02-22-2006, 09:41 AM
I have not driven Shennendoah, but I have some questions regarding having that track as one's first event.
I feel the first big hurdle for a first-timer is learning the layout of a track. Once you start remembering which turn is next you can start having fun. My first event was at Watkins Glen, which is a fairly simple layout, and it still took me about a day (3 sessions) to remember what was next, and that was with a bunch of visualization, videos, and studying. Only then did I really enjoy myself. Before that I was struggling just to turn the right direction, much less to follow the line...
Shenendoah is complicated, at least from the videos and as a passanger, with more than twice the turns of Summit Main. I have ridden @ Shennendoah with Chad and by the end of the session I was only about 50% accurate on anticipating the next turn.
I'd be worried that for a first timer, that's thinking about so many things at once, that Shen. Circuit would be asking a lot and could very easily become frustrating rather than fun. It's improtant for a first timer to have the time of their life on their first event, it's what gets them hooked. Had I left Watkins Glen feeling defeated or disspaointed I wouldn't still be driving on track. Instead I felt on top of the world, that I made a big dent in figuring out the major points of the track, and that I couldn't wait to go at it again.
I have no doubt that it's an awesome track and I can't wait to drive it, I just want to make sure it's the right choice for someone's "first" track experience.
Pete
I feel the first big hurdle for a first-timer is learning the layout of a track. Once you start remembering which turn is next you can start having fun. My first event was at Watkins Glen, which is a fairly simple layout, and it still took me about a day (3 sessions) to remember what was next, and that was with a bunch of visualization, videos, and studying. Only then did I really enjoy myself. Before that I was struggling just to turn the right direction, much less to follow the line...
Shenendoah is complicated, at least from the videos and as a passanger, with more than twice the turns of Summit Main. I have ridden @ Shennendoah with Chad and by the end of the session I was only about 50% accurate on anticipating the next turn.
I'd be worried that for a first timer, that's thinking about so many things at once, that Shen. Circuit would be asking a lot and could very easily become frustrating rather than fun. It's improtant for a first timer to have the time of their life on their first event, it's what gets them hooked. Had I left Watkins Glen feeling defeated or disspaointed I wouldn't still be driving on track. Instead I felt on top of the world, that I made a big dent in figuring out the major points of the track, and that I couldn't wait to go at it again.
I have no doubt that it's an awesome track and I can't wait to drive it, I just want to make sure it's the right choice for someone's "first" track experience.
Pete
http://www.85xr.com
1985 Merkur XR4Ti Track Car
2013 Ford F-150 FX4 Ecoboost
E46 BMW 330Ci Sport 5spd
1973 Honda CL125S
1985 Honda CX500
2013 Arctic Cat 700 ATV
2017 Onewheel +
1985 Merkur XR4Ti Track Car
2013 Ford F-150 FX4 Ecoboost
E46 BMW 330Ci Sport 5spd
1973 Honda CL125S
1985 Honda CX500
2013 Arctic Cat 700 ATV
2017 Onewheel +