Day five: Motorsport Ranch, Cresson, TX (3 track configurations)
Today's One Lap challenge was held at Motorsport Ranch Cresson, which offered One Lappers three configurations: a 1.3-mile loop, a 1.7-mile loop with some bigger corners and longer straights, and a 3.1-mile circuit which combines the 1.3 and 1.7 segments.
Because we'd agreed to share the on-track driving responsibilities, to give both of us a taste of these new-to-us tracks, we decided to split it up by having me drive the 1.3-mile and 1.7-mile events (which came first, during the morning) and having Doug drive the 3.1-mile combined circuit—that way, both of get to experience nearly the same amount and sections of track. Most of the serious One Lap of America teams opt to have only one driver running at each track venue, in the interest of allowing that driver maximum seat time and providing that individual the opportunity to apply what he or she learned in the morning to the afternoon session, obviously with the objective of going faster in the second session.
Doug and I got lots of excellent tips and insights from our mutual friend Mark, who is a very fast driver and drove at MSR Cresson during the One Lap of American event in 2015.
Here is the video of Mark driving the 3.1-mile "full course" loop during One Lap '15... both Doug and I studied this to get a sense of the speed, the lines through each feature, the turn-in points, etc.
https://youtu.be/Y4fR7dMD-Io
And here he is hauling butt through the 1.3-mile loop: https://youtu.be/L3Oac-K6-LI
And the 1.7: https://youtu.be/VHnCCj4XIbY
Doug and I both drove somewhat well (considering our total unfamiliarity with this track before today) to move up a position to 7th. And knock on wood, no mechanic issues (the TPMS warning light and message has not returned). Huzzah!
During one of my hot laps, I did manage to confuse the pit-out road with the actual track, which obviously cost me a significant amount of time, even if I did manage to stay on the track surface. I'm guessing at least one full second.
We also went to Toyota's massive building/office in Plano, TX, after leaving MSR, as a required passage control stop. It wasn't the most exciting place I've been, but Toyota did have a complement of modified Camrys on display. At least one or two were show vehicles built for SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Manufacturer's Association event held in Las Vegas every year.
Tomorrow we're competing at New Orleans Motorsports Park in Avondale, LA, on a big, flat, and fast track. I lived in New Orleans many years prior, and I'm hoping for a chance to eat a bunch of mudbugs for lunch after leaving NOLA, or barring that, at least some gumbo, ay-too-fay, or a catfish po-boy...
Because we'd agreed to share the on-track driving responsibilities, to give both of us a taste of these new-to-us tracks, we decided to split it up by having me drive the 1.3-mile and 1.7-mile events (which came first, during the morning) and having Doug drive the 3.1-mile combined circuit—that way, both of get to experience nearly the same amount and sections of track. Most of the serious One Lap of America teams opt to have only one driver running at each track venue, in the interest of allowing that driver maximum seat time and providing that individual the opportunity to apply what he or she learned in the morning to the afternoon session, obviously with the objective of going faster in the second session.
Doug and I got lots of excellent tips and insights from our mutual friend Mark, who is a very fast driver and drove at MSR Cresson during the One Lap of American event in 2015.
Here is the video of Mark driving the 3.1-mile "full course" loop during One Lap '15... both Doug and I studied this to get a sense of the speed, the lines through each feature, the turn-in points, etc.
https://youtu.be/Y4fR7dMD-Io
And here he is hauling butt through the 1.3-mile loop: https://youtu.be/L3Oac-K6-LI
And the 1.7: https://youtu.be/VHnCCj4XIbY
Doug and I both drove somewhat well (considering our total unfamiliarity with this track before today) to move up a position to 7th. And knock on wood, no mechanic issues (the TPMS warning light and message has not returned). Huzzah!
During one of my hot laps, I did manage to confuse the pit-out road with the actual track, which obviously cost me a significant amount of time, even if I did manage to stay on the track surface. I'm guessing at least one full second.
We also went to Toyota's massive building/office in Plano, TX, after leaving MSR, as a required passage control stop. It wasn't the most exciting place I've been, but Toyota did have a complement of modified Camrys on display. At least one or two were show vehicles built for SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Manufacturer's Association event held in Las Vegas every year.
Tomorrow we're competing at New Orleans Motorsports Park in Avondale, LA, on a big, flat, and fast track. I lived in New Orleans many years prior, and I'm hoping for a chance to eat a bunch of mudbugs for lunch after leaving NOLA, or barring that, at least some gumbo, ay-too-fay, or a catfish po-boy...
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