OK the video's I have seen on here and the talk I have been watching has made me want to try racing next year. The autobahn looks like a fun place and I found at least one group called LAPS that uses that track. Are there any others?
I am looking for a little advice here. Not just with the club but with how to proceed. What is the best driving class to take? What suggestions can you give a beginner like me to work my way into this in a fun way?
Last question. This one is from my wife. How often do they have wrecks? Are most the people cool or do you have people running into you out there?
The LAPS crew is extremely cool, a great group of guy and gals to share the track with. I've seen a few wrecks but for the most part they are very rare and usually the result of driving beyond your skill level. I feel safer driving on the track then on the street. There are instructors there that can show you the ropes, including myself. This is a lot of fun and very addicting...
__________________ Current - Electron Blue '02 Z06 L.G. Motorsports, born on: Wed., March 15, 2002 Previous - Black '98 (bought 12/97) 6 speed Coupe, glass top, chrome wheels
The LAPS crew is extremely cool, a great group of guy and gals to share the track with. I've seen a few wrecks but for the most part they are very rare and usually the result of driving beyond your skill level. I feel safer driving on the track then on the street. There are instructors there that can show you the ropes, including myself. This is a lot of fun and very addicting...
LAPS is a great way to get started tracking the car. A really, really good group of people. The main goal every track day is that no one gets hurt, no one wrecks a car, and everybody has a great time. FredM1969, JimBacus, and I have all been LAPS members for a couple of years, and are signed up for next year as well (and a simple way to "prove" how fun LAPS is: all 3 of us are also Autobahn members, yet we continue to join LAPS anyway just because we like driving with this group so much! The people are THAT great.).
If you join LAPS, it's perfectly reasonable to have that be your first exposure to the track. An instructor will be provided for as long as you need one/want one - generally the first few track days or more. When you start out, you'll get classroom time in addition to track time (figure 5 30-minute sessions of track time per LAPS day, regardless of whether you're beginner, intermediate, or advanced - believe me, that's a LOT of time.). The classroom time is useful for giving you some of the theory, discussion of technique, talking about proper line, etc. Then you go out on the track with an instructor (you're driving) to practice. You can also ride along while the instructor drives if you want to do so. All drivers are broken into groups, and when you're getting started you'll run in the beginner group. It's a great way to start, because everybody else on the track with you is in the same position you're in. There are no huge speed differentials, any and all passing is tightly controlled/safe, and the focus is entirely on learning the track, the line, and how to drive the car on track. It is an extremely safe way to learn.
To answer your question on wrecks, yes they do happen. They're not frequent, and typically the cause is someone pushing a bit too hard and doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. I've also never seen a wreck in the beginner group because the drivers are still well within the limits of the car. As you get more experience and push harder, you can get to (and beyond) the limits of the car and/or driver. That's when things can go wrong. Fortunately, Autobahn is a very safe track - there are really only a couple of places where you might run into something big and immovable if you go off track. Personally, I don't push as hard through those turns just for that reason. Most areas there is a lot of run off, and the worst that can happen is a rapid, panoramic 360 degree view of the track and a wasted 30 minutes when you get home vacuuming out the inside of your car (windows open on track + excursion into the lawn = lots of grass inside the car - not that I've ever done that ).
Fred, Jim, and I all instruct for LAPS in addition to being members, and I'm sure any of us would be more than happy to help you out.
If you're eager to get started and don't want to wait until April (local driving season is done, Autobahn closes this weekend ), a driving school is a good place to start. I had a great experience at Spring Mountain in Nevada (formerly Bragg-Smith). I'd definitely recommend a class there; you get the same type of classroom instruction, and a lot of seat time.
Tracking your Vette is an absolute blast, and gives you a totally new appreciation for the car. Unfortunately, the biggest drawback is that once you start doing it, it's just nowhere near as fun to drive on the street anymore....
If you have questions or want more details, feel free to ask.
Most areas there is a lot of run off, and the worst that can happen is a rapid, panoramic 360 degree view of the track and a wasted 30 minutes when you get home vacuuming out the inside of your car (windows open on track + excursion into the lawn = lots of grass inside the car - not that I've ever done that ).
Jim, there isn't anything quite like South 5 is there?
BTW, you have Collin to thank for that trip down memory lane-his commentary caused that little venture back in time.
Last edited by yankee0304; 10-31-2007 at 05:17 AM.
OK the video's I have seen on here and the talk I have been watching has made me want to try racing next year. The autobahn looks like a fun place and I found at least one group called LAPS that uses that track. Are there any others?
I am looking for a little advice here. Not just with the club but with how to proceed. What is the best driving class to take? What suggestions can you give a beginner like me to work my way into this in a fun way?
Last question. This one is from my wife. How often do they have wrecks? Are most the people cool or do you have people running into you out there?
Thanks in advance
Ted
You will have tons of fun! Check the club rules and track rules, you will probably need an SA2000 or SA2005 helmet. Some let you get by with an M rating. You will have to run with the windows down most likely, get some gloves they will help in a few ways. Also fresh high temp brake fluid, and you may want a set of track only pads. Look into brake ducts if you don't have them.
You may want to read Going faster! it's a great book. You will get placed in the correct class when you sign up. I do see some wrecks here and there, but I have not had one or been part of one, in the couple years I have been doing HPDE.
The road race section has a sticky topic for beginners, check that out.
Has anyone ever heard of CGI Motorsports? It's an instructional driving school that runs at Gingerman raceway in Michigan. One of my customers either owns or works with them and keeps encouraging me to come check it out.
I know one of the instructors from CGI personally (actually, he may be a FORMER instructor now.) I haven't run with CGI as they only run on Mondays, but I have heard very good things about them.
I have also run with SpeedTrialsUSA and would reccomend them. I also reccomend (especially for beginners) joining in with the Audi club on an event. They did a two-day event at Grattan last year and offered some in-depth training before letting anyone ontrack.
Vette's are GREAT to track, I would STRONGLY reccomend upgrading to track-oriented brake pads and fluid for track days. It's a hassle to swap out your brake pads for an event, but it IS well worth it. It won't take long before you are going fast enough to destroy a stock set of pads in less than 1/2 a day. I personally like Carbotech pads, but others will chime in with their reccomendations. As for brake fluid, you have three choices: ATE SuperBlue, Motul600 and Castrol RBF. The Castrol stuff is VERY expensive. I'd reccomend switching between ATE and Motul every year. They are distincly different colors so you can see when you have completed a full flush. I'd run the ATE first, since the stock brake fluid looks a lot like Motul.
Stainless lines are nice, but not really necissary (but they are cheap and easy to install.) Speed bleeders are a VERY nice, nice to have. They are also cheap and easy to install, and they really help when it comes time to bleed your brakes.
Eventually you may want a second set of wheels with R-compound tires, but that is NOT some thing to worry about now.
It is a BLAST. I haven't been out at all this year, and I REALLLY miss it. I'll be back next year for sure.
I am also a member of laps and what fred jim and collin have told you are correct.
the best way to start is probably come out to an event and just get rides with instructors and see what it is all about. And always ask questions!?!?!?!?!?
We have all started at your level and got bit by the bug....
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Questions on racing.
- not that I've ever done that 
).
), a driving school is a good place to start. I had a great experience at Spring Mountain in Nevada (formerly Bragg-Smith). I'd definitely recommend a class there; you get the same type of classroom instruction, and a lot of seat time.
