I think I'd just hire a faster driver and give him that car :)
I think I'd just hire a faster driver and give him that car :)
oldsaw wrote:WilberM3 wrote:IIRC, that oak tree was always on the outside of the track, behind the run-off area and the barriers. It is/was (maybe replaced by other trees) used as a sighting-point for drivers approaching the Corkscrew. And those trees are growing from an area 20'-30' below track level. It's not unlike the trees used by drivers setting-up their entrance at the 'Ring's Karoussel.triumph5 wrote: I can assure you it was FAR from boring...and does any does anyone remember the oak tree at the top of the corkscrew?yea, boring was probably the wrong word... just reminds me of lime rock where all the corners but one go one direction. i suppose the tremendous speed would make it interesting. was there a peculiarly not removed oak tree up there?
No, it wsn't behind the barriers. You could smack it, if you really lost it way too fast, which is why it's gone today. Without the Andretti hirpin, that track was wicked fast up to the left hander leading up to the corkscrew. It made for some interesting braking duels--ask Howdy Holmes.
Lime Rock, before repaving and configuiring was similar. Sections were really fast for the size of the track. However, of note, it was so rough, coming down the right hander before the main straight, if you didn't hit your marks just right, you wound up in the ruts, and the fence across the track on the other side of the corner suddenly became very large, indeed. Never wound up in it, but, I DO know the grass there.......
Wait for the 1.6 liter turbo F1 cars in 2012, then go for a track record.
In reply to triumph5:
With no intent to de-rail the thread, please link to a pic that shows any tree before the barriers and within the runoff area. I'm really curious!
To get back on topic, the fastest possible lap around any track (without budget restraints) will maximize use of aero, engine/driveline managment, active suspension and tire/brake development; I'd expect an envelope body with everything banned before 1970.
Don't know where to find a pic, but when I went to a racing school there in 1980, there was a tree, and we were warned not to overcook it, or it/and the barrier would bite us.
When we walked the track, we all paused at the top of the corkscrew, and while you couldn't see the base of it, you could see it wouldn't be fun going off there at speed. And the instructor mentioned it again.
I could be wrong, don't think so, for after Zinardi did his short cut, the hill was clear cut back to the fencing. And I do remember thinking of it in the same terms as Charlie Brown's kite-eating tree. But with bigger teeth.
We're thinking of different trees and location.
This is the tree you're noting:
I'm thinking of trees seen from the uphill approach to the Corkscrew; those well beyond the run-off area:
Cars going too fast to make the left-hander go straight-off (like Gonzalo Rodriguez
) and those caught in a mid-turn mess weren't going fast enough in a direction taking them to the tree - usually.........
It's definitely gone now, and that's likely for the best concerns of everyone.
Here's a pic I took of the Corkscrew's top on my Cali trip Summer 2010.
It looks like most of the old growth trees, etc. have been taken out.
Drewsifer wrote: R500 is go?
That's a Levante.
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O.K. Money no obstacle. My record smashing car would be a conglomeration of Formula 1 technology. The active suspension off of the old Renaults. A turbo powered engine with no restrictions. Thinking about an updated version of the TAG Porsche engines that powered Mclaren F1 cars in 1984. Whatever fuel mix the boys in the lab can come up with. Without any rules to follow there's no reason to come up with a car making 1500 hp or more with really sticky, wide tires and tons of downforce. With the added bonus of traction control and stability control there's no reason the record can't get under 50 seconds.
WilberM3 wrote: there's a tree like that at Mont-Tremblant going over the blind turn 2 apex, when youre learning the track just aim for the white bitch tree and you'll be in the right spot
What the hell is a 'bitch' tree? 
racerfink wrote:WilberM3 wrote: there's a tree like that at Mont-Tremblant going over the blind turn 2 apex, when youre learning the track just aim for the white bitch tree and you'll be in the right spotWhat the hell is a 'bitch' tree?
Well according to google:
Tree bitch:
In reply to racerfink:
I don't know, but the one I hit on my 3-wheeler back in hich school was a sonofabitch.
On topic (mostly), a series of events like the UTCC moving around the country where the goal is to smash the track record by the end of the weekend sounds very interesting.
A couple of years ago Ferrari was the featured marque at the Monterey Historics. (held at Mazda Raceway / Laguna Seca) The boys in red brought out one of Schumacher's F1 cars that had been retired a year or two previous. They also had a hot-shot factory driver there with the sole purpose of smashing the track record. They failed.....just couldn't get the speed they needed. One of their older F1 cars also SPLIT in HALF taking turn 6!
I'm sure there are cars that could do it......but it wouldn't be easy.
In reply to Joe Gearin:
Toyota took their year-old F1 car to Laguna in 2006 - and broke the record on the second lap; the TF106 was never renowned as a REALLY fast F1 car. Oh, the previous record was set in 2000 by Castroneves in a Penske Indy-car.
http://www.f1pulse.com/features/Toyota_F1_at_the_Laguna_Seca/features-video-2010-march-features_video20100321_22/video_article.aspx
It is reasonable to believe a current F1 car would easily break Bourdais' lap time. Vettel in a RB6 would cost a lot less than a clean-sheet design, too!
Toyota GT-One.
Mazda 767b.
Built to the hilt Tommy Kaira ZZII.
Of course, this is just the Gran Turismo geek in me speaking.
Didn't someone already do this, although not specifically to beat that record...
oldsaw wrote: In reply to Joe Gearin: Toyota took their year-old F1 car to Laguna in 2006 - and broke the record on the second lap; the TF106 was never renowned as a REALLY fast F1 car. Oh, the previous record was set in 2000 by Castroneves in a Penske Indy-car. http://www.f1pulse.com/features/Toyota_F1_at_the_Laguna_Seca/features-video-2010-march-features_video20100321_22/video_article.aspx It is reasonable to believe a current F1 car would easily break Bourdais' lap time. Vettel in a RB6 would cost a lot less than a clean-sheet design, too! you are correct sir! The Ferrari guys were trying to beat the Castroneves lap, and failed. Sorry....all these years tend to blend together. Oh by the way, make sure to back your computer up. Once the clock hits the year 2000 all hell is going to break loose! oh........wait...
racerfink wrote:WilberM3 wrote: there's a tree like that at Mont-Tremblant going over the blind turn 2 apex, when youre learning the track just aim for the white bitch tree and you'll be in the right spotWhat the hell is a 'bitch' tree?
i hate that damn tree :mad:
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