Spring Mountain - Level 2
Pro
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 604
Likes: 129
Level 2 is about learning how to drive faster. We spent the 1st morning doing a heel/toe practice and doing a lead/follow where we lead the instructors around the track. After that, it's open track where you work on perfecting your technique. There are classroom sessions where you cover how to perfect the different types of turns on the track. You can have the instructors ride in your passenger seat and give continuous instruction. I liked it much better than Level 1.
FYI- They do not force heel/toe on the people who prefer using the auto rev-matching. I'd guess 3/4 of my class used the auto rev-match in Level 2. But I'd recommend learning to do heel/toe downshifting, because there is nothing like doing a 4-3 heel/toe down shift at 95 mph going into the bus stop!
FYI- They do not force heel/toe on the people who prefer using the auto rev-matching. I'd guess 3/4 of my class used the auto rev-match in Level 2. But I'd recommend learning to do heel/toe downshifting, because there is nothing like doing a 4-3 heel/toe down shift at 95 mph going into the bus stop!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 13,278
Likes: 2,509
From: Bluffton SC via Canton Oh
agree with the above post. plus they had a skid pad exercise which was short and sweet. was there early last month. and you had a transponder for timing your laps.
was there for phase 1 in feb and ran the east track because GM was doing orientation on the main track. phase 2 at least for us was the original track. interesting to do a different track and more impressive it did not take that long to get familiar with it.
was there for phase 1 in feb and ran the east track because GM was doing orientation on the main track. phase 2 at least for us was the original track. interesting to do a different track and more impressive it did not take that long to get familiar with it.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 215
Likes: 2
From: Central Oregon
Level 2 is about learning how to drive faster. We spent the 1st morning doing a heel/toe practice and doing a lead/follow where we lead the instructors around the track. After that, it's open track where you work on perfecting your technique. There are classroom sessions where you cover how to perfect the different types of turns on the track. You can have the instructors ride in your passenger seat and give continuous instruction. I liked it much better than Level 1.
FYI- They do not force heel/toe on the people who prefer using the auto rev-matching. I'd guess 3/4 of my class used the auto rev-match in Level 2. But I'd recommend learning to do heel/toe downshifting, because there is nothing like doing a 4-3 heel/toe down shift at 95 mph going into the bus stop!
FYI- They do not force heel/toe on the people who prefer using the auto rev-matching. I'd guess 3/4 of my class used the auto rev-match in Level 2. But I'd recommend learning to do heel/toe downshifting, because there is nothing like doing a 4-3 heel/toe down shift at 95 mph going into the bus stop!
Even the instructors could not produce better heel/toe downshifts than the rev-match on the car. (Certainly as good though) I abandoned trying to learn it after a few tries simply because there were so many other things I needed to focus on to improve my overall track skills......correct lines, hitting the apex just right, braking points, car balance, throttle control etc. No doubt I could get the H/T shifting down with more time but, I just didn't see the point, given the limited track time. I likely will never track a manual shift car and it seems to me that hand-off the steering wheel/foot clutch shifting in high performance cars will continue to fade away, just as they have in super cars and race cars. JMHO
BTW, LOVED the class! $$$ well spent. Would love to do the next level.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 316
Likes: 2
From: New Iberia LA
I've signed up for level 2, May 14-15. After reading the comments I don't know if I can wait that long! LOL - Anticipation is part of the fun. Besides, after that there's only level 3 and then what? Anyone done level 3?
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 980
Likes: 5
From: Los Angeles California
I just attended Level 2 a couple of weeks ago. I thought it was a good program and worth the money paid. I never used thr rev match and just went old school. I drive a C6Z so my car does haven't rev match and I am used to heel toe shifting. But, during the early morning session practicing heel toe, I wasnt accustomed to the placement of the pedals and I was really sucking at it. But when driving on track during the first session everything felt natural again.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,450
Likes: 140
From: Palm Beach Florida
I just attended Level 2 a couple of weeks ago. I thought it was a good program and worth the money paid. I never used thr rev match and just went old school. I drive a C6Z so my car does haven't rev match and I am used to heel toe shifting. But, during the early morning session practicing heel toe, I wasnt accustomed to the placement of the pedals and I was really sucking at it. But when driving on track during the first session everything felt natural again.
I just added the "auto_blip" which adds rev matching equivalent of the c7 cars. Getting reorientated took time away from perfecting smoothness, lines, and braking. Its an option for anyone not doing heel and toe often.
