LaJunta Hotlap Video

[bpanther]

If you've never seen the track, download the following and start studying the line. While LaJunta doesn't have a lot of elevation changes, it's got some fast sweepers with major pucker factor :eek:!

http://www.whapp.com/sm/lajunta_944_june2003.mpg

Video is courtesy of Rick Snyder who will be heading up Group2 HPDE for us. He's got some other good videos on his site: http://www.snymo.com/

[Chad5160]

Thx Dave!

Looks like fun!!!

[troyn]

Looks cool, and a nice surprise too since I thought La Junta was an airport track. How long is the front straight?

[bpanther]

I heard from Dave Muramoto (sp?) that they have done some repaving at the track. I plan to get out there soon and inspect the facility and see how we should run the June event.

I'm not sure of the front straight, but would guess at 1/3 of a mile?

[JLMounce]

Track looks short and fast. Looking forward to this one. Especially since I think I'll have to skip MMP :(

[GaryM05]

Looks cool, and a nice surprise too since I thought La Junta was an airport track. How long is the front straight?

Actually, LaJunta IS an airport track; using sections of the still-functioning airport that are no longer in use:

http://terraserver.microsoft.com/addressimage.aspx?T=1&S=12&Alon=-103.513962&Alat=38.044345&W=1&opt=0&qs=+30267+1st+Ave%7cLa+Junta%7cCO%7c&addr=30267+1st+Ave%2c+La+Junta%2c+CO+81050&Lon=-103.52171981333333&Lat=38.04285524

You'd just never know it from the elevation change between T1 and T3, and the fact that it's been so long since this part of the airport has been used that the runways and taxiways that don't make up the track surface are so overgrown as to be unrecognizable from the ground.

[troyn]

That makes sense, thanks for the clarification. Have you driven La Junta then? How did you like it?

[Snymo]

That makes sense, thanks for the clarification. Have you driven La Junta then? How did you like it?

La Junta is an interesting track. It is unique in that it is ultra fast. At 1.6 miles and 7 turns (6 of which are to the right!), lap times for most racing cars are in the 0:57 to 1:03 time range, which is really quick. That's somewhere between a 90-100mph average speed. My last time there I turned a 57.something lap at like 100.3 mph. That's fast!

There has been some paving and the track is in really nice shape. There is plenty of room if mistakes happen (except for turn 7, but that is the slowest). All you have to worry about is getting dizzy cause you are going around and around so fast! ;)

I think everyone will have fun!

Rick

[GaryM05]

That makes sense, thanks for the clarification. Have you driven La Junta then? How did you like it?

Yes, I've driven LaJunta, and I think that Rick has pretty much summed it up in his post above. The only other thing I might add is that the T1 - T3 section is pretty intense (and a whole lot of fun), as it starts with a high speed, uphill turn through T1 (you'll feel G's simultaneously pushing you down, back, and sideways), and ends with a bumpy braking zone and fast right-hander at T3.

LaJunta's layout is about as straight-forward as they come, which I've found lets me spend less time learning the lefts-and-rights, and more time perfecting the line and experimenting with the car. The NASA weekend should be a lot of fun, and I'm really looking forward to it.

Gary

[troyn]

Thanks guys, sign me up!