Motorcycle turn by turn guide to the Buttonwillow Raceway Park track

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If you know this track then please try to start this guide. Once, someone starts then other readers should refine it to make the descriptions better. But, someone has to be first. Just click the edit button on the top of the page or the right and go.

Contents

Track Map

Image:Buttonwillow_15.gif

Turn 1

Sunrise:

Left hander that can be taken @ surprising speeds from the main straight if going clockwise. On a liter bike I enter in 3rd on most occasions staying wide but not completely on the outside line. You can let the bike run wide on the exit as it will set you up for the next turn.

(I'm just a regular track junkie and by no means an expert)

Turn 2

Off Ramp:

(running clockwise) It's a right hander that is one of the slowest corners. Do not try to make up your time here. Coming of the short straight from turn 1 there is a little kink to the left to set up the right hander. I tend to stay quite wide left through the kink in order to get good position for the turn. 2nd gear on a liter bike and look deep through the turn but know there is a camber change @ the exit. Liter bikes can spin up the rear trying to exit too fast. If the "Off ramp" configuration is used (my favorite) stay wide and late apex the corner again being gentle on the throttle on the exit. The "off ramp' configuration has less camber change and feels faster by a little.

Turn 3

Cotton Corners:

A medium speed right-left-right combination. Late apex on all to get set up for Grapevine.

Turn 4

Grapevine:

Accelerate through the turn and the rise on the straight (the Wheelie Hill).

Turn 5

Club Corner:

Maintain drive through this right-hand kink and look to get back to the right side of the track to set up for the coming turn.

Turn 6

Bus Stop:

Keep driving through the fast left-hander, drift right and roll off a little to set up for the slower left-hander. Don't get too aggressive on the apex because the sharp jolt will upset the suspension. Prefer to roll of more rather than come up on a slower rider parking it on the outside because lines are limited and drive trough the next combination is more important.

Turn 7

Truck Stop:

Accelerate through this fast right-hand kink to set up for the upcoming sweeper.

Turn 8

Riverside:

Very fast right-hand sweeper. Many lines through here. Passing can be had on the outside. Add more power if coming in too tight. Apex very late and transition to Lost Hills.

Turn 9

Lost Hills:

(Usually used in clockwise running) Hard on through the left-hand king and set up to the left and brake for the blind right-hander. Drive through and immediately dive through the tow left-hand kinks before the sweeper.

Turn 10

Sweeper:

Double-apex the right-hand sweeper using the square patch of pavement as a marker.

Turn 11

Esses:

Three rights and two lefts, all shallow. Run over the candy-stripe on the first right, but stay on the pavement for the second, or get a nasty jolt. Only one line through this section. Accelerate hard through the last right to get good drive. Drift all the way right.

Turn 12

Sunset:

Brake hard and dump two gears on this 90 degree left. Apex a bit late and commit fully, there is plenty of camber. Drive hard onto the front straight.