West Bend at Limerock is one of my favorite corners in all of racing, for a couple of reasons.

 

1. It is often overlooked in favor of the importance of the downhill final corner at Limerock.

2. It is a thinking man's corner, and everyone has a slightly different approach.

3. Passing here is probably one of the most exciting things in racing, and the most challenging if all parties don't intend to give up the spot.

4. It is the set up to one of the ballsiest corners in racing, which is the downhill that usually outshines West Bend.

There is deceptively little run off, and if you make a mistake on the exit, traffic can not see you once you crest the backside of the downhill.

Everyone thinks the downhill turn is the big one, and thus, focus on it intensely. As Bruce Lee said in “Enter The Dragon” “It's like a finger pointing at the moon. Do not concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all the heavenly glory!” The downhill is the finger, West Bend is the moon. The thing about West Bend, is that it is a thinking man's corner. There are a bunch of ways to do it, and depending on the driver, the technique, (and sometimes the gear, depending on the car class being discussed) will always vary. (I can hear a bunch of people screaming at their screen, “no, there is only one way! Left foot brake! You idiot!”) The key is how to maintain the most speed for the exit, and to push it exactly the right amount. Do it perfectly and you take the rollercoaster down the hill into the compression for the final turn and rocket out onto the front stretch, FAR faster than you ever could if the track were flat through this final section, which gives a driver a feeling of being superhuman, or at least a magician. On paper the final turn is probably a 3^rd gear braking entry corner but because of the compression and the downforce in our F2000 Championship Series cars, you don't even need to lift in 4^th. It's a cool feeling.

Passing here is a near-kamikaze experience, if neither party is willing to back off and politely let the other in, which is often the case in higher level classes. The track isn't very wide, and the track out can be deceptive. The outside curb at the exit comes up awful fast if you've misjudged yourself mid-corner, and the tire barrier isn't far beyond. Not to mention, if you have to lift on exit you're screwed for the final turn and the front stretch which is a HUGE length of track at a place like Limerock.

I like an underdog. When weighed against the next corner, 9/10 drivers would choose turn 7 (Downhill) over turn 6 (West Bend) but I would not. West Bend is a deceptive corner, both to the driver and the observer, because it looks so simple. I assure you, it is not. Next time you watch an event from limerock, or race there, or are standing in the grass watching, pay attention to what everyone is doing at West Bend. The guys who have found the key for West Bend are going to do well. I guarantee it.

 

Why am I talking about Limerock already? Well, the team will be there Memorial Day weekend for some observing and partying. Hopefully we'll see you there!

 

-Tim SMR #06