New track in Hastings, NE

[Carl Morris]

This got mentioned on rmdsm, pretty far away but a straight shot on the interstate. Looks like a nice track layout.

http://www.racemph.com/

Big picture of layout from trackaddix.com:

http://trackaddix.com/images/picts/tracks/mph_1.gif

[BlueVelocity]

Killer layout! Looks to be a nice track. Is it officially open for business?

Road trip!!!

Erron S.

[TheJackal]

Compared to the size of the drag strip it looks pretty damn big.

[Weston]

NASA recently ran an event out there, and they seemed really happy with it. I hope to make it out there next season. Now, if I could only get Erron and Paul to defect over to NASA with me... ;)

[Paul]

Now, if I could only get Erron and Paul to defect over to NASA with me... ;)

How do you like the NASA events? Some years back there was some controversy regarding how one person handled his corner station. I think this led them to withdraw from the CMC. I received an email from them, but with no trailer to tow the car I am not inclined to do much.

I have finally sold my Penske shocks. I sold my race wheels and tires about a year ago. I doubt I will make it to a race track again? I'm getting too old to be crawling under the car to polish the SS exhaust!

I sure had a great time in 2005!

Paul

[Weston]

I went to their March PMI event weekend as a driver and their La Junta event as a worker and I was really pleased with how they ran events. The only safety concerns were with certain drivers in the HPDE groups, but they got black flagged and a talking to. They're definately a bit short on participants for Time Trials and race classes, but there are a lot of people in HPDE with the intent of moving up, so this should grow quite a bit. There is no requirement for drivers to work the course, so you end up getting plenty of track time as well as plenty of time to cool down and work on your car.

You are also out on the track with more experienced drivers. SCCA's Time Trials are about the same as NASA's HPDE Group 3... it's fast paced, but passing is only in designated areas (ie fast cars can get impeded for half a lap or so). NASA's Time Trials runs with their HPDE Group 4, which is for the most experienced drivers... everyone is expected to be aware of other cars, and you can pass anywhere you like, as long as it's safe. It's the same as a race qualifying session. They are more strict about off-course adventures than SCCA (although they do relax it somewhat for HPDE 4 / TT), but they also don't use cones to slow the track down, and you are allowed to have passengers if you want.

Their Time Trials classing system is pretty good too, but it looks like I'm going to be in the unlimited class next season anyway... I was in TTA, with the option of running in TTB on lesser tires, but they changed up their rules a bit, so it's no longer clear (being that I have a turbo on an originally NA car). I'm saving up to build my engine a little this winter anyway, so I'd most likely end up in TTU regardless of the rule change.

Don't get me wrong, I still really like the SCCA Time Trials program, but the NASA version definately has it's benefits too.

[steve_gee]

Is it just me, or dose the layout remind you a bit of Second creek?

[biglady112]

Ludachirs, the owner of dsmtuners just went out there this past weekend and ran this course. He didn't have a whole lot to say(car issues(tuning)), but maybe he said something or I can get him to say something on rmdsm.

Steven

[Ludachris]

This is definitely a fun track to run on even though there is no real elevation change. It's fast and only slightly technical. The owner has told us that there have been some improvements since we went there last year.

Unfortunately, I don't know that NASA will run it this year due to poor turnout. It's just too far for most people and we'd have to get about 30-40 more cars than we had last year to run it for NASA to not lose money on it.