Sears Turn 1

[Devoid]

I was hoping to make it to the races this weekend to spectate, but just couldn't make it.
It look's like based on the times posted and lack of incidents reported that the AMA config. was a non-issue.
For those who did race, how was it?

Thx.

[afm199]

Please don't say it was a non issue. It provided huge amounts of drama for BARF posters for months. This is significant and not to be scorned.

Stay tuned for a similar thread on race entries and much juicy drama.

[Mick-e]

I only saw one bike go down in 1, but I lost count of the number of bikes that went down in 9.

[FlatulentDan]

I like it both ways. It's fun to fly up 1 like a crazy man... but it's also fun to jump the rumble strips like a crazy man.

in F1 we went into turn #1 three wide... we all came out safely in single file. I thought it went well.


EDIT: now... turn #11, I am begining to HATE turn 11 !!!!

[TheButcher]

So, it is safe to say that the AMA turn 1 was a Success? Personally, I thought it was a great addition and have not heard any complaints thus far.

Comments?

[lokisdog]

Originally posted by dstanton
So, it is safe to say that the AMA turn 1 was a Success? Personally, I thought it was a great addition and have not heard any complaints thus far.

Comments?

Yep, FWIW my vote is it's a good thing. Like Dan I kinda liked jumping the curb, got me more fired up and I got to pretend I was Yates for a split second... ;-)

Made T2 better I think, it would be interesting to see if any data exists to see if there were more or less crashes in T2 this time.

[TheButcher]

Made T2 better I think, it would be interesting to see if any data exists to see if there were more or less crashes in T2 this time. [/B][/QUOTE]

I agree. Turn 2 is now a 2 or 3 line corner instead of a 1 line corner. IMO

[Rummo-YZF]

I enjoyed it, one more turn to get passed in on the brakes!!! Even though it's a slower turn it's still wide and can carry quick speeds.

[jtigert]

I agree fully with Dave, it was a much safer way even with the few minor incidents. I am still not sure about the drag race to the line though, I could see not making the corner since I was braking just before the finish line on the big bike.

[TheButcher]

I just read Barb's race report and there were no crashes reported in the new turn 1. FYI.

I do know that Dave Kunzelman ran straight off in turn 1 in Sat practice but, stopped safely in the NEW run off area.

[joe]

Dave, AMA T1 is so last week. Get with the times! Didn't you hear about the KFG stuff? Now that's hot.

[Holeshot]

Originally posted by dstanton
I just read Barb's race report and there were no crashes reported in the new turn 1. FYI.

I do know that Dave Kunzelman ran straight off in turn 1 in Sat practice but, stopped safely in the NEW run off area.

...more than once! He was getting to be a pro at it.

[TheButcher]

Originally posted by joe
Dave, AMA T1 is so last week. Get with the times! Didn't you hear about the KFG stuff? Now that's hot.

Thanks for the heads up Joe. This getting old stuff sucks!

[TWF]

Originally posted by dstanton
So, it is safe to say that the AMA turn 1 was a Success? Personally, I thought it was a great addition and have not heard any complaints thus far.

Comments?
one more chicane between 6 and 7 and it will be perfect sv track :)

[Adiggity]

It took a while to get used to but I also liked it due to the fact it did open doors for turn two. I still don't quite have it down yet but hell, I don't think I had the old one completely down. It's still a race track despite all the controversy.
I do believe it safer though.I also had a friend run off there and made it out and back on the track without any mishaps.

Edit: And even though I bought one, I didn't NEED a radiator guard once!

[GPgofast]

I also blew turn 1 in practice trying to find a decently deep brake marker. Safely got it slowed down and safely reenetered the track. I think everyone I knew saw it also, it seems EVERYONE made some kind of wise ass remark about my issues...I think the new T1 improves the safety of Infineon a great deal.GP

[HellFyre]

I liked it. A lot. I do sort of miss the balls-out run up the hill, but this is cool, too.

I gotta say, though, you can't punch out from the time-clock at the checkered flag. You've still got to brake hard and make that turn.

[Mick-e]

Originally posted by GPgofast
I also blew turn 1 in practice trying to find a decently deep brake marker.

That's funny. By blowing my brake marker in the FIV race I had to "go for it" to make the turn only to find out how slow I had been going through that turn th whole time. My last lap of FIV was my fastest lap of the entire weekend. I was wishing I had that happen earlier. I bet we see more incidents there next month as people get comfortable with the new turn, and try to make things happen there.

[Trogdor]

Originally posted by FlatulentDan

EDIT: now... turn #11, I am begining to HATE turn 11 !!!!

You didn't crash in turn 11 *again*, did you?

[joe]

Am I the only one who thought it made it hard to pass outside-in in T1/T2? I only made a few passes in T2 all weekend and I usually knock one every few laps on the outside of T1 in the old config.

[markermck]

I liked it quite a bit. Personally, I found that it made passing in T2 easier at times. I loved playing high-speed dirt biker across the exit curbing too.

I will say though that I did experience the "what if you're drag race to the finish line" thing, during F40. Another rider held the throttle longer than he would have normally on his 1000, in an effort to make it past my 600 by the flag. He did not succeed in beating me, but he did succeed in forcing himself into a position of HAVING to run up through the cones to keep from running us both off the track in T1 due to his approach speed.

Also, I did see 1 crash in T1 this weekend, so Barb's report would seem to need corrected. A rider low-sided when he ran off into the dirt on the outside of the turn.

[GPzPop]

Originally posted by markermck
Also, I did see 1 crash in T1 this weekend, so Barb's report would seem to need corrected. A rider low-sided when he ran off into the dirt on the outside of the turn.

Here's the scoop from behind the protective (ha ha ha) haybales.

two crashes on saturday practice - a single (lowside in the dirt) and a double (side-to-side contact - divergent lines - one bike continued, one went down late exit, riders right, taking a second rider who crashed going evasive)

Zero, zip, nada, no crashers on T1 sunday raceday.

We got our exercise running to set cones on the starts (and again on the restarts)

OMFG watching the FP start from the vantage point of hunkered down at the end of pit wall, waiting to set the cones for the remaining laps, as the bikes accellerate from the green flag thru T1 inches away from my face (100mph plus at that point?) ... intense doesn't seem to quite capture it.

Photogs and videogrophers might want to explore this shot - with a remote controlled camera!

Also, we were specifically watching for bikes blowing the cones on the checkered ... I did not see anyone pass thru them. (although a couple of bikes didn't quite make the turn and went wide thru the dirt. )

Also, it was pretty funny how many riders saw us cornerworkers cheering them at the checkers, did a double take and turned their heads back to start-finish to confirm that the checkered flag was indeed thrown.

Of course, t2 and t9 more than made up for our lack of spectacle. the t9 handler, Drew, said he lost count at about 12-13 bikes to pick up sunday.

slow for the cone zone!

see you next race

--Simon

[AFMBud]

Dave,
This getting old stuff isn't that bad really. I refuse to believe I'm 51. When the helmet goes on I'm 25 again.(only without the additude)

The new AMA turn 1 was fun. I hope we continue to run it that way.

[markermck]

GPzPop said:
Also, we were specifically watching for bikes blowing the cones on the checkered ... I did not see anyone pass thru them.

-------------------------

Trust me, there was definitely one who did. I was glad he did it too, else he and I would have been in the dirt on the outside of T1.

[GPzPop]

That might have been when I was handling vs. on com / flags - Ruben and I were trading off.

We were watching for it and calling everything into race control.

AMA's in 2 weeks!!!!!!! next AFM round in 3weeks!!!!
See all'yall there

--Simon

[omegajeff]

Originally posted by joe
Am I the only one who thought it made it hard to pass outside-in in T1/T2? I only made a few passes in T2 all weekend and I usually knock one every few laps on the outside of T1 in the old config.

i did so much passing going up the hill to T2 on the outside....it was great! it really helped my cause because starting 63rd in F1 was not a great position for me (as i missed the first race, therefore got a shitty grid position at race 2). i moved from 63rd to 19th during the race, and a lot of my passing happened going up the hill.

[Jackdog]

I didn't like it a first, but come sunday I was loving it.

[tommygunracer]

I liked it :thumbup , they did improve it bit from the last time we ran it in 2003 . it still needs more paved run off area though. thay should pave that turn right to the tire wall thay stuck out there. our pave it to meet turn 6 that way it would be like turn 9. you blow t9 and you have the option to turn around and get back on the track without any dirt being involved or just continue to t10( tigert 600sb ) :teeth