is basically 3 track days in one and most guys don't run all the sessions they're entitled to, including myself.
I ran off track twice, but that's only 0.66 run off average per normal track event. considering how many sessions I got. This track have lots of run off space, but it's full of soft dirt that'll shoot up in the air and hang for minutes. Your car, inside and out will be completely covered. Even my center console compartment got dirty that time I spun out in the dirt. I checked all my wheels and had to gouge out small pebbles lodged between the wheels and tires. Running clockwise on Race Configuration 1, there wasn't really any chance to hit solid objects, but if this same configuration was ran counter clockwise, Sunrise will be quit dangerous.
Here's my strategy for Race Configuration 1 running clockwise. All the turns there have names instead of numbers because of the ability to configure the track in so many different ways.
Sunrise:
Standard 90 degree turn. Becareful not to get you wheel on the outside berm when braking. Hit the inside berm.
Offramp
Late apex on the left before the tight loop. Brake hard and down shift to 2nd. Turn hard toward the the apex and add gas. The inside of the track is banked before the apex. The car should be straight enough to shift to 3nd near the exit.
Another line is to early apex the left before the tight loop. You would be coming down the middle of the track approaching the tight loop have have a better braking area. Do a double apex here.
Cotton Corners (CC)
Slow down a lot, and turn at the end of the left berm. Run over the inside berm and stay inside. Tap you brakes and late apex the left turn and run over the berm. Stay inside. Slightly late apex the right turn out of CC and get on the gas ASAP. Upon exit, get to the outside to prepare of Grapevine.
Grapevine
If you exit CC right, you're car will push all the way to the outside. As soon you get to the outside, you'll probably start your right turn for Grapevine. Make sure to run over the inside berm to maximize you exit speed.
Club Corner
The funnest series of turns. This turn is much faster than it seems and the Miata is full throttle here. I had to lift slight before or after the turn to get back on the right side for the next turn. It may be possible to take the next turn at full throttle w/o moving all the way to the right side. Something to try next time.
Bus Stop
Be careful not to touch the outside berm when braking. It's easy to do and will seriously unsettle your car. Look at the exit point and run over the inside berm completely. This turn is pretty fast. Immediately move to the left side to prepare for the next turn, however, you probably won't be able to get all the way to the left before starting the next turn. This is full throttle for the Miata until Riverside.
Riverside
Stay around the middle of the track and look for the exit apex. The outside of the track may have debris. I have to lift slightly to get the front pointed to the apex, but don't do this abruptly. This is like Thunderhill turn 2 running backwards. At the exit of this turn, get back to the right side before Lost Hills.
Lost Hills entry turn
Full throttle, throw the car at the apex, and run over the inside berm. You got lots of space on the right side, but don't use it all because you want to be on the left for the next turn.
Lost Hills exit turn over blind hill
Slow down a lot and use a really late apex. I turn at the very end of the berm on the left and run over the inside berm. You should be able to go full throttle as soon as you get the car pointed at the apex. There's some broken pavement on the blind side of the inside berm. Don't worry about it and it's OK to hit a bit of dirt here. coming over the hill, your car should be pointed toward the apex of the next turn already. Just stay on the gas and run over the inside berm for the next turn too.
If you take this car too early, and find that you are still turning after the apex, you'll probably have to lift off the throttle to avoid running off. This is due to the traction lost while going downhill plus there's a small dip.
Mazda Star
I got a few different suggestions for this turn from fast drivers. I believe the line for this one depends solely on the type of car. If done right, both turns can be turned into a single big turn. I was able to do this a couple of times, but I also ran off here and got my car covered in dirt. This is almost like Thunderhill 14/15. I late apex the 1st turn by waiting until I'm past the left berm before my turn in. I see another Miata with 15" R compounds turn in early and faster, so it depends on the car and setup. Once I get the car turned, I start to get on the gas and aim for the exit point. The exit is about 3/4 of the way on the exit berm. For the exit turn, I suggest you maintain full throttle and aim the car the best you can toward the entry for Esses.
Esses
Run over the 1st berm complete and then just touch all the other berms. My Miata is running ~6000 RPM in 3rd here, so I shift before I hit the berm. You should be able to accelerate all the way though here including the last left. I did run over the last left's inside berm once and it wasn't too unsettling. But a car with stiffer suspension or higher speed may want to just touch that last berm.
Sunset
This turn is much slower than it appears and you'll be carrying lots of speed into it. I slow downed to about 4000 RPM in 4th before DS to 3 while still braking. I start my turn in near the end of the berm and can gas it pretty hard through the turn. I was pretty careful with this turn because I ran off the track here in the morning.
I just ran there yesterday for the 1st time and that track is great. It's got lots of turns and configurations. I ran Race Configuration 1 clockwise with the Golden Gate Lotus Club. These guys put on a great bare bones event. There were about 60 of us divided into 2 groups. There are 3 20 minute sessions every hour from 10 to 12 and 1 to 5. The 1st group can run the beginner or intermediate sessions. The 2nd group can run intermediate or advance sessions. That comes out to 40 minutes of run time per hour for 6 hours. That's 12 20 minute sessions. NASA gives you 4 20 minute sessions. SCCA and most other vendors gave you 5 25/20 minute sessions. This is basically 3 track days in one and most guys don't run all the sessions they're entitled to, including myself.
I ran off track twice, but that's only 0.66 run off average per normal track event. considering how many sessions I got. This track have lots of run off space, but it's full of soft dirt that'll shoot up in the air and hang for minutes. Your car, inside and out will be completely covered. Even my center console compartment got dirty that time I spun out in the dirt. I checked all my wheels and had to gouge out small pebbles lodged between the wheels and tires. Running clockwise on Race Configuration 1, there wasn't really any chance to hit solid objects, but if this same configuration was ran counter clockwise, Sunrise will be quit dangerous.
Here's my strategy for Race Configuration 1 running clockwise. All the turns there have names instead of numbers because of the ability to configure the track in so many different ways.
Sunrise:
Standard 90 degree turn. Becareful not to get you wheel on the outside berm when braking. Hit the inside berm.
Offramp
Late apex on the left before the tight loop. Brake hard and down shift to 2nd. Turn hard toward the the apex and add gas. The inside of the track is banked before the apex. The car should be straight enough to shift to 3nd near the exit.
Another line is to early apex the left before the tight loop. You would be coming down the middle of the track approaching the tight loop have have a better braking area. Do a double apex here.
Cotton Corners (CC)
Slow down a lot, and turn at the end of the left berm. Run over the inside berm and stay inside. Tap you brakes and late apex the left turn and run over the berm. Stay inside. Slightly late apex the right turn out of CC and get on the gas ASAP. Upon exit, get to the outside to prepare of Grapevine.
Grapevine
If you exit CC right, you're car will push all the way to the outside. As soon you get to the outside, you'll probably start your right turn for Grapevine. Make sure to run over the inside berm to maximize you exit speed.
Club Corner
The funnest series of turns. This turn is much faster than it seems and the Miata is full throttle here. I had to lift slight before or after the turn to get back on the right side for the next turn. It may be possible to take the next turn at full throttle w/o moving all the way to the right side. Something to try next time.
Bus Stop
Be careful not to touch the outside berm when braking. It's easy to do and will seriously unsettle your car. Look at the exit point and run over the inside berm completely. This turn is pretty fast. Immediately move to the left side to prepare for the next turn, however, you probably won't be able to get all the way to the left before starting the next turn. This is full throttle for the Miata until Riverside.
Riverside
Stay around the middle of the track and look for the exit apex. The outside of the track may have debris. I have to lift slightly to get the front pointed to the apex, but don't do this abruptly. This is like Thunderhill turn 2 running backwards. At the exit of this turn, get back to the right side before Lost Hills.
Lost Hills entry turn
Full throttle, throw the car at the apex, and run over the inside berm. You got lots of space on the right side, but don't use it all because you want to be on the left for the next turn.
Lost Hills exit turn over blind hill
Slow down a lot and use a really late apex. I turn at the very end of the berm on the left and run over the inside berm. You should be able to go full throttle as soon as you get the car pointed at the apex. There's some broken pavement on the blind side of the inside berm. Don't worry about it and it's OK to hit a bit of dirt here. coming over the hill, your car should be pointed toward the apex of the next turn already. Just stay on the gas and run over the inside berm for the next turn too.
If you take this car too early, and find that you are still turning after the apex, you'll probably have to lift off the throttle to avoid running off. This is due to the traction lost while going downhill plus there's a small dip.
Mazda Star
I got a few different suggestions for this turn from fast drivers. I believe the line for this one depends solely on the type of car. If done right, both turns can be turned into a single big turn. I was able to do this a couple of times, but I also ran off here and got my car covered in dirt. This is almost like Thunderhill 14/15. I late apex the 1st turn by waiting until I'm past the left berm before my turn in. I see another Miata with 15" R compounds turn in early and faster, so it depends on the car and setup. Once I get the car turned, I start to get on the gas and aim for the exit point. The exit is about 3/4 of the way on the exit berm. For the exit turn, I suggest you maintain full throttle and aim the car the best you can toward the entry for Esses.
Esses
Run over the 1st berm complete and then just touch all the other berms. My Miata is running ~6000 RPM in 3rd here, so I shift before I hit the berm. You should be able to accelerate all the way though here including the last left. I did run over the last left's inside berm once and it wasn't too unsettling. But a car with stiffer suspension or higher speed may want to just touch that last berm.
Sunset
This turn is much slower than it appears and you'll be carrying lots of speed into it. I slow downed to about 4000 RPM in 4th before DS to 3 while still braking. I start my turn in near the end of the berm and can gas it pretty hard through the turn. I was pretty careful with this turn because I ran off the track here in the morning.
# posted by Mack @ 12:12 PM 
