Xtreme Experience Track Day
 

A good buddy and riding partner of mine just received a gift from his son in the form of a gift card to participate in one of this organization's events. He gets to drive a GT3 at our local track, Pacific Raceways in Auburn, WA.

He is not a car guy by any means, but he does love his bikes. He has zero track experience except for having ridden with me in my '72, also at Pacific Raceways. I'm sure many of the customers who participate in these "drive a supercar" deals have even less, like probably zero experience nor, therefor, any idea what they should be experiencing.

He gets three laps that he gets to drive himself. For $300, or $100 per lap. I pay the same for a full track day, usually 4-6 sessions of 20-30 minutes each. Beyond the money his son spent, though, I have other concerns.

I like to think I know my way around a race track. I would still be very, very tentative in taking a GT3 out without a good deal of time getting to know it. Three laps wouldn't be nearly enough - not even close.

So, how on earth can they take absolute neophytes and turn them loose, for just three laps, in cars like these? Granted, they start with instructors showing them the line, braking points, and general track information like that. But then to turn them loose for three laps (with an instructor in the car, of course) in cars like that? What gives? Are these cars de-tuned or restricted in some way, do they put cones out to re-define the line to slow things down, or what? They can't just let 'em rip, can they?

This all sounds pretty damned contrived and hokey to me. I'm afraid he might be in for a huge disappointment, especially having at least ridden along for a full track day. The on-line reviews show a lot of really disappointed customers who feel they were cheated. So, what say ye? Anyone ever participate in one of these?

I did the "Mustang Challenge" at Miller in Utah, which was similar.

There were 10 people in the class. You get about an hour of classroom basics and then two laps with the instructor in a 15 passenger van where he shows you exactly how fast the van can go. It's faster than most of the folks went around the track.

Each 'student' then gets plopped into a GT something-or-other with a helmet and a harness and some pretty nice tires and each person (including the instructor) gets to lead 2 laps around the east course to their comfort level. About $350 including the optional extra insurance. Total experience about 3 hours.

I had a lot of fun but I would say the whole experience (excluding the 15 pass van) never even approached the physical limits. Nobody got run over or ran over a median or anything.

At that time there was a $1000 or so class that was a full day that had more class time and individual instruction, sort of like a DE event but you don't have to take your car.

Fun but definitely novel. Good place for a date lol


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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1546929893.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1546929893.jpg

I have participated in a couple of dealership appreciation days. Very similar gig. They don't go too hard on the initial laps they drive and then keep the participant on a VERY short leash when they get behind the wheel.

I remember being scolded by an instructor for touching the curbing on a corner that you normally get right on top of at speed. I told him I had a lot of days under my belt at that track. He didn't care and told me a bit too forcefully to back off. I'm glad I didn't pay for the day.

For the money, nothing beats a DE day for fun AND safety as a CVR PCA track day. Great instructors, culture and environment. As a bonus (to some) it’s still exclusively Porsche with a good showing of air cooled cars that get dirty. Many thanks to all those who work so hard to make Connecticut Valley Region PCA track days so great.

My favorite PCA HPDE quote - "Nothing you do today will increase the value of your Porsche". :)

I did this last year on a whim for a ferrari 360, simply because i figured ir was the only way i would ever a ferrari.

They dont just set you fee. I did a different program but the instructor starts to yell at you over around 6.5 tenths.

Its a poor value but fun nonetheless. 20 sessions at a decent go kart track would be much better learning roi.

F360 felt like a slightly slower but much better sounding version of my exige

I was a bought a similar driving experience . I was told not to shift out of 2nd in the Ferrari ,even when I showed the instructor that I could take the car flat out in second through all the bends. Very disappointing for me, but others with much less or zero track time thought it was great.

My wife has bought a couple of these Ferrari drives for me. They were on a parking lot cone course so kind of waste for such a fast car.

The first time was a 360. The ride along instructor asked if I had any driving experience so I gave him a quick resume. He put the car in Race mode but asked me to make sure we put it back. We did three laps and almost looped on the last lap. I apologized but he thanked my for actually driving. He suggested I drive the Lamborghini Gallardo next so I did. What a pig of a car and the instructor was freaking out as I went barreling into the first turn.

A couple years later I did it in a 430. I stood in line waiting my turn and couldn't believe how slow everyone was driving the course. When I got in I asked if I could put it in race mode. He said no and asked if I had any mid-engine experience. I proceeded in showing him I did. All he said when I finished was 'you auto-x guys are fun to ride with'

I have done two of these events in Vegas and had a total BLAST!! I will say that I was quite surprised on how inexperienced the majority of all the other drivers were. For some reason, i was expecting everybody to have had track time previously. Not sure why I thought that.. but my instructor was pushing me VERY hard to go faster, brake later, etc. He told me later it was obvious and quite refreshing to ride with someone who had previous track time. I will say this, I did 6 laps my first time and 10 the second and both of them were WAY to short. It is just so much fun! I lapped most people twice in one session...

It is simply a dream experience for folks that would normally never have the opportunity to get into a true supercar on a race track. Value for track time $$ is low but still a rush for some.

There is a belief among some that putting a green driver in one of these powerful supercars is a huge risk to car and driver but actual statistics suggest that they are very cautious and drive well below the car's capability. I instruct in supercars quite a bit and the classroom briefing, instructor introduction, and guidance, set up a pretty safe environment. We talk about what if the car catches fire, what if we put it on the roof, and the 1st rule of performance driving: "Just don't hit stuff" so the student driver is keenly aware that they need to keep things reeled-in if they want to have a fun yet safe experience. Nobody really wants to take an ambulance ride on their intro track day. In 15 years of instructing in these cars, no one has really scared me yet.

Thanks for the input, guys. It sounds like my friend is going to have a good time. I was kind of worried that he might be disappointed by the whole thing, but it sounds like it's all geared to a guy of his experience level. Yeah, maybe us hard core track rats would be left wanting, but that is not who he is. Maybe this will wet his appetite for more... he always has a good time riding with me (when allowed), so maybe actually driving will push him over the edge...