Well I just slept about 14 hours after an exciting yet draining weekend at Nelson Ledges for the driving school. By the 3rd run of the first day I was signed off and lapping the E39 M5 that was in my group!! I love my car, and I hope to one day become a racer :)

Ah, the memories of Nelson's Ledges. The crappy food, the dirt/weeds pit area, the 7 different types of pavement...

Passing the 928S4 on the front straight in my old '91 VW GTI...

Originally posted by DocWyte
Ah, the memories of Nelson's Ledges. The crappy food, the dirt/weeds pit area, the 7 different types of pavement...

Passing the 928S4 on the front straight in my old '91 VW GTI...

What food? :stickoutt Pavement's getting a little better.

At least it's close by to my house :D

Were you there, Matt? I saw the Cepeks (briefly) on Saturday. I didn't go on Sunday....

I was out for the Fundayz on last Friday. I wanted to come this weekend, but had other plans.

Originally posted by DocWyte
Ah, the memories of Nelson's Ledges. The crappy food, the dirt/weeds pit area, the 7 different types of pavement...

Passing the 928S4 on the front straight in my old '91 VW GTI...



The different types of pavement turned out to be a bit of a learning experience for me. The very last session was in the rain, and I found that the end of the front straight is very slick, but about 10 feet after the turn-in the pavement changes and gets much grippier.

The exact opposite applies for the end of Oak Tree. The pavement changes just before the end of the turn, and I came very close to losing it. After that I knew to wait to start the full acceleration until I was about half way into the chute :stickoutt



oh and passing an E46 M3 (took about 4 laps), a 944 Turbo, an E39 M5, and lapping my dad twice each session are all very nice ego boosters :buttrock

Last time I ran Nelsons was in '99. I had a 220hp 240ft lb supercharged GTI at the time. Oak Tree was flat out 3rd gear, double apex the carousel, flat out 4th and 5th into the kink, slight brake, then flat out again to the left hander, hard on the brakes, point the car at the telephone pole, late apex and left foot brake in the top of 2nd thru the 90* right, then up to redline in 4th down the front straight.

After my first session there I had quite the crowd around my car in the pits, I was shooting 3-4 feet of fire out the exhaust on upshifts! :)

man.. i was hitting my brakes wayyyy too much

Matt and John, I was out on Sunday for a look see and a drive with one of the instructors to check out the track. "Interesting" is the word for the day. I will wait until they repave.

do you know when they plan to repave???

You might be waiting a loonnggg time...

C'mon guys....it isn't Mid Ohio, but it isn't that bad! I always think about it as a deal.....it is near half the cost of a school at Mid Ohio, you learn just as much, have just as much fun. All that for holding your breath in the bathroom, and noticing that the tire walls need to be weeded - no big deal.

As far as plans to repave....like Doc says.... don't hold your breath. There have been some recent improvements (the observation deck, the picnic area and the control tower), but they will be paving small areas as they completely fall apart. There are no big plans for a total repave.

I think most who go out would agree that the condition is a surprise for the first 2-3 laps, then you don't even think about it!

I agree 100% with John. I doubt they'll repave it, but it is coming along nicely. They're trying to improve the place. And really the restrooms are better than they used to be. The pavements not all that bad really IMO. There are some patches here and there, but they're kinda of nice. They serve as reference points for me more than anything else.

John Black-------You are the man, way to go last weekend! A new level of BMW utopia(sp).

You and you lovely wife did a great job. What was your favorite part? Are you ready to go racing now?

I think you are.... NASA is having a three sprint race for the "Ohio State Championship" on the 8th, 9th,10th next month. Let get a cage in your 318/M3 so you can win it!!!


Paul

I know alot of ppl complain bout hte conditions at nelsons, but that place is a blast. the pavement seems to get smoother the faster you go. I always have the most fun at that track, and i definitely wouldnt wait for a repave of that whole track, well all be dead probably b4 that happens. glad you enjoyed it anyway!


Hammm3, Is that you Paul? This is Jeff Kukuruda.




Jeff

It is, I see your sig should be changing soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get back to your studies and stop surfing!!!!!!!!!!!

Paul

Paul....

Natalie and I had a great time.... we are definately not ready for racing - but we didn't do the school to get ready to race. Driving 2 abreast around the track, the passing exercise, the practice starts, and especially the classroom instruction were exactly what we were hoping for. Totally different experience! I feel a lot better about passing (and being passed) off line now - I used to have a lot of "pucker" when I was off line - I feel better now that I know all is not lost when not on line! Someday we'll probably do another race school with a properly prepared car and then start racing, but I'm still paying on the M! Plus, I need to find my line in 13 with the M3.....I actually have a better lap time in the 318.....

Thanks again for all the great instruction, and pushing us in the right direction with the school.....your brother is going to kick butt in Club Racing!

Thanks!

Glad you had fun and learned something new, hope I helped.

Jeff did a great job all weekend. I had to buy him a bigger helmet for Sunday after he won the first race on Sat. LOL. He beat a couple of hot cars (#71 BM/CM had 370 HP).

He was in my car, lets see how he does in his car now......JK He will do great in whatever car he is in.

On Sunday he raced very clean and made safe moves to get by the whole field except the #71 in the final race. They picked numbers for starting spots and Jeff picked the last spot on the grid, #71 started on the pole.

Hope to see you soon....

Take care,

Paul

I heard he won....and that #71 was really set up - race gas, Chuck Stickley tuning and a PTG CF rear wing!

Missed you guys at Solon last night.....

I'm sure we'll see you soon - and thanks again!

John