Notices
C8 General Discussion The place to discuss the next generation of Corvette.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Spring Mountain/Ron Fellows in winter

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-19-2021, 05:36 AM
  #1  
TheJusticar
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
TheJusticar's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2021
Location: SW Utah
Posts: 25
Received 24 Likes on 7 Posts
Default Spring Mountain/Ron Fellows in winter

I’m about a month out from my scheduled trip to Spring Mountain and started looking at average weather forecasts. It looks to be a lot colder than I expected with average lows in the 20s and highs in the mid 50s.

Anyone been to SM in similar temps? Anything to be concerned about? I didn’t think about it when I first scheduled, just grabbed the first available spot. I’d hate have cold temps put a damper on what otherwise looks to be a fabulous experience.
The following users liked this post:
JScottH3 (12-27-2021)
Old 11-19-2021, 08:24 AM
  #2  
Desmtg
Racer
 
Desmtg's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2013
Location: Jacksonville Florida
Posts: 352
Received 88 Likes on 46 Posts

Default

Doesn’t make any difference! You take warm up lap(s) and go. May have snow in mountains on way from Vegas to track.
Old 11-19-2021, 08:28 AM
  #3  
Zjoe6
Moderator
Support Corvetteforum!
 
Zjoe6's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2015
Location: SE WI
Posts: 10,596
Received 3,941 Likes on 2,427 Posts
Default

I wouldn't be as concerned about the cold as the rain. You can still get traction in colder temps and all your sessions will be in the afternoon if things haven't changed from the C7 owner school. Rain sucks. I've been there in twice, once in March and once in July. The one in March it rained pretty much every day except the two days of my class. I got lucky. The one one in July was dry as a bone but 106 the first day and 103 the second day. I didn't suffer at all. The track was dry and the car was nice and cool. So temps not a big deal to me. But you roll the dice on rain. The best part of the hot summer is there is very little chance of rain. So summer is almost my preference right now. When I get my C8 Z06 that's when I'll probably go.
Old 11-19-2021, 08:43 AM
  #4  
Warp Ten
Drifting

 
Warp Ten's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2020
Location: Columbia SC
Posts: 1,334
Received 598 Likes on 350 Posts
Default

I'm going in Mid Feb and Brooke warned me about the cold weather. She said it would be good to take a winter jacket when walking around the facility. I'll be staying another night at the Lodge instead of in Vegas. She also said to look at AIRBnB for cars to rent as they would not be from the rental agency's. They are mostly Tesla's. I hope they have charging stations at the lodge?
Old 11-19-2021, 08:53 AM
  #5  
Phil1098
Race Director
 
Phil1098's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2019
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 10,074
Received 11,607 Likes on 4,638 Posts
Default

When I was there last November it was 43 and rained. It hadn't rained there in over 200 days, but lucky me. The first day it steady rained and there was no traction anywhere, car was stepping out and had nannies stepping in many times a lap. I was so worn out after the first day I told my wife if it is wet again tomorrow, I'll probably pass on driving. When we switched and the instructor drove it was stepping out and sliding everywhere it did for me and he said yeah there's just no traction. Looking down at the tire temps showing "cool" and thinking of pushing a car at track speeds in the wet on summer tires was not good. To put it in perspective, we were running almost 2:00 laps, the next day was cool (46 degrees), but dry and once we got some heat in the tires were running faster than the demo video at 1:17. It went from as miserable of a time in a car to the best time ever in a car. After the wrap up of the school on Sunday afternoon it started snowing at the track when we were leaving.
Old 11-19-2021, 06:25 PM
  #6  
Ed Cordes
Melting Slicks

 
Ed Cordes's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 2000
Location: Corning NY
Posts: 2,053
Received 802 Likes on 272 Posts

Default

My classes are scheduled for January 25 -26. Hoping for good weather and then going to Death Valley for nature photography. Chose time due to a good winter getaway and wanted to be sure I didn't wait too long and lose the opportunity due to other stuff coming up.
Old 11-20-2021, 09:23 AM
  #7  
F-16 ED
Pro

 
F-16 ED's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2020
Posts: 652
Received 361 Likes on 208 Posts
Default

I was there this Monday and Tuesday. Track sessions are morning and afternoon. The car has a heater and air conditioner. Both work. Warm up laps before track speed or any driving exercises. Any outside activities, you will need a coat but the car is as comfortable as you want it. Its a blast!!
Old 11-20-2021, 07:12 PM
  #8  
gliot1
Safety Car
 
gliot1's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2002
Location: Buckeye, AZ
Posts: 3,811
Received 1,510 Likes on 781 Posts
St. Jude Donor '12-'13

Default

I was there 3 years ago when it snowed above 5000 ft the day before...all high peaks around it had snow. The normal 5.5 hr trip from Phoenix took 11 hrs as there was 21" of snow in Kingman, AZ on way. It was in the low 40s and windy on our first day. Did we have our sessions? Absolutely.
Old 12-16-2021, 10:41 AM
  #9  
IdRatherBGolfing
Drifting
 
IdRatherBGolfing's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2003
Location: H-Town
Posts: 1,660
Received 930 Likes on 492 Posts
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C8 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2921 C8 of the Year 2021 Modified Finalist

Default

Here’s what we woke up to for our first day. Did the braking exercise first. Hard getting tires up to temp in the morning, fine in afternoon





Last edited by IdRatherBGolfing; 12-17-2021 at 01:20 AM.
The following users liked this post:
Bird67 (12-16-2021)
Old 12-16-2021, 10:49 AM
  #10  
PColasanto
Melting Slicks
 
PColasanto's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2019
Location: Venice, FL
Posts: 2,480
Received 1,645 Likes on 905 Posts
Default

Wait, so the cars don't melt in the snow???? Maybe I'll be able to use mine this winter after all.
The following 2 users liked this post by PColasanto:
dahogan (12-16-2021), Losbot (12-23-2021)
Old 12-16-2021, 11:19 AM
  #11  
2017 NDGS SGBE
Pro
 
2017 NDGS SGBE's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2020
Posts: 573
Received 344 Likes on 180 Posts
Default

Attended RF mid January 2019 for the GS class
low 30’s high mid 50’s with Michelin Summer only tires. Like anywhere else have to drive car as weather conditions allow. The instructors are first rate follow their lead and you will enjoy the experience!
Old 12-16-2021, 11:19 AM
  #12  
dahogan
Enjoy while you can.
Support Corvetteforum!
 
dahogan's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2008
Location: 10th District Court OHIO
Posts: 17,176
Received 2,700 Likes on 1,276 Posts
Ohio Events Coordinator
2023 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
C2 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24


Default

On advice from others I went in September 2021. It was over 100 degrees each day, but little chance of rain. The class rooms have a/c and so do the corvettes. There was absolutely no problem with the heat. However, b/c of the elevation and heat our launch control numbers were around 3.3.
Old 12-19-2021, 02:52 AM
  #13  
Zoomn
Racer
 
Zoomn's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2020
Location: Pahrump, NV
Posts: 377
Received 322 Likes on 116 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Warp Ten
I'm going in Mid Feb and Brooke warned me about the cold weather. She said it would be good to take a winter jacket when walking around the facility. I'll be staying another night at the Lodge instead of in Vegas. She also said to look at AIRBnB for cars to rent as they would not be from the rental agency's. They are mostly Tesla's. I hope they have charging stations at the lodge?
We live 5 miles from Spring Mountain and I can assure you that there are NO public chargers in Pahrump. The local Chevrolet dealer has a level 2 charger, but I don't believe they'll let you tie it up charging a Tesla. The local electric company (Valley Electric) has one as well, but it's behind a locked gate and only used for their vehicles. We have an electric car for chasing around town, but charge at home. Any Tesla should be able to drive out from Las Vegas and return without a problem. It's a 115 mile round trip from McCarran LAS to Pahrump.
...... and I think she meant to say TURO instead of AirBnB.
Old 12-19-2021, 05:23 AM
  #14  
TheJusticar
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
TheJusticar's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2021
Location: SW Utah
Posts: 25
Received 24 Likes on 7 Posts
Default

I was there the 15th and 16th myself. Missed breakfast the first day since my FJ was iced over and took nearly 20mins to melt the ice on the windows. The drive in the previous night was through some pretty torrential rain. The class before mine had their 2nd day afternoon track sessions cancelled due to the rain!
Old 12-19-2021, 10:29 AM
  #15  
Datawiz
Team Owner
Support Corvetteforum!
 
Datawiz's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2005
Location: FL
Posts: 40,972
Received 320 Likes on 152 Posts
CI-7-8-9-10 Veteran
Cruise-In IX AutoX Winner
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11,'19,'22
St. Jude/CI Name Tag Designer

Default

I've been there 3 times, and one time it snowed DURING one of my sessions.
Old 12-19-2021, 09:42 PM
  #16  
bobbykart
Racer
 
bobbykart's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2013
Location: San Diego
Posts: 271
Received 69 Likes on 38 Posts

Default

Goin January 16-18, lookin forwrd to it, wife is drivin the C8
The following users liked this post:
mjcourt (12-22-2021)
Old 12-19-2021, 10:04 PM
  #17  
Vetteman Jack
Administrator

Support Corvetteforum!
 
Vetteman Jack's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
Posts: 343,246
Received 19,364 Likes on 14,014 Posts
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran


Default

Hope the weather turns out to be clear, even if cold. Should be a great time.

Get notified of new replies

To Spring Mountain/Ron Fellows in winter

Old 12-21-2021, 12:13 PM
  #18  
socalspringmountain
Premium Supporting Vendor
 
socalspringmountain's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2008
Location: Pahrump NV
Posts: 1,985
Received 418 Likes on 186 Posts

Default

Hello all!
During the winter months, our lows are typically around 30-40's with highs in the 50's and up to 70 on occasion...when the sun is out, by 10-11 am, it feels warmer than the temp suggests. We will run the school unless there is snow sticking, or if the rain is falling fast and we have danger of hydroplaning. I've been here since the beginning of the track opening in 1998...In all those years, there has only been a few occasions when we had to stop running on track, or cancel a whole day/school. Last week, we ran up till we could, but did have to cut short one group, their last session. all the other parts of the program were completed...
today is a bit cloudy and a hair colder, but no moisture!
The car is very capable in most weather. If it's wet, we run wet mode in PTM, and coach to drive for the conditions. It actually makes everyone slow everything down, and allows more time to focus on smoothness, and adapting to the track, as the line can change from lap to lap. It can be quite intense! Anyone who watches racing, knows it's the great equalizer, and really showcases driving talent! I love when it rains during a Formula 1 race-makes it unpredictable!
__________________
Victor Resendiz
Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club
Ron Fellows Performance Driving School


The Official Performance Driving School Of Corvette
www.racespringmountain.com
victor@racespringmountain.com
800-391-6891







The following 3 users liked this post by socalspringmountain:
EASonBASS (12-22-2021), Foosh (12-21-2021), mjcourt (12-22-2021)
Old 12-21-2021, 12:37 PM
  #19  
Foosh
Team Owner
 
Foosh's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,434
Received 16,669 Likes on 8,312 Posts

Default

^^^^^^

I'm 100% in agreement with Victor on this. A student with minimal experience will actually learn more about car handling and the fastest, smoothest line around the track on a day when the track is wet.

Last edited by Foosh; 12-21-2021 at 12:57 PM.
Old 12-22-2021, 08:53 PM
  #20  
GIZMOS
Intermediate
 
GIZMOS's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2019
Posts: 30
Received 35 Likes on 10 Posts
Default Jan 16-18

Originally Posted by bobbykart
Goin January 16-18, lookin forwrd to it, wife is drivin the C8
see you there!
Gizmos


Quick Reply: Spring Mountain/Ron Fellows in winter



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:16 AM.