The Driver's Edge - TWS Sept 28/29th

[Klepper1]

My wife (135is) and I (1M) will be there. Anyone else going?

[E92M356789]

I'll be there

[jphughan]

Same. Lots of firsts for me all in this event: Yellow, BBK, and race pads. Should be exciting!

[Klepper1]

This will be my first time at TWS. I am looking forward to it!

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by Klepper1

This will be my first time at TWS. I am looking forward to it!

You'll love it. It's a very fast track, both because its long straights reward high-horsepower cars and because its fairly mild braking zones overall except for Turn 2 mean that momentum cars can still get around plenty fast, and everyone's brakes get a break. It's fairly easy to get comfortable with the track but it's still challenging enough to keep people coming back, and the fact that it can be run both directions makes it even more interesting.

A word of warning though: The runoff areas range from only slightly bad to absolutely terrible. It's not as if car damage is guaranteed no matter where you go off (I've gone off a few times in a couple places without issue), but there are no "nice" areas to go off, and certain areas (particularly around Turn 7) pretty much DO guarantee damage or even a rolled car. So definitely build gradually at TWS perhaps even more than you normally would at a new track -- and exercise proper respect for Turn 7.

[ZZebes]

I love TWS, Live less than 10 minutes from it and yes, respect turn 7 lol and turn two's braking zone

[bigjae1976]

I'm out for this one.

T7 is OK as long as you don't lift. If you lift, you will hit something on the outside of the track. A tree, an old tire or maybe even a washer! If the backend steps out there's room to get 2 feet in and get the car stopped.

T3 is a bad place. There's the curbs on the outside which will probably tear up a wheel or suspension. And then there's a ditch on the inside where you can launch your car.

Then going off on the outside if T12 can be bad.

But the one that I've seen tear up the most cars is T15.

[surlynkid]

My wife and I will both be there running. Garage spot 44 or 45 I think.

[Klepper1]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

I'm out for this one.

T7 is OK as long as you don't lift. If you lift, you will hit something on the outside of the track. A tree, an old tire or maybe even a washer! If the backend steps out there's room to get 2 feet in and get the car stopped.

T3 is a bad place. There's the curbs on the outside which will probably tear up a wheel or suspension. And then there's a ditch on the inside where you can launch your car.

Then going off on the outside if T12 can be bad.

But the one that I've seen tear up the most cars is T15.

Gosh, I was looking forward to it until reading this! Now I am scared, lol

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

T7 is OK as long as you don't lift. If you lift, you will hit something on the outside of the track. A tree, an old tire or maybe even a washer! If the backend steps out there's room to get 2 feet in and get the car stopped.

T3 is a bad place. There's the curbs on the outside which will probably tear up a wheel or suspension. And then there's a ditch on the inside where you can launch your car.

Then going off on the outside if T12 can be bad.

But the one that I've seen tear up the most cars is T15.

I lifted in T7 in Green my first event ever and lifted a bit once my first time in Blue and didn't have an issue either time, but I also know that's because I wasn't going very fast in Green, and in Blue if I'd lifted completely I probably would have had a real problem. I've gone off the outside of T3 running CCW a couple times (both times because I didn't brake enough and pushed wide) and my car got out both times without any damage whatsoever, but I stayed close to the track. Still, it is VERY bumpy out there and if you haven't scraped enough speed by the time you reach the paved service road that will be a nasty transition for your car. Never been off around 12, but I've seen people push off from going too fast through there and it doesn't seem too bad, at least as long as you don't stray too far.

Funny story about T15: My instructor was out there once and messed up the T13-14 complex. He found himself about to go off the outside of T15 backwards and knew that was a nasty place to be, and he also figured that going 2 feet in wouldn't save him -- so instead he just floored his throttle and put up an ENORMOUS cloud of tire smoke since his rear tires were turning forward while his car was still moving backwards (I guess his car was doing the moonwalk ), and he avoided going off.

Originally Posted by Klepper1

Gosh, I was looking forward to it until reading this! Now I am scared, lol

You should still look forward to it. Just approach it with the proper respect and dial it back for the first few sessions or even the entire first day. You can build confidence at TWS quickly though, so you should be having fun in no time.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by jphughan

I lifted in T7 in Green my first event ever and lifted a bit once my first time in Blue and didn't have an issue either time, but I also know that's because I wasn't going very fast in Green, and in Blue if I'd lifted completely I probably would have had a real problem.

The problem with lifting, especially in the advanced run groups is to be fast through there you need to use the throttle to rotate the car up the hill after the apex.

If you lift the car will run wide and off the track.

If you lift and the back end is coming around, it will shoot you off track at about 80+ MPH. The trees will come up quick.

Texas World Speedway is a track that commands respect and smoothness. Its more of a shit your pants fun...because that's always fun. Vs MSR or HMSR which are more of a fun because of the challenges the track presents...just my opinion.

While I'm on it...quite frankly...I think COTA is BORING!

[Leonelm3-X5M]

Damn, I may miss this...

i think the Houston BMWCCA has a drive this same weekend. looking now

but meanwhile, which Hotel is everyone staying in ( those folks that do Not Live in town)??

[surlynkid]

Originally Posted by leonelhpfm3

Damn, I may miss this...

i think the Houston BMWCCA has a drive this same weekend. looking now

but meanwhile, which Hotel is everyone staying in ( those folks that do Not Live in town)??

i stay in the courtyard for the texas world speedway special rate of $100

[Klepper1]

We are also staying at the Courtyard, but I did not know they had a special rate. Did you just ask for that rate when you booked?

[TXmtrhed]

[QUOTE=bigjae1976;14692058]

T3 is a bad place. There's the curbs on the outside which will probably tear up a wheel or suspension. And then there's a ditch on the inside where you can launch your car.

QUOTE]

For that matter between T3 and T4 can be bad. The pavement is low grip, plus there is the hump which can cause wheelspin in the rain (all rwd cars) or in the dry if you have high HP and low travel suspension (think Corvette). Have seen a couple of Red or instructor cars go off there and end up in the tires.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by leonelhpfm3

Damn, I may miss this...

i think the Houston BMWCCA has a drive this same weekend. looking now

but meanwhile, which Hotel is everyone staying in ( those folks that do Not Live in town)??

Seriously? You are considering going on a lame ass driving miss daisy tour instead of the track?

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by Klepper1

We are also staying at the Courtyard, but I did not know they had a special rate. Did you just ask for that rate when you booked?

Town place suites is usually about $93/night, it's pretty good.

[bigjae1976]

[QUOTE=TXmtrhed]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

T3 is a bad place. There's the curbs on the outside which will probably tear up a wheel or suspension. And then there's a ditch on the inside where you can launch your car.

QUOTE]

For that matter between T3 and T4 can be bad. The pavement is low grip, plus there is the hump which can cause wheelspin in the rain (all rwd cars) or in the dry if you have high HP and low travel suspension (think Corvette). Have seen a couple of Red or instructor cars go off there and end up in the tires.

I've never seen anyone actually crash there going CCW, just videos. The most common one I see is T15 eating up the Porsches.

[Tortoise]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

....Its more of a shit your pants fun...because that's always fun. Vs MSR or HMSR which are more of a fun because of the challenges the track presents...just my opinion.

There's nothing quite like shit your pants fun! Best quote I've seen in a while. I'll be there with several changes of clothes.

[TXmtrhed]

[QUOTE=bigjae1976;14709442]

Originally Posted by TXmtrhed

I've never seen anyone actually crash there going CCW, just videos. The most common one I see is T15 eating up the Porsches.

I wonder why T15 is that way? Porsche physics?

[bigjae1976]

[QUOTE=TXmtrhed]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

I wonder why T15 is that way? Porsche physics?

Yes. But many other marques have hit the wall there.

[Klepper1]

Does anyone know which Track to load in Harry's Lap Timer for the 2.9 mile CCW configuration of TWS? The maps are all described as "Counter Clockwise configuration Gradn Prix configuration (using NASCAR 3+4)", etc.