Carolina Motor Sports Park

http://www.carolinamotorsportspark.com/default.asp

Kershaw, SC

From David Terry, 2006

Having just got back from CMP here goes:


CMP is another Allan Wilson designed track, but unlike one of his more famous efforts at Barber, CMP leaves a lot to be desired.
First of all a lot of riders find it challenging to get into any sort of a rhythm riding this track due to the fact that the first half is quite flowing and relatively fast, whilst the second half is second gear'point and shoot' type corners.
In addition the track this past weekend (06/06) was extremely slippery in several areas, and there is an even more noticeable bump on the very fast back kink. I believe that the last time the track was repaved was over 6 years ago and since the track see's an awful lot of car action (Even some NASCAR teams test here due to the track's close proximity to Charlotte) there was a general feeling that CMP is ready for a repaving. This may help traction and will provide an opportunity to smooth out some of the car ripples on the black top.
Most of the pit area  is essentially sand, so if possible it is best to pit on the hot pit area of the track.
So, here is a quick lap of the track:

Front straight is quite short, about the same length i would say as barber, but you aren't carrying as much speed as the last turn is a lot slower. Turn 1 is a slowish left (be careful here, especially in the morning as you can get sand on the track, especially off the line), flowing into a faster right left combination. You then enter a 3 apex long right hander (where it was very easy to spin up the rear coming out) before heading down another straight with a slight kink which ends up in a deceptively fast right hander. This leads you onto another fast straight with a kink. Im at the top of 5th before going through the kink which as a big bump on the inside. its quite a scary corner as you cant take it as close as you would like on the inside because of the bump, and there is also a bump on the exit if you dont get it right. The top riders go through this without rolling off at all, i have never been able to do that!
You then enter the 'point and shoot' part of the track, with a second gear left, followed but a slightly faster right, and another second gear right. You then have a short shoot down to the last turn, a pretty tight right hander that gets you back on the front straight again.