Track elevations at Santa Pod / Avon Park
Discussion
Don't suppose anyone knows what track elevations Santa Pod and Avon Park are?
I believe elevation is the correct term for it anyway.
Thanks
Oh and what else will be useful is the direction in which the track faces, from startline to finish line does it go from east to west for example.
I believe elevation is the correct term for it anyway.
Thanks
Oh and what else will be useful is the direction in which the track faces, from startline to finish line does it go from east to west for example.
Edited by NuthinFancy on Tuesday 18th December 09:54
Joe, as they are both airfields (ok one ex airfield) the main runways always go from north/south. (I am ready to be shot)
From my recolection of all my years at the pod... the sun rises from the east over the forest...arcs over the finish line and sets behind the bank facing west. So the finish line points south and the control tower is north.
Avon park runs from south to north i think. South being the control tower etc etc.
Kirstie
P.s.. not sure of elevations.
From my recolection of all my years at the pod... the sun rises from the east over the forest...arcs over the finish line and sets behind the bank facing west. So the finish line points south and the control tower is north.
Avon park runs from south to north i think. South being the control tower etc etc.
Kirstie
P.s.. not sure of elevations.
As is usual in cases like this, the answer you are seeking is on the web. Just go to www.streetmap.co.uk and you will get all the answers you need including elevation.
Incidentally, both the Pod and SCR are in a south-west/north-east alignment. The Pod runs from north-east to south-west and SCR runs in the opposite direction, which is why if you get a tail wind at the Pod it's always cold as the wind is coming from a northerly direction
The elevation figures are masl (metres above sea level). The Pod is 105 and SCR is 47.
Incidentally, both the Pod and SCR are in a south-west/north-east alignment. The Pod runs from north-east to south-west and SCR runs in the opposite direction, which is why if you get a tail wind at the Pod it's always cold as the wind is coming from a northerly direction
The elevation figures are masl (metres above sea level). The Pod is 105 and SCR is 47.
Edited by CRR on Tuesday 18th December 11:31
Thats interesting...
According to Google Earth, the startline at Santa Pod is 104 MSL, the finish line is 106 and the end of the shutoff area is back down to 104. Course length is 1320.63 feet and the overall track length (course + shutdown) is 3879 feet, or 0.73 miles.
Avon Park startline is 45 MSL, dropping to 44 at the finish line. Google Earth puts the racing course at 1320.21 feet, and the overall track length (course + shutdown area) at 4423.13 feet, or 0.84 miles.
So, Santa Pod is slightly uphill towards the finish, and the shutoff slopes down again, whilst AP is imperceptably downhill. AP has the longer shutoff.
Compare this with Mantorp (granted the resoultion on GE is poorer for that part of Sweden), which rises from 88 MSL to 97 MSL from start to finish, running E-W.
Alastaro rises from 110 to 111, running N-S, (again, GE resoultion too poor to measure track length)
Hockenheim rises from 107 to 114 MSL.
Resolution so poor for Gardermoen so poor I couldn't actually distinguish the track from the airport!
HTH, JC
According to Google Earth, the startline at Santa Pod is 104 MSL, the finish line is 106 and the end of the shutoff area is back down to 104. Course length is 1320.63 feet and the overall track length (course + shutdown) is 3879 feet, or 0.73 miles.
Avon Park startline is 45 MSL, dropping to 44 at the finish line. Google Earth puts the racing course at 1320.21 feet, and the overall track length (course + shutdown area) at 4423.13 feet, or 0.84 miles.
So, Santa Pod is slightly uphill towards the finish, and the shutoff slopes down again, whilst AP is imperceptably downhill. AP has the longer shutoff.
Compare this with Mantorp (granted the resoultion on GE is poorer for that part of Sweden), which rises from 88 MSL to 97 MSL from start to finish, running E-W.
Alastaro rises from 110 to 111, running N-S, (again, GE resoultion too poor to measure track length)
Hockenheim rises from 107 to 114 MSL.
Resolution so poor for Gardermoen so poor I couldn't actually distinguish the track from the airport!
HTH, JC
Edited by Jon C on Tuesday 18th December 11:47
Jon C said:
So, Santa Pod is slightly uphill towards the finish, and the shutoff slopes down again, whilst AP is imperceptably downhill. AP has the longer shutoff.
HTH, JC
When Santa Pod was resurfaced and the startline repositioned in 1968, the quarter mile was surveyed by Surveyors, and there is a 4.18 foot rise from start to finish, an average gradient of 1.316 (figures from the May 1968 issue of Drag Racing & Hot Rod). HTH, JC
If you stand on the startline at the Pod, you see the vehicles disappearing over the horizon which is why the chief starter cannot see if the vehicles have cleared the track. This is done by the timekeepers in the tower.
Also, if you stand at the end of the shutdown area on the public footpath, you cannot see vehicles starting their run. You can only see them as they cross the finish line. I did this once when Fireforce ran and it was quite spectacular as the noise went up when he launched and then a few seconds later, it appeared over the horizon coming towards me at a rapid rate of knots.
CRR said:
If you stand on the startline at the Pod, you see the vehicles disappearing over the horizon which is why the chief starter cannot see if the vehicles have cleared the track. This is done by the timekeepers in the tower.
Actually it's not. We will let the startline know if the track is clear only if asked, otherwise the safety crews at the top end inform the startline via radio.Jon C said:
Miss Corrado said:
Joe, as they are both airfields (ok one ex airfield) the main runways always go from north/south. (I am ready to be shot)
no they don't
But if it makes you feel better i'll grovel and plead for forgiveness!
Your brain must be slightly fried after all that info.. (Andy Marrs you have a challenger!) But i did find it very interesting to read so thank you
Kirst...ie
When Santa Pod was resurfaced and the startline repositioned in 1968, the quarter mile was surveyed by Surveyors, and there is a 4.18 foot rise from start to finish, an average gradient of 1.316 (figures from the May 1968 issue of Drag Racing & Hot Rod).
This is visible on the second picture in the thread FIA European Finals - Pictures by Julian Hunt.
Miss Corrado said:
Jon C said:
Miss Corrado said:
Joe, as they are both airfields (ok one ex airfield) the main runways always go from north/south. (I am ready to be shot)
no they don'tBut if it makes you feel better i'll grovel and plead for forgiveness!
Your brain must be slightly fried after all that info.. (Andy Marrs you have a challenger!) But i did find it very interesting to read so thank you
Kirst...ie
As for Jon being a challenger, his historic knowlege is far superior to mine. I probably measure about a 7 on the drag geek scale, Jon's bending the needle on 10
Most runways in this country run East - West / North East - South West ish, I'm guessing it's do to with the prevailing winds.
Yes it is, As planes like to take off and land into a headwind, This helps with lift and also to slow down once on the ground.
You wouldnt want to build a runway thats got a permanent crosswind, for obvious reasons.
Yes it is, As planes like to take off and land into a headwind, This helps with lift and also to slow down once on the ground.
You wouldnt want to build a runway thats got a permanent crosswind, for obvious reasons.
Nitroalkyholic said:
Most runways in this country run East - West / North East - South West ish, I'm guessing it's do to with the prevailing winds.
Yes it is, As planes like to take off and land into a headwind, This helps with lift and also to slow down once on the ground.
You wouldnt want to build a runway thats got a permanent crosswind, for obvious reasons.
Now this is really geekish! When most of the WWII airfields were built during the war, they had 3 runways built in a capital letter A shape, so that whichever way the wind was blowing, one of the 3 runways would allow planes to land and takeoff into the wind. This was true of both Podington and Long Marston airfields.Yes it is, As planes like to take off and land into a headwind, This helps with lift and also to slow down once on the ground.
You wouldnt want to build a runway thats got a permanent crosswind, for obvious reasons.
CRR said:
Now this is really geekish! When most of the WWII airfields were built during the war, they had 3 runways built in a capital letter A shape, so that whichever way the wind was blowing, one of the 3 runways would allow planes to land and takeoff into the wind. This was true of both Podington and Long Marston airfields.
And can still be seen at Shakey in aerial shots: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=long+marston&i...See Podington here: http://www.jmi.com/WWII/Pod1961.html
CRR said:
Nitroalkyholic said:
Most runways in this country run East - West / North East - South West ish, I'm guessing it's do to with the prevailing winds.
Yes it is, As planes like to take off and land into a headwind, This helps with lift and also to slow down once on the ground.
You wouldnt want to build a runway thats got a permanent crosswind, for obvious reasons.
Now this is really geekish! When most of the WWII airfields were built during the war, they had 3 runways built in a capital letter A shape, so that whichever way the wind was blowing, one of the 3 runways would allow planes to land and takeoff into the wind. This was true of both Podington and Long Marston airfields.Yes it is, As planes like to take off and land into a headwind, This helps with lift and also to slow down once on the ground.
You wouldnt want to build a runway thats got a permanent crosswind, for obvious reasons.
Darren
DWphil said:
Yes
The end of the track is now where it joins the runway running left to right.
If you look at http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&ge... you can see the much narrowed remains of the 2 cross runways, one running off the end of the shutdown area and the other half way along the shutdown area. You can also see the perimeter road.The end of the track is now where it joins the runway running left to right.
Edited by DWphil on Wednesday 19th December 16:34
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