Finding more speed at California Speedway

I recently had my first outing at California Speedway. I must say I didnt know how much G-load I would feel on the high banking. This was also a shake down test for the ITB car I am building. I was surprised at the time I got for a car with a engine in it with 278,000 miles on it and the heater and air-conditioning still all present and working.

There were two places were I know I should be faster but not sure how to get there. The first one is the first left right combo coming off the banking on the back straight. I was in 3rd and found myself either staying in third or shifting down to 2nd at the transition from the left hander to the right hander.

The next place is the tricky decreasing radius turn I believe its turn 8 and 9. I come in hot in 4th hard braking to 3rd then roll about 30ft and while turning trailbrake and drop to 2nd or stay in 3rd if I can carry enough mommentum.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

My best time of the day was 2:17.850 kinda slow for ITB but i can still pull weight out and drop in a fresh motor. Its not bad for our first time out there, at least thats what I feel. I had a blast I had that special grin on my face for most of the day.

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Toodles,
Stacey_B AOL IM: SCCAStaceyIB 1990PGL SCCA STSL "Girls Do It Better" Cal Club T&S, BWRP,WS,Lag,Hallett www.scpoc.com : www.probetalk.com Racing is my life. Winner One Lap of America 2003- SSGT2 class 1996 Ford Probe GT.

Stacey,

I don't hold any speed secrets or records at that track so value the below at slightly less than you paid for it. http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/wink.gif Actually, I am much more competitive at other tracks than there. That oval just kills me. No ponies...keep up with most until S/F and then watch them pull away..I can't even stay in the draft when I am on their gearbox for the first 1/4 mile of the straight!! http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/mad.gif

Anyway. The Left/Right combo coming off the oval is not tremedously important to lap time but is for position. The long braking zone coming off the oval -> track 1/2 mile wide -> funneling into a 90 degree left that is one car wide makes for a good passing opportunity going in (Cleveland Grand Prix Turn 1-like). No passing opportunity between the left and the right. The straight after the right is short and someone would really have to blow the left/right combination to have a pass completed on that short straight. Assuming that you don't nail it and someone gets a fender on you going into the next left hand sweeper, they are going to have to be on the driver's right, putting them out in the marbles for the sweeper. Concentrate on the exit of that sweeper because of the long straight afterwards. Getting a good run through that sweeper, down the straight and through the chicane is important to your time.

The off camber decreasing radius corner that is next is what I believe you are referring to as 8 and 9. If so, this is another deal where it is really wide in the braking zone after a fast straight. Another good place for a pass going in. With little opportunity to complete a pass before the next chicane. If you are not being challenged for position (going in) you can afford to hang to the outside and leave the 40 feet of track exposed on the inside. Get it slowed down more than you think you should and get on the gas sooner. Carry speed out of that corner and enter the next chicane more from the right. Many people exit "8-9" and stay left after tracking out and then have to turn right/left for the chicane. Tracking out after 8-9 and going diagonal across the track will set you up for a much straighter, no lift required, run through the chicane and the next semi long straight. A half MPH faster through the chicane will guarantee you a pass on any similarly powered car down the next straight.

Your mileage may vary.

Added on edit--if you find yourself carrying more speed through the chicane than most, don't crawl up onto them in the chicane as you will have to lift a tad prior to exiting the chicane. Killing your momentum down the next straight. Give yourself 1/2 a car length prior to entering the chicane after 8-9. You will exit the chicane close enough to complete the pass prior to the braking zone. Probably just prior to going under the bridge.


[This message has been edited by Quickshoe (edited March 11, 2004).]

Thanks for the help. It makes sence! I will have to get it a try next time I'm out there. They had a lot of tall tire barriers out there so straight lining the chacanes was really hard as the outer edge of the tires were right out sitting on the rummble strip. http://Forum.ImprovedTouring.com/it/eek.gif My Autocross experience helped with that. I was running a lot closer to the tires than a few people were. Just because I know how much spacing I have around my car. Shooting between two tire walls at near 100 is a rush!