Is this for real? Did something major happen with that track over the winter, or are we renting bumper cars for the event?
Several years ago, only a few days after paving was completed there, I rode my bicycle around the track with Jim Prosser, Reduc's resident "fast kid", and we both agreed that it wasn't safe even for cars. Apparently, Glenn Goldman, owner of Pro Motion didn't agree, and scheduled ProMotion's first car/ motorcycle track day there this past Sunday. This is what is car now looks like..... Maybe April 1st really is "Fool's Day".
Cars on Shenandoah ?!?!?!?! :shock: WTF? So does anyone know if STT is running this course or not? I though I read something about an actual race there by CSS, so I woudl imagine something positive must have been done to the course. Damn shame, the facility looked really nice. Kind of ghost townish, but still nice. If they took the walls down, I'd take the Supermotard on it
I just saw on Team proMotion's Web site that they now run track days with car sessions. I don't know what to make of that one, not sure I'd feel comfortable going on a track after a bunch of cars have been through. Just take a look at the average parking lot and see all of the fluids that leak out every day! By the way, here's what that Subaru used to look like: Must have been a pretty good fire under the hood. Lots of melting in the aftermath.
Back in the sixties, before I was able to go roadracing, there were several clubs that ran cars and bikes on the track at the same time. Nobody ever stayed with it but I would definitely classify it as "interesting" and not in a fun way.
How is Jim Prosser doing with his race career? He was definatly FAST!! I was hoping to see him do well.
Um... TPM road bikes there last year. I was karting @ the Main course and went and visited them. There is also video of bikes on Shenandoah. CCS has done a couple of events there. Bill Scott's plan for a while has been to get bikers and karters off the Main and on Shenandoah We just don't bring the revenue that the cars do. All we can do is be persistent with track improvements to make the track reasonable for us. Last year our club put on an event @ Shenandoah. First, in September a bunch of us went there and tested and gave detailed results of what we found. I raised all kinds of hell in phone calls and posts recommending serious alterations before we race there. To my dismay few happened and the club raced there the following October (06) The track was a hit. I did not attend in protest. (didnt do any good) I will say the track is very kool (layout) and thinhs could be altered favorably. It is now on our annual schedule. I'll be racing @ Loudon that weekend. I would not race a bike there. Video of the course on a bike by the way is very boring.
So what was done if anything? I mean that track was a flipping death trap when I saw it last year, what could they have done? I would think if CSSis racing there, then something major must have done. Is it safe to assume that kart guys are a little less worried about run-off than bikes? Even still, lining the surface with concrete can't be good for anyone.
The only thing that could be done to make that layout even a little bit safer would be the placement of a couple of stop signs and a speed limit, in which case it would just be another cool but treacherous public road in Summit Point, West Virginia; the same type of roads that caused me to forsake them on two wheels and seek the relative safety of controlled environments. While I've managed to mangle myself riding on racetracks for the last 30 years, if I hadn't given up riding on public roads I'd be dead. Shenandoah, in my humble <g> opinion, is indeed a deathtrap, and due to a design that's primary priority was to fit it into a particular space will always be just that. I will never ride there. While I love Summit Point (wish we had more dates there!) Main, and appreciate their loyalty to motorcycles throughout the many years I've enjoyed the facility, neither of the new circuits are not motorcycle friendly, and Shenandoah is motor vehicle unfriendly. I don't know what they were thinkin'.
ooops....typo; I didn't mean to type "not" in front of "motorcycle friendly". Obviously, I've not only managed to mangle my body, but apparently must have hit my head a few times!!
I agree with the two of you. Rich I am not sure what CCS has done. I was reading posts on there forum last year and asking questions abput the riders opinions. I dont recall if they are using air fence like WERA but it is probably safe to assume they are. To answer your question Rich on whether karters worry less. I would say yes. Example: u see people riding helmetless on the roads. I would bet a paycheck they have never hit the pavement. A little road rash changes ur thinking. I have been karting now for almost three years and have nevr crashed or hit anything. If karters where falling off there karts and being injured or dying there views of a racetrack would be different. Alot of karters are obviously race car fans. Only tracks in the world cars race on w/out walls is F1 So they (karters) do not view a race track in the same manner as us. PS this post topic and insuing replies are one of the things you can do to raise awareness and interest in the matter. People sticking together and raising hell can make a difference sometimes. Putting your views and opinions on other similiar forums can also stir the pot :wink:
We are indeed going to try the new/best layout of the Shanendoah course. We have actually had quite a few request for this track. If folks like it, we'll do it again. If they do not, it will go by the wayside.
I'll be there for Summit Main on Monday, but personally, I'll pass on the Shenandoah circuit. I won't bother with Jefferson again, either. They should've spent the money on repaving the main course instead of wasting it on the Shenandoah circuit. Shame.
CCS is there twice this year :? as for STT, I may go Sunday and watch, maybe make a little BBQ, but I'm not excited about riding Shenandoah. Even if STT had an airfence, I'm not sure I'd do it. Pocono is bad enough... Lance
BBQ? I've heard good things about that... Not sure what time I'll get in Sunday afternoon, gotta work in the morning...
Well, here'a video from a Porsche Turbo in May at Shenadoah: http://www.rpmvideos.com/index.php?lang=en&cat=9&v=J62YCOyUBKY Don't think they guy got out of thrid gear the entire time. What a waste. The track looks better that I remember seeing it, but still, WTF?!?!?! You'd need a lot of airfence for that place. Funny, a lot of cart tracks that ride motards have a few walls up close. Still, you never get out of second gear, so they don't seem as much of a threat. Shenadoah has a possibility of getting up to 4th gear, maybe 5th in a few places. All of which have a nice supply of walls nearby. Hitting a wall at 30 mph is one thing. 65+ is another.
here's a bike video of shenandoah http://youtube.com/watch?v=GvRTh98pqIE :shock: there are walls in a majority of the impact zones. This was maybe okay back when Ago, Surtees & Hailwood ruled the world, everyone wore black leather, pudding bowl helmets and goggles and a Manx Norton was a competitive bike, but even with an airfence, that track is scary.