What was your impression of Putnam Park?

[Mgrad92]

For those of you who went to Putnam Park: What did you think?

I know I LOVED the track. The grounds we also very nice. The track staff was very professional.

My only two gripes: 1) lunch needed a little help. 2) We have to figure a way for them to let us in on Friday to unload vehicles and tech.

Other than that, I can't wait to go back next year!

[drudis]

Ditto:
1. Lunch was "ok" (taste-wise) but need at least 2 sandwitches.
2. Unloading would be extremely beneficial, especially for instructors who are there extra early (instructor meeting 7:45), then stay for driver's meeting, then are the first group out. You REALLY gotta hustle to get everything done to go out on time.

Track impression: Nice place to play. Track has an appealing look, like a rolling horse pasture. But could use another bathroom closer to the tower.
TONS of runoff room, and no hard off areas (dropping 2 tires without bottoming out) as the grass edges of the track were equal to pavement. I know, I tried out a few places... doh!
The front straight has a place to stretch you legs. Took a few laps before I had the bawlz to hold it WOT over the last hump, and then start braking, coming down from about 135mph based on tach in 5th.
The corner workers were all polite, and especially the start/finish guy was doing a solid job.
When discussions about the rain came, track manager was right there. He and Mark discussed and worked out either way run/stop in rain...

Keny Brown's tire-temp pit lane was nice, and MANY of us made use of it several times. Thank you.

All in all, outstanding event. It was my first, and will definitely look forward to it annually from now on.

Photos/video coming soon...

[PETSNKE]

Can't wait to return next year to master turn 7 without scrubbing off too much speed:tmb:

Maybe I'll pass on the lunch line and grill in the paddock. Burgers & Brats anyone?

BTW, I thought we were suppose to drive rain or shine . I've always been told that there is alot to learn by driving your car on track in the rain but have yet to do it. It seems every track I've been at just shuts down when there's a storm. I can understand shutting operations down when there's lightning or a heavy downpour, but the weather was clearing up at 3:00 Saturday :upst:

Safety First I Guess :huh:

[93svtcobra]

Track was great! Staff was great!

Pete - We shut down because of Lightning and then when we looked to start back up the vast majority of people were gone.

Lunch will definitely be different next year!

I've also talked to the track and we are looking to change the date by about two weeks so we don't have a conflict with the Northwoods event.

[Mgrad92]

Can't wait to return next year to master turn 7 without scrubbing off too much speed:tmb:

I found out how to do it. It's all in where you look.
Usually when I go into turn, I'm looking at where to apex. In turn 7, I was able to negotiate the turn better when I looked past the apex, and looked toward the exit of the turn. I was surprised that it worked, but then I remembered one of the things that Jeff Lecina said: "Don't look at where your at, look at where you want to go." It worked like a charm.

[PETSNKE]

In turn 7, I was able to negotiate the turn better when I looked past the apex, and looked toward the exit of the turn.

I was talking to Kern Fischer from Satcar about it, and that's exactly the same thing he said too.

It worked like a charm everywhere but turn 7 for me. He rode along for a session and we went four wheels off because I was too busy looking past the apex that I began braking too late:eek: First time off track for me this year.

Hey, if it wasn't challenging it wouldn't fun right :spinem:

[drudis]

I went off in 5...

Was following Rob (1991 Red GT) and he was driving 110% (like he always does). I was following really close, and watching HIM, not driving off-the-hood looking at the ground for apexes.
He 4-wheel slides thru turn 5 and just runs out of room, and drifts off during track-out on 5 going into the straightaway. I notice he's going off.... then I realize I am 4-wheel sliding and FOLLOWING HIM! DOH!!! :eek: We laughed about it at lunchtime, how its not necessary to follow someone's line, especially as they drift off the track.
:hehe:

[VAMPIRE]

One word "AWESOME"
This was the most fun i have had at a track event this year.The lunch left something to be desired,other than that it was a very good time.
I would like to thank Mark Wilson and all of the instructors and the Indy chapter for putting on a fine event.Job well done fella's.If you have never been to an open track event you should go to Putnam Park and give it a try it is ALOT of Fun. :tmb:

[Jkelly123]

Loved the track and had a great time for my second on-track event. The best thing was it was only two hours from home. :beer:

[Jim B.]

This was my third trip to Putman but the first time that I had extensive track time. The other two times were cut short, one due to a tire problem and the other due to rain. This weekend was both good and not so good. Lots of track time , only one student, and my car ran well. (After I fixed one minor problem)

I forgot to properly torque the rocker hold down bolts on the right side of my engine when I assembled it this past spring. I had driven the car some but only on the street and never "got" on it during that drive. On Sat. morning I notice something just not right. After the second session, which I cut short I let it cool and then started it up in the paddock. The valve train noise was obvious. I pulled the right valve cover and found all the rockers loose.

Today i was checking the brakes and found one of the front caliper bracket bolts loose as well. This explains the funny feeling I had in the brakes.

I also dropped the fuel cell and found that the reason I was experiencing an engine bog or momentary loss of power was that the sump in the cell had come loose at one corner. This was allowing the fuel to flow out of the sump in right hand turns. With a long enough turn (Turn 9/10) all of the fuel was flowing to the left side of the cell and I lost fuel pressure and power for a second or two. I have made a modification to the cell to limit the leakage out of the sump. I will see if it works on Friday at the Autobahn.

The provided Lunch was also not good. In the future I would rather eat at the consession stand or bring my own food.

The track needs to consider adding another rest room closer to the main building. For some people it was a long walk.

Last, Acess to the track on Friday evening, even to only drop off your car/trailer.

Jim B.

93' "R"

[drudis]

Just created a short (ok, so its 35Meg) video clip of Putnam Park...

http://www.dariusrudis.com/videos/2005_SVTOA_Putnam_Park_movie.wmv

[mchedd]

Great video Drudis. What a great track to drive!
I especially like the short excursion into the pasture at the end.
The comments you all have made about the event are simular to some of the comments made at Sebring the past couple of years.