It's March and the Snow is starting to Melt

[Tom Veale]

Here's some photos from last year's Northwoods Shelby Club event at Road America. I thought the images might inspire all the Builders to be ready for Spring!

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?6134-Improving-Ride-Characteristics&p=92518&viewfull=1#post92518

On the Track Map, the above photo series shows the car in Thunder Valley coming uphill through Bill Mitchel Bend.
http://www.roadamerica.com/userfiles/file/2012%20Maps-PDFs/TechnicalMap2012.pdf

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16160&d=1363195746

Best regards, Tom

[Tom Veale]

Here's another series of photos from Road America and the Northwoods Shelby Club event last August.

This series shows Turn Five, an 80° Left that needs to be taken at about 40-45MPH.
At the top of the hill and about 1/4 mile before Turn Five #007 is rolling at about 125MPH or so.
You need to be deep in the brakes and downshifting from 5th to 3rd gear before your turn-in.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16123&d=1363116419

Then it's steady thottle through the Apex......
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16124&d=1363116442

If done right, you then start to squeeze on the gas and head for the turn exit.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16125&d=1363116466

Then it's squirt up the hill toward the bridge.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16126&d=1363116482

Oh, and don't forget to brake hard under the Bridge! There's a blind Left (Turn 6) just out of sight!

Can you tell I have Spring Fever?

Best regards, TV

[Tom Veale]

Here are some more "film strips" from Road America last August.

This next series picks up where the last one left off. These show the exit of Turn 6, a very tight, blind Left, the transition to the turn-in for Turn 7, the apex and just beyond.

First you nearly run out of room on the right hand side of the car exiting 6 and then have to
move completely over to the far left. (note the Mustang is right at 6's Exit in the second image)
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16150&d=1363188185

Next you start to aim the car toward Turn 7's apex on the right. This is a huge sweeping
right hander with excellent room at the exit and a down hill run to Turn 8.
I'm usually in 4th Gear here and at full throttle from before the exit to deep near Turn 8.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16151&d=1363188216

Next up, Turn 8.................................

[Tom Veale]

Heavy braking occurs before the hard Left which is Turn 8. There's now a big gravel trap
on the outside of the turn, but it's best not to use that as your Braking Point!

Your eyes are 'up and left' when starting the turn-in. It's open and you can see the exit,
which is your goal.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16156&d=1363192203

Once past the apex of T-8 the car drifts toward the rumble strips on the right. Here your next
effort is to get set up for the Carousel turn which comes up almost immediately.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16157&d=1363192233

Next, the huge Carousel Turn..........

[Tom Veale]

Most drivers I've watched set up for the Carousel in about the middle of the track just
before the Sargento Bridge. This is partially because the turn is huge, so you don't
need to be all the way to the Left entering it. It's partially because you're asking for
someone to tuck inside of you if you're that far left.

I've heard people describe the Carousel as a "double apex" turn, but my personal
way of driving it is as a single, very late apex. There's FIA curbing on the inside of
the turn way around and down hill, just before the road straightens out. That's
the Apex. So, you wait and wait and wait and then wait some more and finally you
see it. This turn is more than 180° around from Turn-In to Track-Out.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16158&d=1363192687

All that time you're car is in a high speed and controlled 4 wheel drift. Once you can see the Apex,
you start to accelerate and draw the car tight to the inside as there's a compression dip in the
road right at the apex which gives good tracking.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16159&d=1363192710

In the last two frames, note the posture of the '33 vs the Torino following me. This is where light
cars like Factory Five's '33, Challenge Series Roadsters, Street Roadsters, etc really shine. Heavy
cars generally don't like the Carousel as it just scrubs and overheats their tires. Remember, you're
traveling at between 70 and 80 MPH even on street tires here!

The Carousel can be taken in 4th gear as it is very fast, mildly banked and downhill. The 5.0L pushrod
Ford has plenty of torque to pull out of the turn as you accelerate toward the infamous "Kink."

Sorry, no photos of the Kink. You'll just have to experience that one by yourself!

Next up is a series of Turn 14, the last one before Start/Finish............

[Tom Veale]

For almost all cars, Turn 14 is the most important on the track. It is immediately followed
by the Start/Finish straight which is both an uphill run and nearly 3/4 of a mile long. If
done correctly, it improves your rate of climb up a 110' hill and your top speed well past
Start/Finish. One bobble at 14 and you curse yourself all the way to Turn One.

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16152&d=1363188249

The turn-in for 14 is one of the latest Apexs I've ever driven at any track. You literally drive until
you run out of road and then finally turn right. Visibility is pretty good all the way to the exit,
so you keep your eyes up and to the right, looking past the apex.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16153&d=1363188274

Once past the Apex, you're accelerating hard and driving straight at the end of the FIA curbing
on your left. The more speed you get on this flat before the big hill, the better your top speed.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16154&d=1363188297

Off in the distance, beyond the ambulance in the last frame, you can see the hill between Turns
5 and 6.

Northwoods Shelby Club runs three events each year. One at Road America here in Wisconsin,
one at Blackhawk Farms, near Rockford, IL and one at Gingerman Raceway in southwestern
Michigan. All three tracks are educational and challenging. Here's more information on NWSC:
http://www.nwshelbyclub.com/

Winter's long here in WI, so I hope you've enjoyed watching me attempt to thaw out!

Best regards, TV

[Tom Veale]

I assumed everyone would be able to see these photos. However, a friend wrote me this AM and said all he sees is text. Can someone confirm the images are here, please?

Thanks, TV

[wallace18]

They were there earlier this week. I do not know what happened. Maybe to big of files?

[sheephearder]

I got them all Tom. Thanks John