Island_370

I have been to RA many times....same with ABCC and GMan. Here is my opinion......

ABCC North----very safe. Fairly slow, the most dangerous corner there is the turn 1---if you take the race line, not the school line. Good beginner course.

ABCC South. A bit more technical than North. The back straight is best for eating brakes. Nothing really to technical there either.


GMan---as mentioned...great newbie track. Very safe, decent technical.

RA....aaaahhhhh...My beloved RA. RA has a special place for me as it was my first ever track. I have since been back many times and instructed there. The right seat really helps find the pucker spots....

No down to business....

From turn 14 to 1.....WOW huge elevation that eats HP. Great place to check the status of the car....water temp, oil temp, fuel, etc.

Turn 1 is more open and faster than you think. Gradually and safely build speed. Fairly safe corner. Decent run-off.

Turn 2 is really a slight bend, aim for the bottom point of the Briggs diamond.

Turn 3 is down hill, but fairly wide. very good run off, nice exit. nothing special.

Turn 4 is another bend in the straight. Aim for under the rear tractor wheels on the Sargento tractor trailer. Once you crest the hill, you will see a BIG tree in the distance (actually the tree at turn 14). Try to use this for a good reference point to line up the entrance to turn 5.

Turn 5....the brake killer #1. For me, this was 2nd fastest part of the track. Steep down hill and hard braking. The corner is more than 90 degrees, so you really need to burn speed, but keep as much speed as possible for the uphill to 6. Think of Patience on ABCC South (feeding the long back straight)

Turn 6. A bit tricky. If you are slower with good brakes, you can break after the crest. If not, tap the brakes before the crest, go nuetral over the crest and then brake hard for the left hander just after the crest. At track out, keep the wheel on a left hand turn to feed over to the turn in for 7

Turn 7. A bit less than 90 but if you drop a tire, welcome to the beach. Nice track out down the hill ("the hurry downs"). Depending on tires, temp, track and skill----you just need a tap of the brakes or a lift to settle for turn-in.

Turn 8. Brake killer #2 (rank of #3). Steep down hill with a tight left turn. This feeds the Carousal so exit speed is not 100% critcal. More can be lost than gained. Last time I was there, the track out dragons teeth were HARSH!!!

Turn 9. The Carousal. About 270 degrees of patience. I straddle the pavement seam while watch forward at the armco on the inside (~50 feet inside) of the corner. Once you can see the end of the armco, start to feed more steering to get to the apex. Very slowly creep into the apex. maintenance throttle for most of the corner with gentle application as you near the apex. Track out and get ready for 10.

Turn 10. The Kink. Considered by to be one of the most technical/dangerous corners in North America. Respect this corner and check you ego. Tell anyone that says real men take it flat, to grow up. It is the most dangerous corner at RA. no run off. The walls pinch in at just past the apex. Trees shade the whole area, so the track heats slowly and dries even slower. Drive with confidence and never lift in the kink. Build speed slowly and if the car feels weird, go slow. This corner has a very small window to hit the turn-in correctly.

Turn 11 and the Kettle Bottoms. Really just a big flat "v", but the track wanders more than your line should. A big smooth arc with a pinch in the middle (hence the "v") will set you up for Canada.

Turn 12...Canada Corner Brake killer #3--same as turn five). A lot folks go to the beach here. Hard HARD braking for a bit more than 90 right. Hold the turn at track out to come over the curbing on the right to set up for 13.

Turn 13....much harder now that Billy Mitchell bridge is gone. At the end of the curbing, smoothly throw the car into the apex that you can just see. The apex is right before the crest of a hill, so the car will go light and float over about half to a full car width. So you need to be in tight on the apex. A cross over road is at track out, so you can cheat and get a bit more track. Bring the car over the left for turn 14. You will now see the big tree mentioned in turn 5. Good reference point for getting lined up for 14.

Turn 14. Almost done with 4.1 miles of AWESOME. Turn 14 is like turn 6 at ABCC North. The track bends before the turn in, so you need follow the egde of track as it bends to the right, but you DO NOT start your turn it yet, or you will be early and lose exit speed at this critical feeder to the front straight. So follow the bend of the road, pause and then turn in and get the apex. Put it to the floor and start checking out the car, gauges, other cars, the trees, etc.


I really like RA, but it is HP track and is a good to teach on since you can talk between corners. The speeds at RA mean mistakes are a bit harder to correct and carry you off the track. The kitty litter at most corners will keep you off the walls, but will ruin the front bumper. The kink can destroy your car. The BMW club has a speed limit for the kink to keep egos in check. Focus on the road and not the walls, you will be fine.

I do prefer other regional track for their technical and feel. Grattan is awesome. BHF is fun also. RA brings out the big boys, so it is fun to share the track with Carrera GTs, Audi R8s, Ferraris, etc. Plus you can watch pro races where you drove. For big tracks, I prefer to drive Mid-O and Sears Point. But RA will always be "home".

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Autobahn Country Club (North and South Tracks), Blackhawk Farms, Grattan, Gingerman, Mid-Ohio, Putnam Park, Road America, Sears Point, Thunderhill, VIR and "The Ring"