We'd take a fan-to-racer convert any day, George!Originally Posted by GEORGE SCHAGAR
I will become a member and do the corner work but it will be at lost to CMRA giving I'm a regular at the track as a fan and have in multiple occasions brought friends with me to CMRA events.
I promise it won't be at a loss to the club ;-) :-0
Look forward to welcoming you to the on-track fun!
Alan Etheredge, Associate and Interested Observer ~2003-2019
At-Track Registration Staff ~2003-2017; CMRA Administrator 2009.
I don't know if you're aware or not but you just singled me out with this description.
Co-Founder, Bison Track Gear - Bespoke suits, gloves, and track apparel. www.bisontrack.com
On a serious note, I registered on these CMRA boards about a year ago and one of my first posts ever was a thread "CMRA at COTA?" in which I asked... "why not?". Of course we all determined it all comes down to money, and there simply wouldn't be enough. But after attending the Lone Star LeMans and Moto GP at COTA I've come to realize that the facility is in and of itself an entirely different beast than the venues on our schedule. As the wife and I walked around during Moto GP I imagined to myself not only the logistics of a CMRA weekend there, but what a sprint race would look like on the track. At 3.4 miles, the track is a full half-mile longer than the longest we currently race upon (TWS). Most of the turns are high-speed sweepers, with the tightest most technical turns coming at the end of long high-speed straights. Great for fast cars and very fast motorcycles, not necessarily great for club racing - especially those on ULW bikes.
Years ago I attended a National VW R32 owner's gathering at Hallett. There were people from all over the US, many of which had tracked their cars at world-class venues - Infineon, Daytona, Watkins Glen, Laguna Seca, etc. - and each of them just raved about Hallett's technical layout and elevation changes. They said after a few laps those big tracks just got boring, which I never even thought of. It makes sense, unless you're piloting a massively fast machine a long straightaway is kind of just a big pause in between the fun stuff. Ironically, the biggest complaint any of the R32 guys had about Hallett was a common one among cagers: it's just a bit too narrow... but it would be perfect for motorcycle racing!
Co-Founder, Bison Track Gear - Bespoke suits, gloves, and track apparel. www.bisontrack.com
Having rode CotA several times, I don't find it worth the extra price. And racing 'up' (C bike in a B or A class) would be very difficult due to the long straights towards the end of the course including one at the finish line. I'd rather spend the money in travel and go to Barber.
-Cody
On a serious note, I registered on these CMRA boards about a year ago and one of my first posts ever was a thread "CMRA at COTA?" in which I asked... "why not?". Of course we all determined it all comes down to money, and there simply wouldn't be enough. But after attending the Lone Star LeMans and Moto GP at COTA I've come to realize that the facility is in and of itself an entirely different beast than the venues on our schedule. As the wife and I walked around during Moto GP I imagined to myself not only the logistics of a CMRA weekend there, but what a sprint race would look like on the track. At 3.4 miles, the track is a full half-mile longer than the longest we currently race upon (TWS). Most of the turns are high-speed sweepers, with the tightest most technical turns coming at the end of long high-speed straights. Great for fast cars and very fast motorcycles, not necessarily great for club racing - especially those on ULW bikes.
Years ago I attended a National VW R32 owner's gathering at Hallett. There were people from all over the US, many of which had tracked their cars at world-class venues - Infineon, Daytona, Watkins Glen, Laguna Seca, etc. - and each of them just raved about Hallett's technical layout and elevation changes. They said after a few laps those big tracks just got boring, which I never even thought of. It makes sense, unless you're piloting a massively fast machine a long straightaway is kind of just a big pause in between the fun stuff. Ironically, the biggest complaint any of the R32 guys had about Hallett was a common one among cagers: it's just a bit too narrow... but it would be perfect for motorcycle racing!
This. And this.
I've never ridden COTA and I'm sure it's a "fun" track but I think any effort put forth in going to a new venue should be directed towards Barber.
Would a combined event with WERA work at Barber? yes, I know we can go race with WERA, but it sounds like it would make for a good weekend.
i dont know man.. i had plenty of fun on my 600 when i rode it their and routinely passed bigger bikes. The argument kinda goes out the window for me when i see the moto3 guys are running faster lap times than pretty much everyone that has done a ridesmart day at cota. I do understand it would be harder because of the skill levels in our club but seeing a smaller bike go faster tells me i need to get better my self. Perfect example is that I was trying to chase down cleland at the last outing.. i was on a built 1000 and he was on his built 600.. i couldnt keep up. he left me after half a lap.
Expert #425
2016 ESSE ULWE 2nd Place
2018 250 ULWE Class Champion!
2019 500 SS ULWE Class Champion! 2019 ULWE Overall Champion!
2020 500 SS ULWE Class Champion! 2020 ULWE Overall Champion!
Matt, I'm not sure what you mean or are potentially blinded by...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circui...as#Lap_records
2014
Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas
Moto3
2:16.342
I've had about 4-5 people ever pass me out at a RideSmart day at CoTA (and have done at least 6 of them), and my best lap is only a 2:23.5, so there's probably about 1-2% of RideSmart attendees coming close to Moto3 lap times.
It's not "pretty much everyone", it's really "everyone, but a very-very rare handful"...
Last edited by Greg Gilstrap; 01-13-2017 at 12:43 PM.
YouTube "N7HEVN"
2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2016, #628
Skeptical of that Wiki article. It says V8 Supercar record is faster than Formula 1. Can that be? Also, some of the motorbike records don't jive with other online records I found. That may not lessen your point, though.
Provisional Expert #98
I do think it is mostly rider but I can't exactly just go buy a moto3 bike for 5k either. There is a reason they are soo fast.
Novice #728
Lucas Oil - Vesrah - BD Racing - Vortex Racing - Shorai Batteries - Sidi Boots - Josh Henke
Torquasaurus #98
Will we be running MSR in Houston CLOCKWISE?
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