Mid Ohio DE October 21 & 22

[Brian Minkin]

Mid Ohio was a great experience and definetly the most technically difficult track I have driven. Many blind turns and rythm is crucial to drive it smoothly. Not a high horse power track, it is all about car control. Weather Saturday was cool (high of about 50) so tires stayed cold but it was dry. Took about 4 laps for the tires to get some grip. Drove 4  (1/2 hour) sessions on Saturday and after the first two I began to get the line and reference points down.   Average lap times in session 4 was 1:50 which is very good for a first timer there. In the Northern Ohio region, regardless of how much experience you have you must drive with an instructor your first time at the track.  They will sign you off as soon as they are confident that you know the track. I worked with Cindy Wing who is a local professional instructor at the track as well as a PCA instructor and based on her recommendation have been invited to instruct there with the Northern Ohio Region next time I return to Mid Ohio.  Sunday was very cold (40's) and rainy.  Since being repaved Mid Ohio has been coating the concrete patches at the turns with some kind of sealer and as a result when the track is wet it is like ice. You need to drive a wet line and avoid these patches and even with the wet line I got sideways in turn 1,  and turn 8 (madness) a couple of times.  ( saved it each time but it does make your heart rate pick up!)   Basically the track is one giant skid pad in the rain. There where lots of offs but no damaged cars.  The people in the Northern Ohio region are very friendly and put on a very ogranized 1st class event.