As a car guy, I love this..... Pretty cool to see Nate Kern participating in the 2023 Car and Driver Lightning Lap. Nate's 2:42.72 puts him 15th on the all time list. Amazing when you look at the value per $ on the rest of the cars in the Top 20. Nice work Nate! https://www.caranddriver.com/featur...jS4FpHSwPkZFabu7BsUvueVHPcQoHlWB3JvIXMdpB4yA8
Watching the onboard really makes me want to go there finally. Shame they dont offer the grand course. Anyone ever run the full course on a 1000cc? What top speed do you get up to before braking for T13/14?
not sure what T13/14 is? Believe I saw 170mph on his video at the end of the long straight on South course; thought it would have been higher?
I saw that bike sitting on slicks in the BMW display at the 24hrs in Daytona. Didn't know it was "raced" Was pointing out the front tire to a couple buddies who don't know anything about racing a motorcycles. I know only slightly more. Me pointing: " Damn, look at the front tire. Someone's pushed the hell out of it" Unfamiliar voice from behind me: Yeah it was raced against a bunch cars in a promotional event. Me being ignorant: Really, a pro racer? Who raced it? Unfamiliar bearded guy now standing beside me: Me, extends hand, Hi I'm ...... And that's how I met Nate Kern.
I am sad about the lack of bike events at VIR. I used to go regularly to the VIR MotoAmerica race with my family. Would have been nice to be able to race there with WERA/CCS. Regarding top speed, I remember a few years back Gerloff hit over 180mph on the start/finish straight (MotoAmerica just did the North course). That's as fast as I could make my R1 go at Daytona flat out...hard to imagine doing that on that narrow track through the kink!
We use to do the full course at track days there. It was insane going into the rollercoaster on a built R1. That tree would hang over the far corner. I forget how long that straight is but felt like faster than RRR
A couple years ago I did an N2 event and we ran the Full Course. There was an issue that was disliked by all riders. On the long straight from the Oak Tree turn onto the North course, they had a incredibly sharp chicane about 2/3's of the way down the straight. It was a 1st gear chicane that ruined an absolutely awesome layout. Being part of the N2 staff, we had a discussion about the chicane after the fact and we unanimously said we should not run that chicane if we ever get the chance again. I don't know if it was a track requirement, but I heard they didn't like the bike's speed at the end of that straight because of the guardrail on the other side of the North course. If someone's brakes fail at that point, it would be very very bad.
yea, same thing that ruined Pitt race for me. If that chicane is still part of the course I wont be going back.
This industry needs more Nates. The few occasions I've had a chance to converse with him have been revelations. Such a fantastic ambassador not only for BMW, but this sport in general.
