Arroyo Seco Raceway is a 1.1 mile or 1.4 mile multi purpose built road
course that can be ran in either direction. A quarter mile drag strip is
used as a straightaway. There are no trees, walls, or barriers to hit, making
Arroyo Seco one of the safest racetracks in the nation. The surface is smooth
and easy on tires. Southern Arizona Region of PCA uses the 1.4 mile version.
We alternate between running the track clockwise and counterclockwise on Saturday
and Sunday. This makes Arroyo Seco Raceway events extremely versatile and safe
for both novice and experienced drivers.
Directions to the Track
The track is located just off Interstate 10 just 17 miles east of Deming New Mexico.
[Map of overall area]
From Tucson go east on I-10 for approximately 230 miles and exit at the Akela, Exit
102, then right onto HWY 549, and go 1/2 mile to the entrance. Arroyo Seco Raceway
is visible from I-10.
Video supplied by Greg Robertson
General Rules
This is a Drivers Education (a.k.a. Drivers Ed or DE) event, a continuous
lap-driving event. Passing is permitted as allowed by the event chairperson.
Laps are untimed and the event is intended as instructional only with
no competition. There are no award points assigned for, and no trophies associated
with DE events. Zone 8
driving rules apply.
Please Email our autocross chairs, Dave Radmacher and Greg Robertson (autocross@saz.pca.org), if you
have any questions. Here are some of the most relevant rules:
Clothing: Long-sleeved shirts, full-length pants, shoes and
socks are required. This clothing must be of natural fibers; no
synthetics allowed except approved fire resistant material. Gloves are
not required, but can really help you grip the steering wheel.
Helmets: Snell
2000, or 2005, SA or M rated helmets are required. Snell 95 helmets are no longer allowed.
We usually have "rental" helmets available, in case you don't own one yet.
Passengers are not allowed unless the driver or the
passenger is one of our instructors, and the non-instructor is
registered for the event.
Participants must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid
state driver's license.
A Hot Lap at Arroyo Seco Raceway
By Bill Walker of Carrera Region
Clockwise direction
For the purpose of this hot lap, we start on the drag strip at full
throttle and number the turns according to the map shown.
Turn
1
Position the car on
the left side of the track in preparation for the
medium speed turn one. Before turning in, complete all braking
and
downshifting. Braking markers are located on the right and left
sides
of the track. Some drivers may use some amount of trail braking
as
they enter turn one. At or a little before the slightly late
apex,
some throttle may be added before the entrance to turn two.
2
Turn two is a slower
left turn and some braking will be necessary
depending on the amount of throttle added exiting turn one. Too
fast
here and at least two wheels will drop off the right side of the track.
3
Turn three comes up
quickly so stay well to the right side of the track and set up for turn
four, a slower left turn.
4
Most cars will
require some braking and the next lower gear approaching
turn four. Apex turn four late as turn five comes up quickly.
5
It is important to
exit turn five, a slow right turn, as fast as
possible because turn six is a slight right turn but will be taken at
full throttle in most cars. Apex turn five slightly early,
modulating
the throttle to full open.
6
Move the car to the
right side of the track. Allow the car to approach
turn seven at the far left side of the track, braking and downshifting
in a straight line. Go well beyond where you think you should
turn in.
7
Turn seven is the
slowest turn on the track, at more than 90 degrees. The apex must
be very late or turn eight will be slow.
8
As soon as you apex
turn seven, start to apply the power for the apex
of turn eight. Allow the car to use the entire track, drifting to
the
far right side. Turn eight opens up on the exit and can be taken
fast
with a lot of throttle.
9
Turns nine, ten, and
eleven are taken as a decreasing radius turn. As
you exit turn eight the car will be to the far right side of the track,
stay there modulating the throttle as the speed increases. Stay
to the
right until a straight line can be seen between your position, the left
side of the track, and a point well past turn ten. Brake and
downshift
in a straight line (or a trail braking slight left turn). As you
head
for the outer edge of the track some throttle may be added, before hard
braking. Turn hard left to enter turn eleven.
10
Turn 10 is part of
the nine, ten, and eleven combination and is explained above.
11
If turns nine and
ten are done correctly the left turn out of turn ten
will cause you to apex turn eleven slightly late, applying power to the
entrance to turn twelve.
12
Turn twelve is
constant or slight decreasing radius turn. Use the
entire track but do not apex too early, as the left edge of the track
will come up too soon. Accelerate out of turn twelve and down the
back
straight, moving the car to the right side of the track. Braking
markers are on the right.
13
Turn thirteen is a
quick left turn, but if taken too fast will cause
you to exit the track onto the dirt on the right side. Brake and
downshift before the apex and accelerate to the entrance to turn 14.
14
Allow the car to
move to the left side of the track at the entrance to
turn fourteen, turning in to the apex at the center of this constant or
slightly decreasing radius depending on the position of the car, at the
entrance to the turn. At the exit allow the car to drift out to
the
area where the drag strip and the road course meet, applying power from
the apex. As the speed increases caution should be used here so
as not
to drive off the outer edge of the drag strip.
Counter-Clockwise direction
For purpose of these instructions it is assumed that cars will enter
the track at a point between turns 14 and 13, and that turns will be
numbered the same as on the map, duplicated at right so you can see it
while reading about the turns.
Turn
13
(The kink)
As you enter the
track it is a good idea to get accustomed to looking to the left
because other cars could be on the track and you must yield right of
way.
Position your car to the far left side of the track and turn to the
edge of the curb on the right with slight late apex. The left
edge of the track comes up quickly here, so adjust your turn-in and
apex as your speed builds.
Back Straight
Exiting turn 13
should be under full power for maximum speed down the second longest
straight on the track. Position the car to the far right side of
the track and note the starter's stand on the right along the hot pit
wall. Note the braking markers on the right as you near the end
of the straight. Pick an early brake point at first and adjust it
as you get accustomed to the track and speed.
12
This left-hander is
a constant (or nearly constant) radius turn, but you should not be more
than mid-track as you exit it or you will be out of shape for proper
entry to turn #11. There is curbing on the left as you exit turn
#12 and some power could be added here if the car is positioned along
the edge of this curb.
11
For the purpose of
these instructions, turns #11, 10, and 9 will be discussed as one
increasing radius turn. If your car is positioned correctly
exiting turn 12 some power could be added as you apex turn #11.
Allow the car to go a little wide here (left of the center track) and
add power as you come back to the right edge in turn #10 looking ahead
so as not to drop off the track on the left side as speed builds.
Turn #9 is a slight right turn, but should be taken at full power
allowing the car to run down the left side of the track. At some
point about where the track turns left for the short version, hard
braking will be required for the late turn-in for turn #8.
8
Turns #8 and 7 are
the tightest turns on the track and the slowest. The turn-in to 8
and the apex must be late so the car is positioned near the right side
of the track between 8 and 7. Too much speed or too early an apex
here will cause the car to spin, exit the track, or be very slow into
and out of turn 7.
7
If the car is
positioned near the right side of the track and under control at the
exit of turn #8, turn #7 can be taken with the addition of some power
allowing the car to use the curbing on the right if necessary as you
exit turn #7. (Caution, loose gravel on the outside of the curbing.)
6
This is a slight
left turn and can be taken with lots of power. The car will be at
the far right of the track and this turn can be driven down the right
edge of the track but use caution here as the surface has a large drop
off and lots of loose gravel. This turn can also be taken with an
apex and more of a straight line using the exit point of turn #7 to
near the left edge of the track and a point at the entrance to turn #5.
5
Turn #5 is a quick
left turn of more than 90 degrees followed quickly by turns #4 and
3. This is a good rhythm section where a small amount of power
can be added to set the car for the next turn.
2
Turns #2 and 1 are
very important turns, #2 because it sets the car for turn #1 and turn
#1 because it leads to the longest straight-away. The exit of
turn #3 should have the car positioned no more than mid-track to allow
a good fast entrance into turn #2 (caution, the curb at turn #2 has a
large bump at the end and will upset the car here). Depending on
the power of your car some power may be added at the exit of turn #3,
getting the power down early is important here.
1
Turn #1 is a fast
left-hander leading onto the front straight. Use all the track
from the edge of the curbing on the left to the edge of the track on
the right.
Front Straight
Allow the car to say
at the right of the track all the way to the braking markers on the
right (track exit would be straight ahead). The tendency is to
turn in early as you near the end of the straight (could be a good
defensive line in racing).
14
Another approach to
this fast left-hander is to stay to the right of the straight to a
point where your turn-in, the area where the track meets the drag strip
and the left side of the turn makes about a straight line (or slight
turning left). Some power can be added here followed by hard
braking for a double apex approach to this turn. On the exit of
turn #14 the car should be positioned near the curbing on the left for
a good apex to #13. Driving this line causes this turn to be a
slightly decreasing radius turn.
*NOTE
These instructions are meant to provide the first time driver with the
basic procedures for driving Arroyo Seco Raceway. This hot lap
was described driving a slightly modified 911. Other car and
driver combinations may choose a somewhat different line.
