My first time on a road course
08-16-2017, 04:36 PM
#1
Corvette Enthusiast
Thread Starter
My first time on a road course
I thought you all would get a kick out of this. My wife and I were invited to a "Chevy Track Days" event at Road Atlanta today. My wife agreed to ride along as my copilot but wasn't very thrilled once we got going hah.
As the title says this was a first for me but I had a lot of fun! Sorry I started the PDR a little early we get going at 1:45.
As the title says this was a first for me but I had a lot of fun! Sorry I started the PDR a little early we get going at 1:45.
08-16-2017, 04:40 PM
#2
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That is such a fun track! You should come out to an event and do a ride along at full pace. Most HPDE events are free for spectators and most any "expert" driver will be more than happy to give you a trip in the passenger seat! Turn 12 at around 110-115 and apexing T1 at 90+ almost has me drooling just thinking about it 
That is my home track and I will be back in two weeks for the Gridlife time attack. That event is not free, but is expected to draw thousands of spectators!
That is my home track and I will be back in two weeks for the Gridlife time attack. That event is not free, but is expected to draw thousands of spectators!
Last edited by fleming23; 08-16-2017 at 04:53 PM.
08-16-2017, 05:09 PM
#4
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A couple of tips if you ever have her in the car again.
First, put the transmission in manual mode and don't let the car do the sudden application of power and downshifts that is less disturbing to the passenger because it makes the ride smoother.
It also benefits you because you can control the car easier. Limit gear selection to one or two higher speed gears and use the throttle to keep up and use the throttle to slow down if you get to close to the car in front.
Second, don't fall out of sight of the lead car. They were waiting for you and the best way to keep up is to keep on the bumper of the car in front and use the throttle gently up and down to keep the proper distance.
Third, the lead car was showing you where to place your car on the track so you should have been trying to follow in its tire tracks as close as possible. That would have let you enter a couple of the turns at the correct angle which would have made the corner less unsettled and kept her from yelling you were going off the road. Basically, they showed you the late apex line but you took the early apex line which put you at the wrong angle going past the apex with the nose pointed off track instead of down track. That helped unsettle her as well as her eyes are perfectly suited to showing a straight path to the toolies as anybody else.
No sudden power stabs and no sudden lifts. Match the speed of the car in front of you like you had a solid hitch between its rear bumper and your front bumper. That way you aren't trying to make up huge distances by going to fast for her nerves on the straights.
That will give her more a feeling of confidence since the ride will be smooth and it will seem more like you know what you are doing. Smooth is fast.
However, I suspect based on your one comment about keeping quiet the ride also showed you how much concentration it takes to drive fast on a road course and as a beginner you don't have any time to spend yakking with an upset passenger.
Bill
First, put the transmission in manual mode and don't let the car do the sudden application of power and downshifts that is less disturbing to the passenger because it makes the ride smoother.
It also benefits you because you can control the car easier. Limit gear selection to one or two higher speed gears and use the throttle to keep up and use the throttle to slow down if you get to close to the car in front.
Second, don't fall out of sight of the lead car. They were waiting for you and the best way to keep up is to keep on the bumper of the car in front and use the throttle gently up and down to keep the proper distance.
Third, the lead car was showing you where to place your car on the track so you should have been trying to follow in its tire tracks as close as possible. That would have let you enter a couple of the turns at the correct angle which would have made the corner less unsettled and kept her from yelling you were going off the road. Basically, they showed you the late apex line but you took the early apex line which put you at the wrong angle going past the apex with the nose pointed off track instead of down track. That helped unsettle her as well as her eyes are perfectly suited to showing a straight path to the toolies as anybody else.
No sudden power stabs and no sudden lifts. Match the speed of the car in front of you like you had a solid hitch between its rear bumper and your front bumper. That way you aren't trying to make up huge distances by going to fast for her nerves on the straights.
That will give her more a feeling of confidence since the ride will be smooth and it will seem more like you know what you are doing. Smooth is fast.
However, I suspect based on your one comment about keeping quiet the ride also showed you how much concentration it takes to drive fast on a road course and as a beginner you don't have any time to spend yakking with an upset passenger.
Bill
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08-18-2017, 09:52 AM
#5
Pro
What a great track. Sounds like you had a lot more fun than your wife did. Hopefully you get a chance to get out and do some more track days, I really enjoy them and like Bill said, preparation and focus are the keys.
I think Road Atlanta is on my to-do list. Thanks for posting.
I think Road Atlanta is on my to-do list. Thanks for posting.
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everjeff (08-18-2017)
08-18-2017, 10:13 AM
#6
Safety Car
..."just please be quiet and let me drive"... said in the most kind and respectful voice _ever_. 
Glad you had fun.
Glad you had fun.
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everjeff (08-18-2017)
08-18-2017, 11:34 AM
#7
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Nice road course. I think I would consider leaving the wife out of the car next time. My wife simply doesn't drive with me at all in the Z. It kind of works well for both of us 
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everjeff (08-18-2017)
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everjeff (08-18-2017)
08-18-2017, 02:42 PM
#9
Race Director
That was great!!!
Don't mean to hijack the thread too much, but it's sort of about taking your wife for a ride.
Here's are a couple more videos of husbands taking their wives for a ride on the track - there are a whole bunch on youtube.
First one is F1 driver Riccardo Patrese just doing a parade lap - I don't know what track:
And below is Joao Barabosa taking his wife around the Daytona Rolex24 roadcourse in a Daytona Prototype race car:
.
Don't mean to hijack the thread too much, but it's sort of about taking your wife for a ride.
Here's are a couple more videos of husbands taking their wives for a ride on the track - there are a whole bunch on youtube.
First one is F1 driver Riccardo Patrese just doing a parade lap - I don't know what track:
And below is Joao Barabosa taking his wife around the Daytona Rolex24 roadcourse in a Daytona Prototype race car:
.
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everjeff (08-18-2017)
08-18-2017, 03:18 PM
#11
That was great!!!
Don't mean to hijack the thread too much, but it's sort of about taking your wife for a ride.
Here's are a couple more videos of husbands taking their wives for a ride on the track - there are a whole bunch on youtube.
First one is F1 driver Riccardo Patrese just doing a parade lap - I don't know what track:
https://youtu.be/is9WryNkgzY
And below is Joao Barabosa taking his wife around the Daytona Rolex24 roadcourse in a Daytona Prototype race car:
https://youtu.be/updyPbEJ8f4
.
Don't mean to hijack the thread too much, but it's sort of about taking your wife for a ride.
Here's are a couple more videos of husbands taking their wives for a ride on the track - there are a whole bunch on youtube.
First one is F1 driver Riccardo Patrese just doing a parade lap - I don't know what track:
https://youtu.be/is9WryNkgzY
And below is Joao Barabosa taking his wife around the Daytona Rolex24 roadcourse in a Daytona Prototype race car:
https://youtu.be/updyPbEJ8f4
.
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everjeff (08-18-2017)
08-18-2017, 07:16 PM
#12
CF Senior Member
Holy mother.... only need to watch the first 20 sec of this vid when she gets in the car. (slow-mo button conveniently located in settings)
Last edited by Connman; 08-18-2017 at 07:16 PM.