# US 2013/0157769 A1 · Track configured for passing through turns

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- Number: US 2013/0157769 A1
- Document ID: US20130157769A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/325,281
- Filed: 2011-12-14
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14
- Assignees: Gary Nelson & Associates, INC.
- Inventors: Gary A. Nelson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157769A1

## CPC

- A63K 1/00: Race-courses; Race-tracks
- A63K: RACING; RIDING SPORTS; EQUIPMENT OR ACCESSORIES THEREFOR

## Abstract

The present invention provides a race track configured to encourage passing. The race track includes a pavement that defines a turn, a first path around the turn, and a second path around the turn. The second path is longer than the first path, and the two paths are spaced-apart such that a first car can travel on the first path and a second car can travel on the second path in an overlapped position relative to the first car. At least a portion of the first path passing over a plurality of depressions defined in the pavement at predetermined positions. The depressions configured to reduce the amount of friction available to the first car such that the first car is slowed sufficiently for the second car to maintain the overlap position or pass the first car through the turn as the second car travels on the longer second path.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A race track configured to encourage passing, the race track comprising:
a pavement that defines a turn;
a first path around the turn;
a second path around the turn that is longer than the first path;
the first path and the second path spaced-apart such that a first car can travel on the first path and a second car can travel on the second path in an overlapped position relative to the first car;
at least a portion of the first path passing over a plurality of depressions defined in the pavement at predetermined positions; and
the depressions configured to reduce the amount of friction available to the first car such that the first car is slowed sufficiently for the second car to maintain the overlap position or pass the first car through the turn as the second car travels on the longer second path.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A race track according to claim 1, wherein depressions are in the form of grooves.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A race track according to claim 2, wherein the grooves extend radially from an inside of the turn to an outside of the turn.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A race track according to claim 2, wherein the grooves are evenly spaced-apart around the turn.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

A race track according to claim 2, wherein the grooves are positioned to define a crosshatched pattern.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A race track according to claim 1, wherein the depressions are in the form of pits.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A race track according to claim 1, wherein the depressions are positioned such that they are contacted only by tires on one side of the first car.

### Claim 8

A race track configured to define at least two lanes, the track comprising:
a pavement that has a bearing surface configured to support a vehicle;
the pavement configured to define a first lane on the bearing surface along at least a portion of the circumference of the track;
the pavement configured to define a second lane on the bearing surface along at least a portion of the circumference of the track;
a first area of the bearing surface is available to contact a tire-patch of predetermined size in the first lane;
a second area of the bearing surface is available to contact the tire-patch of predetermined size in the second lane; and
wherein the second area is larger than the first area.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A race track according the claim 8, wherein the track includes a turn and the first lane and the second lane are defined within the turn.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A race track according to claim 9, wherein the track includes an inside and an outside.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A race track according to claim 10, wherein the first lane and the second lane begin at a first imaginary line that extends from the infield to the outside edge of the track and first lane and the second lane end at a second imaginary line that extends from the infield to the outside edge of the track such that the second lane is longer than the first lane.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The turn in a race track according to claim 8, wherein the pavement of the first path defines depressions formed therein that extend away from the surface into the pavement.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A race track according to claim 12, wherein depressions are in the form of grooves.

### Claim 14

A turn in a race track configured such that passing within the turn is encouraged, the turn comprising:
a beginning of the turn;
an ending of the turn;
a pavement;
a first path that passes through the turn from the beginning of the turn to the end of the turn and the first path has a first length;
a second path that passes through the turn from the beginning of the turn to the end of the turn and the second path has a second length wherein the second length is longer than the first length;
the pavement having a surface configured to contact tires of vehicles in the turn;
the surface being configured to define the first path and to define the second path such that a sufficient centripetal force is available to a car in the second path such that a car in the second path can maintain an overlap position on the car in the first path.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The turn in a race track according to claim 14, wherein each tire of the first car and each tire of the second car can contact the surface in a maximum area defined by a contact patch and a working area of each contact patch is the fraction of the contact patch that actually contacts the surface, the surface being configured such that the working area available to the first car as it travels in the first path is less than the working area available to the second car as it travels in the second path.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The turn in a race track according to claim 15, wherein the working area available to the first car is not evenly distributed between the tires.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The turn in a race track according to claim 14, wherein the pavement of the first path defines depressions formed therein that extend away from the surface into the pavement.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

A race track according to claim 17, wherein depressions are in the form of grooves.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

A race track according to claim 18, wherein the grooves extend radially from an inside of the turn to an outside of the turn.

### Claim 20 (depends on 118)

A race track according to claim 118, wherein the depressions are in the form of pits.