Attended a SEM-PCA Driver's Education event at Waterford Hills today and had a blast! (Long, BWW)
05-12-2005, 03:48 PM
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Attended a SEM-PCA Driver's Education event at Waterford Hills today and had a blast! (Long, BWW)
For those of you not familiar with the track, here is their website. Click and you'll see a full layout of the track (pretty short, 1.4 mi IIRC).
<a href="http://www.waterfordhills.com/"> Waterford Hills </a>
My father and I arrived at 8:15. First order of business was a quick inspection of each vehicle. Everyone was required to have a more detailed tech inspection prior to arriving. Here are some pics from the inspection line:
1 of 2 GT3s in attendance today
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/GT3inlineforinspection.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Dodge Viper
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/Viperinlineforinspection.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Subaru Legacy
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/Legacyinlineforinspection.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
As you can see, there was quite a variety of cars in attendance...probably the most variety since I've been attending these. However, I was still the only Audi:
My dad and I
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/NogaroS4SealGrayTurbo.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
After the inspections were done, I grabbed some breakfast (they supplied muffins, bagels, juice, etc) and walked around admiring the other cars:
The other GT3 in attendance, which later spun off the track (no damage) at our corner when we were flagging
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/AnotherGT3parked.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
This guy could flat out drive!
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/PorscheTurbo2.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Close up of the red beast
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/PorscheTurboonTrailer.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Red 360 Modena, nice guy, very humble but a great driver, attended last year as well
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/Red360Modena.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
New C6 Vette, Lingenfelter 463 hp Trans Am, Modded Z06 (one of the instructor's)
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/AmericanMuscle.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Another shot of the C6 Vette
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/C6Vetteparked.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
A couple Carreras
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/2PorscheCarreras.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
A few BMWs
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/BMWsection.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
My instructor's M3 (SMG) with Sparco seats and 5 pt belts (he took me for a ride, wooo!)
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/M3-Instructor.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Old school porsche (196x?) that spun off in front of me on the 3rd run of the day, cutting our session short (15 min instead of 25, damn I was pissed because I was really in the zone)
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/OldSchoolPorsche.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
The way things were set up, everyone was divided into 4 groups (green-beginners, yellow-intermediate, orange-advanced, red-instructors) and each group had 4 20-25 min runs dispersed throughout the day along with 2 hours of flagging at various corners.
My dad and I were in the yellow group, our first time going head to head (:-O) on the track. We got in 2 runs before noon, then had lunch, flagged from 12:45-2:45, then got in another 2 runs before the day ended at 5.
I lowered boost from my street setup (~20 psi spike and tapering to ~17 psi) to ~1bar (14.5 psi) + or - .5 psi throughout the RPM band. My car performed flawlessly, but I see that my pads (Axxis ultimates, not track pads I know blah blah blah) are the weakest link now.
I was pretty rusty the first session, but had a good instructor who was full of very good advice.
On the second session, I went at it a bit harder and started to really get on it. I felt a huge improvement over the first session. I was keeping pace with everyone except for my father and another Porsche Turbo (red one above that was trailered in) on this run.
After lunch, my dad and I flagged the corner after the straight away. Whew, brakes were stinky over there ;-). Here are some pics I took while flagging:
Couple Boxters battling back and forth
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/BoxterBattle.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Modded Z06 about to pass a 944
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/Z06abouttopass944.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Some insanely modified yellow Porsche
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/YellowPorschebraking.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Z06 braking hard after the straightaway
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/Z06braking.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
C6 Vette going into turn 6
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/C6VetteinAction.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
360 braking after the straightaway
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/360ModenaBraking1.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/360ModenaBraking2.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Viper going into turn 6
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/ViperinAction.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
GT3 rounding turn 6, exaclty where he spun out on the next lap
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/GT3inAction.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
After flagging, my instructor took me out for a ride in his car. He showed me that I was braking more than I had to and it was okay for me to carry a little more speed into the turns. It paid off because I kicked *** the next two sessions, both of which he said I could do solo.
As I mentioned earlier, our 3rd session was cut short because of the old school porsche going off the track on turn 1. Before that, I was absolutely kicking ***. A black Carrera 4S and I were passing everyone except my dad and the other red Porsche turbo.
On the 4th session, I did even better. I started directly behind my father, who was behind the red Porsche Turbo. Nobody passed me the entire session with the 2 Turbos and me leaving the rest of the pack. I stayed pretty close to the 2 Turbos for a while, but my brakes started to give a little. Near the end, my dad finally passed the guy in the red Turbo.
All around, it was a great event. The food was good (breakfast and lunch), the instructors were very helpful, the other drivers were very friendly/helpful. It was a tremendous learning experience and I recommend everyone attend at least 1 driver's education event at some point in the near future.
<a href="http://www.waterfordhills.com/"> Waterford Hills </a>
My father and I arrived at 8:15. First order of business was a quick inspection of each vehicle. Everyone was required to have a more detailed tech inspection prior to arriving. Here are some pics from the inspection line:
1 of 2 GT3s in attendance today
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/GT3inlineforinspection.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Dodge Viper
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/Viperinlineforinspection.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Subaru Legacy
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/Legacyinlineforinspection.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
As you can see, there was quite a variety of cars in attendance...probably the most variety since I've been attending these. However, I was still the only Audi:
My dad and I
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/NogaroS4SealGrayTurbo.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
After the inspections were done, I grabbed some breakfast (they supplied muffins, bagels, juice, etc) and walked around admiring the other cars:
The other GT3 in attendance, which later spun off the track (no damage) at our corner when we were flagging
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/AnotherGT3parked.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
This guy could flat out drive!
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/PorscheTurbo2.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Close up of the red beast
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/PorscheTurboonTrailer.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Red 360 Modena, nice guy, very humble but a great driver, attended last year as well
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/Red360Modena.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
New C6 Vette, Lingenfelter 463 hp Trans Am, Modded Z06 (one of the instructor's)
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/AmericanMuscle.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Another shot of the C6 Vette
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/C6Vetteparked.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
A couple Carreras
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/2PorscheCarreras.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
A few BMWs
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/BMWsection.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
My instructor's M3 (SMG) with Sparco seats and 5 pt belts (he took me for a ride, wooo!)
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/M3-Instructor.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Old school porsche (196x?) that spun off in front of me on the 3rd run of the day, cutting our session short (15 min instead of 25, damn I was pissed because I was really in the zone)
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/OldSchoolPorsche.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
The way things were set up, everyone was divided into 4 groups (green-beginners, yellow-intermediate, orange-advanced, red-instructors) and each group had 4 20-25 min runs dispersed throughout the day along with 2 hours of flagging at various corners.
My dad and I were in the yellow group, our first time going head to head (:-O) on the track. We got in 2 runs before noon, then had lunch, flagged from 12:45-2:45, then got in another 2 runs before the day ended at 5.
I lowered boost from my street setup (~20 psi spike and tapering to ~17 psi) to ~1bar (14.5 psi) + or - .5 psi throughout the RPM band. My car performed flawlessly, but I see that my pads (Axxis ultimates, not track pads I know blah blah blah) are the weakest link now.
I was pretty rusty the first session, but had a good instructor who was full of very good advice.
On the second session, I went at it a bit harder and started to really get on it. I felt a huge improvement over the first session. I was keeping pace with everyone except for my father and another Porsche Turbo (red one above that was trailered in) on this run.
After lunch, my dad and I flagged the corner after the straight away. Whew, brakes were stinky over there ;-). Here are some pics I took while flagging:
Couple Boxters battling back and forth
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/BoxterBattle.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Modded Z06 about to pass a 944
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/Z06abouttopass944.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Some insanely modified yellow Porsche
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/YellowPorschebraking.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Z06 braking hard after the straightaway
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/Z06braking.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
C6 Vette going into turn 6
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/C6VetteinAction.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
360 braking after the straightaway
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/360ModenaBraking1.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/360ModenaBraking2.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
Viper going into turn 6
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/ViperinAction.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
GT3 rounding turn 6, exaclty where he spun out on the next lap
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v654/DocSlow/GT3inAction.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
After flagging, my instructor took me out for a ride in his car. He showed me that I was braking more than I had to and it was okay for me to carry a little more speed into the turns. It paid off because I kicked *** the next two sessions, both of which he said I could do solo.
As I mentioned earlier, our 3rd session was cut short because of the old school porsche going off the track on turn 1. Before that, I was absolutely kicking ***. A black Carrera 4S and I were passing everyone except my dad and the other red Porsche turbo.
On the 4th session, I did even better. I started directly behind my father, who was behind the red Porsche Turbo. Nobody passed me the entire session with the 2 Turbos and me leaving the rest of the pack. I stayed pretty close to the 2 Turbos for a while, but my brakes started to give a little. Near the end, my dad finally passed the guy in the red Turbo.
All around, it was a great event. The food was good (breakfast and lunch), the instructors were very helpful, the other drivers were very friendly/helpful. It was a tremendous learning experience and I recommend everyone attend at least 1 driver's education event at some point in the near future.
05-12-2005, 03:58 PM
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Porsche Cayenne *Turbo* to trailer a *Turbo*
His wife/girlfriend/daughter was about 20-25 and he was at least 40. He was dressed in a full racing outfit with driving gloves and shoes. He wasn't messing around lol
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05-13-2005, 12:13 AM
#10
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Great write-up - I want/need to do one of these really badly, but I just do not have the money right
now. I want to learn more about street driving though, because I really suck at the stick (S4 is the first one I've owned). I am still debating whether I want to Chip and start saving for K04s or do the driving school. I would love to do the school