Forum member Sven and I spent Sunday - Wednesday in Pahrump Nevada, attending the Spring Mountain Driving School and watching a NCM HPDE (Sunday). I wanted to share my experience with you folks and encourage you to find some way to attend that or a similar school.

We arrived late on Saturday night at LAS and took a rental car (Hertz has Corvettes too but they are $200/day ) to Pahrump. Next morning after breakfast, we decided to drive out to the school and look around. We discovered when we got there that there was a NCM sponsored HPDE in progress so we stayed and checked that out too. Below are a couple of photos of the event. We met some of the drivers - Corvette people are just so cool! Everyone was friendly and loved talking about their Corvettes.

Paddock


Pit Straight

Turn 8

Into Turn 1


We met a really nice gent "Rusty" who had a Z06 (for all who thought you couldn't pull a trailer - he had a hook up to to a tire/tool trailer and said that he pulled at a buck 20 with no issues). Here is Rusty mid turn 8

Unfortunately, Rusty broke his motor - bummer.

We started out on Monday morning in the classroom discussing down shifting and heel/toe. Then we went to the track and practiced for 30 min or so in a loop accelerate to 60 - 65 and brake, **** to neutral, blip, complete the shift all while maintaining a constant brake pressure. Object was to be in second at the 4th cone at 20 mph. Not as easy as it sounds

Driving on the track for the first two and a half days was in a lead follow configuration with an instructor leading 3 or 4 cars on the track so we could learn the configuration and find the correct turn in, apex and exit of each corner. Not only did we follow but we were also followed by an instructor and got the opportunity several times to have an instructor ride with us as well as riding with an instructor to watch him.

The final day consisted of four sessioins on the track in open lapping - no speed limits. Drive as hard as you dare - saw tripple digits on the back stretch then dive in to turn 8 and try not to go off track - not all were able to do that every time - the class's best student went off there on the first lap of the second session - now you know what kind of grip cold tires have . (That was NOT me )

Here are some pics from the school:

The cars:



Some of the instructors:


The School: This is the new building.


The classroom:


Man, what a ride!

 

Most excellent JD. Sounds like a blast. I wish I had been able to go out with you.

Paul

 

Dude! Maybe next year - I'm going back!

One of our students was 79+! He wasn't the greatest or the fastest, but he was competent and effective!

 

Nice write up on the school and nice pictures.

I would love to go to Spring Mountain myself. Maybe one of these days.

 

That is incredible. Love to hear it, it gives me hope.

 

Thanks for the post and especially the photos. Brings back memories of my trip to Spring Mountain last month.

 

Thank you Mr. D. Very . Maybe someday I can participate. Thanks for sharing.

 

Great write-up and pictures

My wife and I went @ 06' and had an awesome time there.

Do you "Heel & Toe" now every time you slow down and turn

 

That looks like fun.

 

I did today Gotta get a pedal extension

 

Spring Mountain is definitely on my "To Do List"... Hopefully next year.

 

Looks like a lot of fun. Do they actually make a pedal extension or maybe some aftermarket pedals that are closer together to make it easier for toe and heel?
-David

 

Paul --

We wish you could have made it too! I still can't believe how it surpassed all of my expectations ... and I'm looking forward to my next trip!

Will get my pix/vids posted this weekend.

 

Sounds Great - Can't wait - I go there for three days on the 26 of this month..Then maybe, just maybe my new C6 Vert will be ready for pickup at the Museum before Christmas...Hope! Hope!! Hope!!!

 

I went in July. Nice pictures!

 

Looks like it was a blast!

 

Boy are you in for a treat! If you can, practice heel and toe before you go. It will make things a load easier Also, practice holding the wheel at 3 and 9 and not using the shifter as a handhold . Practice looking way down the road and not at the road just ahead and looking where you want the car to go not where the car is going...

You will hear all that again...and again...and...............

 

One of the two most fun things I have done with my clothes on.. The other is something very few will ever experience - landing an airplane on an aircraft carrier..

 

 

Elite Engineering has one. Spring Mountain makes their own.