BTW - great event and thanks to Dunfermline DRCC for hosting Round 4. Round 5 won't come quick enough...
I think you hit the nail on the head there Derek.
It's not a track that is like anything else we race on. It's a challenge, and you need to get your setup head on to work out how to deal with it.
A lot of tracks we are used to, are either mostly speed, or mostly bumpy.
If a track is 90%+ one or the other, then you set the car up to deal with the majority.
NORA is 50-50 - top qualifiers will be quick down the straight, quick across the features, quick through the tight chicanes and cope with the bumps. Of course, it's a very narrow setup window to get a car to do all that.
Plus it makes drivers think about throttle and steering control as well. They should be thinking about that as well as setup. You can't go at it 10 tenths for the whole lap - the track will bite back. I think you've got to drive with the head first here.
I know it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's a proper track with proper challenges. Best thing for everyone to do, is to come along to the next Dunfermline club round this coming Sunday, and spend some time on different setups - see what works for you AND your car(s).
After all, some of the cars were VERY quick there and that proves it can be done.
PS - I'm not slagging any other tracks here - they're all great and serve different aspects of "off-road" but IMHO, NORA is the equal of the rest - it's got different challenges, and it's great. Besides, believe it or not, we are all driving the same track, with the same challenges.
If anyone is struggling with the track, they should be there this Sunday and spend the day playing with setups. It'll pay dividends for Rounds 5, 6 & 7 which will all be at NORA this year.
I think it'll broaden all drivers race and setup experience. What you learn at NORA combined with Falkirk and Stonehaven, will help cope better when we go down to England-shire for the EOS finals. It's all experience...
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