Z car terrorizes Buttonwillow

Hotrodz · 11-02-2020, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bushyguy

I’ve gone off at the same spot and like you said, I straightened the wheels and took the car off the course when I realized I came in too hot.

We did have a wall hit that day. A burnt orange V1 Nismo lost control and trashed the rear passenger side. Looked like it was from the taillight and aft so hopefully minor damage.

That is too bad. Literally that is the only corner you can hit the wall unless you are aiming for it. I have only been to Buttonwillow once and that was the one thing the instructors and all the experienced drives said. If you miss the apex because you have over cooked it do not try and save it because it never works and you will get to have a connection with the wall. I actually spun out in that turn but we were going counter clockwise and I never left the track. I was in a Miata that weekend and what a blast!

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2011 Nismo#91 · 11-03-2020, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotrodz

I have only been to Buttonwillow once and that was the one thing the instructors and all the experienced drives said. If you miss the apex because you have over cooked it do not try and save it because it never works and you will get to have a connection with the wall.

This. I have heard the same and told it to many people. Don't try and "save" your lap because you'll end up destroying your car. Your lap time at that point would already be messed up even if you do manage to get the car straight.

Turn1 one NJMP Lightening, almost everyone who tries to save it goes into the same 40' section of the wall. So much so they put two Concrete Barriers in the back to help reinforce it. You can actually see the tire marks of the saves tracking out left and the fails tracking right. I've gone off a few times there too, there is almost 1000ft of grass run off to the left to get back control while almost none to the right.

Most newer tracks are built well and have run offs in the right places but older ones like Watkins Glen have many spots where if you screw up there is no safe way to go.

bushyguy · 11-03-2020, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011 Nismo#91

SNIP........but older ones like Watkins Glen have many spots where if you screw up there is no safe way to go.

Sonoma fits this description very well.

I’ll be on that course this weekend and decided to check YouTube for some footage.

I really hope people keep their egos in check through turn 11.

Edit: I’ll be giving people plenty of space the first two sessions out.

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