Go to about 7:50 and watch Dave get whacked:
Also, interesting to watch someone else driving a car similar in performance to ours (thankfully, though, we didn’t have any clutch slippage). Notable that they just plain stay out of trouble: pass when possible, but generally drive conservatively.
Driving Tips, Knowing Is Half of the Battle!, Race Analysis, Videos
So I wondered if Google Maps had a good close-up of MSR Houston. Turns out they do. I decided to try to match the YT videos of people doing laps at past YEE-HAW Lemons with the map image. As I thought, the entire race track is not used for Lemons–they cut out the 2 longest straights. I’m sure MSR Houston required that, as they aren’t too keen to have their tarmac gouged by a handful of driveshafts busting out of their transmissions. And if not a wrecked tranny in that ‘88 Crown Vic, there would probably some stupid number of blown engines brought on by that extra 4000′ of straight track.
Also interesting is that Lemons races backwards/clockwise. Here is the MSR track layout. You’ll notice that the “standard” Turn 1 is our (last) Turn 11. But, on the MSRH Videos Page, click the “SCCA SM 1 of 3″ link and you’ll see some “real” racers in Miatas run the track, in the same direction that we will (although they run the front and back straights). I’ve found it helpful to write down the course (T1-hard right, S-curves, hairpin, etc.) on a piece of paper then follow along as you watch someone’s driving video. I figure if I do this enough before the race rolls around, I’ll not be seeing/learning the track the first time I’m behind the wheel.
Back to Google maps: I’ve made my own map (first time) of the track, and put my best guess at the racing line on there. Thoughts? Don’t know if others can edit/add to it or not; I added as “collaborators” those of you whose email addresses I know. Last thing–you’ll see that the Google image doesn’t show the larger turn-out of Turn 11 onto the Pit straight.
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