My Racing Series

[Yannick]

That's a cool track. Your distinctive design style shines through as well.
The only (minor) issue is that the pitlane looks totally out of scale.

[Chatters]

"The only thing I don't like about California Raceway is the fact that I know, eventually, the race will finish! It's such a good track I wish it'd never end!"
-Mario Andretti

Welcome to track #4 in the CRT: California Raceway.


History

Racing is California has always been popular. From Laguna Seca, to Long Beach, to Sears Point, there is no shortage of tracks to run around. But in 1980 another venue was added to the collection: California Raceway.

In the late 1970's America was gripped with Andretti fever. The lovable Italian-American was the Formula 1 World Champion, and people were gripped with motor racing fever. A small building company decided to get in on the act and seeked approval to build a racetrack just out of San Francisco. Who better to design the track then Mario Andretti himself. In July 1979 construction began, and a quick 13 months later the track was finished. The first race, fittingly, was won by Andretti himself.

Originally designed for soprtscars, the popularity of it's fast, flowing nature soon attracted many types of racing. From Formula 1, who raced there in 1980 and 1981, to the American Le Mans Series, Calfornia Raceway has seen it all.

However, after a serious crash which injured 4 and killed 1 happened at the final turn onto Pit Straight in 1984, a safety commission was launched to improve the safety of the track. They found the cause of the accident was due to the high amount of bumps running into the turn which unsettled the cars, and caused one, driven by Mark James, to lose control and spin into the wall backwards. Though surviving the initial crash the carnage that followed saw him struck head on by 2 cars, each travelling at an estimated 150 km/h. In September 1984 the track was closed for modifications.

The resulting track adjustments added Long Beach, Third Hairpin (named "Second Hairpin" before the next lot of track improvements) and Pit Chicane. The track re-opened in March 1985 amid much fanfare and sorrow for the loss of a great young talent.

Racing continued for 19 more years uninterrupted. In late 2004 the track was purchased by a group of Russian investors who decided to liven the track up and give the drivers more of a challenge. The track was shut in November 2004 and when re-opened in May 2005, eight new corners had been created, and the track's name had been changed to "Гордость России в америке". Mark's Bend was named after Mark James. In June 2006 the track was again sold, this time to a very wealthy Californian who renamed the track back to it's original name.

Lap Of The Track

Your lap starts on the sweeping left hand bend that is the Pit "Straight". It's hard on the brakes for Andretti corner, a near 90 degree bend. No time to accelerate again as you head into Turn 2, another right turn. Into the dugout and another pair of 90 degree left handers await you. You can get a quick burst out of Turn 3 into Turn 4, then short run up to Andreas, the final two corner of the 90-degree-a-thon. Foot to the floor as you run down the hill, through Mark's Bend, a flatout left hander, then hard on the brakes for San Fran Corner.

Another quick burst of throttle as you run into Insomniac Corner, then flat out again as you head up the hill to First Hairpin. Daring drivers will place themselves right on the outside and take the corner much faster then it was intended...

Out of First Hairpin and you're on the long, flat back straight. Cars can pull 6th gear down here, and a Champ Car can be on the rev limiter for quite a long time before you need to brake into Second Hairpin. Down through the gears and hard left as you go through the corner, then up a hill and around Long Beach, a tricky, blind, decieving corner. First timers around the track will underestimate it's tightness and run straight into the concrete wall waiting to greet them. Still climbing as you head into Third Hairpin, with the best view of the entire track, then an amazingly steep run down to Pit Chicane. Lots of runoff is a given. Out of the chicane and you hit the throttle and cross the finish line to complete a lap of California Raceway.