WagonBoy

All I can really say is WOW!

WOW, that was an awesome event.
WOW, I meet some really cool people.
WOW, everyone that I talked to improved and had FUN!
WOW, am I tired from going round and round. :-)
WOW, did that storm come up QUICKLY! :-(

I gotta thank Don Gruenler and Larry Boyer for putting together a great event. I had so much fun that I don't even know where to start....

I attended that Instructor Clinic on Friday. We had some great discussions about all kinds of stuff. I got all kinds of new insight into the track. Meet some very nice people. And, had a blast learning to "transfer the passion".

On Saturday we worked the exercizes first: Braking, Lane Toss, and Slalom. I worked on the Lane Toss and had so much fun watching the students improve that I got goose-bumps! :-) It was a total kick seeing people's eyes light up when they knew they got it right.

Then on to the track. My students rocked from the start and made remarkable improvements each session. We were organized enough that we got an extra session in for everyone too. Given rides to students to show them how I do it was a blast too. Sunday was just more of the same, but with new and different students, as the instructors switched off. That is until "THE STORM" showed up.

I've never been in a real dust storm, but now I know what it's like. That thing came up so quickly that I could barely get into my car! When it finally ended, I had about 5 minutes of JUST wind before it started raining. YUCK! I knew I should have skipped that last instructor session and put my street wheels back on. :-( Oh well, it was still fun playing "catch" with Will F. in his Silver S4. Wouldn't have traded that for anything. WOOOHOOO!

So, I really hope everyone had as much fun as I did, cause I had a LOT OF FUN! :-)

Until next time,
Rick

MTM III

The Storm SUCKED!!! My driver side window was still down as I hid behiond Winders S4. When I finally made it across to my car the interior was TOTALLY covered in dirt - totally! I have my work cut out for me tomorrow!! The good news is that my car ran great all the way home -- I thought I blew a turbo hose or something, but had full boost with no noticable signs of hesitation. I'm still planning on going to Champagne Motors in the morning to have them give it the once over.

Speaking of turbos . . . Ken, keep us updated on the warranty issue -- I hope all is well.

It was really cool meeting and getting to know Larry Boyer (QCUSA Chief instructor), Mike Fisher (QCUSA President), and Gary Allison (Ronal Wheels) throughout the weekend -- they're all GREAT people.

Rick - get that next CAC SCR event scheduled - MUST GO BACK, MUST GO BACK SOON!!

Denver Dave

Wow is right. It was a great two days. I want to thank you Rick and all the instructors who encouraged me. I want to especially thank my instuctor Mike Fisher, president of Audi Quarttro Club USA, for helping this rookie feel comfortable on the track and making my first time on the track a time I will never forget. Oh, Mike gave me a ride in his very rare and fast Audi V8, WOW!

ELUSIVE

This truly was a great weekend....umm except for the "STORM"!!!!
I had an awesome time and met some really great people.

Thanks to everyone for the assistance and support...even though I wasn't in an Audi.

A special thanks to Larry Boyer for being a great instructor. This was my first time at a track and I learned a ton from him. I can't wait to get back out there.

Regards,
Stacey Snyder
2001 Subaru 2.5RS


<img src=http://sbsnyder.tripod.com/Scooby2.gif>

LarryO

I'll see Rick's WOW, and second that emotion!

The agenda, scheduling, instruction and coordination was absolutely first rate. Rick was one of many Instructors who volunteered their time, skill, enthusiasim, passion and wisdom to coach us students to learn better and safer driving skills. These folks deserve all the thanks we can possibly muster!!!

The purpose was to become better drivers, not to learn "racing". And, at least in my case, that goal was acheived. The day ended with a (force majore) "microburst" storm that rolled into the track from the north. Quattros may run in all weather, but it is generally accepted that better than 3 foot visability is also required. When the worst had passed, a few of us ventured homeward bound.

One of the exercises was a "Lane Toss". This is where the driver is presented with a minimal reaction time decision to maintain course, change lanes left or change lanes right (randomly selected by the operator). It looks simple enough, but one's first run through will humble rather quickly.

So, i digress; on the trek home, as we merged onto I70 the winds and weather were still afoot and as we rounded the long ramp. Suddenly, there was this large piece of debris smack in the middle of the lane! I had no idea what it was, but was sure i didn't want to hit it. No problem! In a flash the lessons learned kicked in, checked the mirrors, selected a left lane change and... voila, incident easily avoided. Event registration, $200 -- accident avoided, priceless.

Still smile'n...

Larry Owens

P.S. we should also remember the support from our commercial members:
Champagne Motors
Meadow Creek Tires
Ronal Wheels

winder

the people. the instructors, the cars. the comraderie!
watching people start off not knowing which way to turn or brake. then getting them started lapping!
talking them through being smooth and finding some solutions and helping them work out some bugs... then seeing the smiles as they find out THEY CAN DO THIS!!!
all the students i worked with and talked with had huge improvements in car control and understanding. and HUGE excitement that they can drive pretty quickly around a closed course!!
i KNOW some are hooked!! (a couple of us instructors got a bad fever, too!)

at one point today, i'm sitting in while a student laps around quite smoothly. she lives in the mountains and wanted to know how to drive better and use the features of her A4 quattro in her mountian (windy road) commute. (imagine having to do THAT.. a 30 mile each-way windy road commute! aweful, huh 8~)
so, we're blasting and squealing around, and she's doing great. there is another student driving a REAL quick A4 Avant RIGHT ON HER BACK BUMPER!! she's kinda giggling "that guy has been on my butt for a couple of laps!" but, she's concentrating and holding her own. she eventually let's him by.
after the session, the two students and instructors are talking. he figured she could handle a little close-in lapping 'cause she was so smooth and in control!!! good fun, compliments to ALL involved!!!
late Sunday afternoon. i'm lapping in Blue with a student in the passenger seat. he's digging the experience. BUT... gave me a "what's that!!?" when i turn too early for a fast right i like to drift in (bad winder!) and mess up the exit!
every lap, we see the norther sky get darker and clouds look REAL ominus! one lap to the next, it was getting REAL BAD LOOKING!! we pull in, just as a tidal wave of dirt and rocks pushed by 50+MPH winds crashes on us!! we ALL scramble to get our stuff and how to protect our cars.
[NOTE: tire guys HAVE to bring bigger truck!! they could only fit 8 or 9 cars to block dirt storm.]
i hope everone made it out ok, and no rock damage. there will be a LOT of cleaning to do, though!!
so, kind of bad to not be able to hang out and talk Audi and track and stuff, but.. no one crashed. EVERYONE had a great time!! and the food and all made for an AWESOME WEEKEND!!!
look forward to the next track day!!! what did you say, Rick? next Monday?

winder

BTW: you ROCKED the way you hustled that A4 around that last session we did!!!
EXCELLENT story on your drive home!
i'm glad we were all sharpened by the weeknds driving.
i was dodging tumbleweads and debris, too!

squalo555

What a great group of people! The instructors were great... glad to get to know all of you! And the students were excellent. Everyone was on time and listened and learned. What progress people made! Myself, I was ear-to-ears grins the whole weekend!
The weather cooperated for most of the weekend and made for a nice weekend with even a little sunburn on the neck.
I had a great time driving the brakes off my TT (literally). Even more though, I really enjoyed seeing the excitement from all the new people. I know that a whole bunch of people "got bitten" and we're sure to see them around more.
For those interested and not yet aware, there are going to be many opportunities to get out there more this summer. Rick and the Coloraudi group are putting on some really fun afternoons, Larry Koerner at Champagne Motors in Denver sponsors some great Thursday afternoon sessions, and there is the Multi-Car Club which has many days planned for the weekends this summer. If you need more information, watch the message boards, contact the organizers, or feel free to contact me.
Looking foreward to seeing everyone again soon!!!

ColoradoMark

I as a little nervous in the morning about being put into the advanced run group. But on hindsight it was probably where I belonged. It's so cool to be able to drive on a track with or as a passenger, my previous track experience was in single seaters.
Best part was the people that were there. No pompous wannabees, everyone wanted to learn and/or help.

The bad news is you've all thrown my plans for staying in G stock when I autocross right out the window. Let's see now APR or GIAC?, ALCON's?, Koni's or Bilstein?, coilovers? ( I shouldn't have riden with John, although he would be fast in a Yugo)

squalo555

Mark, I'll make you a deal on some track wheels & tires. ;-)