A growing trend in Motorsports is the building of multi-purpose race
tracks often with several different available layouts. In the USA, there
have been several of these venues built. Barber Motorsports Park and
Virginia International Raceway are two. Wonderful examples of what is
possible in regard to both racing and spectator comforts.

I just got to test a new rF track by
Alex Sawchuck that re-creates one of these Country Clubs from England. The
Bedford Autopark has at least 4 layouts and the promise of possibly three
more. The work by Alex is wondeful, he's still got an issue or two to
resolve, but for the most part, I think he's captured Beford. The
trouble is...Bedford shares many similarities with another new USA Club
course...Miller Autosports park. The two tracks have so many turns that
learning them may be tougher than remembering the Nordschliefe because they
both are FLAT FLAT FLAT!!!

The flatness may enhance spectator viewing, but it sure puts a crimp on
the driver's ability to recognize a corner. Compared to Barber or VIR or
even older US tracks like Mid Ohio and Road Atlanta, the huge sprawling
Miller/Bedford circuits are almost like hedge mazes...Do I turn left or
right after this paticular corner combination I think I've seen twice
already this lap?

Many of the newer F1 circuits also present this problem. Baharain
and Shanghai and Istanbul have all been designed by the same guy(I beleive)
and the first two are AWFUL tracks. The third, because it utilizes
natural terrain, hides the very problems that creep into such flat tracks.
(granted I doubt there is even a hill taller than a 1 story house in
Bahrain) Malaysia and the A1ring are also modern tracks...Malay has some
climbing that helps give corners some identity, but none of the rest of
the new tracks compares with the character of A1ring. Even though you
could argue that many of the corners are similar in all the tracks. The
addition of hilly terrain 'makes' the track.

I know some great and inspiring tracks have very little elevation
change, Le Mans or Silverstone for example, but most tracks, like
Spa or Rouen seem to be alive compared to most of these modern circuits.

Drive the 3 layouts in the VIR package...each has a flavor that makes
recognizing them easy...even tho many of the corners are shared. Then go
try and find your way around Bedford. I also suspect that passing at
Miller and Bedford will be tough.

Both the ALMS and Grand Am series will be at Miller this summer, has
Bedford lined up any major Euro races? It would be interesting to view a
race broadcast from there.

Dave Henrie

A very good read, Dave. Pretty hard to argue that elevation changes make a
track. Bathurst anyone?

Dave Henrie wrote:

Good points Dave.

Though Donington Park's terrain certainly makes it great for spectators.
From the hilly bank by the old hairpin you can see loads of the track
thanks to its elevation changes. From a sim perspective simulating
elevation changes seems to have moved on well with title like GT Legends
(Donington is impressive). NKPro promises with these work in progress
shots too:

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1946/ring23tj.jpg

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/6339/ring36nc.jpg

Cheers
Tony

Motorsports Ranch, just west of Dallas/Ft Worth is another example, and it's
also FLAT...
But most of North Texas is as well, so there's not much to be done about
that.

As for the tracks Dave mentions, that were designed for F1 by the same
person, count Malaysia in with Bahrain, Shanghai and Istanbul.

Of the 4 only Istanbul, as Dave points out is any good, the others are like
enormous go-cart tracks, built to attract the F1 circus with excellent
garage, paddock and hospitality areas for the teams.


"Dave Henrie" <daveBITEMEhenrie (AT) comcast (DOT) net> wrote