72 replies to this topic

[Josef Paul]

Just visited what's left of the Paramount Ranch Raceway in California. It's near Los Angeles off Mulholland Highway. I was wondering if anyone has ever modeled it or thought about modeling it. It was only open about 18 months or so due to three deaths in that time. Apparently, it's the only track in the U.S. with a figure 8 over-under layout. Not sure if that's still true. I'm attaching a page from an article on modeling the track for a slot car layout where the figure 8 was a desirable feature.

I also see that they made one movie there in that time, The Devil's Hairpin, directed by Cornel Wilde who also starred.

Attached Files

•  RanchPt1_2.jpg   256.71K   274 downloads

[Bob]

Quote

I was wondering if anyone has ever modeled it or thought about modeling it.

been done, loong ago by Brent Adams, creator of LimeRock Park ... Brent used to maintain a website about Paramount Ranch, with lots of info and pictures ... it was back around 2002-3, iirc, about the same time or shortly after he released LRP ... I don't have the track anymore, after several hd crashes and different computers, but it was a very good track ... Brent called it a beta and wasn't finished with it, but it was certainly as good as many finished tracks ... from the top of the hill near the bridge, you could both hear and see the cars traveling under the bridge, which at that time was a complicated, neat trick, I think Brent was the first to be able to do that with a GPL track ... your picture reminds me that the track and bridge looked exactly like your picture ... I'm not sure how many ppl had the track, but I'm sure someone still has it, I no longer have it ... I hope someone takes it on as a project, it was an enjoyable track to run, and would be a nice addition to historical racing Americana ... good luck to the next editor who takes it up  

[Mark Uribe]

Here is a link to some shots at PRR. More of the cars that raced there than the track itself, but still interesting.

Actually there are some other good links on the main page too.

http://www.tamsoldra...tRanchHome.html

Enjoy!

[von grips]

Ginetto is working on this track, so you know its in good hands!

[Burnsy865]

von grips, on May 28 2010 - 11:39 PM, said:

Ginetto is working on this track, so you know its in good hands!

I would have said "fantastic hands" when talking about Ginetto working on a track. Just another thing to look forward to.

[von grips]

You're right!         What was I thinking?  

[dangermouse]

von grips, on May 28 2010 - 11:39 PM, said:

Ginetto is working on this track, so you know its in good hands!

and with you providing real advice it will help too.

[Jhalli]

here's another site that have Paramount ranch maps ,and others too.

http://www.fototime....EAB432595}&nt=a

[Josef Paul]

Thanks for all the information, guys. Some great pics and links and I'm thrilled to learn it may come out from Ginetto. I was quite interested that it has already been done as a beta. Maybe that will turn up.

[ginetto]

All extra info about altitude map are VERY appreciated  
Please give an opinion about elevations changes along the circuit if you have seen it for real.
A description like:
"going up from the start to the bridge is uphill for about 2 meters then the 1st turn is same elevation as the bridge and goes downhill... T5 elevation changes is about 10 meters... T10 goes downhill..."
something like this will be very usefull since I ran into quite different data

Edited by Ginetto, May 30 2010 - 04:11 AM.

[John Woods]

Ginetto,

There's a link on gpl++ the add-ons for Brent Adams beta, in "tracks in progress," but its not there:(.
But, clicking on the icon takes you here:

http://www.tamsoldra...tRanchHome.html

If you click on the map or the car thumbnails it takes you to some other pages with photos as well.

Adios,

JW

Edited by John Woods, Jun 03 2010 - 11:49 AM.

[ginetto]

I know that site already John thank You )

I have Brent Adams beta , actually is where I start my work on.
I did change the whole thing though since the layout was very out
von grips was very kind to mail me a book and a DVD about the track.
Only thing I still need extra infos is the real elevations along the track, for who has been there it should be quite easy to describe some part of it, I guess
Ciao!

[Kanzo]

Ginetto,

the elevation info in Google Earth cannot be very accurate but you could try (maybe you have already done that) to move the mouse around the track and take notes of the elevation info located on the bottom of the GE screen just after the coordinates. If I read my mouse correctly the elevations are in the range of 223-240 m.

[John Woods]

Brent Adams, also designer and builder of Lime Rock Park Mountain Circuit, had something to do with pioneering the use of satelite topo data, but I forget the name of the programs...maybe "terragen" and maybe a GPL utility?

And perhaps, some L. A. local GPLers will visit and take some more pictures for Ginetto and/or the rest of us, or send a brief note about their visit.

There were many historic tracks on the West Coast and this will be a great addition to the GPL collection.

Edited by John Woods, Jun 03 2010 - 06:06 PM.

[von grips]

Give me a little time to go through my pictures and maybe I took a video last year...

I'm not too good with that meter stuff    but we'll get it sorted out  

   I should have sent this to you a while ago!    

[sky]

well foot or yard or inch will do too, i guess

[Josef Paul]

Just to give a sense of how it looks today, here is a pic I took looking down at turn 2. The cars would have come up from the left. I would say the track gains 20 feet there easily. I wish I knew Ginetto needed info. I would have taken many more pics! The only other thing I can say is that the front straight seemed completely flat. If you walk over the bridge today, you will hear a "hollow" sound. When they filled in the underpass, I guess they wouldn't have been able to fill it tightly with dirt. I do know some people around there who might be able to get more data on elevation. How accurate would GPS be? If I walked the track would it give more accurate data for elevation than Google?

Attached Files

•  Paramount.jpg   204.66K   98 downloads

[ginetto]

A GPS walk would be awesome just followed by some description of cambers if still present.
I know part of the track is now gone for good but I think was able to get the most part of the track, the second bridge between turn 8 and 9 is in GPL
Thank you all!

[von grips]

Hi Josef Paul, do you have a GPS? Live close by? Might be able to go in a week or two and do some trigonometry, just a little busy right now...