CART Track day # 3 2007 at Pocono South

The Connecticut Autocross and Rally Team held the third track day of the 2007 season on July 23, at the Pocono South Course. The South course uses the 14 degree banking of the oval's turn one, allowing the high horsepower vehicle to top out at over 140 miles per hour. Coming off of the banking, the drivers are faced with a tight road course to challenge their car control skills. It's an interesting mix of high speed and handling.

The weather Monday was "fuggy": low clouds, threatening rain, and with temperatures about twenty degrees lower than the weather guessers had predicted. Instead of a frolic in the sunshine, the day threatened to be a long wet slog. It looked like the walnuts were definitely going to get wet.

The entrants were checked off against the entry list, a.k.a. the "Bill Sheet". It began to sprinkle during tech inspection. By the time the drivers meeting was done, and the cars were lined up to launch, the rain was beginning to earnest. Umbrellas spouted like mushrooms, as everyone not driving sprinted for cover. The worker stations were covered with easy ups. It was a good place to dodge the rain, but did nothing for the flooding. The event started in a cloud of spray.

Several lines were tried in the wet, some with more success than others. The rain made the track unforgiving, but no damage was done to any of the competitors, since Pocono is generous with run off area. The event was paused for a short time, as one of the off courses involved being towed out of the mud that was starting to thicken. Despite the challenges, the event went smoothly. Most drivers went out, turned a few laps, and then went into the garage to dry out.

About the time we would have been setting up for the timed runs, the track contacted the club and recommended we end the event. Several sections of the track had large streams running across them, and Lake Bob, located just outside of the entrance to the banked section was threatening to overflow it's bank and spill out on the track. Reluctantly, but with safety in mind, the event was terminated without timing. In the end, it was a good effort. We were wet, but had a learning experience in the rain.