0Chin Motorsports

An interesting article posted up, listing the 17 best race tracks in America (8 of which are on our calendar ).

Not sure I agree with the order though in terms of a "must drive" track... anyone else notice a few good ones missing?

http://www.supercompressor.com/rides...cks-in-america

383 Z06

Thanks for the new bucket list

millstreet

for those of us in the NE. the Glen. VIR. and Road Atlanta, make a pretty good starting point

Andy

JRL

#1,2,13 are all within 2 hours or less from my house

0Chin Motorsports

Have yet to drive it, but is Thunderhill really a better driver's track than VIR, Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta?

Werks

#1, 2 & 13 are in my backyard too and I consider THunderhill to be my go to track. In regards to your question I have not ran at Watkins Glen or RA but I have run at VIR a few years ago and it's a fun, fast, technical track. Thunderhill is a track that I would consider to be technical, challenging and fast but also safe (good run off room, few walls to hit) now with the new 2 mile addition it's even better! The combined 5 mile track provides you with a lot of elevation changes in corners which requires a ton of commitment to be fast (as you simply can not see where the corner goes lol), a lot of tight technical sections, fast clowing sections etc. etc. In essence it has it all!

Here is some video of a few laps from last week on the small (3 mile track) when I was testing some new pads (so a bit slow):



I've run the 5 mile track a couple of times but have not uploaded any video yet so here is a quick one I found on-line just to show the new addition:



As you can see with the new addition the track has it all, fast, slow, flowing, blind corners, high speed corners, tight low speed corners etc. etc. etc.

rfn026

I would not put Sebring or Daytona on this list. I drive both of them and while they're fun they're not even close to Road America or Lime Rock. Sebring is just so flat it's silly. I really miss the hills in the northeast.

This list would be better if it only had 6 tracks. 2 on each coast and 2 in the midwest.

My all time favorite was Bridgehampton. It was a pain getting out on the island but the track was really fun. I would also have to put Lime Rock on my list.

Richard Newton
Historic Racing Images

parkerracing

Second for The Bridge. R.I.P.

Iconic

I agree about Sebring. I've driven it and will probably never go back. Im glad to have driven it but I'd drive PBIR again before I'd drive Sebring. Road America is far funner. I do like Daytona though, that track is a blast.

Dan H.

Looks like I need a truck and trailer!

and a better job!

0Chin Motorsports

I think the draw to Daytona is the outright speed vs. the technicality compared to some of the other tracks. However, Daytona does have some of the nicest facilities with close proximity to hotels, restaurants, nightlife and the beach!

I'm surprised to hear that you'd drive PBIR over Sebring. It is definitely flat and very rough, and would say the lack of elevation change doesn't make it as enjoyable as a track with elevation change. Although, would you consider the bumps under the bridge at Turn 17 elevation change?

Iconic

The draw to Daytona is, as you say, the speeds. I'd also say the highbanks add to it. My favorite high bank track is Talladega, but I've only done high speed parade laps, not a full blown HPDE.

I know Sebring is the holy grail for some, but I think most guys who've driven both Road America and Sebring would give the nod to RA as being funner. If I lived in central Florida I would spend more track time a Sebring, but I'm just to far away and RA is right here in my backyard.

Yes I'd say the bumps and crack fill at Sebring do count as a slight elevation change

You guys should rent Talladega and have a HPDE.

0Chin Motorsports

The feeling of driving at speed on the high banks is something someone must do at least once in their life, with the centrifugal force pushing you into your seat. It is definitely a feeling you don't get at other tracks!

Yes, with Road America in your backyard, it's hard to justify the 2 day drive to Sebring more than once, other than to check it off your bucket list.

Robert R1

I would swap Sears point with thunderhill.

Bill32

I'd put Sears at #1. But ThunderHill in the top 5.

But this thread is geared towards HPDE.

There's a HUGE difference between driving on a track and racing on one.

Sears is a tough track to race on, that's what makes it so good.
What's not so good is that Burton Smith owns it.

What makes ThunderHill so good is the amount of passing opportunities per lap.
For HPDE drivers, it's a great high speed track. The new addition's added the technical sections (great improvement).

indianavette

From what's been revealed about the new National Corvette Museum track, where do you think it will fit? Primary layout 3.1 miles. 21 turns, some of them designed to match Le Mans corners, some elevation change. Grand opening next week.

Hat_Trick_Hokie

Never heard of that track, so I just looked up some videos. Wow, that looked like a neat place to drive

63Corvette

Dr Chin, I ave raced at ALL of these tracks except for:
1) Miller Motorsports park
2) Lime rock Park
3) Barber Motorsports park
4) Willow Springs
5) VIR
6) Thunderhill
I guess there is still time to try those

Bill32

It's really hard to say, I haven't found a real track map and website idiots have the maps scrolling so fast that you can't take a good look.

The only vid I've seen is on dirt.

It's hard to comment on a track until you've actually driven it.

At a quick glance, it looks like it's going to be a great track.
Looking forward to a video at speed.

0Chin Motorsports

We'll be at Barber Sept 20-21 (registration is open) and VIR Oct 26-27 (registration opens Monday); come on out!!