Track Feedback

[TYSON]

Where do you run, and how do you like the track? A little feedback from experienced drivers would make sure others have fun on a track they've never been.

I have yet to run an event, but will be running lapping days at Waterford Hills in Detroit, Toronto Motorsports Park, Shannonville Motorsports Park and Mosport. Any insights? Obviously; I AM CANADIAN

[jgraves]

TMP is the longest track the Solo Ontario series runs on. It has two longer straights then a series of linked 2nd and 3rd gear corners and a few short straights. It is possible to break the track into two shorter configurations but we only run the parimeter.

Mosport DDT is the smaller of the two road courses there. It was built for the Bridgestone Racing Academy, can be run in many configurations and both directions. It is the only track we use that is not completely flat. The big track at Mosport is a world class track and I hope to do a BMW school there this year.

There are 4 major configurations at Shannonville of which we use 3, Nelson, Fabi and Pro. Nelson is the original track and easy to get around for a novice but much more challanging to master. Fabi is very technical and a bit bumpy in a few corners. It also has a 400 to 500 meter straight which is part of the drag strip. Pro is the outer perimeter of the other 2, is overall the faster track we run on and turn 2 has some mild banking.

I have never run at Waterford Hills.

[TYSON]

What kind of speeds are we talking about here? And in what car. I want a crack at the back straight on the REAL Mosport track sometime this summer

[jgraves]

I see top speeds between 140 and 155kph on all of the Solo 1 tracks in a basically stock Miata. The Z06 drivers are seeing up to 200kph on the Fabi straight. 200 on a straight is boring compared to a 4 wheel drift through Pro turn 1 at 130.

[rally323]

Our Solo 1 club uses 4 different tracks:

Autodrome St-Eustache: a fun, short technical track near Montreal.

Sanair trioval: East of Montreal, a short banked trioval with a small infield section, can be run in many configurations.

Sanair long track: a simple relatively flat track accross the road from the other track, long drag strip is a straight on this track.

Ste-Croix: near Quebec City, A flat oval plus another section, easy to learn, fun track.

I've also raced at the full Shannonville track last year for the first time and the famous Watkins Glen International. That is by far the most unbelievable track I've ever driven. I didn't know it would be so fun with a low powered car!

[TYSON]

Have you driven Trois-Rivieres? I watched American LeMans there last year and it looked like a nice track.

[rally323]

Actually, Trois-Rivieres is a street circuit, not a permanent track. For closed-wheel cars, only people racing in professional series or CASCAR have raced there, as far as I know. That might change this year, I'll have to wait and see when the schedule comes out, I may have my first chance this year...

[TYSON]

I must be thinking of some other track and some other series then, because this was out in the woods. Any guesses?

[faceplant93]

Probably St. Jovite/Mt Tremblant, north of Montreal. Beautiful track, and just rebuilt very effectively. I hate to admit (because this shows how old I am) that I saw two Trans Am races there in '69 and 70. I was 12-13 at the time, and still remember how beautiful both the area and the women were!

[TYSON]

It was Mt. Tremblant, and it was the Grand-Am series, now I remember! What a beautiful circuit!