I know I'm being stupid, but I can't throw it. I really want to take a local driver's school so that I can find the limits of my stock 87 ( not to mention having fun ). But 4, 30minutes sessions on a 2 mile road course gets me concerned about beating up the car. Also, being an automatic has me concerned. Tell me I'm not going to hurt the car.

 

I would love to do that, and hey if something goes wrong with the car better on that track then racin around town and having it happen not to mention safer.

 

Make sure that everything is in good shape first. Good alignment, brakes, tires, flush and fill the tranny etc. Then try to get a few other Corvette owners to go with you and make a day of it. Sounds like fun. Do it!

 

That's what the 'vette was built for. Have at it!

 

You won't hurt the car, trust me, it's made or that, and I think it's great that you want to learn more about properly driving the car.

 

HPDE schools usually have instructors that ride with you or have volunteer experienced drivers to ride along. Things will be fairly structured so that you won't get into a lot of trouble. Novice drivers usually aren't allowed to pass and they are watched carefully. Cars will undergo a tech inspection to insure they are safe and everthing is in good shape. Remove all loose stuff from the car before you head out to the track and make sure the battery is tightened down securly. The seat belts need to be in good condition. Clean the windshield carefully on the inside and also the back glass. You don't want any glare or anthing that will block the ability to see clearly.

As long as your car is in good mechanical condition, you won't really hurt anything. Stock brake pads will work as long as they are new or near-new. You should have the brake fluid flushed and replaced with something like Castrol LMA (parts stores) or even the Ford Motorcraft Heavy-Duty fluid. As zlso mentioned, a fresh oil change, good coolant (clean the junk out from the front of the A/C condensor and radiator) and maybe a tranny service like a flush and filter.

Tires do need to be in good shape and the pressures should be at the factory recommended settings to start. With an auto tranny, don't leave the selector in the OD position. Depending on the course layout, you may not be able to go much over 120-125 or so on a straight and that is well within the ability of 3rd gear without OD.

Go in with the idea that you want to learn about driving at speed. It is much better to ask questions and watch than to go in with a "yeah, I can drive fast" attitude. Listen to the instructors, watch your mirrors and have fun.

Once you do the first track day, be prepared to spend money on better brakes, better tires, harness bar, suspension stuff and whatever because you will be back!!

And get a good helmet! Most HPDE events will have loaner helmets, but if you do decide to domore, it's always a good idea to have your own helmet. You will need a Snell SA2000 rated helmet. Bell, Simpson, G-Force and others have excellent helmets in the $200-300 range.

 

Thanks Guys. I've just replaced the tranny fluid and everything else is good. Should I change anything after the session?

 

Shorts if the car gets a bit out of shape...

Unless you "boil" the brake fluid from extreme braking (you should see lots of brake fade), you should be OK. Just check the fluid levels after the event.

Also, keep the oil temp and water temp displays up. These will be the most critical temps to watch. When you get onto the straights, you have a chance to check the guages, get comfortable in the seat again, check the mirrors and breathe!!

Your arms will get pretty tired towards the end of the day. The morning after my first track day, my arms were so sore, I could hardly lift my coffee cup! With the factory belts, you will find that you will use your arms to keep you in place in the car in addition to steering. Once I added a harness bar and belts to hold me in place, it was much easier.

Drink lots of water if it wil be hot. No coffee or pop unless you want some for lunch. Don't eat too heavy a breakfast or lunch.

 

BTW, just noticed you're in Portland. Are you going to do the Rose City Classic in August with the Monday track day at PIR?? I've been there for the last 4 years and it is an absolute blast!!

 

Do it! You'll never regret it even if your never see a race track.
Too many people drive high powered sports cars (including Vettes) and have no "'feel" for the limits of the car. If your track time teaches you swerving thru cones and at the last second turn in a direction indicated and stopping at a specific point (sometimes timed or with increasing speeds) without breaking loose, or doing both left and right tight circles until the car spins out, etc, then your time has been well spent. At one time in So Cal there were a couple sport car dealers that included a day of track training with the purchase of a new car for buyers with no experience. Our cousin teaches at these classes in the Pacific NW and many Vette friends are involved in teaching similar track sessions annually in Southern California...some even have years of racing experience they will share.

 

My 88 is gone, but I did take a two day HPDE school with NASA, three sessions per day. It was an Automatic as well.

My experience:
Watch your Oil and water temps!!!
Keep it in 2 in ALL the turns, shift into D (not OD!!!) as you enter the straight, In your braking zone put it in 2

If you haven't done it recently replace all fluids (full trans flush, diff drain and flush, cooling, oil change - consider Mobil 1)

Add an trans cooler if you can.

 

I will be there this coming year. Last year I was only at the show & shine. I had only just recently gotten my first vette. I am a member of rose city corvettes.
If there are any other NW vettes or any other car keep your eye out for conference schools at portland international raceway. It is a gorgeous track With lots of runoff area. You can't get into too much trouble. I haven't been on the track in 10 years. I think my ageing and current finances are causing me to be overly cautious. The Team Continental school is this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

Talk to the RCC President about track days. He has lots of track experience and he has been a big help to me over the last vew years He can point you to some other RCC members who spend a lot of time at PIR. PIR is definitely a fun track!!

Being cautious is probably the best thing going in. Most DE events will have Novice run groups and instructors to ride along with you. PIR has a website that lists DE events sponsored by different clubs. Seems like there is always a couple of events each month there.

 

My only concern would be tranny fluid temp... From running 1/4 mile runs with my last A4 Vette, I noticed that just the 1/4 mile would heat the tranny up pretty good... 30 minutes on the track would probably be kinda brutal...

Maybe an additional tranny cooler in-line with the factory setup would be worthwhile addition...

I'd like to do one of these driving schools someday... I just wish they'd add another 10 hrs to each day so I could find some time...

 

I have an 87'...Let us know how you make out!

 

Go for it, and let us know how it went...

 

Man, I would love to go to a school like that. Anyone know of anything around NW Pa.?

 

Go for it.

 

go for it... i think there are some new places around pennsylvania/ohio border that i can do the same... i look forward to it, and you will too

 

If you decide to go, and I think you will have a blast if you do, if at any time, whether you're on or off the track, if you hear any noises that sound odd or unfamiliar, do not race the car. You can do irreparable damage to the engine. Immediately have one of the school technicians inspect your car. If you're in the staging lane and are ready to race, and even if you think there may be a problem, you might feel odd for wanting to get off the line, but do it. You may save yourself thousands of dollars in repairs.