October 27, 2008
Monticello Motor Club Videos and Traqmate Data
Lapping MMC South Course on October 24, 2008. BMW M Coupe.
CG and I were at the Monticello Motor Club on Friday, first time actually driving. It was a NASA/PDA track day on the South Course but the club's management was kind enough to give everyone a taste of the full track in the afternoon. Then, apparently, some clown ruined it for everyone and we were relegated back to the South Course for the rest of the day...oh well.
It's a very exciting facility, the full track is spectacular and even the smaller south course is fun to drive. At about two miles it has a great variety of turns that reward good lines and trail braking. Prospective members should note we found proposed future improvements to the track layout spot on and that those designing the course are very much on the ball.
The track will get its final paving layers and curbing next year and when complete it will really be something special. If you get a chance to drive any of the courses at the Club, don't miss it. As a reference, I annotated pictures with some hints that might save you precious laps when you finally do get there. We saw many people struggling to find the line all day and we so hate to see laps wasted, trust us, painted lines are OK to drive over!
The last four frames pertain to the full track. A video lap of the full track is after the jump HERE
Download my Traqmate files for the SOUTH COURSE and the FULL COURSE.
In the parking lot there was a very healthy dose of exotics including two factory cars, a Nissan GTR and a bizarrely optioned Corvette ZR1 there to do a comparison test for Playboy of all things. The driver evaluating the cars was described to us as "an intermediate student over driving the cars"... see why we want to do our own tests?
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Freepie Likey. What tires were on the MCoupe for that video?
ReplyDelete-Freep
old Kumho 710, by the last session (video on top) I had chorded the front left.
ReplyDeleteNew tires would easily cut 2 secs off that time.
Wait, was that an FX45 at the end? ;)
ReplyDeleteYou were very fast out there... meant to go over and say hello
I wasn't there but I saw a buddy complaining on Facebook about an SUV in one of the sessions... so probably it was.
ReplyDelete-Freep
What happened in the bottom vid at 1:30?
ReplyDelete-Freep
Didn't know the guy...I learned my door donuts lesson... :o)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, that was an FX, nothing like the Giant Red Dodge Pick Up Truck in the intermediate group!
ReplyDeleteI loved the track and the place. Also had a chance to do full blown courtesy laps on the North Course with no traffic!
ReplyDeleteAwesome place. Very technical with lots of features (tons of off-camber sections). A real driver's and handling track; very different from the typical straight and turn - on a at time only - tracks in the NE, that just become a contest of HP and grip.
The track following the contour of the terrain felt very European-like, and other than for the 3/4mi straight in the Long course, speeds are on sanity's side with perceived good runoffs (I spun once and didn't got worried about approaching a barrier)
Not sure if the #s of becoming a member make any rational sense, but sure it will be a non-brainer justified impulse purchase!
The guy "complaining" about the SUV on track is a friend of the FX owner busting his chops.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was a phenomenal track. No I won't be taking out the checkbook for a membership ;(
Great videos. Yes I love the track too. Too bad we only got the full course for one session. I doubt we'll have such an oppurtunity next year :-(
ReplyDeleteDid you guys try to talk the owner of the red GTR into donating his car for your GTR vs GT2 shootout?
ReplyDeleteThe GT-R belonged to Nissan and Mr. Nissan was not there....
ReplyDeleteWell, if they don't get too many more members, they may open it up a few more times next year to try to convince people to become members :)
ReplyDeleteAs for the red GTR, it was SLOW. I don't know if the owner/driver was still trying to orient himself to the car or what but it took him several turns to catch and pass one of the rental Mustangs I was instructing. I do know of two GTRs in the tri state area that I could try to convince.
Please do try and convince owners, that would make the threat of any Nissan supplied ringer moot and validate the test more.
ReplyDeleteDon't write MMC off just yet. It's very likely on PDA's schedule in 2009. Hopefully, the long course will be offered and it should only be for DE3 and above.
ReplyDeleteNice drive on the worn 710s!
I don't know about MMC. It's suggested that, regardless of the lack of membership, the owners will keep the track as a "private racetrack" for as long as they can. I wouldn't hold your breath for any capital improvements in the future.
ReplyDeleteCapital improvements like the new curbing and paving that will happen by next season? Like the new clubhouse that will be starting soon? Or do you mean capital improvements beyond that?
ReplyDeleteI saw this Z3 at TKX yesterday. Nice piece!
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