Pocono Repave - Sportbike Addicts

Gigantic · 04-23-2007, 05:22 PM

I got to ride Pocono East this weekend with Sportbike Track Time. I'm pleased to report that the rumored Pocono Repave is indeed reality. Unfortunately, it's a patch job, including a very, very large patch leading to the bus stop, which is now quite smooth. They've taken out a few of my favorite braking and turn-in markers, but I learned to adjust quickly, turning 1:16's all day sunday. Very few redflags all weekend and zero transports that I'm aware of.
One gripe is the patch in turn 11 has a dip that unloads the suspension mid-corner whilst fully leaned over that's kinda unsettling, but not so bad compared to what it fixed.
Lance

Kennedy · 04-23-2007, 05:37 PM

Its a start!

Mike295 · 04-23-2007, 08:15 PM

you know it has been super cold out ... guess hell is starting to freeze over

Mike295 · 04-23-2007, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigantic

I got to ride Pocono this weekend with Sportbike Track Time. I'm pleased to report that the rumored Pocono Repave is indeed reality. Unfortunately, it's a patch job, including a very, very large patch leading to the bus stop, which is now quite smooth. They've taken out a few of my favorite braking and turn-in markers, but I learned to adjust quickly, turning 1:16's all day sunday. Very few redflags all weekend and zero transports that I'm aware of.
One gripe is the patch in turn 11 has a dip that unloads the suspension mid-corner whilst fully leaned over that's kinda unsettling, but not so bad compared to what it fixed.
Lance

are you talking about the east course?

Gigantic · 04-23-2007, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike195

are you talking about the east course?

yep.

Mike295 · 04-23-2007, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigantic

yep.

when u talk about turn 11? what turn are you talking about? I dont know there are not that many turns

Gigantic · 04-23-2007, 08:23 PM

The left hander after the busstop, but before the decreasing radius turn.

RCM78 · 04-23-2007, 08:52 PM

That would be 9. There are only 10 turns on east...

Gigantic · 04-23-2007, 10:25 PM

it's hard to tell whether the kinks are actually numbered turns or not... I've never seen a map with the turns labeled and numbered, so I had to guess. I'm not so good with math, either- there's a reason I got a fine arts degree in college.

opinion914 · 04-24-2007, 07:23 AM

the dip in 9, is it on the inside of the turn or the outside? patches huh....

fusa is full of them too, wigs me out sometimes

NYCSTRIPES · 04-24-2007, 10:50 AM

WOW, I would have lost money on a bet about them doing a nickel's worth of work on the East...I may just have to ride it this season. Thanks
for the update.
Ken

Gigantic · 04-24-2007, 05:52 PM

the patch isn't so bad, but it is oon the inside, right in the middle of the line.
Ken, It's definitely been a dramatic improvement. I'll go again, for sure. Last year, I'd just about sworn off Pocono altogether.

NYCSTRIPES · 04-24-2007, 07:52 PM

That is good news. I was not making too many plans to ride at Pocono either this season because of the conditions there. Hearing that the East is somewhat better will be a good thing. I can't plan all of my track days as road trips, it gets costly and chews up vacation time.
Ken

CBRBob · 04-24-2007, 09:23 PM

I still don't get why you all hate Pocono. It's not my favorite place but you trade a little bit of surface for location. The East course is a great layout, lots of fun. If you can't handle a few (now less) bumps, how will you ever handle them anywhere else?

NYCSTRIPES · 04-25-2007, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRBob

I still don't get why you all hate Pocono. It's not my favorite place but you trade a little bit of surface for location. The East course is a great layout, lots of fun. If you can't handle a few (now less) bumps, how will you ever handle them anywhere else?

Bob,
maybe if I explain it this way it will not see like so much "hating" a towards Pocono.
I love that Pocono is less than 3 hours from me. I wish that they took better care of the infield. I like the layout of the East course but I am disappointed that the abuse the cars put to the asphalt degrades the quality of the ride there.

I like the layout of the East course as well as the FUSA and North courses. I believe the North is in the best shape of them all, but its the simplest of the three layouts that I like. FUSA got some much needed repairs last season with the two repair sections at the tunnel turn and the end of the back straight where the "turtle" used to be burried.

I think that every hobby that's worth is generally expensive. With that considered, I try to get the best bang for the buck and like to try different tracks as I can get to them. With the growing cost of participating in this sport, I would also like to see a decent facility for my $200+ track day.
I guess I can consider myself spoiled after getting to ride at VIR, Beaverun and
Summit Point. Summit has its track surface issues too, but compared to Pocono its still a world apart.

I guess I would put some effort into defending Pocono if they only spend a little time and effort in making some improvements to the layout of the East or FUSA layouts. Smoothing the terrain around the track so that anyone that runs off has a chance to not total the bike because they had the unfortunate luck to hit a pot hole in the grass after saving the possibilty of a crash.

I think its not too much to wish for and if they did some of this I would be more supportive of that facility.
See you Friday at FUSA.
Ken