Repost - July 5 - Private Instructions with racer Sunako-san

[hyrev]

PS - since Yamanashi is near Mt. Fuji, there are lots of onsen in the area. Something for our Significant Others to be doing in the meanwhile?

I am leaving mine at home, where she belongs! But, I should be able to take a dip. This trip sounds really thought out and well planned, I am sure more will want to join, this is a great opportunity. Perhaps I would love to give a shot at trying out for the 12 hour endurance race.

Besides gloves, long sleeve shirt, pants, helmet & plenty of Yen-jamins, what else do you reccommend we bring?

[akasakaR33]

Originally Posted by hyrev

Besides gloves, long sleeve shirt, pants, helmet & plenty of Yen-jamins, what else do you reccommend we bring?

Don't forget shoes. Tennis shoes are fine, but driving shoes even better - thin soled. Those who have attended track days before, please bring plastic tape for your lights, (front, rear, sides), and for the numbers we will be putting on our cars.

Also, no problem running with S-tires.

Any dietary requirements? We will be ordering bento lunches for everyone.


Aki

[Demon Dave]

I've only just seen this thread, unfortunately not been on the forums much lately. The circuit is about 3km from where I live and I regularly go there at the weekends to watch the action and know the track and area pretty well.

Unfortunately I have to work that weekend (MC'in at a Tanabata Festival), but I may be able to stop by in the morning.

Has anyone ever been to the track? Reason I ask is because it is rather small and technical and on a hillside which means your either going up a steep straight on down a series of curves.

[akasakaR33]

Hi Dave,

Good to hear from you again. The track is very technical, yes - which is why we will be spending the morning session making sure our brakes are up to snuff, and learning how to trail brake/drift in the corners.

If you could stop by in the morning - that would be fantastic! Hope to see you there.

Aki

[Demon Dave]

Here are a couple of photos to give you an idea. They were taken a while ago, and since then the tracks facilities have been uprgaded somewhat and there is a central tower/viewing platform that gives a birds eye view of the entire track.

This photo was taken from the upper edge of the track at the highest point. The main straight leading up the hill is to the right of the frame.




The pit area. The track is popular with drifting and bikes.


Another view of the pit area and the bottom corner.


Getting there is pretty straight forward, get off the Chuo at NIRASAKI, turn right after the toll boths and stay on that road. It goes up into the mountains and through a couple of small villages. Keep going straight. There are no stop signals or anything like that. The entrance is quite narrow but there is a large YOKOHAMA tires signboard to let you know when to turn.

There isn't much else around there, except for some OK mountain roads that are usually deserted. The nearest 7/11 is the one you'll pass after turnning right from the toll booths. If you turn left and decend the hill there is an Autobacs in Niraski town along with McDonalds, but that's about it.


Aki the track is quite technical and it driving it will certainly help build driving skills, which is what the day is about. With the exception of the short main straight it is all either inclined or declining turns. You won't be able to get to any of the speeds possible on tracks like Fuji or even Tsukuba for that matter, but you will be able to test your GTR's cornering and braking ability.

[akasakaR33]

Dave - wonderful! Thanks so much for the pictures and the directions. I've also heard there is only one gas station nearby, and that only has one hi-octane pump, with an old guy who hand writes his receipts!

And exactly right. We all wanted to have a day in which to really polish our driving skills - going fast (like at Fuji) is often a matter of standing on the throttle and holding tight - and having a really powerful car. On a tight course like this, we're going to be able to practice braking, and taking up and down corners - which such as at Fuji give a lot of us trouble.

It's also a short circuit, so our on track learning time will be maximized. Fuji is fun, but there are so many straights between the corners.

This will be a day spent learning our car's cornering capacities, as you say. And for the others - S2000, FD, 86, Roadster, S15 - everyone will be able to have fun too!

Deserted mountain roads? like Touge? I am NOT responsible for what happens on the way home. (actually, I've seen some describe the track itself as Touge-like).

Don't suppose there are some good onsen around...

Dave - having driven the track before - would you recommend S-tires or street radials? I'm thinking the street radials might be better, it may help the back break out to get some oversteer going...

[hyrev]

Demon (Dave), thanks so much for those pictures. It really puts things
into perspective. Looks better than what I imagined. Really looking forward
to going, hope to see you there for a little while. Again, big thanks to Aki
for setting this up and organizing with Sunako-San.

[akasakaR33]

Originally Posted by hyrev

Besides gloves, long sleeve shirt, pants, helmet & plenty of Yen-jamins, what else do you reccommend we bring?

Thinking about this further - everyone should make sure that their car's BRAKES are in good order.

[Demon Dave]

Aki,

I'm not much into Onsens, so I don't personally know of any good ones close to the track, but I will consult my better half and get back to you.

I have to admit that I have never driven on the track myself Mainly because I don't have a lot of confidence in my skills. I've always wanted to try a more "open" track like Fuji or Tsukuba first, build some experience and then try the more technical Sports Land Yamanashi (SLY) circuit. Having an experienced driver there to give advice and pointers is a great idea. The shortness of the circuit means you'll be able to complete a lot of laps. Top speed is irrelevant, but ability to brake, corner and accelerate quickly before braking sharply for the next corner is.

For gas, there is a very small local gas station on the way to the circuit from the interchange. Aside from that if you turn left at the toll booths and head down the hill into Niraski there are about 3 gas station including a Jomo and Eneos. The drive from the circuit to Niraski town (food, supplies and gas) can be done in 10 minutes.

A word of caution: There is one Koban in the first village you pass though and occassionaly, more often than not on Sat/Sun, there will be a cop car patrolling. I guess the locals don't appreciate the noise of tuned cars/bikes rocketing through there village every weekend.

The mountain roads around the circuit are a lot like the circuit itself. They're not wide with long sweeping curves like those you find at the Hakone Skyline or turnpike, but narrower with tight hairpin bends. If you head past the track the road is pretty much empty. There isn't much around there apart from a golf course and a couple of small villages. Eventually you can drive all the way to Shosenkyo, a popular tourist destination (a big waterfall, some superb scenery, shops selling trinkets, small restaurants and a thousand tourists piled into tour buses)

[Demon Dave]

I agree that making sure your brakes are in good order would be a good idea. While you can't go that fast, there is a lot of braking involved, which is going to be tough on a heavy car like the R.

Trying to think of anything else that might be useful...

The pit area is convered, but there aren't any tables or changes except for a single bench outside the main building. Might be wise to bring to folding chairs.

They have a drivers in-door briefing room/classroom.

The main tower is now quite tall. It makes a good place to shoot footage/pictures, as long as you have a camera with a decent zoom lens.

Access to the pit area is through a tunnel under the track. They also have an RC circuit (engine powered on road) if you're interested.

[Miguel - Newera]

Thanks for the pics Demon Dave!

That looks like a lot of fun Don't know, but I may well drive up there 4th July and stay at an onsen hotel or something...Would be a good way to relax and make sure I'm not bleary eyed the day after (I'm often knackered on track days because I work late the night before... )

Will be cool to drive the AE86 there.... Difficult to avoid drifting, me thinks - but I'll do my best to put in quick lap times rather than keep it sideways..

Sugino's Civic is going to lap up a circuit like this. Lemme at it, lemme at it, lemme at it

[hyrev]

Originally Posted by Demon Dave

The pit area is convered, but there aren't any tables or changes except for a single bench outside the main building. Might be wise to bring to folding chairs.
.

I suppose I will bring my blue folding table and a couple of chairs.

[Miguel - Newera]

YouTube - drift max

I know this is footage of drifting, but may be useful. Bear in mind these cars even whilst drifting probably lap quicker than most road cars will be capable of (Was at Tsukuba track day one day whilst Taniguchi was testing this Altezza with HKS). He was doing 1.02 laps whilst always being sideways (Even on the straights).

[akasakaR33]

Ok, after watching that - everyone takes responsibility for their own damage, ok? Any one who disagrees, speak up now!!

[DCD]

Well guys have fun, I won't even be able to participate as an observer. Will be out test driving the new Subaru Exiga in Hakone....