I am not having any luck finding a track map of the new 2008 short trackmap of Brainerd International Raceway. If anyone knows of a resource where I could find it to please post it up. I'd like to start studing the new layout as its scheduled to open by spring of 2008. whoopeee deee doooo :laugh: :yumyum:
Its true as some of us have witnessed the current under going construction at BIR. Its been a while since I really looked forward to going to BIR. This will hopefully be a more technical course. The new owner wants to bring back more SCCA and other sanctioned motorsports events to MN.
Here's a pic of it being constructed...haven't seen anything more formal yet. http://forum.mnautox.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1215&st
I think that is some of it. I was also thinking that I drove over some construction in the 3-4-5 area. Russ
Nothing being done in that area yet. Keep your eyes peeled on MNSBR. That's where that pic came from. Here's the original thread with more details. http://www.mnsportbikeriders.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=21514
From what I can tell, I think these will be some good changes. Not that the straight isn't fun and all, but kind of ridiculous in my opinion.
Most would agree. The straight is fun and all but I'm not a pro and I'm not getting paid to go 160+ mph around that turn. The chicane will be a welcome change for me... the short track too! ...not to mention it will help to level the playing field.
It's funny because many cars that go with the car clubs get to top speed and are limited...if they could cut a quarter mile or so out, you could still get movin. I better save up money for track events next year...BIR, here I come.
I have been going up to BIR for many years, its silly I have never noticed the large bodies of water right next to the track. I plan on taking a scenic route and do some site seeing next time I'm up there. That long.......... straight is a setup for testorones and witts, but after a few years of doing it, its just a great stratch for cooling down the car. This is a welcome change to a legandary track and I to see more friends at these events.
webcrawlr, can you post up a few of those pics over here? i cant see them cause i'm not a member over there
I hope that it is open by next spring, and that the Legacy is in trackable condition by then. Short course for the M5 =/= no fun. Full course with the Legacy = less fun that the short course looks to be.
Where is the chicane? I couldn't tell from the pictures. I assume you are talking about at the end of the main straight? I hope they don't slow that one down, I enjoy it. I thought the same thing, I had no idea there was any kind of water near the track.
Well guess what guys, I just got back from BIR after a three day BMW/Audi event and we are officially THE FIRST PEOPLE TO DRIVE ON THE NEW TRACK LAYOUT! We received permission from the new owner and later that evening we got to meet the track designer. This guys has built pretty much everything. The new layout is going to be a great addition and will be alot more challenging for those of use who love to do the twisties. There is a new bridge as part of the design, the new track is designed for good drainage and the purpose for the new track is to bring back more motorsports, like sport bike racing, drag and some sort of RR. They will not be working on the old track till a few years later after the new one is complete. The new track is set to be released in June 08. The new design will meet FIA regulations and will allow multiple events at the same time. They basically want to bring everything possible back to MN. So get your Scoobies ready, some friends from the Audi club wants to invite us to their events and would like use to show them how we like to drive our AWD system. You guys missed a great weekend. 3 GT3's and 2 Elise, 600whp S4, Corvettes, BMW, 5 Subaru's and 2 Evo MR. The height light of my weekend was I got to instruct a PHD, thats right good old Doctor. The guys is amazingly fast in the 06 EVO MR and for an old guy he sure loves to go fast, "getting in the zone." Anyway the reason why is was soo cool is because I met him 2 yrs ago and he didnt even know how to drive this car. This weekend he was in the advance and fast group. And guess what, he is now even faster all round the track. Woooohoooo. So I guess I got too excited and forgot to take out my camera while driving on the new track. You guys would of drooled for this opportunity. Well I guess I got my question answered, I dont need a map anymore, cuz I got one in my head. LOL
The only pictures I got was of the track designer. The club has a professional who takes all our pictures. I'll post it when its available. One of the funniest things that happened was there was a lady in a pink sweater who would start moving back behind the tower everytime I came flying thru turn 10, because I would come in hot and trackout letting the car unwind all the way down past the white lines.
I had to miss this weekends event due to a wedding...booo! It's a BMW club guy too...I don't know what he was thinking doing getting married during the fall track event . Please post any pics that you can...at least I'll feel like I was there.
I beg to differ. I drove the track Sept 24! I don't care that is wasn't paved yet, I drove the track! It does look to be fun and I'm glad to hear it is now black. See you all next year at the new BIR.
I knew it, I sensed some Rally ora when I drove through it. LOL They are still going to put down another 1.5" ashfault down before letting everyone rip on it. The carosel will be very interesting coming out of 7-8 setting up to make that loop. And the new bridge at what they call turn 12 he said will separate the boys from the men. Lots of good run off's and a brand new course to learn all over again. These new corners are slower and sharper than the current 3-8 corners. Can't wait to go back with Snowystate and ride with the Rally guy sideways!!!!!!
Interesting. So it basically gets rid of the two long straights. I'm a fan of the high speed straights, but this should be fun as well.
This is from MNautox There is debate if it is a carousel or a keyhole? Pit in is after the wall on new 9 to the left - new 1000' pitroad. Pit out is after the 90 left to even the speeds. The bandshell will be the tracks new tower. The bridge is planned after pit out just before those piles of dirt. Sorry to high a water table for a tunnel. Maybe we can revive the old Camel scoreboard lol. Old turn 1 and 2 both get alternate esses to mix things up and give the really fast guys something to break for... The goal for this project was to create a track that can be run while amateur drag racing (9-10, 1-2 are drag race infrastructure), using as much of the old track as possible, and using as little of the infield as possible (camping issues). A track we can wall and fence permanently working toward level 1 FIA for starters. We have just bought 4 miles of FIA fence and are awaiting our 5 new FIA wall forms. With a proper venue we have a chance to bring back professional road racing, and grow the amateur side to what this region is capable of. The end result is a 2.4 mile 13 or 14 turn track (depending) with the possibility to road race every day during our season except the week before and the week of the NHRA Nationals... To be sure clubs can still mix things up the 3.1 mile track is still available and has also gotten some new asphalt. When running this track in the rain we have a drag strip bypass that turns back on track after the scoarboards by 90 left then 90 right. This will cut down the run to turn 1 by 1/3. It also doubles as part of the national event professional driver return road. This put new scales on that side which will service the 2.4 mile track with plenty of room for impounds. As much as this change brings BIR back to its Donnybrooke roots it also increases the number of drag race weekends available, and puts to use the hundreds of acres sitting empty during these events. This change brings a new world of opportunities and it is my belief that BIR will be Minnesota’s premier motorsports facility for many years to come. I will be checking in here on occasion and will be happy to answer most questions. Thanks, Jed Copham - Owner Brainerd International Raceway and resort 218 824 RACE
This is not exactly the latest pictures of the new 2.5 mile short track but with the new web developer hopefully they will continue to update these pictures and the BIR site looks really nice now. And Donny Brooke Racing School is now officially BIR Performance Driving School. I didn't realize I knew 6 of their Professional Instructors and we have one of them on our forum. Which gives me a great idea for a question for Mr. Utecht. http://birperformance.com/skins/default/images/birgallery/birgallery.html
Good question, I dont think that will happen anytime soon, there are a few of us that do end up at BIR with other various clubs. Most clubs will welcome you to join them at their events. The new short track will hopefully put us on an even playing field as it will be new to everyones and is more technical and more demanding.
id love to go and run up there sometime soon. you should keep the events page posted with notices just incase some of us want to come join in on the fun.
Gladly, in the mean time you can start planning May 17-18 Northstart BMW and Audi will be hosting an event at BIR. If your still a noob like myself you may enjoy the benefits of having an instructor and class room time. Lots of seat time and great group of people to hang out with. Checkout the schedule, there are many other clubs that have scheduled an event for 2008, I believe Snowstate and LOL might be doing another 3 day at BIR on Labor Day. BIR Schedule 2008 http://www.brainerdraceway.com/schedule/jan.html
if you go on youtube (which i cannot at work) you will find a video displaying the short track. Its pretty sick.
Here is the latest as I found out this weekend at the BMW event on May 16-18. They have decided to redo the runout coming into turn1 because they are concern drivers will end up going off the track. So they currently have removed the orginal paved section into turn1 and have dug out a new and more round enterance into turn1 which should make it a much smoother transition. We were able to tour the short course twice while we were there. No official opening date due to the recent changes. But its looking like a great track for more than just grip racing. Other than that the scenery has not changed much. Not related to the short track but the rumble strip at turn 8 had a 3ft width and 10ft long red paint all over it. I told my C student thats where to dump drivers were layed to rest, but he didn't buy it. It could of been due to that rumble strip was losing its rumble or to let drivers know its not safe to go off. What ever the case it was very distracting.
