Tx World Speedway ??

TexasChuck

Have any of you driven this track lately? I am wondering what the current condition of the track (pavement) is. I don't want to put up big bucks, then find put the pavement is tearing up tires.
Thanks

wstar

There are DEs, motorcycle events, races, etc there almost every weekend. The pavement isn't perfect by far, but it's not going do unnecessary damage to your tires or the car in general. I run there almost once a month What event are you looking at there?

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TexasChuck

Thanks for the info. I'm interested in the High Performance Driving school. Chin has one, Aug 2-3, and TWS has one Sept 27-28. Chin 's is full (wait list). I just want to drive, not "race".

wstar

I've still never been to a Chin event anywhere, but I hear good things about them and I might hit them up the next time it aligns with my schedule (which won't be the TWS one you mention unfortunately!). The TWS Performance Driving School is run locally by the TWS staff, and it's an incredible value in terms of track time per dollar, and doesn't tend to have wait lists usually (although I'd still sign up a few weeks ahead if you can just in case). I plan to be at the one you mentioned in late Sept.

Driver's Edge also runs DE events there and I think they're really top-notch, especially when it comes to focusing on driver education in the lower two rungroups (Green->Blue). However, they open their events for registration 2 months in advance of each event and sell out those lower two rungroups within an hour. Yellow/Red don't sell out as fast, but both of those rungroups demand some significant prior track experience. Yellow/Red is still currently open for their Sep 6-7 event at TWS, but Green/Blue is sold out. They're doing another TWS event Nov 22-23, but if you want to get in before it sells out on Green/Blue you have to hit the signup page at 9AM Monday Sept 22nd ( https://www.thedriversedge.net/02_tracks.htm ).

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TexasChuck

You've got some really good experienced info. I have driven MSR once, with an instructor. What I was uncomfortable with, was .....coming out of turn 7 (CCW) the asphalt patches were coming loose leaving rough spots , which caused my concern for the tires
How do the conditions on these two tracks compare. MSR is much closer for me. I'm in the Clear Lake area.
Thanks

wstar

I'd say generally MSR-H's surface is better-maintained than TWS, but even at TWS most of the problem areas aren't on the racing line. Neither is going to destroy your tires (as in, cause them to prematurely rip or tear or something). You'll destroy your tires the natural way at both tracks, by burning through the rubber in every corner

In general I'd say MSR-H, especially given it's closer to you, it's the better track of the two to learn on initially (because on average its runoff areas are more forgiving, although both have dangerous areas where you don't want to spin or run off at all). It also has better visibility; you can see about half the track at any given time if you lift your vision up and look around (which instructors should be helping train you to do!).

The fastest straight at MSR-H also isn't as fast as the main straight at TWS (especially Clockwise, but CCW is much more common at TWS), so TWS requires quite a bit more balls at the turnin at the end of the main straight, and can put more heat into your brake system.

But still, they're both good tracks to learn at! These are just finer points of distinction between the two.

Here's a video of me running my 370 recently at each one, both CCW:

MSR-H CCW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV36RzGYOg4
TWS CCW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdClfIBbFlc (this one's old but it's the last one I have good video for! I've dropped 2-3 seconds a lap since then).

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