Many years ago, I made it down to Summit Point for the MADs event, back when there was a large active NE RX-7 owners club. From what I remember it was a pretty nice track.

I'm fiending to get my FD on the road race course at least 4 or 5 times this upcoming season.....do any of you guys live close to/frequently attend events at Summit Point, ie piggyback on porsche/bmw club days etc?

 

I'm planning on doing a couple of FATTs or Mazdadrivers at Summit this year, but nothing until summer (got a wedding to get thru first). The FATT event schedule hasn't been announced yet, but as soon as they do I'll try to get some RX-7 folk to pick the same date(s).

Dave

 

That sounds great Dave, definitely keep me in the loop as you get information

 

The MSCW does HPDE at Summit on a regular basis. I've been thinking of shacking up with those fellows for a run. They let non-members go for an additional fee I believe.

http://www.mscw.com/

 

Nice, they used to run the MADs each year. $26 for an annual membership, it's probably worth paying the membership just to road race with them a few times a year....

 

omg iv been look for somthin like this for awhile now and as soon as spring rolles around i would love to join you guys in somthing like this

 

Since I don't have an RX7 at the moment I'll probably jump in one or two of the HPDE's with the Vette. Mainly it depends on my NMRA racing schedule and how many parts I break on the race car.

 

I'm there as much as possible when my school schedule doesn't conflict. I always end up going as the photographer for groups that i know. I've done Mini of Sterling, Ferrari of Washington, and the Redline Time Attack.

Def. going to the Mazda Driver's Event this year (hoping to see a lot of FD's), got invited back for Ferrari of Washington, and I'll be going to the Redline Time Attack again as well. So far I've got 6 events on my calendar.

 

http://www.nasaracing.net/sched_regis.htm

We don't make it to Summit until June 23 this year, but that is HyperFest weekend so if there is a NASA event to make it to, this is the one!

 

Mazda Driver's is doing the Shenandoah circuit... not the big course.

I'll definately be doing some FATT and Seat Time events this year. Let me know if/when anyone wants to go. I'm always the only RX7 at every event I do unless it's Mazda.

 

I'm about an hour away from Summit. I ran 5 events there last year with NASA and other clubs. The first event I'll be doing this year is probably with Mazdadriver's at their Shenandoah track (great for cars like ours BTW) in April. Mercedes Benz and the SVT club also put on good events there last year while NASA tends to run the main course more. Hope to see you there sometime!

edit: check out this thread in the Race Tech Section on 2007 track events in the region:

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=616848

 

I'll be running at Summit with Audi 1 or 2 times this year.

It's a great club to go there with because it's usually not crowded and it's well run which means tons of track time

 

In actuality MSCW has sort of farmed out their track event to Mazda Driving Associates http://www.mazdadrivers.com these days. There is a mutual good relationship between to the two, but MDA is the track event group. They have two event at the new Summit Point track (Shenandoah) and two at VIR this year. If all goes well I will be instructing at all 4 of the MDA events this year (things never really seem to go well, and I have to drop some of the event off the list). The other group I'd suggest is NASA-Mid Atlantic http://www.nasaracing.net/ they put on several HPDE events at Summit Point during the season. The NASA HPDE events are combined with road racing events. So when you are not on the track, you can watch some good wheel to wheel road racing events. Track time might be a little less (but it is less expensive) but there are lots of things going on to keep your attention.

 

I would suggest you do a day at VIR.

You'll never go back to summit. I would love to buy summit and make a nicer place

 

How does VIR compare to Summit Shenandoah circuit? Obviously it's longer, but technically speaking?

Dave

 

VIR is a great fun course, but it's also in my opinion for high powered cars. It's got several massively long straight sections. It's also got the most elevation change of any of the tracks around here for sure. Lots of different types of turns and track configurations as well. It's just a real fun flowing course.

Shenandoah, on the other hand, is really all about the handling. It's about half as long, but packs a lot more turns per mile in comparison. It has a lot of off camber turns, as well as a big on-camber banked turn (replica of the karrussel of the nurburgring). It's easy to eat mustang cobras and the like there eveb with stock power like I have because it's technical and all about handling. Lightweight does it best there and power is secondary.

But I'm not picky. The more different tracks the better IMHO!

 

Shenandoah is much slower overall tha VIR. But Shenadoah is the most technically challenging race track I have ever been on. I have run very few "good" laps around that track. It is a track school track, not a wheel to wheel racing track. VIR is one of the bes wheel to wheel racing tracks in the country, maybe the world. The Grand East Circuit at VIR is 4.2 miles long

 

Well, for me up here in northern NJ, Summit is about 4.5 hrs away, VIR is like 8 hours away. I might look into Lime Rock, only a 2 hour trip

 

All Summit really needs is to repave the main circuit. It would have been nice if they'd just expanded it instead of building the Shenandoah, for which "technically challenging" is about the kindest thing i've heard said... more like "car eater" most times... but the "big" track is still alot of fun.

Thing is, comparing to VIR isn't the same. I love VIR, but it's gotta be a two track day/three days off affair with hotel rooms, etc., to be worth the five hours of travel each way, whereas i can roll out to summit on a Friday, kick it, and be home in time to go out to eat with my wife and have a weekend ahead of me. For 5.5 hours, I could be at Watkins Glen, which is better than VIR IMHO.

 

I thought I heard something about them planning on repaving the main course soon.

 

I've heard that for about 5 years.

 

There, I fixed it.

 

I have more laps around Summit Point main than any other race track. It is a great track. To me it is home. They have improved Shanendoah since it first opened. I have never seen a bad incicent there, but I know they do happen. To me Shenandoah is fun. I like it, but others have different opinions. It is a drivers track, not an "ego" track. Just my opinion.

FWIW when SP has been repaved before, it still has certain bumps. There are jsut rocks and stuff under the surface that come up through the pavement. Look at the farm fields around the place. That is what it is built on. I have been going there for 35 years or so. Paving doesn't change the character.

VIR is beautiful, fast and fun. Lots of runoff room and very little to hit (but people still do hit things). Watkins Glen has armco at teh edge of most of the track. Don't go off there and expect to drive your car home.

 

^^Some good info there, I guess I won't be going to Watkins Glen. I always liked Motorsport Ranch out in Texas because in the event you went off, there was nothing to hit.

 

Yeah, Shenandoah will feel pretty tight by comparison, but if you take your time learning the line and the lines of sight it will be a load of fun.

I haven't run the Summit main course yet but I'm looking forward to it.

Dave