Nice video, Dan. It's amazing how similar the CCW and CW line is. That 7-6-5 combo is intimidating..and the runout on turn 1 vanishes rapidly. Thanks for doing this!
Thanks! Nice video. Very smooth lines. My only suggestion would be to clean your windshield between sessions. ;) I'll be running in this direction next week...first time going to Palmer.
Why do most corners not have curbing? That's really odd and there's big ruts visible that seem like they are waiting to eat wheels and throw debris on the track :-/
From what I've over heard, this is the direction the track was originally engineered to be run in, but after watching your video I just don't imagine it flowing very well or providing enjoyable wheel to wheel racing. You get better track assisted camber on a few turns but overall the course seems tighter. The initial sequence of turns 14-13-12 is a horrible way to start a lap during a race with cars that are two wide trying to trail brake high speed 14 into the slow 13 bottle neck. 12-11 is so long around the outside that you can't work up a pass by taking 13 quicker. Even the sequence of 4-3-2-1 is choppy with each turn getting progressively tighter and that bump where you'd be hard braking into 1 before the straight likely to upset cars and send them spinning into the tires.
Hi Chris, the track actually flows quite well clockwise after all you are correct it was designed to run clockwise. Going into turn 14, you slow down much quicker as the hill is a lot steeper then counterclockwise into turn 1, its fun as the corner is totally blind. You unwind and accelerate after turn 12. Turn 9 is a blast as the camber really increases as you go through the corner. You have to be careful with the speed you carry into 8. Turn7-6 is an unbelievably steep climb into a blind turn 6. Turn 5 -4 feels better clockwise then counterclockwise. Turn 4-3-2 can be taken at a much higher speed than I did in the video. The times on the video are 1:53 laps, about 8 seconds slower then I do counterclockwise but I have only done about 10-12 laps at speed clockwise. I expect to drop about 5 to 6 seconds with some practice. There is no bump that upsets my car during braking going into turn 1 but my car is so low that turn 1 is partially blind until I'm into the corner. The camera doesn't show this but it is mounted up against the windshield. Clockwise is fun plus it gives you a totally new track to learn.
I've driven it both ways and I have to agree with you. To me, it flows better counter-clockwise. It's a challenging and technical course for sure, with many lat (hidden apexes) and mid-corner camber changes. It just feels choppy (and, frankly less safe) going counter-clockwise. But I know a lot of guys enjoy it in this configuration, so I guess ete in the beholder. (nice driving to the OP, by the way)
The curbs are set for counterclockwise, but the curbing at Palmer is not meant to drive on only to protect the dirt. You are supposed to drive on the pavement not the curbs or dirt. My times were not that fast, only 1:53s and not sure of the line I'll eventually drive but I don't feel that much curbing is needed.
Thank you for video and awesome sound
Nice video, Dan. It's amazing how similar the CCW and CW line is. That 7-6-5 combo is intimidating..and the runout on turn 1 vanishes rapidly. Thanks for doing this!
Thanks! Nice video. Very smooth lines. My only suggestion would be to clean your windshield between sessions. ;) I'll be running in this direction next week...first time going to Palmer.
Why do most corners not have curbing? That's really odd and there's big ruts visible that seem like they are waiting to eat wheels and throw debris on the track :-/
That's exactly what happened and my windshield got cracked
From what I've over heard, this is the direction the track was originally engineered to be run in, but after watching your video I just don't imagine it flowing very well or providing enjoyable wheel to wheel racing. You get better track assisted camber on a few turns but overall the course seems tighter. The initial sequence of turns 14-13-12 is a horrible way to start a lap during a race with cars that are two wide trying to trail brake high speed 14 into the slow 13 bottle neck. 12-11 is so long around the outside that you can't work up a pass by taking 13 quicker. Even the sequence of 4-3-2-1 is choppy with each turn getting progressively tighter and that bump where you'd be hard braking into 1 before the straight likely to upset cars and send them spinning into the tires.
Hi Chris, the track actually flows quite well clockwise after all you are correct it was designed to run clockwise. Going into turn 14, you slow down much quicker as the hill is a lot steeper then counterclockwise into turn 1, its fun as the corner is totally blind. You unwind and accelerate after turn 12. Turn 9 is a blast as the camber really increases as you go through the corner. You have to be careful with the speed you carry into 8. Turn7-6 is an unbelievably steep climb into a blind turn 6. Turn 5 -4 feels better clockwise then counterclockwise. Turn 4-3-2 can be taken at a much higher speed than I did in the video. The times on the video are 1:53 laps, about 8 seconds slower then I do counterclockwise but I have only done about 10-12 laps at speed clockwise. I expect to drop about 5 to 6 seconds with some practice. There is no bump that upsets my car during braking going into turn 1 but my car is so low that turn 1 is partially blind until I'm into the corner. The camera doesn't show this but it is mounted up against the windshield. Clockwise is fun plus it gives you a totally new track to learn.
That sounds cool. I definitely want to try it. Maybe one of the TINA events will swap things around next season.
I've driven it both ways and I have to agree with you. To me, it flows better counter-clockwise. It's a challenging and technical course for sure, with many lat (hidden apexes) and mid-corner camber changes. It just feels choppy (and, frankly less safe) going counter-clockwise. But I know a lot of guys enjoy it in this configuration, so I guess ete in the beholder. (nice driving to the OP, by the way)
The curbs are set for counterclockwise, but the curbing at Palmer is not meant to drive on only to protect the dirt. You are supposed to drive on the pavement not the curbs or dirt. My times were not that fast, only 1:53s and not sure of the line I'll eventually drive but I don't feel that much curbing is needed.