Did my first HPDE yesterday. DAYUM!
06-24-2011, 01:48 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Did my first HPDE yesterday. DAYUM!
I signed up with the Porsche Club. Venue was Portland International Raceway. In-car instructor mandatory, which I appreciated. 
FYI, my car is an '03 A4 2800 Stall (no cooler), H/C, and all the bolt-ons. Instructor drove it slow for two laps to show me the line... then it was my turn. 
First two sessions were serious information overload. Car performed beautifully. Highest trans temp I saw was after the third session was 235.
I had a tremendous time and a great instructor. I'm still all
Definitely "bucket list. chit. 
Ironically, it's significantly harder than Gran Turisimo.
FYI, my car is an '03 A4 2800 Stall (no cooler), H/C, and all the bolt-ons. Instructor drove it slow for two laps to show me the line... then it was my turn. First two sessions were serious information overload. Car performed beautifully. Highest trans temp I saw was after the third session was 235.
I had a tremendous time and a great instructor. I'm still all
Definitely "bucket list. chit. Ironically, it's significantly harder than Gran Turisimo.
06-24-2011, 02:24 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Sep 2006
Location: Beaverton OR
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I signed up with the Porsche Club. Venue was Portland International Raceway. In-car instructor mandatory, which I appreciated. FYI, my car is an '03 A4 2800 Stall (no cooler), H/C, and all the bolt-ons. Instructor drove it slow for two laps to show me the line... then it was my turn.
First two sessions were serious information overload. Car performed beautifully. Highest trans temp I saw was after the third session was 235.
I had a tremendous time and a great instructor. I'm still all Definitely "bucket list. chit.
Ironically, it's significantly harder than Gran Turisimo.
FYI, my car is an '03 A4 2800 Stall (no cooler), H/C, and all the bolt-ons. Instructor drove it slow for two laps to show me the line... then it was my turn. First two sessions were serious information overload. Car performed beautifully. Highest trans temp I saw was after the third session was 235.
I had a tremendous time and a great instructor. I'm still all
Definitely "bucket list. chit. Ironically, it's significantly harder than Gran Turisimo.
06-24-2011, 04:46 PM
#6
Burning Brakes
Welcome to the addiction!! Focus on seat time w/organization that provide good instructors, go slow on the car mods. See the sticky in this forum and good luck and enjoy!!
06-24-2011, 05:06 PM
#7
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
oops, too late on the mods.
In the first session the instructors would drive your cars (not real fast) to show you the line. The first time he "got on it" he said it was too much car for a novice. He referred to it as a fast responding beast. He said novices would be better off learning with a Miata. Great traction and control but, no power.
06-24-2011, 11:24 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
Thanks
oops, too late on the mods. In the first session the instructors would drive your cars (not real fast) to show you the line. The first time he "got on it" he said it was too much car for a novice. He referred to it as a fast responding beast. He said novices would be better off learning with a Miata. Great traction and control but, no power.
oops, too late on the mods.
In the first session the instructors would drive your cars (not real fast) to show you the line. The first time he "got on it" he said it was too much car for a novice. He referred to it as a fast responding beast. He said novices would be better off learning with a Miata. Great traction and control but, no power.
06-24-2011, 11:41 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
Did my 1st event last September and now have 4 under my belt with 2 more planned for this year and at least 6 for next year. The mods I've done are geared to improve car and powertrain longevity, plenty of power in our machines courtesy of GM. A weekend at the track is like a carrot at the end of a stick. No matter how much BS life throws at you, I look forward to that next event. Pretty much living the dream for me! Wouldn't trade it for anything. Enjoy, take your time learning the car's and your limits.
06-26-2011, 09:49 AM
#10
Team Owner
There will be another HPDE event at PIR on August 1st (Monday). This one takes the place of the Rose City Corvettes event. Same people same fun.
06-26-2011, 11:11 AM
#11
Drifting
It is a gas, isn't it???
If you wanna get good, check your ego at the door, and listen to the instructors.
I have driven both my Corvette and a friend's Miata during HPDE.
The Miata is a "textbook" car in every sense of the word. It ain't fast, but it will teach you more about the limits of adhesion and how to properly carry momentum in a very direct and safe way. Finding the limit of adhesion in your Corvette can be a heart-thumping event!
The Miata is also a car that is very easy to rotate through turns. Very easy to learn on a Miata.... not so in a Corvette at twice the speed.
I'm sure everyone here has a different opinion, but I think you learn more by learning how to drive a slow car fast, before you get into the fast car. It helped me.
I am by no means an expert, but this works for me.
All I can say is it takes some nerve to hold WOT deep into the braking zone for turns 1, 5, and 12 at Road America in a Corvette, and practicing on something a little more forgiving really helped.
Needless to say, you can read a short novel in a Miata between Turn 14 and turn 1 at RA.
If you wanna get good, check your ego at the door, and listen to the instructors.
I have driven both my Corvette and a friend's Miata during HPDE.
The Miata is a "textbook" car in every sense of the word. It ain't fast, but it will teach you more about the limits of adhesion and how to properly carry momentum in a very direct and safe way. Finding the limit of adhesion in your Corvette can be a heart-thumping event!
The Miata is also a car that is very easy to rotate through turns. Very easy to learn on a Miata.... not so in a Corvette at twice the speed.
I'm sure everyone here has a different opinion, but I think you learn more by learning how to drive a slow car fast, before you get into the fast car. It helped me.
I am by no means an expert, but this works for me.
All I can say is it takes some nerve to hold WOT deep into the braking zone for turns 1, 5, and 12 at Road America in a Corvette, and practicing on something a little more forgiving really helped.
Needless to say, you can read a short novel in a Miata between Turn 14 and turn 1 at RA.
06-26-2011, 08:58 PM
#13
Safety Car
Might as well bookmark this section - you will be here a lot. Oh yeah, empty your wallet while you are at it. Welcome to the addiction. I feel for all the waxers in the General section who never will get to know how awesome their vettes really are.
06-27-2011, 02:54 AM
#14
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
I don't think my car is too much for me to learn in. I have no ego in this. my instructor is a 10 year friend. I have also read "Going Faster" a few times. Thanks
Great obsession. It was like sex the first time. As soon as I got into it, I knew I'd be doin' it till I died.
06-29-2011, 03:08 PM
#19
Safety Car
Member Since: Mar 2005
Location: Madison Wisconsin
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St. Jude Donor '08
It is a gas, isn't it???
If you wanna get good, check your ego at the door, and listen to the instructors.
I have driven both my Corvette and a friend's Miata during HPDE.
The Miata is a "textbook" car in every sense of the word. It ain't fast, but it will teach you more about the limits of adhesion and how to properly carry momentum in a very direct and safe way. Finding the limit of adhesion in your Corvette can be a heart-thumping event!
The Miata is also a car that is very easy to rotate through turns. Very easy to learn on a Miata.... not so in a Corvette at twice the speed.
I'm sure everyone here has a different opinion, but I think you learn more by learning how to drive a slow car fast, before you get into the fast car. It helped me.
I am by no means an expert, but this works for me.
All I can say is it takes some nerve to hold WOT deep into the braking zone for turns 1, 5, and 12 at Road America in a Corvette, and practicing on something a little more forgiving really helped.
Needless to say, you can read a short novel in a Miata between Turn 14 and turn 1 at RA.
If you wanna get good, check your ego at the door, and listen to the instructors.
I have driven both my Corvette and a friend's Miata during HPDE.
The Miata is a "textbook" car in every sense of the word. It ain't fast, but it will teach you more about the limits of adhesion and how to properly carry momentum in a very direct and safe way. Finding the limit of adhesion in your Corvette can be a heart-thumping event!
The Miata is also a car that is very easy to rotate through turns. Very easy to learn on a Miata.... not so in a Corvette at twice the speed.
I'm sure everyone here has a different opinion, but I think you learn more by learning how to drive a slow car fast, before you get into the fast car. It helped me.
I am by no means an expert, but this works for me.
All I can say is it takes some nerve to hold WOT deep into the braking zone for turns 1, 5, and 12 at Road America in a Corvette, and practicing on something a little more forgiving really helped.
Needless to say, you can read a short novel in a Miata between Turn 14 and turn 1 at RA.
