Which countries have the best/worst tracks?

Ain't been here for a few days, so here goes:


Western Europe and the UK specifically.

Europe is the spiritual home of motorsports, and it shows in our tracks, most 'classic' tracks e.g. Brands, Cadwell etc...alll have amazing elevation changes and stunning corners...how could you argue with the first corner at Brands Hatch?

Worst: The nasty concrete tracks with overbanding (any county applies to this).

Cheap ... efforts...I am not that clued up with American tracks, you have so many, but I've seen a few courses with tarmac leading onto concrete slabs, what is the deal with that? It's neither good nor effective, it's a cheap ... botch job.

That being said, I like a few AMA tracks such as Laguna and one circuit I don't know what it's called.

Miller Motorsports Park? It's right in the middle of the desert, I think Spies recently did a double with Mladin crashing out of the lead and hurting himself badly in the second race.

The American Le Mans Series, America's A.C.O.-regualtion sports car championship, raced at Mid Ohio this past Saturday. Before the race, a Radio Le Mans reporter asked Corvette Racing driver Jan Magnussen how he rated the circuit against the rest of the world's circuits. Magnussen said the following:

"Most tracks in Europe are designed for Formula one and their safety features. So the tracks are mostly straits, chicanes, and 90 degree corners…very boring. We need more circuits like this."

Jan has seen alot of tracks. He raced with the Stewart F1 team, he spent a short time with Roger Penske's CART team, and has been in sports cars for the past few years.

Perhaps he was partly playing to the crowd, but it still made me smile to hear an ex-F1 pilot praise an American circuit. His comments on F1's influence over European circuits really shows how North America's circuits have been largely preserved, setting them apart from abominations like Sepang, Shanghai, "Hockenheim", etc.

Safety-wise, U.S. tracks aren't the best for bike racing. However, some of the track layouts over here are up there with the best of them. Just ask the ex-F1 drivers who come over here to race sports cars at Road Atlanta.

After today's race, I have come to the conclusion that Laguna Seca (US) is the worst track. So much can be done to make it better. But, really nothing has been done..

Atleast the pavement did no start peeling off like it did last year. But, it feels more like a motocross course. no, not the elevation changes, but the bumps (and this is after the re-paving). Even the outfiled looks so primative..

For me, it's not the layout of the track or the fact that it might be laid crapply (not a word), it's knowing that at that track there has been some historic races, or even tracks that have that something that no other track has, like Laguna, Donington, Assen

Phil

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(crvlvr @ Jul 23 2007, 12:53 AM) [snapback]80767[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
After today's race, I have come to the conclusion that Laguna Seca (US) is the worst track. So much can be done to make it better. But, really nothing has been done..

Atleast the pavement did no start peeling off like it did last year. But, it feels more like a motocross course. no, not the elevation changes, but the bumps (and this is after the re-paving). Even the outfiled looks so primative..



You are the first one I have heard talk about the track being bumpy after the repaving. All I heard was that it was much smoother than it was last year.

You also have to remember how hot it was last year. The temps were nowhere near that high this year.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(machmanzx10r @ Jul 23 2007, 06:00 PM) [snapback]81024[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
You are the first one I have heard talk about the track being bumpy after the repaving. All I heard was that it was much smoother than it was last year.

It may have been smoother than last year.. but, that's not much of a comparison.

And I am not the first one to say it is bumpy, it was stoner..

http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~6~id~151555.htm

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<div class='quotemain'>Stoner, fastest of all in this morning's first free practice, said that the latest asphalt offers better grip - which he proved be lapping close to last year's 990cc circuit record - but that, incredibly, the bumps are even worse.

"This morning we had a few difficulties getting used to the track. For sure, the conditions feel a lot worse than they did last year," declared the Australian, who holds a 32 point lead over Valentino Rossi. "The surface is maybe a little better but the bumps are worse, the track is really bumpy now.

Repaved two years ina row, and they still can't get it right..

All I can say is....you guys have no idea what a bumpy track is!!! There are some tracks here (obviously smaller tracks in the Midwest) that I don't think you guys would even ride on! Not that there are pot holes or anything like that. It is just that they are very bumpy from the constant freezinf and thawing that takes place.....

Agreed, they are probably much bumpier tracks than Laguna Seca.. But, you don't see them racing MotoGP bikes on them either.

From personal experience, hitting a bump when leaned over = CRASH. And these guys are leaned over at 60 degree angels..

I don't think it matters what track the country is in but the track needs to be in some sense organic and natural and not appear to have been built on a computer.

I've never been to a race track in my life so it's all through the telly for me. I never really liked Donington but I've grown to love the Crainer (?) curves. I love Brands Hatch. I love that big straight but not quite a straight (to my eyes) of Mugello and you have to love the fans at Mugello - it's almost like a religious event. Misano, the right way round, was cool too.

I hate Sepang and Shanghai - antiseptic, sterile, dull.

NASCAR has some great tracks like Bristol and Martinsville. Daytona is great but the restrictor plates kills the racing (the last couple of years have been better though). Talledega is great too.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Valerian @ Jul 24 2007, 04:03 PM) [snapback]81195[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
I don't think it matters what track the country is in but the track needs to be in some sense organic and natural and not appear to have been built on a computer.

I hate Sepang and Shanghai - antiseptic, sterile, dull.

I'm glad to see someone else pointing out the dull nature of modern tracks. I hate the direction that circuit design is taking with F1. It's like the 5-star pit boxes and gold-plated toilet seats are more important than the track itself. I heard Tilke finally got his hands on Spa, but I haven't been able to find pictures yet. Is it bad?

I sure hope not. A great circuit like Spa should not be neutered. Formula 1 isn't worth it!

F1 stuffs up everything!