Road America

Road America
North 7390 Hwy 67
Elkhart Lake, WI 53020-0338
(800) 365-7223 (voice)
(920) 892-4550 (fax)
www.roadamerica.com
info@roadamerica.com

Comments:

Road America is really a beautiful track, but the paddock is way too small. The facilities include RV hookups, showers, large bathrooms, and probably the best food you'll find at a race track. Like Road Atlanta, it pays to get there early to set up. Overflow pit parking is on a terraced hill outside the main paddock. There is a fair number of electrical outlets available along the hot pit wall. Be sure you pack the raingear, as the track sits close to one of the Great Lakes.

Racing notes:

Grab a track map off of Road America's home page and come along with Bob for a lap:

Road America has three top gear straights, a 180 degree carousel, and a lot of pavement (4 miles). Coming into T1, you're carrying a lot of speed from the front straight. Drop down three gears and flow through the corner. Run wide to the outside and get on the gas for a run down to T3.

T3 is the start of the infield straight. Getting a good drive out of here is vital. Get on the gas as soon as you can, grab the draft if it's there, get your butt up on the tail of the bike for good aerodynamics and start running through the gears. The braking zone for T5 is in a downhill section. T5 is about 90 degrees and tightens up past the apex. Hard on the brakes, make the turn and start heading up the hill to T6.

T6 appears as soon as you crest the hill. Light brakes and downshift once either before the crest, or after, when the bike has settled back on the ground. Exit T6, move to the far left of the track and set up for T7. You can take T7 at full throttle because it opens up on the exit. Aim for the far left side of the track on exit, move back to the right and set up for T8.

The braking zone for T8 is also downhill, so be careful. You need a good drive out of T8 for the carousel, so get on the gas as soon as you can. If it's been raining, watch the track under the bridge as you enter the carousel - it will be slick. Carry as much speed as you can through the carousel and watch for the turn to open up at the exit. There's some curbing on the right - that's the reference point to straighten her up, grab a gear and get going for T11.

T11 is a short, sweeping turn. Roll off just a bit to settle the front into the turn and power through. The exit of T11 leads onto the back straight. Grab all your gears and get ready for T12. T12 is really bumpy at the apex, but carrying speed through here is important. Brake, drop two or three gears and roll through on the gas.

The apex of T13 is blind, up a short hill. Take it on the inside, roll to the outside and head for T14. If it's been raining, the track under the bridge at T13 will be slippery, so be careful.

T14 leads on to the front straight. A good drive out is important. Hold off the turn-in point, crank it over and give it the gas. Run through all the gears up the hill and down the straight and head for T1.

Repeat ....

Bob