Daytona-Merge Lane/First Horseshoe Turn

Brandon Fry · Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 2:16 pm Post subject:

Lame!

See everyone there.

Jeff DeMello · Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 3:26 pm Post subject:

Typical WKA not listening to its members
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Jeff DeMello
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Gene Davis · Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 6:19 pm Post subject: Daytona

For your information we asked about running the old course and were told by Daytona that their insurance carrier does not want karts or motorcycles to use the old course. The curbing they put in will launch a kart or bike.

Gene

Jeff DeMello · Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 6:22 pm Post subject: Re: Daytona

jim rogero · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 2:23 pm Post subject:

Dan Davis · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 3:30 pm Post subject:

Steve Kilsdonk · Joined: 09 May 2002 Posts: 137

The international horseshoe corner was definitely the most contentious corner on the track all weekend for me. It felt like a street course with the cones delineating the edge of the track.

The corner radius dictates that a wide entry is fast, so running right next to the grass and thus the cones is a must. Lap after lap I was nervous that I was gonna trip over one of a dozen cones, though it never happened. Would have been a much worse outcome than running wide onto the grass.

If there can't be a discussion to use the proper course layout, then at least get rid of some of the orange cones.

William Lewis · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:18 am Post subject:

Mike Arnold · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 11:08 am Post subject:

What if you ran Daytona backwards in clockwise direction then the pit merger would not be a problem in or out of the pits and the start of races would have more room. You would have to slow down considerably for entrance onto the infield but I think this would be a safer race and set up for better races at the finish line.

Just a thought!

Mike

Jamie Webb · Joined: 30 Aug 2001 Posts: 584

Has a kart ever blown that turn and hit the wall? If not, what led to the decision to make the change? Was it an insurance person that have never seen the track or karts racing?
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Mike Arnold · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:18 pm Post subject:

Jamie,

I think it came from the track officials and not WKA. The reason given was there were curbs made for cars for the 24 hr Rolex that they thought would upset a kart or motorcycle so now all bikes and karts can't use that section of the track.

The concern I had 2 yrs ago was the merging traffic for pit exit with race traffic. It was not ideal in my opinion.

Mike

Steve Kilsdonk · Joined: 09 May 2002 Posts: 137

Sure looks like the same serrated curbing at both horseshoes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptoex2rLd5o

Brian Wilhelm · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:10 am Post subject: ?

I didn't like it in 2011, I didn't mind it nearly as much this year.
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Brian

Keith Buffo · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:55 am Post subject:

It is the same curbing in both horseshoes, as well as throughout the infield. I have been hit in the hand by a tossed cone there. Not pleasant.

When racing, the fastest way to exit the horseshoe now is to use as much of the pit-out asphalt as possible and hope that drivers coming onto the track see you and yield... but this being racing, they are pushing hard to come up to speed while negotiating an artificially narrow space. And if they do not push hard, they are deposited into the racing line at a very slow speed with no throttle response due to the gearing... some deal with this by just going straight in the racing line as they come up to speed, others move to the right somewhere between pit-out and the kink (you're never sure where because there is no blend line.) Even if they look before moving right, the speed difference can be so extreme that with a quick glance they aren't always able to see or properly judge the closing rate of a somewhat distant kart coming straight at them. I imagine that this is only more difficult in the laydown karts.

My understanding is that this configuration comes from the track and their insurance company, not WKA. But I do see it as WKA's role to advocate for the membership. I assume that they have, hope that they continue to given that everyone's goal is the safest racing possible.
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Keith Buffo · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:14 am Post subject:

Mike's idea of running it backwards is interesting for the reasons he states. The big challenge beyond it flying in the face of all tradition is the handling of pit-in. Entering the pits from either horseshoe would cause the inverse of the current issues plus the addition of karts trying to get plug chops by rolling through the entire turn and all the way down the access road. Coming straight onto pit road might work, but it would be totally blind... so where would you brake, and how would you know where the guy ahead got on the brakes if you can't see him? Then there is the (tunnel?) wall entering the infield off the banking from NASCAR 1. Okay, I guess probably not, but it's fun to imagine racing the place backwards. And the novelty could be a great promotional draw.
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