Who Has The Best HighSpeed Venue?

[TRNorBRN6001]

It seems that The Texas Mile will be the future venue of choice for motorcycle highspeed runs.
1.) Smooth as glass tarmac (even with metal grates).
2.) Wide 200' concrete surface with few weeds (no sand, dirt, black top, or excessive tar snakes).
3.) Two dimensionally straight course (only one mile though).
4.) Decent shut down distance with added run off.
5.) Easy drive in access (kind of in the middle of no where and a long drive for those outside of TX though).
6.) Unlimited runs! Hope that stays the same!
7.) Relatively cost effective.
8.) Good food: Unbeatable Bar-B-Que and Tex-Mex you can taste and feel for hours of enjoyment!

What more could you ask for, other than early Nov., Dec. and late Jan., Feb. runs to beat that awful summer heat.

For those who have had a taste of some or all the other venues what do you think?
What are the pros and cons of each location?

[VincentHill]

The problem with things in Texas is you can live in Texas and drive farther than I do to get to Maxton from Washington, DC. The one thing no one has ever mentioned about Maxton is, that they do have a great runway that is in good shape also. My hope is that one day we will get to use that place and then we will really have fun!

[Loc-Nar]

How about daytona even only using the tri-oval for fast runs can you get fast runs their???

[VincentHill]

Scott and I can tell you that even on the back straight, it is banked about 7 degrees and the front Tri-Oval is about 12 to 15 degrees. SInce tire wear is a problem, wear on only one side of a bike would be worse because of Banking. AT least at Maxton it is Flat. That is the Key word

[TRNorBRN6001]

Your right The Texas Mile can be quite a long drive even for those who live in Texas.

Daytona too cool , that would be kind of wild  I guess you would just shave the opposite side of your tire to even things out. That could be Daytona's New Rule: The Partially Shaved Side Tire!  
Watch out them rule boys will be looking to patent that one.

[VincentHill]

Your right The Texas Mile can be quite a long drive even for those who live in Texas.

Daytona too cool , that would be kind of wild  I guess you would just shave the opposite side of your tire to even things out. That could be Daytona's New Rule: The Partially Shaved Side Tire!  
Watch out them rule boys will be looking to patent that one.

You are not as far off as you think! The tires they use at Daytona, some have 3 thread compounds. A hard on the right side, Medium in the middle and soft on the left side because after heating the right side all of the way around the banking and then entering turn 1 can really be fun!

[TRNorBRN6001]

That must feel pretty wild coming off those banked turns at speed! It reminds me as a kid seeing those carnies on their bikes in the cage of death!

[JorNic Motorsports]

What more could you ask for, other than early Nov., Dec. and late Jan., Feb. runs to beat that awful summer  heat

thats why Arizona may be the place to make this happen in the "off months." how does x-mas in a t-shirt and shorts sound? great great dry air.

[Steve A]

Where would it be in AZ. ??

[JorNic Motorsports]

thats what I have been working on.

I have two locations I have had contact with. One south of Phx on in Tucson. I also have permission from one of the local tribes to do testing out on their res. deep in no mans land though.

I am trying my hardest to get some time on one of the "proving grounds" here in town. Honda, GM, Ford, Toyota, Chevy, Pontiac, Dunlop, Michelin, Dodge, Boeing all have proving grounds with lots and lots of paved surfaces. that would be incredible to do. but probably not a reality.

[Scott123007]

VincentHill,
I don't know what history you made at Daytona but I assume you're talking about running the track backwards!  If that is the case,  then what you're saying about thread (you did mean tread, right) compounds may have been correct on YOUR tires. But for the rest of us that race/have raced there, I'm afraid you've got it backwards. The SOFT compound used on those tires is on the RIGHT hand side because there are only 3 right hand turns on that track and they are flat. The left side is what gets the abuse with the extreme heat generated on the banking and so it gets the HARD compound. (just razzin' ya. I'm sure this is what you meant to say.)

Scott

[VincentHill]

OK, I seem to remember looking at some of the tires after they came off and the round profile was gone. A little left of center the tire was flat. I also remember a few grooves cut into the right side of the tire to make it heat up faster for the international Hairpin. Yes I had it backward. Remember when I rode there it was 3.87 miles around and there was no left right left into the infield and the Chicane in the back straight was just that a left right left onto the banking. I actually made History twice at Daytona. Once in 1981 and once in 1983. The other part speaks for itself

BTW, I do not think tire wear on the Banking will be the problem right now


You cannot even take a leak there anymore! Not even a rest room!


Not even the Goodyear Garage remains.


These pictures are Dave in Daytona pictures that he posted on Bikeland.

Scott will you even know which way to go??

[Scott123007]

Well, I just edited my message before I realized you already responded, because when I re-read it, it sounded kind of like I was talking to someone that didn't know what he was talking about which I knew wasn't the case. But seriously, what history did you make at Daytona??

[VincentHill]

Well, I just edited my message before I realized you already responded, because when I re-read it, it sounded kind of like I was talking to someone that didn't know what he was talking about which I knew wasn't the case. But seriously, what history did you make at Daytona??

History that a lot of people do not want to know.
In 1981 I was ranked 4th Amature AMA Light weight (About 190 then) the 250 class and I sat on the Pole for the Lightweight 250 Amature race. The History part there is No one knows of any other Blackman that has ever sat on the Pole for any race at Daytona until Bubba on his Motorcrosser bike this year. (Never for any pavement races)

The other part is in 1983 I qualified 67 for the 200 and finished 31 after being as far up as the top 20. As far as we know, no Black person has ever qualified and finished the Daytona 200

At Charlotte I finished 3rd in a heat race behind Eddie Lawson and Richard Chambers (Who now announces the AMA Races) I finished 11th

At Road Atlanta I was as far up as 6th in the Superbike final that has Eddie Lawson, Freddie spencer, Wester Cooley, Michael Baldwin and because I was really tired I finished 11th there also. That year I was ranked 69th in the country! I was 39 years old then!

[Scott123007]

That's really cool Vincent! I didn't start  road racing until 1985 (at the ripe old age of 33) because I was doing off road stuff before that. Kinda wish I'd started earlier. Sorry I never got the pleasure to meet you. I live in So. Fla. so I do know Rich Chambers and John Long but not as well as my good buddy Henry DeGouw. My only claim to fame is 7th in the '87 200, which netted me AMA roadrace Rookie of the Year honors for that year.
Scott

P.S.  I also have another good friend from those days that you may remember, Jerry Redden (100-125cc?). I think they called him the flying Flea. I didn't know him back then but those years, early '70's to early '80's sound like his time frame. He's only late 40's now, so he may have been one of the young guns then (from Lake City Fl. I believe)
S.

[VincentHill]

Looks like we just missed each other! Longevity Racing (John Long had the remains of my YamaSaki that was Art Bauman's frame from his BigHorn Road racer that I got directly from Bob Hansen and eventually took Eric Buells advice and put a TZ250 engine in it like he did his Harley and left it Green like he left his Harley Orange. Kevin Cameron has both of my H-1R frames. I have spent a night or two at Henry's house in "West Palm Beach" where what he spent on keeping the Miosquitos off of the Horses was more that I spent on my Bikes in total! I was there for a race he promoted at the West Palm Beach race course. Good Memories. How is Henry doing these days? Still married to the same lady?

[Scott123007]

Well, 'ol Henry is doing fine. He still promotes the CCS races out at Moroso and he is in charge of assembling and escorting the American team that goes to Macau, China every year for the Gran Prix. As far as wives go, he's not married to Nancy anymnore and hasn't been for a while (don't know how long it's been since you've seen/talked to him). He had a couple of relatively short term relationships/marriages that failed, but found a "keeper"  that he's been married to for probably 10 years now. She's an all around really great gal  and helps run the business with him. They're both very happy.
How's Chambers doing? Sure not short for words, that guy!
Scott

[VincentHill]

Richard married a Millionaire (Many of them) and may not do the AMA thing much longer. I remember when he and I were at the Old VIR Virginia International Raceway in the early 70's and he had a 200 Yamaha and was going through all of the trash barrels to and was draining the remains on the Castrol R40 to put into his bike and would occasionally get some Blendzall (The really good smelling stuff) and would be in Hog heaven! It hurt all of us when his long time sponsor Dave White the owner of Whites Truck stop on I-81 in Virginia gor run off the road by a trucker and eventually died!

Last night looking for a certain trophy I found one where I finished 2nd at "Bridgehampton" in the early 70 when we raced AAMRR just before ERA Which became Western Eastern Road Racers Association.

BTW, I have run Loudon "Backwards" and Summit Point also. Speaking of Airports I finished 6th at Burke Lakefront Airport in 1982 at the first Indy Car race there and the only time bikes raced there!

(Forgot to say I thought Henry's wife was Nancy but felt that maybe I was confusing the name because on just speaking of Jon Wennerberg wife. Also if you see Henry, tell him that Hill Says Hello! He will also tell you that I was pretty fast for an old over weight person even back then!