Reno-Fernly

[slaughtr]

I had a chance to drive three configurations on the Reno-Fernley raceway over a period of two days last week, and I have to say, I love this track. It's bumpy in spots, dusty and if you go off in some places you could really get hurt. But, it's wonderfully technical and perfect for our cars, especially if you have some cooled and compressed air blowing through your engine. Hill climbs, S's and high banked turns combined with several long straights. Here's some picks of the track as well as a few of the other cars that were there, including 3 brand new 911 GT3 RS's. If you live in northern Cal, Nevada, Oregon, Utah or Idaho, check it out.

[Moto44]

Oooo! That looks like fun! I had never heard of it. Thanks for the info.

[MikeP]

I'm there this weekend with HOD, driving the Elise and Noble. Very fun track, but it's a workout.

[sleeprfocus]

Um, couldn't they get more separation with the proposed golf course and shooting range?

Golf balls and driving 100mph = $20,000. Bullets and driving 100mph = Priceless.

[slaughtr]

Originally Posted by sleeprfocus

Um, couldn't they get more separation with the proposed golf course and shooting range?

Golf balls and driving 100mph = $20,000. Bullets and driving 100mph = Priceless.

[pwe]

You don't get a sense of the elevation changes from the overhead shot. It's a great technical track but it takes a long time to learn with something like 23 turns. There are some bumpy stretches still, including in the braking zone of the back straight, but the surface has been greatly improved since I first ran the track a few years ago.

[Evil Twin]

Originally Posted by slaughtr

I had a chance to drive three configurations on the Reno-Fernley raceway over a period of two days last week, and I have to say, I love this track. It's bumpy in spots, dusty and if you go off in some places you could really get hurt. But, it's wonderfully technical and perfect for our cars, especially if you have some cooled and compressed air blowing through your engine.

I had a similar reaction back in April of this year, when I spent a day doing a "Test and Tune" event. The day started with me, one Radical, one Viper, and one Daytona Coupe (high-end replica). By the end of the day, I was the only guy still driving.

What I find interesting about this track is that it feels more like the result of some guy with vacant land, a permit, and some earth-moving/asphaul-laying equipment, rather than the result of someone setting out to build a big-ticket venue (with all the restrictions and requirements that involves). As a result, the track includes corners you couldn't possibly throw at an ALMS car or the like.

That's both good and bad. The good includes corners that are unusual and challenging, sequences of linked-corners that do funky/weird things (like radical differences in radius between one corner and the next), and bits of pavement that are hugely off-camber, bumpier than is safe, and just plain fun.

The bad includes the fact that it's NOT a track for novice drivers and even many intermediates are going to be in over their heads and the fact that there's not a lot to hit but any "off" (particularly in a Lotus) could be expensive. Still, net-net, I'll go back in a heartbeat.

[JonOrangeElise]

I have no love for Reno-Fernley, though, granted, I only ran it for a single session. I found almost everything EvilTwin states to be true -- but for me, the negatives outweigh the positives. And I'll add that the track doesn't impart any sense of flow.

Now, if I lived closeer to it, I'm sure I'd have more appreciation for this track. :-) ... But given that it's at least a 4.5 hour drive, and I have three tracks within two hours of me, well... I have no reason to drag my ass to Fernley.

[deddie]

For motorcycle riding, this is absolutely the worst track I have ever ridden. Did it once, will never go back.

[slaughtr]

Originally Posted by pwe

You don't get a sense of the elevation changes from the overhead shot. It's a great technical track but it takes a long time to learn with something like 23 turns. There are some bumpy stretches still, including in the braking zone of the back straight, but the surface has been greatly improved since I first ran the track a few years ago.

I noticed those things too. The hill climbs are actually fairly impressive but you don't get that sense at all from the pic. The bumps are fairly inpressive as well. That back set of straights was my least favorite part.

[slaughtr]

Originally Posted by Evil Twin

I had a similar reaction back in April of this year, when I spent a day doing a "Test and Tune" event. The day started with me, one Radical, one Viper, and one Daytona Coupe (high-end replica). By the end of the day, I was the only guy still driving.

What I find interesting about this track is that it feels more like the result of some guy with vacant land, a permit, and some earth-moving/asphaul-laying equipment, rather than the result of someone setting out to build a big-ticket venue (with all the restrictions and requirements that involves). As a result, the track includes corners you couldn't possibly throw at an ALMS car or the like.

That's both good and bad. The good includes corners that are unusual and challenging, sequences of linked-corners that do funky/weird things (like radical differences in radius between one corner and the next), and bits of pavement that are hugely off-camber, bumpier than is safe, and just plain fun.

The bad includes the fact that it's NOT a track for novice drivers and even many intermediates are going to be in over their heads and the fact that there's not a lot to hit but any "off" (particularly in a Lotus) could be expensive. Still, net-net, I'll go back in a heartbeat.

You said it very well when you warned me ahead of time. Lots of places to get hurt but a hell of a lot of fun. Thanks for all the heads up.

[Evil Twin]

I posted this on GoogleVideo after my event last spring. I'm over driving and the car alternates between ploughing in the slow speed corners to very loose in the faster ones, but, still, it was amusing:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...784&pr=goog-sl

[slaughtr]

Originally Posted by Evil Twin

I posted this on GoogleVideo after my event last spring. I'm over driving and the car alternates between ploughing in the slow speed corners to very loose in the faster ones, but, still, it was amusing:

Great video and I think this shows how technical the track is. My favorite configuration was up the hill/ turn left / stay up top all the way to the high banked turn/ then back towards the full straight.

[Evil Twin]

Another comment in favor of giving Reno-Fernley the benefit of the doubt is the staff. I've never before been to a track where folks were as helpful and genuinely nice. The day prior to the Test-and-Tune, I showed up to have a look and, after the motorcycles were done for the day, the track manager took me around EVERY configuration of the track at 20-30mph which gave me the chance to scope out all the corners even if I only got to drive an abbreviated version of the course.

As for the video, thanks for the kind words. I was just screwing around, but the video does give a good sense of how bumpy and off-camber bits of the track are.

[slaughtr]

Originally Posted by Evil Twin

As for the video, thanks for the kind words. I was just screwing around, but the video does give a good sense of how bumpy and off-camber bits of the track are.

And for how much faster you are than me, I can't wait to get some instruction in Portland sometime.

I forgot to bring my video setup that day.

[ryoung99]

You will not find a nicer bunch. I have been kart racing there many times and they are always so nice and helpful. In fact from a staff perspective they are the best track we race at. They are struggling with the track though and the bumpiness.

Support them, even if it mean going out of your way. Tell me the last time you have seen this type of motorsports facility privately owned make this type of progress. They do listen and do everything they can.

After seeing their dedication, what they really need is support from the racing HPDE community so that they can take the next step.

I hate the drive, but will do it anyways just to support them.

Rick