Spring Mountain
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 8,799
Likes: 145
Spring Mountain
I'm sure it has been said many times, but, I'll repeat:
-If you have bought a new Corvette and are eligible for the owner's school, and
-You have interest in doing anything more aggressive with the car than cruise to the store at 10% throttle, and
-Especially if you have no track experience
I would highly advise taking advantage of this offer. It was a great experience. Even if I never get a chance at another track session, it was worth it for the education and confidence building with the car and what it can do, on the track or street.
A++ experience, and I would do again if I got a C8 and it was offered at the time.
If you are on the fence... just do it.
-If you have bought a new Corvette and are eligible for the owner's school, and
-You have interest in doing anything more aggressive with the car than cruise to the store at 10% throttle, and
-Especially if you have no track experience
I would highly advise taking advantage of this offer. It was a great experience. Even if I never get a chance at another track session, it was worth it for the education and confidence building with the car and what it can do, on the track or street.
A++ experience, and I would do again if I got a C8 and it was offered at the time.
If you are on the fence... just do it.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,770
Likes: 2,515
From: Buckeye, AZ
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I'm sure it has been said many times, but, I'll repeat:
-If you have bought a new Corvette and are eligible for the owner's school, and
-You have interest in doing anything more aggressive with the car than cruise to the store at 10% throttle, and
-Especially if you have no track experience
I would highly advise taking advantage of this offer. It was a great experience. Even if I never get a chance at another track session, it was worth it for the education and confidence building with the car and what it can do, on the track or street.
A++ experience, and I would do again if I got a C8 and it was offered at the time.
If you are on the fence... just do it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CUx2YFuCs4&t=144s
-If you have bought a new Corvette and are eligible for the owner's school, and
-You have interest in doing anything more aggressive with the car than cruise to the store at 10% throttle, and
-Especially if you have no track experience
I would highly advise taking advantage of this offer. It was a great experience. Even if I never get a chance at another track session, it was worth it for the education and confidence building with the car and what it can do, on the track or street.
A++ experience, and I would do again if I got a C8 and it was offered at the time.
If you are on the fence... just do it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CUx2YFuCs4&t=144s
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 955
From: Central Commiefornia
The information obtained at SM is focused, eminently usable and is presented in a fast paced, well organized manner. Most of my adult life has been spent in creating, conducting and receiving training and education at levels from community colleges, universities and the airlines and put the Spring Mountain group on the very short list of the best education I have received. Based on CF posts, it's safe to say that most owners leave Pahrump with knowledge and skills that make owning the 'vette much more comfortable and enjoyable. With the classroom sessions, "nanny exercises" and track time, SM provides the opportunity to improve their proficiency and learn where the car's limits are.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,638
Likes: 24,868
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Some day I hope to take the course. All I have heard in terms of feedback has been very positive.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 120
Likes: 101
From: Northern Virginia
Agreed on all points. Very well run school, instructors are super knowledgeable, and the hands on instruction let's you better understand both capabilities and limitations of your car.
If you buy new, go to spring mountain. End of story.
If you buy used, highly recommend going anyways and just paying out of pocket - if you have never tracked a car. If you have already experienced at track events, you likely don't need to pay such a high price without the new car discount.
If you buy new, go to spring mountain. End of story.
If you buy used, highly recommend going anyways and just paying out of pocket - if you have never tracked a car. If you have already experienced at track events, you likely don't need to pay such a high price without the new car discount.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 8,799
Likes: 145
I was starting from scratch and I think almost all in my class were too so take this fwiw.
I think if you are already an intermediate driver you may not get as much out of it, particularly the first day which is basic skill building and slow (one gear) track lapping.
That said, if they have a more advanced student they may be able to teach up a bit on the fly. Instructors seemed pretty accomplished, including a current NASCAR driver and another guy who is accomplished in Lamborghini Super Trofeo, so... professionals.
I think if you are already an intermediate driver you may not get as much out of it, particularly the first day which is basic skill building and slow (one gear) track lapping.
That said, if they have a more advanced student they may be able to teach up a bit on the fly. Instructors seemed pretty accomplished, including a current NASCAR driver and another guy who is accomplished in Lamborghini Super Trofeo, so... professionals.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,733
Likes: 403
From: Atlanta, GA
I’d say, you’ll learn track techniques specific to the C7. It’s traction control, how the ELSD works in certain drive modes. Etc. your comfort level at fast speeds will obviously be there. They’ll shuffle students around in attempt to put faster drivers with each other.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,733
Likes: 403
From: Atlanta, GA
The information obtained at SM is focused, eminently usable and is presented in a fast paced, well organized manner. Most of my adult life has been spent in creating, conducting and receiving training and education at levels from community colleges, universities and the airlines and put the Spring Mountain group on the very short list of the best education I have received.Based on CF posts, it's safe to say that most owners leave Pahrump with knowledge and skills that make owning the 'vette much more comfortable and enjoyable. With the classroom sessions, "nanny exercises" and track time, SM provides the opportunity to improve their proficiency and learn where the car's limits are.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 8,799
Likes: 145
You keep the same car and helmet the whole class.
Chairs in the classroom are spread out.
Guests are not currently allowed for classroom or demo laps.
Most amenities are closed.
Staff is wearing masks except when talking in class.
Pretty much the usual stuff I guess. I think they said the county has 80 cases or something and most of them are in a jail.
Chairs in the classroom are spread out.
Guests are not currently allowed for classroom or demo laps.
Most amenities are closed.
Staff is wearing masks except when talking in class.
Pretty much the usual stuff I guess. I think they said the county has 80 cases or something and most of them are in a jail.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 8,799
Likes: 145
There are a couple places on my track where I might have at least considered 2nd gear but we were instructed to stay in 3rd. Based on some radio chatter I think at least one guy was hitting 2nd, not sure how much it was helping him.
They said the straight in the above configuration is the longest at the complex, so you definitely won't be running out 4th anywhere in an n/a manual.
If you don't have track experience, it is a totally different thing having road and turns, and braking zones coming at you at the rates they are here with the need to think about negotiating them properly with the G meter often pegged to one side or the other, and with a screwup potentially having you exit the track or worse. You have to concentrate and they want to add in one extra thing at a time, and shifting is the last thing on that list that they add here.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,639
Likes: 797
From: Silicon Valley
You keep the same car and helmet the whole class.
Chairs in the classroom are spread out.
Guests are not currently allowed for classroom or demo laps.
Most amenities are closed.
Staff is wearing masks except when talking in class.
Pretty much the usual stuff I guess. I think they said the county has 80 cases or something and most of them are in a jail.
Chairs in the classroom are spread out.
Guests are not currently allowed for classroom or demo laps.
Most amenities are closed.
Staff is wearing masks except when talking in class.
Pretty much the usual stuff I guess. I think they said the county has 80 cases or something and most of them are in a jail.
Even without the Covid thing going on, I’d be a little skeeved out wearing a helmet that’s been on hundreds of sweaty heads before me. So since I’m just driving in from CA, I’ll be bringing my own lid.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 8,799
Likes: 145
The "lake" was closed, not sure about the gym. The pool was open but me and the gf were literally the only people there. 104 degrees is a bit hot for most people to want to go to the pool.
Bar was closed. Most of the other stores and stuff seemed closed.
They have unlimited fresh head sock things to go under the helmet, but of course if you have your own, I'm sure you can bring it.
Bar was closed. Most of the other stores and stuff seemed closed.
They have unlimited fresh head sock things to go under the helmet, but of course if you have your own, I'm sure you can bring it.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,639
Likes: 797
From: Silicon Valley
The "lake" was closed, not sure about the gym. The pool was open but me and the gf were literally the only people there. 104 degrees is a bit hot for most people to want to go to the pool.
Bar was closed. Most of the other stores and stuff seemed closed.
They have unlimited fresh head sock things to go under the helmet, but of course if you have your own, I'm sure you can bring it.
Bar was closed. Most of the other stores and stuff seemed closed.
They have unlimited fresh head sock things to go under the helmet, but of course if you have your own, I'm sure you can bring it.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 8,799
Likes: 145
Yeah, I had originally scheduled April, first because my year window was about to run out then, but also because I thought the temps would be ideal; not too cold in the morning and mid 80's in the afternoon were the averages I saw on the internet. That was cancelled and they gave me an extension on the year window into the summer.
We did have one Z06 guy in the group, and sure enough, he went through two cars with both overheating and cutting power in the afternoon lapping sessions. Not sure exactly what year the cars were. If I were him I would have asked for an n/a car to finish out... seriously.
We did have one Z06 guy in the group, and sure enough, he went through two cars with both overheating and cutting power in the afternoon lapping sessions. Not sure exactly what year the cars were. If I were him I would have asked for an n/a car to finish out... seriously.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 7
I was the ONLY Z51/manual C7 when I went.
Early on, one of the instructors said, “you’ve obviously done this before; you’re gonna hurt some feelings tomorrow cause your gonna be in the ‘fast’ group.”
Still tons of fun and a bargain for what you get.