Autobahn Country Club
Joliet, IL
Length
3.56 miles
Turns
17
Direction
Clockwise
Elevation Change
50 ft
Elevation (ASL)
600 ft
Surface
Asphalt
Grip
Good overall grip; can be green early in season
Brake Severity
Moderate - not exceptionally hard on brakes
Sound Limit
103 dB — 103 dB at 50 ft (facility standard for all events)
FIA Certification
FIA Grade 2 (historical)
Nearest Airport
O'Hare (ORD) - 50 mi / Midway (MDW) - 40 mi
Nearest Trauma Center
Silver Cross Hospital (New Lenox) - 8 mi; Level 2
Track Character
Private club with multiple configurations. Full course is over 3.5 miles with a long straight. Smooth, well-maintained surface. Setup for high-speed stability and braking performance. The flat terrain means no free energy from elevation — setup is straightforward.
“In a long braking zone, threshold braking from top speed down to the maximum speed the car will take at the turn-in point is the fastest way. No argument. The first step is to push harder and harder on the brake pedal to identify where the threshold is. Once you get to the point where you lock up a tire occasionally, you can start to move the brake point closer to the corner.”
Going Faster! — Carl Lopez (Skip Barber)
Autobahn Country Club's long straight builds substantial speed before the heavy braking zones. Lopez's "Procedure" for developing braking performance is perfectly suited to this track: the smooth surface provides consistent feedback, making it easier to identify the threshold. Work the braking force first, then move the brake point closer — never the other way around.
“Whether on a road course or an oval, perhaps the most difficult corner for any race driver is the fast one. The biggest problem for most drivers is that the self-preservation program in the right foot takes control, causing it to lift off the throttle.”
Ultimate Speed Secrets — Ross Bentley
Autobahn's fast configurations include commitment corners where lifting mid-corner unsettles the car. Bentley's insight about the "self-preservation program" is a real challenge here — the smooth, flat surface gives the impression of safety, but the speeds are high. Trust the car through the fast sections and build confidence incrementally.
“A driver's braking analysis should include the following: braking point location and consistency, total braking distance and braking distance consistency, reaction time between the moment the driver comes off the throttle and steps on the brake, and quickness in building up maximum deceleration.”
Analysis Techniques for Racecar Data Acquisition — Jorge Segers
Autobahn's long straight followed by heavy braking zones makes it an ideal track for Segers' braking analysis approach. The smooth, flat surface removes variables — every braking event should be nearly identical. Use data acquisition to measure your braking point consistency and reaction time between throttle lift and brake application. The gap between throttle-off and brake-on is often 0.1-0.3 seconds of wasted time that drivers do not feel but telemetry reveals clearly.