Calling all track designers, show off your work!

  • Thread starter glassjaw
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Anyone designing anything here with elevation change, and technical blind corners, corners that are intentionally meant to be *almost* flat out, etc.? Because, I want to get into designing tracks that are only challenging for drivers, but, still wide enough that it offers chances to pass, and long straight-aways, but with Australian V8 Supercar style chicanes and interesting challenges...
 
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County airport

It doesn't quite compare, you know, in the amount of effort, to the one above (Good job Evo 7) BUT, I reckon it has a nice Australian V8 curb-to-curb chicane on the second straight (the first straight after kilometer 1) and two nice karussel hairpins.

All in all, though, it would be some good touring car racing. It reminds me of what a British touring car series would run, if the track designers were Australian... (it makes sense in my head at least...)

I especially like the idea of all turn one battles being carried into a chicane on starts and restarts, but, without danger... what could one POSSIBLY hit in an airfield? The first and last sections are set up to give a good passing opportunity into turn 1. Then there's a high-speed (and therefore, single file) chicane, with a somewhat high-speed (draft) straight after, leading to turn 3, and then turn 4, where it's likely that people would see some serious battles.

Then, the middle section is a series of shorter straights and tight turns. At the third kilometer mark, (turn 8 is the right hander that splits the two straights) things get a little less easy, and follow a rhythm. At the fifth kilometer mark, lays the 14/15 complex which would bunch the cars up a bit, and lower speeds on the runway. This puts an emphasis on a good exit, which would be vital for a lap time, and makes the track even safer.

It's even nice for the airport, because they don't have to close EVERY landing strip.

John F. Kennedy International Airport

Pretty much the same thing: long straights followed by chicanes or hairpins, to make passing somewhat easier. As with so many other tracks, the important things to remember are based on exit speed and out-braking the opponents while having a battle. The first section is very tight and technical, all the way from turn 1 (the chicane) until turn 14. After turn 14, comes the long straight (hangar straight) which leads to the hangar, and the massive hairpin (turn 16.) After turns 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, you're led to the final hairpin, which goes all the way around the runway, as the runway there serves as the pits. Then, after passing the unsafe bits near the pits, you would be returned to the start finish line by a set of two, probably full speed (well, okay, it depends on the HP and weight of the car), sweepers. Turns 14, 23 and 24 are the most important because they lead onto long straightaways. They're crucial to all lap times.

John F. Kennedy International Airport (Var. 2)

This is a much more open, wider version of the Nürburgring, it seems. It's very technical, but, the corners don't look sharp until you drive on it. The layout is deceiving... (to be continued)
 
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I made a totally bonkers circuit, least of all because it would require shutting down JFK airport.
I think the little hairpin thing after the second mile marker would be counter-productive. It's got the makings of a good circuit, though, mostly because the criss-corssing of runways leaves open a lot of possibilities. If I may, I think something like this would be a great riff on your design.

Again, I think it's let down by over-complexity, but there is some interesting stuff here. The problem with most airport circuits is that they're very limited in what can be done, but I think you've got a knack for picking airports with lots of variation. The only problem is that JFK is one of the busiest airports in the world.

I hope you don't think I'm hijacking yoru designs, but I can see plenty of potential here. This would be great, and if we could scale this one down to 5.5km, I think it would be idea for Formula 1.

I'm afraid I realy don't like this one. It's just chicane after chicane, and when it's not chicanes, it's hairpins.
 
I made a totally bonkers circuit, least of all because it would require shutting down JFK airport.

I think the little hairpin thing after the second mile marker would be counter-productive. It's got the makings of a good circuit, though, mostly because the criss-corssing of runways leaves open a lot of possibilities. If I may, I think something like this would be a great riff on your design.


Again, I think it's let down by over-complexity, but there is some interesting stuff here. The problem with most airport circuits is that they're very limited in what can be done, but I think you've got a knack for picking airports with lots of variation. The only problem is that JFK is one of the busiest airports in the world.

I hope you don't think I'm hijacking yoru designs, but I can see plenty of potential here. This would be great, and if we could scale this one down to 5.5km, I think it would be idea for Formula 1.


I'm afraid I realy don't like this one. It's just chicane after chicane, and when it's not chicanes, it's hairpins.

I 'd be happy to call your designs my own, for sure.. About this busy airport ghing, I know, but busy airports have more pavement. Next up, Heathrow!! LOL.

And, finally, I guess I see myself as trying to create a Nürburgring style track-the unforgettable kind. It needs to be challenging and complex.
 
I'm trying to come up with a Formula 1 circuit that takes the best bits of other circuits and stitches them all together. It's not terrible original, but the twist is that a) I'm only using circuit that were removed from calendar before 2000, and b) I'm trying to use corners from circuits that were poorly-rated where possible.

This is what I have so far:

Turn 1 - Curvon, Juan y Oscar Galvez

Buenos_Aires_1974.jpg


Turns 2-5 - Turns 5, 6, 7 and 8, Phoenix

800px-Phoenix_Grand_Prix_Route_-_1991.svg.png


Turn 6 - Coca-Cola Corner, Fuji

525px-GrandPrix_Circuit_Fuji_2007.svg.png


Turns 7-9 - Turns 12, 11 and 10, Boavista

Circuit_Boavista.png


Turns 10-13 - Turns 5, 6, 7 and 8, Monsanto

Circuit_Monsanto.png


Turns 14-16 - Turns 4, 5, 6 (and the kink), Detroit

Circuit_Detroit.png


Turns 17-23 - Turns 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, Indianapolis

New_MotoGP_Course.jpg
 
Recta del Fondo would lead onto Recta del Lago, then from there you would have the Phoenix layout? After that, the layout makes sense. I take it, though, that the length of straightaways is more important than the corners?

Anyways, just a possibility for a good track:

Frankfurt
 
Recta del Fondo would lead onto Recta del Lago, then from there you would have the Phoenix layout? After that, the layout makes sense. I take it, though, that the length of straightaways is more important than the corners?
Yes. Sort of. It goes like this:
- Start line
- Curvon
- Turn 5 Phoenix
- Turn 6 Phoenix
- Turn 7 Phoenix
- Turn 8 Phoenix
- Coca-Cola/Santory
- Turn 12 Boavista
- Turn 11 Boavista
- Turn 10 Boavista
- Turn 5 Monsanto
- Turn 6 Monsanto
- Turn 7 Monsanto
- Turn 8 Monsanto
- Unnamed left-hander Monsanto
- Turn 4 Detroit
- Turn 5 Detroit
- Turn 6 Detroit
- Unnamed right-left kink Detroit
- Turn 10 Indy road
- Turn 11 Indy road
- Turn 12 Indy road
- Turn 13 Indy road
- Turn 14 Indy road
- Turn 15 Indy road
- Turn 16 Indy road
- Finish line

What kind of racing do you picture taking place on these circuits?

The reason why I'm asking is because they're probably too long for most forms of motorsport. Formula 1 circuits are generally 5.5km in length (the rules allow for anywhere between 3.5 and 7.5km), whilst most touring car races are limited to circuits of no more than 3.5km.
 
Yes. Sort of. It goes like this:
- Start line
- Curvon
- Turn 5 Phoenix
- Turn 6 Phoenix
- Turn 7 Phoenix
- Turn 8 Phoenix
- Coca-Cola/Santory
- Turn 12 Boavista
- Turn 11 Boavista
- Turn 10 Boavista
- Turn 5 Monsanto
- Turn 6 Monsanto
- Turn 7 Monsanto
- Turn 8 Monsanto
- Unnamed left-hander Monsanto
- Turn 4 Detroit
- Turn 5 Detroit
- Turn 6 Detroit
- Unnamed right-left kink Detroit
- Turn 10 Indy road
- Turn 11 Indy road
- Turn 12 Indy road
- Turn 13 Indy road
- Turn 14 Indy road
- Turn 15 Indy road
- Turn 16 Indy road
- Finish line


What kind of racing do you picture taking place on these circuits?

The reason why I'm asking is because they're probably too long for most forms of motorsport. Formula 1 circuits are generally 5.5km in length (the rules allow for anywhere between 3.5 and 7.5km), whilst most touring car races are limited to circuits of no more than 3.5km.

That's the problem. I see so much possibility... And I just get confused. However, endurance series (VLN,) race on long tracks (Spa, Nürburgring, Le Mans,) and since it's in Germany, I reckon it's rather close to the VLN "zone."

Your track idea seems epic, but, I don't know the elevations... Indy/Fuji don't really have much, so it'd be okay, but, the French/Portuguese/Brazilian tracks... I've never seen them. :( Disappointed. :ouch::nervous:

OMG, EDIT** I just realized that's in miles... Holy LONG track...
 
Your track idea seems epic, but, I don't know the elevations... Indy/Fuji don't really have much, so it'd be okay, but, the French/Portuguese/Brazilian tracks... I've never seen them. :( Disappointed. :ouch::nervous:
Elevation is held up as the holy grail of circuit design, but it doesn't guarantee a good circuit. For example, before it was a racing circuit, Silverstone was a World War II air base (a lot of British racing circuits were), and so the land around it is almost perfectly flat. Nevertheless, it is held up as one of the finest racing circuits in the world. Conversely, the Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi has over thirty metres of elevation, and is almost universally despised among fans.

Also, I imagine that the circuit I proposed would be scaled down to 5.5km, rather than being its true-to-life size.
 
Elevation is held up as the holy grail of circuit design, but it doesn't guarantee a good circuit. For example, before it was a racing circuit, Silverstone was a World War II air base (a lot of British racing circuits were), and so the land around it is almost perfectly flat. Nevertheless, it is held up as one of the finest racing circuits in the world. Conversely, the Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi has over thirty metres of elevation, and is almost universally despised among fans.

Also, I imagine that the circuit I proposed would be scaled down to 5.5km, rather than being its true-to-life size.

Because that'd be absurd... like a track of 11.5 kms, which I thought was a track of 7.5 kms. Whoops.

Yeah, I was thinking "I want to make this straightaway one entire kilometer long." and then it was in miles. O.o
 
Yes. Sort of. It goes like this:
- Start line
- Curvon
- Turn 5 Phoenix
- Turn 6 Phoenix
- Turn 7 Phoenix
- Turn 8 Phoenix
- Coca-Cola/Santory
- Turn 12 Boavista
- Turn 11 Boavista
- Turn 10 Boavista
- Turn 5 Monsanto
- Turn 6 Monsanto
- Turn 7 Monsanto
- Turn 8 Monsanto
- Unnamed left-hander Monsanto
- Turn 4 Detroit
- Turn 5 Detroit
- Turn 6 Detroit
- Unnamed right-left kink Detroit
- Turn 10 Indy road
- Turn 11 Indy road
- Turn 12 Indy road
- Turn 13 Indy road
- Turn 14 Indy road
- Turn 15 Indy road
- Turn 16 Indy road
- Finish line

Someone with better spatial awareness than me draw this out please.

Derby, in honour of Google Maps actually having the proper updated map now.

It's about 3 miles, no idea what racing you'd have there.
 
Someone with better spatial awareness than me draw this out please.

Derby, in honour of Google Maps actually having the proper updated map now.

It's about 3 miles, no idea what racing you'd have there.

Seems thin in places (not very wide.) Hillclimb style time attack stuff? Autocross minus pilons?
 
"Für Weicheier!" I approve of your profile picture, guy who's also from Canada but in love with Germany... :P

But, relevant too, since Weicheier made the original track, and Prison... made it better.
 

You're sure that's only 4 miles? If you've managed to make it look *THAT* complex, while still making it short, you might've done one of the best I've ever seen.

Good job!


Anyways, I'm going to consider looking around my region for some fun driving roads (in terms of shape) but consider width and such, as if the width were standardized, and consider using this google sketch up thing, if I can figure it out.
 
2h3ydl4.jpg


The course includes many elevation gaps, making this course quite unpredictable. The environment is mostly forest, especially around turns 12-23, where the trees tower like skyscrapers and feels like it's closing into you as you speed by. Meanwhile, turns 1-11 are mostly grassy and very spacious. The most unique sector of the course is turns 15-22, where the gap is similar to Bathurst's turns, including the walls. Though the most demanding is oddly turn 23, as the turn is very immediate that consumes a good amount of frontal grip. For turns 1-11, it is similar to Donington's first few turns.
 
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