Performance Driving at Spring Mountain
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 12,256
Likes: 4,745
From: SE WI
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,815
Likes: 936
From: Cortez, FL/Canandaigua NY (Summer)
I was quoted $8,000 deductible which can be lowered to $2000 for $200.
When I arrived, I asked and was told that damage is very rare so I kept the $200 in my pocket.
First of all, if you listen to the instructors, you won’t have an issue. If you don’t listen to them, they know it right away and take measures to correct your behavior. If you still don’t listen, I wouldn’t be surprised if they take you off the track. Safety is taken very seriously and you have to respect that.
Second, you would have to really screw up to lose control of the car. The active handling will catch you. If you feel like you have lost control, stomp on the brakes and the car will stop real fast. If the car does go off the track, there are no walls that I recall, just desert stones and gravel. I would guess that the damage would be minimal like a bent wheel or a paint damage from stones flying up. I didn’t see any of the 20 drivers, doing probably 40 laps each, go off the track.
the chances to hit another car are very low. The drivers are grouped in nearly equal ability and everyone is monitored and in radio communication.
All that said, if you are the car behind the instructor car, he or she will speed up if you are pushing them. By the end of day two, you are going as fast as you want. By then, you have had great instruction and you have total confidence in the car. I never felt the active handling come on.
Make sure you are in the proper mode!
i drove a Stingray Manual. Entering the long straight, I came out of turn 10 as fast as I could in third gear and floored the car to redline, shifted to fourth and floored it. As I approached turn 1 at 115, I slammed on the brakes where they said to (cone) downshifted where they said and threw the car into the corner when they said to. Amazing when you get it right.
The Stingray didn’t have a disadvantage against the GS and Z06 that I noticed. The fast laps came from proper braking and efficient line in the corners.
Go to this place if you can! Highly recommended.
When I arrived, I asked and was told that damage is very rare so I kept the $200 in my pocket.
First of all, if you listen to the instructors, you won’t have an issue. If you don’t listen to them, they know it right away and take measures to correct your behavior. If you still don’t listen, I wouldn’t be surprised if they take you off the track. Safety is taken very seriously and you have to respect that.
Second, you would have to really screw up to lose control of the car. The active handling will catch you. If you feel like you have lost control, stomp on the brakes and the car will stop real fast. If the car does go off the track, there are no walls that I recall, just desert stones and gravel. I would guess that the damage would be minimal like a bent wheel or a paint damage from stones flying up. I didn’t see any of the 20 drivers, doing probably 40 laps each, go off the track.
the chances to hit another car are very low. The drivers are grouped in nearly equal ability and everyone is monitored and in radio communication.
All that said, if you are the car behind the instructor car, he or she will speed up if you are pushing them. By the end of day two, you are going as fast as you want. By then, you have had great instruction and you have total confidence in the car. I never felt the active handling come on.
Make sure you are in the proper mode!
i drove a Stingray Manual. Entering the long straight, I came out of turn 10 as fast as I could in third gear and floored the car to redline, shifted to fourth and floored it. As I approached turn 1 at 115, I slammed on the brakes where they said to (cone) downshifted where they said and threw the car into the corner when they said to. Amazing when you get it right.
The Stingray didn’t have a disadvantage against the GS and Z06 that I noticed. The fast laps came from proper braking and efficient line in the corners.
Go to this place if you can! Highly recommended.
Last edited by Jeffthunbird; Dec 15, 2018 at 10:37 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 604
Likes: 129
I've been to several of the Spring Mountain schools over the years. They have designed the track to be safe with lots of runoff if you make a mistake. I have seen a couple people go off track there and none of the cars had any damage.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 44
Likes: 26
From: Chesapeake Virginia
I attended the owner's class 10-11 December, and I do not have enough superlatives to describe how well the class was run, how much I learned about my Stingray, and how do drive my car safely in a variety of weather and road conditions. I would go again in a heartbeat if it was offered again for $1000 - it really was THAT good!
