HPR Aug 10/11 - course options

[Jim 'smooth' Brewer]

At the risk of angering some of my friends, I'd like to open a discussion about the HPR course layout for our August race.

In May, it made sense to use the north config since I understand some repairs were being done to the west loop. But during that weekend, I talked with 3-4 other racers that didn't like the short configuration. I agreed with them.

Right now we have 3 out of our remaining 4 races on short courses (2 at PPIR, 1 on the HPR north config). Given that we're not doing Pueblo again, I'd prefer to run the full course at HPR rather than shortening it 2 of the 4 times were there this year.

Ready for flames ..

Update - on suggestion of James W., I added a poll. The definitions of north and west configurations are at http://highplainsraceway.com/images/...map-large4.gif

[scottg119]

i like long because i dont get lapped every class i run haha

[aspenbum]

Nay

[HAMMER]

I agree .....long course !!!!

[Peanut_EOD]

I vote for no more Pueblo. :lol:

[polar x]

since its not a vote.......I will OPINE, leave it short. having some variety is nice. plus it keeps the horsepower edge at bay.

[zyconic17]

i think it would be sweet if we ran what I believe is the West course?? Full track but minus turns 9, 10 and 11. it would make the corkscrew a double corkscrew almost!. why dont we ever run that???

[Peanut_EOD]

It scares Shannon. ops:

[The GECCO]

i think it would be sweet if we ran what I believe is the West course?? Full track but minus turns 9, 10 and 11. it would make the corkscrew a double corkscrew almost!. why dont we ever run that???

Dunno....I tried to schedule a round on the west course in 2009 and nearly got lynched.

[Jim 'smooth' Brewer]

I tried to schedule a round on the west course in 2009 and nearly got lynched.

I remember that .. which is why I'm puzzled as to why we've decided to run a short course twice.
It's by far the best track we have and we're not using a good portion of it half of the time we're there?

[gsnyder828]

I didn't like the North Course when we ran it last year - but I got to like it this year and I'm looking forward to running it again. That said, I also think running the West Course could be a lot of fun - I don't understand why some folks are dead set against running it, but want to run the N course again. :?

[rohorn]

No Figure 8 configuration?

[jplracing]

I agree with Jim I think we should run the full course

[The GECCO]

I tried to schedule a round on the west course in 2009 and nearly got lynched.

I remember that .. which is why I'm puzzled as to why we've decided to run a short course twice.
It's by far the best track we have and we're not using a good portion of it half of the time we're there?

I tried to mix it up just for the sake of variety. The argument you make could also be turned around, though, as in "we've got a track with four different possible configurations, why are we only running one of two of them?"

While I can understand while there wouldn't be a lot of support behind the idea of running the "short" course, I don't think it would be unreasonable to run both the west and north configuration once each per year, and the balance of the events (whatever that may be) on the full course.

Just my opinion, worth exactly what you paid to hear it!

[Fastt Racing]

I think the technical course wealth that we have in Colorado ir really good right now. We are blessed with multiple track layouts, and should take full advantage of that. I would like to see Pueblo used twice, PPIR used twice, HPR Full twice, HPR North once, and HPR West once. Yes this is a total of 8 Rounds. If we insist on a 7 Round season, which for next year might still be a descent idea?......then drop one of the HPR Full course rounds. Variety is an amazing luxury, and I think that is one of Jim's complaints "Too much short course racing", so let's mix it up.

After we have raced HPR North, PPIR, and Pueblo, all with airfence installed. It is pretty hard for me to imagine anyone can come up with an overwhelmingly valid arrguement about HPR West not being "safe enough", even with air fence installed near turn 13.

Alright Tony Baker time to channel your inner dictator, and make the controversial choice that I'm sure will get a lot of praise after the event is complete!

[cjmagnuss]

I thought the north course was a lot of fun. I'd love to try the west configuration out too. I do see Jim's point but I'd rather not do back to back weekends on the same configuration.

[WolFeYeZ]

I would also love to do the West course. It looks like a bunch of fun!

[peteyt328]

I agree variety is nice, and I think running the North course once a season is fine. But I think cutting out 1/3 of the track 2 of the 4 times we race there is silly. That being said, I'm happy to get out and ride either way.

[T Baggins]

We looked at West Course again at Round 1 this year. There are two issues with it, imo...

There is quite a transition/drop/seam from 8 to 13 which may be overly upsetting to the suspension. Maybe Glenn has run it and has better input?

With the addition of the curbing around the track, that puts the curb at what would now be the "outside of 8/13, rider's left" in what I would consider "harm's way".

If you stand the bike up, it is a huge jump. If you low-side - you and your bike are most certainly going to launch off of it. And it's tall enough that it could really cause damage to man and machine.

I was quoted in RRW once as saying "Anything you put in, on, or around a racetrack that causes people to crash is a bad thing." I stand by that statement.

Dennis, as for an 8 Round season, I believe it is possible for there to be a return to that in time. I'd sure like to see us get through a 7 rounder... and at least break even at each of them first before we go back to adding rounds.

Pueblo x2 is a huge risk. Every time we go there, we are staring at a possible "total loss on the event" because we can't race there in the rain. This would be a catastrophic loss for the club, and basically everyone would have to simply forfeit their entry fees. There's no way we could refund everyone and keep the club afloat. This happened at an opening round several years ago... and boy did that go over like a fart in church. If/when they ever address the Turn 10 configuration - then I wholeheartedly agree that we can/should do 2 down there. As the 8th round perhaps?

[Wild Cheetah 612]

I kinda like the north course, the bobsled is so much faster.

Oh yes, I also vote for more Pueblo and less PPIR. PPIR is soooooo short and Pueblo is a fast and flowing course.

[HAMMER]

I LOVE PUEBLO !!!! AND PPIR AND HPR ......... DO IT !!!

[DOUBLE A]

:lol: Yeah lets fukkn race!

[tecknojoe]

I love full course

In terms of safety, are we ever pointed at anything if we run the West course?

Airfence saves lives but it doesn't stop concrete from being concrete

[TRK]

Didn't we already do this, BEFORE we set the schedule. When it was discussed at a general meeting, almost every person in the room wanted to race the schedule we are racing.

Take a look:
http://forums.mra-racing.org/viewtop...t=north+course

[Jim 'smooth' Brewer]

Didn't we already do this, BEFORE we set the schedule. When it was discussed at a general meeting, almost every person in the room wanted to race the schedule we are racing.

Take a look:
http://forums.mra-racing.org/viewtop...t=north+course

Good point. Now that we've run the north course a couple times, it seems opinions may have changed, though. Let's see how the poll goes.