Very new to owning a Vette but want to learn more about how to handle it without practice where might draw a ticket. The car is bone stock at this point but not sure I can handle any more right now anyway. I have been to one autocross and to one open tracking session at Sears Point to watch in both cases. For those with some experience, if a 'newbie' wanted to learn more about driving and get confident about the limits of the machine and keeping it rubber down, which would be better? Expect to try both before I'm done with this opportunity, so that is not an issue. Any inputs would be helpful. It was an eye opener when I got to the the autocross classes and saw what the Vette is paired with in the SS class. Long way to go, not interested in winning, just want to get better over time.

 

I started off autocrossing just after purchasing my Vette. I did this for about a year and a half before starting to do open track events. This is the best approach because the autocross allows you to learn car control and how to catch the car at the limit in a relatively low risk environment. Once you have learned good car control then you should step up to open track events.

Once you start to open track the car you will probably love it so much you won't autocross much anymore. The amount of in car lapping time at a good open track event will be more than an entire year of frequent autocrossing.

 

I haven't autocrossed, but just starting running in DE open track events. I think your experience is very dependant upon the particular event you run in. Much like the rest of life, it can be as safe and fun as you want to make it or downright dangerous. I have had a complete blast doing this and highly recommend giving a DE event a chance. You'll generally get put in a run group with equally as inexperience people, have strict rules to avoid problems, and ride with an instructor.
As to being bone stock, you are completely correct. The Vette out of the box has more go-go juice and handling than most folks can take advantage of until they get a bunch of seat time.
Check out the racing section of the forum and you'll see lots of great advice (plenty of new folks in there as well as some great people with experience).
Be careful however, driving your car at high speed is equally as addicting as crack (and frankly, a hell of lot more expensive!!) :yesnod:
Send me an email if you want to get hooked up with an event group in CA that I can guranatee is friendly to new folks.

 

Two ways to do it:

1) Low Cost: Go Autocrossing. That's what I did, and it's a blast. Your top speed is generally below 70mph, but you'll learn how to toss the C5 around in anger. The only problem is that it is mostly trial and error learning.

2)High cost: Take your C5 to a driving school at a local track. Usually several hundred bucks minimum, but you get professional teaching, and you go at your own speed. No shame in starting off very slow and just improving second by second and mph by mph. The instructors at most schools ride with you, show you how to heel-toe downshift, where to brake, the perfect line etc.

It's also a wash on which is worse on your tires

 

For a good group to open track with in Northern California checkout:

http://www.greenflagdriving.com/

Or my personal favorite:

http://www.norcal-saac.org/

Since I'm the webmaster, I don't get harrassed too much when I bring
my vette to the track!




[Modified by Walt Boeninger, 6:13 PM 11/2/2001]

 

Both are fun. Come out and play!

 

AutoX is a good place to start, low speed (but cones, boxes, salom, & switchbacks come up quick and requires instant quick reactions...a developed skil) but AutoX is much differant than road course DE's.

You can get in a lot of trouble feeling the need for speed hammering down a 1400' straight away and finding a 55mph corner at 140mph! :rolleyes: :confused: :eek: :eek: :mad :mad :U :sad:

But when you start at the DE level you can get out on a race track with training wheels (instructor) on and work your way up.

Both are fun but I think that a week-end of DE @ $250 is worth a season of AutoX'ng @ $300. LAst time I AutoX'd I spent 6 hours to get 4 (four) 36 second runs in. A DE event is 4 20 minutes session on a race track, with an instructor, on Sat. and 4(four) more on Sun.

Both are fun!

 

Thanks for all the quick responses, like I said, still new and just went to the Racing section for the first time. Thanks for the comment, doh! Just going to watch and learn some for awhile as it seems there is LOTS to learn. Since I'm sure not a wrench, have to see if I can find a good local to do some of the basic work on the car, like brake fluid if I get to DE level. Think I'll autocross some since it will all be new and find some classes after the winter. Thanks again.

 

Also you might consider hitting a library for some books on high performance driving. there are even some on AutoX'g.

 

I'd go the DE route. You get lot's more time on track. Once you get experienced you can run with groups like EMRA and TrackMasters where you get so much lap time, you quit before the open sessions are over because both the car and driver have had it.

The best book on the market for skill improvement - either AX or RR - is 'Going Faster' by Skip Barber instructor Carl Lopez. Get it!

Report back next year on your new addiction.

 

Please excuse my ignorance. What is DE?

 

Drivers Ed

 

Both are hell on tires, but it is hard to get the smile off your face with either. Once you open track you'll probably never go back to auto-x, if you go in the first place. I found most auto-x courses are set up for low powered import cars, not much fun IMHO. Open track on the other hand.....

 

Auto-x and open track are quite different. I look at auto-x as being able to push the car to the limits (with traction control off) safely, and an excellent learning experience controlling a high powered rear wheel drive car. Its all about hard excelleration and braking. The high performance driving events are about smoothness and knowing the correct line.
As for cost, for me an auto-x is 25 bucks for less than three minutes, vs 4-5 20 min sessions on a track for around 175 (actually more for the money). I disagree with never going back to auto-x after an open track event as you can still push the limit safely unlike the open track where you need to be careful.
Personally, I'm prone to pushing it too hard and regularly spin out on the auto-x. I have never spun or even run off the track during an open track event and somehow have been able to control myself (probably just as I've never driven off a nice windy highway).
Both are awesome, and are the reason I bought my vette. I HIGHLY recommend both to anyone who hasn't done them. Many people seem intimidated by events such as these - I guess cause they don't want to look like a bad driver in front of others. I felt the same way before doing them, and now I don't even think about it - and I'm sure I'm not that great of a driver, but I know how to have fun!!

Pete