I did the HPDE yesteday at Brainerd International (Minnesota) in my 08 Z. It was a surprise to see the new course was done ahead of schedule. A nice perk was the designer of the track was there. I forget his name. I could get it if there's interest. He had quite a resume and was nice to talk to...The course will be "SCCA certified" or something to that effect, as will the BIR course soon.
Let me first say the BIR guys are so nice and laid back, responsive and available. I can't say enough about their willingness to let you do what you want, and teach when asked. It is a special group of people.
If you know BIR, it's a long straight (1 1/8 mile) with mostly square turns on the "back nine" 3 mile course. It has been upgraded to allow for drag events on the straight and simultaneous road course events on the backfield. There was a large drag event there which didn't interfere with our day at all - this bodes well for the track's bottom line! The new course has 13 turns total and bypasses the straight to add in some extra turns. These turns are clearly more technical than the previous road course and add an excellent challenge to a lap. The new stuff starts after turn 7, turn 8 now becomes a large carousel as you cross into the new, pristine pavement. It takes you right of the former bridge. I was hitting 1.10-1.13g in this "steady state" turn that resembles a skid pad - higher than the ZR-1 in the latest autoweek I might add... This "cloverleaf" goes onto a very short straight which then sweeps left, then there's a right hander onto a short straight where I was hitting 100-105 before a hard brake to a 90 degree left in second, and a wide 100 degree or so 3rd gear right which then was like an on-ramp that joins the old track between the old turn 1 and 2. It is banked on the outside of this "on ramp" and is hard to read. I hit upper 130's here as the fastest of the track. 140's was certainly obtainable. 1.13g was top g recorded on the HUD. It is curious to me that on the old course I was topping out at 155 before turn 1 on that long long straight. I know I was being cautious then, but 15-20mph is all that separates this new course from the old for me.
I think the new course is a definite upgrade and makes this course much more technical. It was, however, harder to pass the slower cars due to the short straights and cautious staff at BIR. I will say they did an excellent job on this first day of the new course. The BIR trainer car spec racers are now faster with a good driver than me in my car because of the lack of the long straight. I must add, however, but for the specs with the pro's running, nothing was touching the Z
I should note though, the day was very light. If it were a crowded day, I think I would have been frustrated by the lack of passing spots and the cautious rules.
The highlight of the day was when I ran right with a BIR instructor for an entire lap (frankly I was off throttle at times!) in his C5 Z despite his HP brakes and Hoosier R6 tires. He did have a passenger though. My car is stock but for DOT 4 brake fluid!.
I recommend this course. Please post here or PM me if you want more info. Thanks for reading!
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