When a race track gives it's "official" length how is that measured? Is it the length of the outside perimeter? Length of an imaginary centerline through the course?
How is the Length of a Race Track Determined?
Started by
Randy Thieme
, 01-09-2011 02:13 PM
#1
Posted 01-09-2011 02:13 PM
#2
Posted 01-10-2011 07:25 AM
I don't know of any documented "rules" for this, but I believe common practice is centerline of the course. Many years ago, a fellow ralliest and I (I got started in SCCA that way) did several slow laps at Summit Point. We did center, outside, inside and racing line measurements with a thousandths of a mile correctable odometer. SP has long been advertised as a 2.0 mile course. I no longer have the exact numbers, but the centerline measurement was some small number of thousandths off the 2.0 (.001 mile is 6.336 inches). The others varied some, but none was off by more than .02+/- so the variation was under 100 feet.
Dave
Dave
#3
Posted 01-10-2011 09:14 AM
According to the SCCA GCR:
3. MEASURING COURSES
The official length of a course shall be measured along the centerline of
the road.
3. MEASURING COURSES
The official length of a course shall be measured along the centerline of
the road.
- Keith Novak likes this
#4
Posted 01-10-2011 10:51 AM
Aha! Another case of read the instructions first. Never thought to check the GCR but that makes perfect sense. Thanks Wheel!
#5
Posted 01-10-2011 01:29 PM
Well, that'll teach me to at least look at the GCR before relying on my obviously faulty memory.
Dave
Dave
#6
Posted 01-10-2011 03:50 PM
Well, that'll teach me to at least look at the GCR before relying on my obviously faulty memory.
Dave
So says the GCR CRB liason.
#7
Posted 01-10-2011 04:13 PM
So says the GCR CRB liason.
He got it right, didn't he. It would be interesting to see what a long course, like RA would measure on the proper racing line. I bet, proportionally, the line would be further off on a tight, twisty course.
wheel
#8
Posted 01-11-2011 10:31 AM
I just called Alan Wilson, hard at work building the new, New Orleans track. http://www.nolamotor.com/index
He said the FIA and industry standard is the track center. So for data and fuel a calculations, teams use the actual based on line which is different car to car.
INFO:
http://www.wilsonmotorsport.com
He said the FIA and industry standard is the track center. So for data and fuel a calculations, teams use the actual based on line which is different car to car.
INFO:
http://www.wilsonmotorsport.com
"Never Stop Challenging"
Jim Daniels
Auto Sports Consulting / Coaching
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users