Check it out!! Cool Vid of a ride around at VIR in 1998 before renovations!
04-28-2010, 12:16 AM
#1
Burning Brakes
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Location: Up in front.... At the finish line.....
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Check it out!! Cool Vid of a ride around at VIR in 1998 before renovations!
It's amazing what the facility that is now VIR grew up from!! Take 8 minutes to check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4kwF5mg1Vg
Some cool info here also -- http://www.virhistory.com/
Joe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4kwF5mg1Vg
Some cool info here also -- http://www.virhistory.com/
Joe
Last edited by sleeper02Z06; 04-28-2010 at 12:20 AM.
04-28-2010, 09:04 AM
#4
Drifting
Very cool find! Couple of notes since the new track configuration was supposed to have been laid directly over the old circuit:
- South Bend (T10) appears to have been a broader turn back then. To me, I think it is a shaper turn now than what it looks like in that video.
- The dip before the braking zone of T14 seems to be more drastic now. I wonder if they dug that out or if the ground settled? My 99 Cobra would bottom out at 141mph in that spot which is why it caught my eye.
- More camber in T15 now
- DAMN! I see why it is call HOGPEN! Good lord. They definitely filled in the outside of T17/17A. That is a heck of a drop-off.
- LOL, that tree at the kink on the front straight is MUCH bigger now. And the pavement drops off towards T1 much more nowadays.
- I would have like to have seen the Uphill Esses.
-Kevin
-
- South Bend (T10) appears to have been a broader turn back then. To me, I think it is a shaper turn now than what it looks like in that video.
- The dip before the braking zone of T14 seems to be more drastic now. I wonder if they dug that out or if the ground settled? My 99 Cobra would bottom out at 141mph in that spot which is why it caught my eye.
- More camber in T15 now
- DAMN! I see why it is call HOGPEN! Good lord. They definitely filled in the outside of T17/17A. That is a heck of a drop-off.
- LOL, that tree at the kink on the front straight is MUCH bigger now. And the pavement drops off towards T1 much more nowadays.
- I would have like to have seen the Uphill Esses.
-Kevin
-
04-28-2010, 10:20 AM
#5
Safety Car
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Quite a change in the track from when I ran it in 1969 to today's configuration. It is much safer with greatly improved run off areas, tire walls etc. The bridge was very dangerous without safety barriers at the base, and was much closer to the track surface. In the old days it was truly a "cow pasture" track, but one of the best available at the time. I would love to see some video of an event on the old track - unfortunately digicams were not available. Any one know of any available ??
04-28-2010, 10:33 AM
#6
Racer
that's awesome 
gotta love the old school tracks w/ character, where you feel like you are actually going somewhere. not like these current alan wilson type tracks, which are a bit bland IMHO
gotta love the old school tracks w/ character, where you feel like you are actually going somewhere. not like these current alan wilson type tracks, which are a bit bland IMHO
04-28-2010, 11:37 AM
#7
Drifting
That's pretty cool. I love historical stuff like that. I will be there for the first time in June with the NCM. Neat to see the before pictures.
Tim
Tim
04-28-2010, 12:41 PM
#8
Race Director
they claim the actual track surface has changed very little, ie the centerline is the same with some widening. Obviously the off-track experience is much different
04-28-2010, 02:54 PM
#11
Burning Brakes
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Location: Harriman Tennessee
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Quite a change in the track from when I ran it in 1969 to today's configuration. It is much safer with greatly improved run off areas, tire walls etc. The bridge was very dangerous without safety barriers at the base, and was much closer to the track surface. In the old days it was truly a "cow pasture" track, but one of the best available at the time. I would love to see some video of an event on the old track - unfortunately digicams were not available. Any one know of any available ??
