Split this into a new topic and put it in the proper place. Wasn't really relevant to the January 14th event, as we've already designed a course for that event.
Mike, you're pointing out 150' Diameter turns on those maps and apparently calling them tight. 150' diameter is the absolute MAXIMUM we could ever do at Brooksville. (and we won't do that because it allows zero run-off on the exit side) Every turn-around we do there is typically a minimum of one block (12.5 feet) from the grass on each side. Meaning that if you drove the absolute WIDEST line that you could (which nobody does), it would be 125' diameter... or about 60' radius. Max speed at .95G on a 60' Radius is about 29 mph. Slower than that is going to make people want to downshift to first gear... which is something we try to avoid.
And that is why you'll rarely see a FAST course with a turn-around any tighter than about 45-50' Radius.
What you WILL find is that we usually make the turn-around "loose" enough that if you miss your mark, you don't have to beat yourself (or your tires) up to avoid hitting a wall of cones or going into the grass. We try to give you enough run-off space to make a mistake without costing you anything but time. You'll also notice that we alternate doing the turn-arounds clockwise and counter-clockwise. Tight or loose, doing that kind of turn 6 times in a row is going to wear the tires on one side of the car. We try to mix it up. We also look at balancing hard left and hard right turns throughout the same course. We've got your back, whether you realize it or not.
Let's go back to last weekend's course, which is what started this discussion.
Here's the map. Note that the tightest diameter you could drive that turn-around is about 106 feet (the left and right apex cones add up to 3.5 blocks from the grass, 3.5 x 12.5 = about 44 feet). The widest line you could take would be about 131 feet (about 1 block wider on each side). Realistically, most people probably took a tight entry, and went a little wide on the exit, putting them at about 120 foot diameter... assuming they drove it like a skidpad... which is, of course, the HUGE mistake that a lot of people make. They'll drive in hot on the entry, try to yank a tight apex, and turn it into an egg-shape with their tires screaming for mercy all the way through the exit side.
Personally, I think that's the perfect turn-around. It allows your "tight and tidy" driver to make a perfect 106' skidpad turn. Gives plenty of room for error. And requires some skill in course reading AND execution to get right.
Y'all feel free to keep discussing this all you want. But, Mike... please take a moment to consider that saying "I can't figure out how to drive this skidpad turn-around, and it's tough on my tires, so you should make the turn-arounds easier" is absolutely NO different than someone saying "I'm no good at slaloms, and I keep hitting cones that scuff my paint, so you should make the slaloms easier". You're asking for the proverbial "I" course. The course that "I" can drive.
As a course designer, I have to design courses that are fun and fair for everyone. Not saying that we get it right every time, but that is the goal. No great advantage to the high-powered cars. No great advantage to the small-nimble cars. SOME advantage to the experienced autocrosser who can read the course correctly. All without getting too many people lost.
I struggle to get all turn arounds right simply because they require patience to do right and they give me too much time to think about them.