I have raced motorcycles at Brainerd for years.. I LOVE the track... no where elso on earth is there a turn like Turn 1... it's a shame it's going to be all changed :(
It is a great track and will continue to be... The new track configuration will not change any of the current track. So there will actually be a track inside the track. The new shorter track uses turns 2 through 7 of the existing track. It starts just before T8 with a right-hand carousel and then comes back in at about the Apex of T1. You'll really love the new track as well. It is what Blackhawk should have been but wider and safer. Thanks for the comment!
With just under a 1 mile straight leading into it - you're right, it's stupid fast... For some, it's what draws them to race there - for others, it scares the ever living Do-DAH out of them.. I crashed this Cobra a year later when my air-dam ripped off on the exit of this turn and I drove over it. GPS data said I was at 137 MPH when I left the track. The car went airborn and when I landed I was lucky to keep it straight but crashed into the trees still doing ~70 MPH. We fixed it to race again.
A buddy of mine just put together a factory five cobra that has an air-dam like that. What caused the crash? the sudden aerodynamic change when the air-dam came off, or was it when you ran over it?
I think that it was a combination of the two. The car immediately did a left-shift with the left side wheels dropping off the surface of the track. I tried to get it back onto the track, but the soft soil just sucked me in and that's when I hit the raised portion of an old grown-over access road. Cobras are just not that aero at speed. I have raced the car without the airdam and found that turning it at over 135-140 MPH is a real trick. The airdam cut about 5MPH off the top speed of the car.
I just had surgery for a detached retina and macula about a month ago... spent 2 weeks on my left side in bed. I have barely driven at all in a month. You know change in pressure could cause the gas bubble inserted in your eye to explode.
That sure looks fun but, in my opinion, it's not worth losing an eye over.
Different doctors & procedures? I had a Scleral Buckle procedure. Was in the hosp 6 hrs or so total. Bed rest 2 days & back to wrk. Doc didnt like the idea of racing. He did say that if I had crashed it would likely not cause any probs with the healing at that point. He also didnt like the idea of me riding my motorcycle.. Its been 2 years and Im just really getting back into riding as the peripheral vision will never be what it once was. I hope the healing from your surgery goes well.
Thanks - we will! :) With the track under new ownership now, there will be many more great races at BIR. BTW -Did you know that we're going to be racing there Labor Day weekend 2008? It is the 40th Anniversary of BIR.
Thanks.. I've got a new camera system I'm working with a remote microphone. I tried a remote mic with this camera and for some reason it doesn't disconnect the camera's mic when it's plugged in.. And we always thought that Sony meant No-Baloney.. :)
Quite well actually - a little loss in the peripheral vision but doesn't pose a problem. I'm still very sensitive to light and fumes though and I never was before.
Hey Randy
That doesn't look very fast (only kidding) ;)
GT40Bill 3 years ago
I guess you had to be there.... :-)
rvandeloo 3 years ago
I have raced motorcycles at Brainerd for years.. I LOVE the track... no where elso on earth is there a turn like Turn 1... it's a shame it's going to be all changed :(
ProfessorIgor 3 years ago
It is a great track and will continue to be... The new track configuration will not change any of the current track. So there will actually be a track inside the track. The new shorter track uses turns 2 through 7 of the existing track. It starts just before T8 with a right-hand carousel and then comes back in at about the Apex of T1. You'll really love the new track as well. It is what Blackhawk should have been but wider and safer. Thanks for the comment!
rvandeloo 3 years ago
That turn one looks stupid fast. Definitely a big hp track.
OCofthe3 3 years ago
With just under a 1 mile straight leading into it - you're right, it's stupid fast... For some, it's what draws them to race there - for others, it scares the ever living Do-DAH out of them.. I crashed this Cobra a year later when my air-dam ripped off on the exit of this turn and I drove over it. GPS data said I was at 137 MPH when I left the track. The car went airborn and when I landed I was lucky to keep it straight but crashed into the trees still doing ~70 MPH. We fixed it to race again.
rvandeloo 3 years ago
A buddy of mine just put together a factory five cobra that has an air-dam like that. What caused the crash? the sudden aerodynamic change when the air-dam came off, or was it when you ran over it?
OCofthe3 3 years ago
I think that it was a combination of the two. The car immediately did a left-shift with the left side wheels dropping off the surface of the track. I tried to get it back onto the track, but the soft soil just sucked me in and that's when I hit the raised portion of an old grown-over access road. Cobras are just not that aero at speed. I have raced the car without the airdam and found that turning it at over 135-140 MPH is a real trick. The airdam cut about 5MPH off the top speed of the car.
rvandeloo 3 years ago
I just had surgery for a detached retina and macula about a month ago... spent 2 weeks on my left side in bed. I have barely driven at all in a month. You know change in pressure could cause the gas bubble inserted in your eye to explode.
That sure looks fun but, in my opinion, it's not worth losing an eye over.
livedon2 4 years ago
Different doctors & procedures? I had a Scleral Buckle procedure. Was in the hosp 6 hrs or so total. Bed rest 2 days & back to wrk. Doc didnt like the idea of racing. He did say that if I had crashed it would likely not cause any probs with the healing at that point. He also didnt like the idea of me riding my motorcycle.. Its been 2 years and Im just really getting back into riding as the peripheral vision will never be what it once was. I hope the healing from your surgery goes well.
rvandeloo 4 years ago
I Live in Brainerd, and it's always a pleasure to have racers in town in the summers. Most of us don't mind ya bein' here, so keep comin' back!
AdNoctum007 4 years ago
Thanks - we will! :) With the track under new ownership now, there will be many more great races at BIR. BTW -Did you know that we're going to be racing there Labor Day weekend 2008? It is the 40th Anniversary of BIR.
rvandeloo 4 years ago
Indeed, there is a decent chance I might be there.
I rarely, though, ever miss the Show & Go :)
AdNoctum007 3 years ago
fix the wind noise and please send more...great video, thanks for sharing.
Fastskippy 5 years ago
Thanks.. I've got a new camera system I'm working with a remote microphone. I tried a remote mic with this camera and for some reason it doesn't disconnect the camera's mic when it's plugged in.. And we always thought that Sony meant No-Baloney.. :)
BIR is a gas...
rvandeloo 5 years ago
How's your retina healing?
oldflatus 5 years ago
Quite well actually - a little loss in the peripheral vision but doesn't pose a problem. I'm still very sensitive to light and fumes though and I never was before.
Thanks for asking and Merry Christmas!
rvandeloo 5 years ago