New Barber Motorsports Park

RACER911RS · 03-17-2003, 04:36 AM

Well, the first race weekend was completed at the new Barber Motorsorts Park just outside Birgmingham, AL. From the track to the facilities - all first class. Some can argue about where this track will fit, but some at the track that did the speedvision series a couple of years ago, said this is one of the nicest tracks in the US. Here are a couple of pictures. Notice the spider in the infield. There are the giant insects all around the course. One has an ant that has a motorcycle in its tenticle.
To those following my car, as normal we ran into some major problems, and with the 12 hours of Sebring and HSR a couple of weeks ago, things have come to almost a stop. I still plan on haveing the car on track April 4th.

Paul

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

Good runoff in that last turn there... Always nice to see,.

MotoSook · 03-17-2003, 06:46 AM

Man! I move away and they build the track! B'ham is a great town and the area around it is very nice with lots of hills. I use to live about 15-20 minute from the new track.

carnut169 · carnut169's Garage

I ran there this weekend... it was incredible. Everyone needs to visit this track. Everything was done to the highest possible standards.
FWIW finished 1st in class Saturday, 3rd overall- and 3rd Sunday for the SARRC race. All I can think of now is the next race!!

mm86911 · mm86911's Garage

I'm driving at an event there late April - looks like a great track.

Sean - would like to hear more about your latest track adventures - sounds like you got the Van Diemen buttoned up.

carnut169 · carnut169's Garage

Yep, Porsche has moved from Road Atlanta to Barber & I can't say I blame them. If you look at Paul's last photo at the top right you can see the back of what might have been 30 of the new Cayennes (SP) and behind them were aprox the same # of new Carreras. Porsche will also have its own building which is currently under construction.
Mike- The Van Diemen makes the 911 feel like an LTD. Sooo fast, pulls g's like crazy- both turning and braking. Friday we had 4 30 min practice secessions- I did 3 of them getting a feel for the track. Sat we had a short practice followed by a qualifying secession- unfortunately the bolt that holds the shifter in place backed out and I only got two cold laps in to qualify... needless to say I started in the back.
Saturday's race had a small field as everyone protested the $$ charged to enter it. I wanted to get my novice book signed off so for me it was worth it, but for most it was not.
**My main lesson of the weekend was how big a difference new tires will make**
Man! Friday the car was very loose- kinda scarey. Sat I bit the bullet and threw $600 worth of new Hoosiers on and she stuck like glue. I went faster, and felt better than ever before. I cannot describe the difference the tires make. It almost seems to benifit you to use old tires for practice as I began to get good at recovering from near spins... once the new tires were on the threshold was raised to a point wher it got hard to get her loose, but when she did get loose I had the experience to reel it back in.
Sunday we had a short practice followed by the SARRC race- 15 laps, larger field. I wish I could have started where I belonged on the grid because by the time I got past the slower cars I really did not have a chance of catching the faster ones. Best part of Sunday's race was passing my instructor from Savannah in the hairpin. Great fun.
Next race will be at Roebling April 26th...