swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
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posted June 27, 2002 04:45 AM
Pacific Raceways Ride Around
With the reconfig of Pacific Raceways, it deserves a description of a lap on it.
LOOKS CAN BE DECEPTIVE, and Turn One is no exception. To the casual observer, this little kink located on a small hill looks easy, but at 170 mph it's a different story. Bumpy pavement causes handling problems, while the crest of the hill obscures vision just before the riders begin vicious braking at the end of the front straight.
REAR WHEELS CLAW THE AIR as riders brake for Turn Two, which banks around 200 degrees before sending the riders down the hill to the hairpins. Actually a double apex corner, riders are sliding knees and rear wheels as they hit the second apex to get as much drive as possible for the exit.
GET OUT IN ONE PIECE. That's the thought on most riders' minds as they negotiate the technically demanding hairpins that make up Turns Three and Four. Braking after the downhill straight is the first test, and many experienced riders look to pass here. It's up to the individual to choose a path through the hairpins, and the fun comes watching the many lines utilized, and seeing which ones work. Successful riders will be lined up for a good drive down the back straight.
SPECTACULAR PASSES AND CRASHES are the hallmark of the chicanes, made up of turns Five, Six, and Seven. Fans get a birdseye view of the track from the hillside directly behind the grandstands. The chicanes are a difficult mix of turns, elevation and camber changes. Make a mistake in the first turn and not only blow the rest of the turns, but also lose valuable momentum up the hill to Turn Eight. This is another area where the experienced riders gain ground and make passes, hopefully avoiding the crashes.
LAST DITCH PASSING is the order of the day at Turn Eight, because the finish line is coming up fast. While it may appear tame to the track-side viewer, many riders consider Eight the most dangerous part of the track. If you watch closely, you'll see why. As they crest the hill, the larger and faster bikes will become slightly airborne. This has never been known to improve handling. Just imagine dragging your knee under full throttle, and then catching some air, and you will understand the respect riders give this turn.
THERE'S NO TIME TO RELAX negotiating Turn Nine. It's an easy corner to take fast, and many inexperienced riders slow down to catch their breath. But the old pros know that this is a place to make a clean pass, but beware the Bus Stop! Clearly not the time for a coffee break!
JUST WHEN you want to whack it open out of turn 9 you are greeted by a row of cones guiding you into turn 10, the Bus Stop; a tight right hander designed to shave off speed before you hammer the front straight, it WORKS! Coming out of the kink it's easy to loft the front wheel past the grandstands for some Poser points.
A CEMENT WALL greets riders as they leave the Bus Stop, front tires pawing the air, but this is not the time for brakes. The Cattle Chute greets you, a stretch of fresh pavement laid down between two concrete walls. Move to the right and use all the speed you can before tipping the bike left out onto the old straightaway. Beware traffic at the end, as speeds are quite high and a tangle here could be disastrous.
Once onto the old straightaway, cross the start finish line, and that's a lap!
  
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