Shelton, WA
No public description is available for this track.
Speed Secrets — Ross Bentley
The Ridge's significant elevation changes are the defining characteristic of the driving experience. Bentley's uphill-traction principle means you should push harder in the uphill sections where the car is planted, and add margin on the downhill approaches where the brakes are working against reduced traction. The excellent surface quality amplifies the contrast — uphill grip is outstanding, but downhill sections demand discipline.
“Whether on a road course or an oval, perhaps the most difficult corner for any race driver is the fast one. The biggest problem is that the self-preservation program in the right foot takes control, causing it to lift off the throttle. As soon as that happens, the balance of the car is not ideal.”
Ultimate Speed Secrets — Ross Bentley
The Ridge's fast, flowing layout includes commitment corners where lifting mid-corner unsettles the car. Bentley's observation about the "self-preservation program" is the challenge — the excellent surface quality means the car has more grip than you expect, but the elevation changes add visual intimidation. Trust the modern surface and build speed progressively through the fast sections.
“A driver's braking analysis should include the following: braking point location and consistency, total braking distance and braking distance consistency, quickness in building up maximum deceleration, how hard the driver is braking, and brake pressure modulation to compensate for changes in friction between the tires and track surface.”
Analysis Techniques for Racecar Data Acquisition — Jorge Segers
The Ridge's downhill braking zones demand the consistency analysis Segers describes. The elevation changes mean your effective braking force varies based on grade — the same brake pressure produces different deceleration uphill versus downhill. Use data acquisition to compare your braking traces on the downhill sections versus flat sections. The telemetry will reveal whether you are instinctively adjusting brake pressure for the grade changes or using the same input regardless of slope.
Find HPDE organizers, car clubs, and sanctioning bodies that run events at The Ridge Motorsports Park.