Waterford Hills Driver Information
We look forward to seeing you at our Waterford Hills track event. This information page will help you prepare and hopefully make your day at the track a most enjoyable one.
About the Track
It's one and a half miles long with 14 turns, a road racing course which rewards handling and smoothness over torque and horsepower. The straight is short, the road narrow. It rolls over hills and crests, sometimes to an off camber turn. It's possible for the big twelve cylinder Lamborghinis and Ferraris to never get beyond second gear, yet little 1.3 liter Alfa Romeos will come screaming out of the corners at 10,000 RPM like a horde of wasps on steroids.
Speed thrills, but let your attention wander for one second from the turns, slopes, clutching, braking and shifting at this road course, and you'll find some real thrills while spinning on the grass! Stirling Moss once called this track the best road course in North America. Others used it as a test circuit to prepare for LeMans, and many cars in Road&Track, Car and Driver or Automobile magazines are reviewed and driven at Waterford Hills. Driving one lap at Waterford is described later in this page.
Italian cars are given preference at this event. Other cars may be registered, but can be bumped from the grid by Italian cars. Over the past decade, we've twice had to bump cars. If forty Italian cars are not registered by August 15, other cars will be entered and cannot be bumped from the grid.
Basic Rules at Waterford Hills
Directions to Waterford
Fill the gas tank because no fuel will be available at the
track. Racing fuel is available from Union 76 in Troy at 20178
Livernois, about seven miles from the General Motors Tech Center.
Also take a light jacket for the morning. Expect the grass to
be wet from dew. Sunscreen might be needed before noon as temperatures
are erratic this time of year and can rise thirty-five degrees
by noon. The infield is sandy, making a ground mat or blanket
useful. We'll run rain or shine.
The race course is located in Independence Township, a short distance from Pine Knob, or about 36 miles from the General Motors Technical Center in Warren. From I75, exit at Sashabaw Road and head south to Pelton Road (shortly after Maybee Road). You'll see a Clark gas station on Sashabaw immediately beyond Pelton Road. Make a right turn onto Pelton Road. Take it to the end, where you'll be able see the track's Hilltop Turn on your left. Turn left onto Waterford Road. It's a dirt road and was in terrible shape last year (usually it's pretty smooth), but you'll need to take it only as far as the entry gate. The entrance to the Oakland County Sportsman's Club will appear on your left look for the brown loghouse. Enter the parking lot in front of the log club house. You'll see a road heading toward the track, on your left, at the back of the parking lot. The path will split in two, the left side to some bleachers, the right side running along the track perimeter fence. Take the right-hand path. The brown gate house and paddock entry will be on your left. We'll be there to greet you.
Upon Arriving
The gate to the paddock will be unchained at 8:00 AM sharp. Please register at the gate house before entering the paddock area. You'll need to sign the standard track waiver form, we'll check to be certain that your registration form is correct, and mark your left hand a stamp. Car numbers and tech inspection forms will be handed to you. You may bring up to four crew members with you. Our insurance does not allow spectators at the track, so be aware that all members of your crew will be expected to work unloading your car, at track corners, etc. Your car should be ready and through the tech inspection line by 9:30 AM.
Drivers Meeting
The Drivers Meeting will be held promptly at 9:30. Workers and drivers will receive assignments and schedules. Each driver is expected to work their corner assignment. Drivers may substitute a non-driving volunteer worker to work on their behalf. If a work assignment is not fulfilled, the cars will not go into the track.
We'll review flags and track safety rules, trickier spots on the course, and track etiquette. The meeting is mandatory for all drivers.
Novices
If you are not familiar with the course, the finer points will be covered at the drivers meeting. Tour laps are mandatory for novice drivers. Ask early in the day or call Conrad in advance if you wish some individual instruction.
The idea for everyone is to drive as fast as you can, and then improve your skills with each lap. Novices will learn the limits of the car and their own abilities. The car won't suddenly become faster, but you will, learning what your car is trying to tell you and how to respond to each situation. If a mistake is made and you do a 360-degree spin, chances are you'll just keep going and remember to take that corner differently on the next lap. By day's end, you and you car will be much better acquainted with each other.
Driving Sessions
There will be four separate groups, with each group divided into two subgroups. You'll have 15 minutes of driving time in each session. Group 1A will run from 10:00 until 10:15, followed by Group 1B for the next 15 minutes. Group 1A will then return to the track at 10:30 to 10:45, then Group 1B again. Group 2 will repeat the cycle, starting at 11:00 AM, then Group 3 between 12 noon and 1PM, Group 4 from 1:00 until 2:00. A maximum of six cars will be on the track at any time. We'll attempt to sort the groups according to skill levels. As soon as you have completed your first 15 minute session, you should immediately re-grid for your second session. When group 1 is driving, Group 3 will be working corners. When Group 2 runs, Group 4 will be at the corner stations, etc.
Children's Tour
After all groups are through the first cycle of practice laps, we'll break for lunch and the Make-A-Wish Children's Tours. For 45 minutes chaos will reign at Waterford Hills. The children usually arrive about noon and pick their favorite cars. Last year the Lamborghinis and a European version of the Viper provided by Chrysler were the big hits, with all the kids wanting rides in them. That alone can create bottlenecks on the starting grid, plus the kid who wants to ride in the 512 BB coming back after a ride in the 400 GT, but the 512 BB is at the back of the row... it's a mess, but we've found that the best way to keep things going, especially if fewer kids show than we'd expected, is to let jealous siblings get a ride (helps maintain peace at home, I've been told by countless moms and dads), and maybe give mom a break too. The traffic keeps moving until we can connect all the right cars with all the right kids. Every Wish Kids gets three or four rides. Last year about 46 kids asked their parents to bring them to the Happening. I think 14 actually made it, with 5 of those arriving late That's the nature of the task several of the children won't be well enough to attend the event (we often catch them at a later date by bringing a car to their house), while others recover sufficiently for the family to head to Disney World over the holiday weekend.
Generally, the children we see can tolerate two or three hours at the track and three or four rides before they're exhausted. Not certain how many children will come or their condition that day, we'll always have to "wing it" at the track, not knowing for sure if six or forty-six kids will show. We generally prepare for twenty-five children, then scramble.
Are they excited? Watch the impromptu wheelchair races which always seem to break out.
Afternoon Sessions
The cycle of morning sessions will repeat until about 5:30 PM. If we finish ahead of schedule, the organizers might toss in "fun runs" for anyone with enough energy to go back out, and if we have sufficient numbers of volunteers to continue. All cars moist be off the track by 6 P.M., in accordance with township laws. Please leave nothing but footprints and tire marks behind.
One Lap of Waterford Hills
ONE LAP, TWO OPINIONS
Two winning drivers familiar with the Waterford Hills course give their impressions of how to drive the ideal lap under ideal conditions (not wheel-to-wheel racing with blocking and passing):
Take a Lap With Chris Piku around Waterford Hills
or
Take a Detailed Look with a "Perfect Lap" of Waterford Hills
Return to Italian Happening Page
Return to AROC Detroit Main Page
Questions, Comments, etc. alfa@umich.edu
Last modified January 29, 1997.