The one thing that ALL the tracks have in common is the people. The racing people are the GREATEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I listed the reviews in order of my experiencing them.
New Hampshire Motor (International) Speedway, NHMS: (Home track. most raced)
1.6 mile 12 turn (incorperated around a 1 mile oval).
- 2 variations
#1 North chicane, South (NASCAR) oval
#2 North chicane, South chicane
The track I've been to the most
It's a track you have to work at. Not a lot of 'relax' time. So you're tired at the end. The South chicane section was redone in 2009 and the SCCA won't use it until they add gaurdrail to seperate the track and paddock. There are enough challenges each lap to keep you busy; the bowl, turn 9 (yeah you can get a FWD to drift there!!), and my LEAST Fav turn 11 (have trouble getting that one right).
Since the infield "remodle", most of the grass in gone, making placing a tent a challenge, but they added a whole LOT of RV hook-ups (power/water). About mid infield there's a building with bathrooms and on one end 5 seperate showers (hot water can be tricky). More showers are located in the bathrooms in between the garages
Concord NH is 10 miles south, Laconia 9 miles North. Concord has a better selection of stores, places to eat, parts stores.
Lime Rock Park (CT):
1.6 mile road course
Haven't been there since '00. Got too damn expensive for a 1 day Regional.
The 'downhill' scares you, was a bit bumpy (they repaved recently) last time I was there, and that gaurdrail backed by dense forrest to the outside adds to the 'pucker factor'. But once you go down 'flat footed' and survive you feel like you can do anything. Fun and nostalgic
Too much in the middle of nowhere, the area is too expensive, and they don't allow racing on Sundays!!! I've only been back for an AMLS race and to crew for someone in a school.
Watkins Glen:
-2 variations
#1 2.5 mile (short), 11 turns
#2 3.4 mile (long), 15 turns
2nd most visited track.
The short is my favorite of the 2, but I'm getting the handle on the long. Hitting the 'bus stop' 'inner loop' the right way is the greatest feeling. The 'toe of the boot' is my krypotnite. Some great speed. The October race is surrounded by peak foligae. It's worth it just for the drive there. Just beware of the wind!
There are many bathrooms. I finally found the showers last year. There are only 4 units in a building on the east side of the property. You'll need $1.50 - $2.00 in quarters for a shower.
Downtown is a few minutes away, but a couple hundred feet lower in elevation. There's a lot to do, IF you want to do things other than racing. Including a bunch of nice little bars along the main road. The State park makes for a nice walk on nice days and the International Motor Racing Research Center at Watkins Glen will occupy your time when it's not.
Road Atlanta:
2.54 mile, 12 turns (full course)
I was only there once, for the ARRC, and I was still pretty new to Club Racing, and I had crappy, wore out tires. But I still raced it. The downhill to turn 12 STILL scares the SH** out of me!! One day I hope to get back there to give it another try.
We stayed an hour away in Marrietta with my friend's Brother so we didn't explore the local area.
Virginia International Raceway, VIR:
3.27 mile, 18 turn (there'a a 17 and 17a)
I've only run the FULL course. And what FUN it is!!!!!!!
For you 'newbies', the place to be careful your 1st time out is coming into turn 7. You're pretty flat out coming up to the beginning of the 'uphill esses' get over to driver's left and straighten out T7 as much as possible. T7 is a slight right, but there's a bump in the middle that WILL throw you to the left!!!!!! My 1st time over it I stepped over a whole car width REALLY fast! This is the only track I've been crashed out of (so far) to the point of a DNF.
I camped on site and brought everything I needed in with me. So I don't know much about the surrounding area.
Mid Ohio Sports Car Complex:
2.4 mile 14 turns
I liked it so much, I went back a 2nd time!
We used the chicane in the 'keyhole'. Shaped a bit like the inner loop at the Glen you approach it differently; instead of braking before the 1st part you hold the gas hard turning right into it and brake before you turn back left. To me the 'trickiest' part was the brake zone between turns 10 & 11. It's very short and easy to screw up.
Plenty of room for camping. There are showers on site. The most 'entertaining' thing to me about the track is that is has an actual Domino's Pizza in the infield (located along the front straight opposite the pits). Town is only a few minutes away, so anything you need is close.
Nelson Ledges Road Course:
2 mile, 13 turns
I wasn't even unloaded my 1st day there, and I looked over towards turn 3 to see a Miata wheels UP going OVER the tire wall to driver's left. Um, ok. The track is flat, but has a nice 'flow' to it. But there are so many bumps, bumps, holes, different sections of asphalt you need to remember where every little ding in the road is because each one can slow you down or wreck you. Turn 10 isn't a turn really, but you need to decide which line to take through it. The fastest is the bumpiest. The run-off room is tight, and from outside, unless you know it's a track you think it's a tire dump. There's a little in-car here:
http://www.nelsonledges.com/TFMap.aspx where you get a good view of the track surface. Re-pave the track and extend the run-off areas and the place will be a ball!
There are showers there but I didn't use them. It's in the middle on nowhere and Amish country (so be careful Sunday morning on the way into the track). It takes a little drive to get to things, but not bad. I stayed with friends 45 min away.
Roebling Road Raceway:
2.2 mile, 8 turn
The friends that lived near Nelson moved about 30 min away from Roebling for 2008/09, so I've been there the last 2 Aprils. I think it's a bit too flat, but there is some fun for me with the flow. The track is brutal on the front left tire!! Be sure to rotate after each day of hard racing. I was 'shoved off' by an ITS Miata at turn 2 in 08, but the driver sought out my email (because he couldn't find me at the track) and appoligized.
There is some turn by turn advice here:
http://www.seat-time.com/vtour/index4.htm
A lot of camping room. I think there are some RV hook ups, but I didn't investigate. I parked way out and had my generator for power. Roebling is minutes away from anything you might need. I didn't camp there but I did see a couple showers.
New Jersey Motorsports Park, Lightning:
1.9 mile, 10 turns
There are 2 turns that can scare the CWAP out of you!:
Turn 1; it's a fast right hander uphill, the apex is at the peak of the rise and you CANNOT SEE THE OTHER SIDE!! which means if there's a spin on the other side you might not see it until you're part of it.
Turn 5; in the middle of the turn the track feels like it drops from under you and the car gets really 'light'. If you're not careful it could throw the car off track to driver's left.
The Lightning track does NOT have showers. Rumors were that there were some at the Thunder Bolt track but I didn't see them. There are electrical hook ups for RVs, but no water. The track is a few minutes away from Millville center where there are many places to get what you need.
My rankings:
# 11 NHMS, both chicanes (too damn much work!!)
# 10 NHMS, North chicane, south oval (see above)
# 9 Road Atlanta (maybe after I visit again & I get to know it, it'll go up)
# 8 Lime Rock Park
# 7 Nelson Ladges (re-pave it!!!!)
# 6 Watkins Glen, long course (but I'm enjoying it more and more)
# 5 Watkins Glen, short
# 4 Roebling Road
# 3 NJMP
# 2 Mid Ohio
# 1 VIR
The top 5 are almost tied.