Rotax US Grand Nationals
Sunday, August 4, 2013 at 11:48AM I spent the last couple of days watching the Rotax US Grand National kart racing from the Gopro Motorplex at Mooresville on the Kart Racing Network. This is an online live streaming site that was a refreshing change from the networks. No one would call it slick, but it gave us great non-interrupted coverage, with a commentator who was just like Murray Walker. Human, and making mistakes, but not glib and manufacturing excitement like Varsha and Diffey. He did not have to, the racing spoke for itself.
I have not watched kart racing at this level, except for odd clips of Senna, and I am so impressed at the standard of driving, even at the youngest class. Here were two 7,8, or 9 year olds racing clean, leaving each other room, and strategising where to overtake. How good are they going to be by the time they are late teens? Each class produced great racing, reminded me of the hey days of MotoGP with four or five drivers dicing it out.
The track was perfect, and not just because I built it, but because the owners, especially Justin Marks uniquely had the vision, had the funds, wanted to do it right, and listened to advice. If only other track owners learned from this. The commentator Ken who was English and had travelled to many tracks around the world, said he believed this to be the best he'd seen. Well done Justin, Michael and Eric.
I will certainly be watching the Rotax World Finals at NOLA later this year. ;)
Reader Comments (2)
My dream is that one day we can get more top quality race tracks in Sydney and Australia.
I envy the US in that respect, although we have some good tracks, they are not great facilities, and over the last 10 years we have lost too many to property developments.
A few weeks ago I went to Eastern Creek for the national F3. They are great to watch but the series is a bit of a shambles, and I loath that they are the fastest racing cars in Australia at the moment. (but that's another story.)
The track is still conducive to great racing, even though its a 23 year old motorbike track.
Is there a different mindset to designing a racetrack for bikes or cars?
I love when a track has fast and flowing corners allowing side by side racing. I think F1 would be better to watch at most MotoGp circuits (Mugello, Phillip Island etc)
PS as per your previous post, I think Ricciardo would be better than Webber at the very least at Red Bull. The Toro Rosso's the past few years are not as strong as they were when Vettel was there, so when Ricciardo keeps putting the car in Q3 it shows he is pretty quick. Id love to see him in a car with good race pace.
Also as the Red Bull seat is still not determined (or not yet announced), is it completely out of the realms of possibility to see Sebastian Loeb at the wheel next year? That man is an absolute legend and I would hold no doubt that he could perform well in F1 if given a descent chance.
Again great posts, keep them coming!
Regards, Domenic
Hi Dominic. Sorry for the late response. To answer your question, there is a difference for motorcycles and cars, at least F1, these days. When I laid out EC it was for both, the main difference being the run-off on exit of corners. F1 has developed down a path where braking and downforce make passing almost impossible, and corners are "point and squirt" on most new tracks to try and assist in this. MotoGP definitely prefers larger radius sweeper type corners. Look at Mugello, Le Mans short track, Qatar, Saxonring etc. PI was just laid out that way and works for both, but not sure F1 would like it.
We will both see if Daniel can cut it now won't we?
And not bad for a 23 year old track eh?