Loren wrote:Shifting down takes time, and you're acceleration is zero during that time. It also takes concentration, which was the issue on this course. WHEN can you let your brain focus on that downshift? And, of course, if you grab first, you'll have to shift back into 2nd... and that costs time, as well.
Don't know about the bottom sweeper, because I stayed in second there, but around the pin turn before the finish, this course negated a few of those disadvantages. If you do it well, deceleration into the corner isn't zero. You're not able to stand up on the brakes, of course, but in a non-ABS car on a somewhat slippery surface, sometimes that's not a disadvantage! And for a 1.8 Miata (and I suspect most others), the finish lights came up before second gear did.
look at Mike's no-torque havin' Insight. His car accelerates out of those turn-arounds about like most cars would in 3rd.
Does it? Remember -- electric motor = instant torque. It might not be as much as we think of for peak torque on combustion engines, but I'll bet it fills in an important gap at low speeds.
I'm really growing to like the Dog Track. Much like Tampa Bay Downs, it's just different from the concrete airstrip. Less grippy, an little more challenging to drive.
Yup. I'd give much for another 15 seconds worth of course length, but these have done pretty well with what's available.
Excellent course for some cars.
The way I kept butchering my first to second shift after the tight turnaround in my car, I might be better off with a slushbox 
