MSR-H Turn 17

If you would like to send the track General Manager a note with opinions regarding T17, please send an e-mail to:

al at msrhouston dot com

attn: Mr. Mitchell

Several notes have already been sent his way.

done.

From Al Mitchell:

"Thank you for your input. The asphalt is the same asphalt that has been in turns 16 and 17 for the previous two NASA races. As to the turn 17, the turn has always exited against the pit wall. The fact that turn 17 is now narrower limits the speed through the turn and reduces the contact angle against the pit wall. All tracks have corners that have limited room on exit i.e. TWS, TMS, Mid-Ohio, etc, fortunately we just have one. Being an observer of most all the incidences in 17, they were always precipitated by a vehicle going off and electing to come back on the track directly in the line, showing little or no courtesy for fellow drivers. We do appreciate your comments, as we continue to strive to keep MSRHouston one of the safest tracks in North America.

Sincerely,

Al Mitchell"

Another e-mail address: [email protected]

When is the next scca event there?
One of you locals maybe need to attend, observe and report back here regarding the happiness of those competitors after the event.
My money says a reconfig of that end of the track is inevitable.

Plus imagine having a problem with your car and you need to pit.
That pit entrance makes me nervous so I'm gonna watch to my left the track as I make my way on the little entrance road.
But wait, the hans device limits my head turning this far so I have to just pray no car finds my left door.
Call me Reuben Feffer.

jb

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CMC17

they were always precipitated by a vehicle going off and electing to come back on the track directly in the line, showing little or no courtesy for fellow drivers.

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Yea, that would be part of it. That's also a function of course design. A big mud bath right next to the most dangerous corner is probably not the best plan.

The other part of it would be the tires. As soon as the first person goes into the tires, the stored water is sprayed onto the track so the rest of the field can follow them in. It's contagious.

Strangely enough, both of these conditions (bath and tires) existed before the wall was moved and I don't ever remember an issue even when people did go off and drag stuff back onto the track...

It would be really cool if they just moved the wall back to where it was.


Richard P.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CMC17

From Al Mitchell:

"Thank you for your input. The asphalt is the same asphalt that has been in turns 16 and 17 for the previous two NASA races. As to the turn 17, the turn has always exited against the pit wall. The fact that turn 17 is now narrower limits the speed through the turn and reduces the contact angle against the pit wall. All tracks have corners that have limited room on exit i.e. TWS, TMS, Mid-Ohio, etc, fortunately we just have one. Being an observer of most all the incidences in 17, they were always precipitated by a vehicle going off and electing to come back on the track directly in the line, showing little or no courtesy for fellow drivers. We do appreciate your comments, as we continue to strive to keep MSRHouston one of the safest tracks in North America.

Sincerely,

Al Mitchell"

Another e-mail address: [email protected]

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Is it just me or does it seem that "Al Mitchell" is showing not only no sympathy but also no desire to resolve a "frustrating" (edited previous word) situation?
Your thoughts???

Quote:

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Originally Posted by michaelmosty

Is it just me or does it seem that "Al Mitchell" is showing not only no sympathy but also no desire to resolve a "frustrating" (edited previous word) situation?
Your thoughts???

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They way he worded his response....that was the first thing that came to mind.

I expect him to break out the "Shut up and Drive" T-shirts that Eddie Gossage made for TMS back in 1997. :roll:

email sent. I'll post my email and reply when I get a response. I tried to be diplomatic.

My second reponse to Al wasn't very diplomatic and looks like he's flat- lining me now. The last thing I want to see is someone either within this group or any group for that matter seriously injured when it can be prevented/minimized.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by michaelmosty

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CMC17

From Al Mitchell:

"Thank you for your input. The asphalt is the same asphalt that has been in turns 16 and 17 for the previous two NASA races. As to the turn 17, the turn has always exited against the pit wall. The fact that turn 17 is now narrower limits the speed through the turn and reduces the contact angle against the pit wall. All tracks have corners that have limited room on exit i.e. TWS, TMS, Mid-Ohio, etc, fortunately we just have one. Being an observer of most all the incidences in 17, they were always precipitated by a vehicle going off and electing to come back on the track directly in the line, showing little or no courtesy for fellow drivers. We do appreciate your comments, as we continue to strive to keep MSRHouston one of the safest tracks in North America.

Sincerely,

Al Mitchell"

Another e-mail address: [email protected]

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Is it just me or does it seem that "Al Mitchell" is showing not only no sympathy but also no desire to resolve a "frustrating" (edited previous word) situation?
Your thoughts???

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You are correct. Mr Mitchell doesnt have any regard for the Non F1 players at MSRH.
I have had dealings in the past and I have always hung up the phone frustrated and pissed off. What a Moron. I have never ever seen such a tight exit with mud and water at any track ever. When I helped build a Shifter track in Austin, we wrapped the tire walls in heat shrink so that when someone hit them, they would not spray water all over the track and cause the next driver to hit them. We also made sure that tire walls were a last resort by placing them as far away as possible. He has obviously not spent any time behind the wheel of a car that he has built and values.
They will only value NASA tx and our group when we are gone and they are broke $, oh wait they already are broke.

I am sorry the engineers were too ignorant to give the track a clear corner exit and a large pit road. That is terrible. However, if you have to choose between hitting something on pit road at 5mph or wrecking at corner exit into a grabby tire wall at 75mph, what should we choose. It is absolutely ridiculous that we even have to have this discussion. This defies anything resmbling logic. CRAZY.