[Z06] Performance Driving School Advise
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Granite Bay CA
Performance Driving School Advise
Hay Guys: I'm taking my Z06 out to a raceway for what they refer to as a Performance Driving School (Thunder Hill Park, Willows CA). An all day thing with several sessions on the track, and I'm sure plenty of lecture time.
Any tips from those of you who have gone through this. Things you wish you had known before you went?
Any tips from those of you who have gone through this. Things you wish you had known before you went?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,083
Likes: 0
From: I'm not quite middle aged and I only own one gold chain! San Jose CA
I did Thunderhill a couple of years ago. It's a great track and the instruction was excellent as well. The best advice I can give you is to leave your ego at home! Go as a student and stay a student while you are there. Go to learn and you will have a lot of fun too. If you go to see what you can prove or begin to compare yourselves with others there, you may very well wind up doing something stupid or embarrassing.
Make sure that your car is ready for tech inspection and make sure you are familiar with the equipment that they require...i.e. helmet, etc. I suggest driving gloves and shoes just to help with the feel of the car while you are driving.
Enjoy!
Make sure that your car is ready for tech inspection and make sure you are familiar with the equipment that they require...i.e. helmet, etc. I suggest driving gloves and shoes just to help with the feel of the car while you are driving.
Enjoy!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Originally Posted by Billco
Any tips from those of you who have gone through this. Things you wish you had known before you went?
Car tips: Fresh brake fluid and new brake pads.
ALso vist this thread in AutoX and Road racing forum
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=673766
This Sticky is for ppl new to autoX and road racing and High Performance Driving Schools.
Most of the ppl that do these track days or HPDEs bench race over in the AutoX and Roadracing forum.
and when you get back share your experience and photos with us. Good luck and have fun
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 17,681
Likes: 11
From: Central Jersey
Cruise-In II Veteran
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Dont forget a good racing shoe. Very important when learning to heel toe. And most important listen and have fun 
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Sunnyvale Ca
If the event is the one that ThunderHill (aka SCCA) puts on then it will be well organized and there will be a lot of fine instructors. You will probably only drive on the front half in the morning and they will probably open up the whole track in the afternoon. Most likely there will be man made chicanes with cones just prior to entering turn one and again on turn 8 when the whole track is open...this to slow you down. You might find any type of vehicle there. Last year when I stopped by there was a women driving a pickup truck and a bunch of other things that you wouldn't expect to see there but it is not like a regular HPDE, lots of first timers who want to learn more about their cars. Make sure you switch instructors and have fun!
Advanced
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Alberta
I instruct at our local racing schools and the BMW Club Performance Schools. The first school I attended sevral years ago was the 4 day Bondurant School, very good.
My first instructor's motto was "In slow, out fast." Very appropriate if your wheeling your expensive baby (Vette, M3 or Porsche) into a corner where you should have your wheels on the pavement and shiny side up.
As all students are different, so are all instuctors. Go in with your eyes and your ears open and your mouth mostly shut.
Too many questions take away concentration for a lot of people.
If it is your first time it can be over whelming, most instructors will try to key in to what the most immediate thing is that they can show you to get you to the next step. Everyone learns at their own pace. Try to read the manual before you go if posslble or get the Bondurant book.
If you get hung up say on heal/toe shifting (more an art than a science) you may miss out on a bunch of other stuff. My size 13 shoes have very limited room in my Z06, in my race car it's a breeze.
If it is your 1st or 21st, it is track time!! What could be better!!! You will have a blast in the Z06.
Think Smoooooth...
My first instructor's motto was "In slow, out fast." Very appropriate if your wheeling your expensive baby (Vette, M3 or Porsche) into a corner where you should have your wheels on the pavement and shiny side up.
As all students are different, so are all instuctors. Go in with your eyes and your ears open and your mouth mostly shut.
Too many questions take away concentration for a lot of people.If it is your first time it can be over whelming, most instructors will try to key in to what the most immediate thing is that they can show you to get you to the next step. Everyone learns at their own pace. Try to read the manual before you go if posslble or get the Bondurant book.
If you get hung up say on heal/toe shifting (more an art than a science) you may miss out on a bunch of other stuff. My size 13 shoes have very limited room in my Z06, in my race car it's a breeze.
If it is your 1st or 21st, it is track time!! What could be better!!! You will have a blast in the Z06.
Think Smoooooth...
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 622
Likes: 30
From: oakland ca
thunderhill
[]DD
Originally Posted by Vettdaddy
I instruct at our local racing schools and the BMW Club Performance Schools. The first school I attended sevral years ago was the 4 day Bondurant School, very good.
My first instructor's motto was "In slow, out fast." Very appropriate if your wheeling your expensive baby (Vette, M3 or Porsche) into a corner where you should have your wheels on the pavement and shiny side up.
As all students are different, so are all instuctors. Go in with your eyes and your ears open and your mouth mostly shut. Too many questions take away concentration for a lot of people.
If it is your first time it can be over whelming, most instructors will try to key in to what the most immediate thing is that they can show you to get you to the next step. Everyone learns at their own pace. Try to read the manual before you go if posslble or get the Bondurant book.
If you get hung up say on heal/toe shifting (more an art than a science) you may miss out on a bunch of other stuff. My size 13 shoes have very limited room in my Z06, in my race car it's a breeze.
If it is your 1st or 21st, it is track time!! What could be better!!! You will have a blast in the Z06.
Think Smoooooth...
My first instructor's motto was "In slow, out fast." Very appropriate if your wheeling your expensive baby (Vette, M3 or Porsche) into a corner where you should have your wheels on the pavement and shiny side up.
As all students are different, so are all instuctors. Go in with your eyes and your ears open and your mouth mostly shut.
Too many questions take away concentration for a lot of people.If it is your first time it can be over whelming, most instructors will try to key in to what the most immediate thing is that they can show you to get you to the next step. Everyone learns at their own pace. Try to read the manual before you go if posslble or get the Bondurant book.
If you get hung up say on heal/toe shifting (more an art than a science) you may miss out on a bunch of other stuff. My size 13 shoes have very limited room in my Z06, in my race car it's a breeze.
If it is your 1st or 21st, it is track time!! What could be better!!! You will have a blast in the Z06.
Think Smoooooth...
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 622
Likes: 30
From: oakland ca
thunderhill
Originally Posted by Billco
Hay Guys: I'm taking my Z06 out to a raceway for what they refer to as a Performance Driving School (Thunder Hill Park, Willows CA). An all day thing with several sessions on the track, and I'm sure plenty of lecture time.
Any tips from those of you who have gone through this. Things you wish you had known before you went?
Any tips from those of you who have gone through this. Things you wish you had known before you went?
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: Aptos, CA.
Same advice as others. One extra though, put the car in COMP MODE. Make a mental note of that before you get on the track each session.
Safety first. Safety first. Safety first. If you forget that part, you may not be happy at the end of the day. Go and have fun. Listen, learn, leave.
Safety first. Safety first. Safety first. If you forget that part, you may not be happy at the end of the day. Go and have fun. Listen, learn, leave.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,299
Likes: 0
From: Stanwood Michigan
As I look out my window now and see the 6+ inches of snow on the ground I can without any hesitation tell you I wish it was me going and not you. That said here are some things to think about.
1. Clean out your car at home otherwise you will have to leave things on the ground/paddock. You don't want anything in your car loose that could become a projectile. That includes your floor mats.
2. Agree fully keep ears open and mouth closed (except for questions).
3. Smooth is key.
4. Slow in and fast out is a great thought to keep but fast out is also smooth out and that means to roll on the gas not stomp on the gas. This is one of the areas that I have the most trouble with students (and have to constantly remind myself).
5. Really listen and try to learn what makes each turn different and why it is important to setup for each turn differently. Your turn in, apex and exit points will be different for each turn and the understanding of the geometry of the turn will make the smooth part alot easier.
6. LOOK AHEAD Easy to say but at times hard to do.
7. Agreed leave your ego at home and HAVE FUNNNNNNNNN.
1. Clean out your car at home otherwise you will have to leave things on the ground/paddock. You don't want anything in your car loose that could become a projectile. That includes your floor mats.
2. Agree fully keep ears open and mouth closed (except for questions).
3. Smooth is key.
4. Slow in and fast out is a great thought to keep but fast out is also smooth out and that means to roll on the gas not stomp on the gas. This is one of the areas that I have the most trouble with students (and have to constantly remind myself).
5. Really listen and try to learn what makes each turn different and why it is important to setup for each turn differently. Your turn in, apex and exit points will be different for each turn and the understanding of the geometry of the turn will make the smooth part alot easier.
6. LOOK AHEAD Easy to say but at times hard to do.
7. Agreed leave your ego at home and HAVE FUNNNNNNNNN.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: Aptos, CA.
Another observation:
Don't worry about that Miata or BMW coming up on you and you trying to outrun it. Give them a "point-bye" and then follow them to see why they might be better than your line. You will find times when you need to concentrate more than worry about trying to pull away from a lesser HP'd car. Time and patience will prevail and you'll find that driving your style and limit will give you a smile you can remember for months to come.
Don't worry about that Miata or BMW coming up on you and you trying to outrun it. Give them a "point-bye" and then follow them to see why they might be better than your line. You will find times when you need to concentrate more than worry about trying to pull away from a lesser HP'd car. Time and patience will prevail and you'll find that driving your style and limit will give you a smile you can remember for months to come.
