Gripfest at NCCar - May 11, 2014

[Beej]

I've done this event a few times, and it's a great way to bridge the gap between autocross and track. It is timed, though, so beware the red mist! :twisted:

You run a solo-style single lap, re-queue, and repeat - you'll get about 10 laps in total. One lap at a times mean both street tires and brakes should be up to the task. You do not have to work, but you do have to bring your own helmet. It's $150.

Clicky.

I'm not entirely sure that I'm free that weekend, but if I am, I'm registering.

Full disclosure: shit's Mother's Day.

[Jake]

Full disclosure: shit's Mother's Day.

Dammit. Mom and Dad live locally so I have to do Mothers' Day with them. Maybe I'll convince them to do a family trip to NCCar and do this in celebration. Mom would love it.

Edit: Emailed to ask about convertibles without aftermarket rollbars. It's only 3 hours away. Maybe mom/dad/I could go down the night before, take turns hooning the Crossfire/Miata all day, and head home.

[JPolen01]

Full disclosure: shit's Mother's Day.

Dammit. Mom and Dad live locally so I have to do Mothers' Day with them. Maybe I'll convince them to do a family trip to NCCar and do this in celebration. Mom would love it.

Your mom is a riot. I hope I get to talk to her again at another NASA event!

[Jake]

They will both be at Summit Point in April, Hyperdriving!

Can't make this after all, I'm moving that weekend.

[ScottyB]

some local guys run NCCAR events and the track is pretty sweet from what I hear. big, large radius turns, good speed.

[D_Eclipse9916]

some local guys run NCCAR events and the track is pretty sweet from what I hear. big, large radius turns, good speed.

It's "alright". I think it would be great for a first timer's time trials, but has little/no character. I was bored after the first day (and I had 2 days).

It's basically a big skidpad. I was really happy to have put in my s54 dual sump before, I can see Corvettes blowing up left and right. I would save the money and do VIR/Summit Point 10x over.

[Evan]

ha, never even heard of that place. looks like the designer took a look at Roebling Road and tried to build a track that sucks even worse.

what direction is it run? looks like it would be more fun counter clockwise.

edit: looks like its a research facility. Its layout makes a lot more sense for that.

[navin]

GripFest is run CW I think - saw some comments on their FB page, and people were asking them to run it CCW and they seemed like they would take it into consideration.

[Beej]

lol snobs. Though yeah, it's not as technically challenging as VIR or Summit. Not much elevation change/camber in the turns, and no curbing either. Still a fun time. :-)

They've run it both ways. CW is a bit trickier - the zigzags with decreasing distances between them are harder to get right, whereas CCW you're basically flat all the way through them after coming around the hairpin.

There's not typically a super hard braking point, like at the end of the straight, because it's used for start/stop purposes.