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I just finished my Corvette Owners Level 1 course at Spring Mountain with the Ron Fellows Driving School. All I can say is WOW!!!!!
Everything from the facility to the staff are second to none!
Keep in mind that I'm a simple military guy but I would put the accommodations as a 5 out of 5. Now, I will say there were several very well to do folks there that sat outside and sipped champagne at night and I'm sure they may disagree and they would be narcissistic and wrong. However, for a military transplant from Alaska, it was top-notch! Swimming pool, golf course, gun range, and many more amenities.
The instructors are amazing! Enough said! Really, they are simply incredible. We had folks of all levels in our class, beginning wives getting to know their first performance car, club racers, professional drivers and the old drag race guy (me). The instructors pushed everyone just past their level but never too far. Their instruction was honest and to the point but never rude...always very, very professional and very, very helpful...simply the best.
The course itself is AMAZING! They cover the car in great detail, demonstrate the different driving modes, let you experience the limits of the car in wet and dry conditions and of course...TRACK TIME!!!! The first day some folks didn't really like the slow ABS drills, the wet road figure eights and other very focused and relevant exercises that would be key once on the track. The track time was the best. I have to admit that I was apprehensive coming from a drag race background. It's a little scary when on day one you sign a waiver making you responsible for $10K in case you crack up a car going off track. Again, being a drag race guy this turning thing was all new to me. Once we got on track the instructors were great. Very focused feedback while driving. The communication system they have between cars is simply amazing, not high tech but perfect for the job. Once they evaluate your driving skills and comfort level they will pair you us with like drivers to maximize your learning experience once on track on day two. Day two was great for me. In the morning they had me paired up with all the club racers and professional drivers. Needless to say, I was a bit intimidated and spent my morning session more focused on keeping pace than actually learning. I mentioned it to the instructors and the next sessions were simply amazing. After lunch on day two you get to ride with an instructor on a demo lap. For me this was what made the light bulb come on. Being in the car and seeing the actual turn-in points and aggressiveness towards the apex of the corner from the in-car point of view cemented all the previous lessons. One the very next session I went out and was immediately faster and it was easy doing it...no fighting the car just smooth and fast.
Now to the cars...the Z06 is INSANE!!!! The car is capable of so much more than I ever expected. After riding with the instructor I really knew how far I could push the car without having to cash that $10K liability check. I am still on a high from driving at that level.
To all the haters of the Z06 on track please stop reading here!
We beat the tar out of the cars. I had the same car the entire second day, an M7. We drove several sessions of 20+ minutes and never had one stingray or Z06 overheat...NOT ONE. The outside temps were 104 on Monday and 102 on Tuesday. Again, NOT ONE VETTE OVERHEATED!!!!!! Now, the carmaros that the instructors were driving...we canned two of them. One had a motor overheat and the other had a tranny overheat.
Overall the course is amazing! If anyone isn't going to take advantage of their GM discount send it my way! LOL Honestly, you need to go if you have never been...simply amazing! Go in with a willingness to learn and you will be blown away. Ask questions and take advantage of every second...it goes by WAY to fast!
I love how those guys can out drive mere mortals, in a slower car, while looking in their mirrors and giving guidance. I miss that place. I miss Rick.
Amen to that. Just when you think you are really getting the hang of it you realize what they are doing...you don't feel so tough any more. LOL The best and total class acts...all of them!!!
Last edited by Alaska SS; Jul 8, 2015 at 11:09 PM.
I just finished my Corvette Owners Level 1 course at Spring Mountain with the Ron Fellows Driving School. All I can say is WOW!!!!!
Everything from the facility to the staff are second to none!
Keep in mind that I'm a simple military guy but I would put the accommodations as a 5 out of 5. Now, I will say there were several very well to do folks there that sat outside and sipped champagne at night and I'm sure they may disagree and they would be narcissistic and wrong. However, for a military transplant from Alaska, it was top-notch! Swimming pool, golf course, gun range, and many more amenities.
The instructors are amazing! Enough said! Really, they are simply incredible. We had folks of all levels in our class, beginning wives getting to know their first performance car, club racers, professional drivers and the old drag race guy (me). The instructors pushed everyone just past their level but never too far. Their instruction was honest and to the point but never rude...always very, very professional and very, very helpful...simply the best.
The course itself is AMAZING! They cover the car in great detail, demonstrate the different driving modes, let you experience the limits of the car in wet and dry conditions and of course...TRACK TIME!!!! The first day some folks didn't really like the slow ABS drills, the wet road figure eights and other very focused and relevant exercises that would be key once on the track. The track time was the best. I have to admit that I was apprehensive coming from a drag race background. It's a little scary when on day one you sign a waiver making you responsible for $10K in case you crack up a car going off track. Again, being a drag race guy this turning thing was all new to me. Once we got on track the instructors were great. Very focused feedback while driving. The communication system they have between cars is simply amazing, not high tech but perfect for the job. Once they evaluate your driving skills and comfort level they will pair you us with like drivers to maximize your learning experience once on track on day two. Day two was great for me. In the morning they had me paired up with all the club racers and professional drivers. Needless to say, I was a bit intimidated and spent my morning session more focused on keeping pace than actually learning. I mentioned it to the instructors and the next sessions were simply amazing. After lunch on day two you get to ride with an instructor on a demo lap. For me this was what made the light bulb come on. Being in the car and seeing the actual turn-in points and aggressiveness towards the apex of the corner from the in-car point of view cemented all the previous lessons. One the very next session I went out and was immediately faster and it was easy doing it...no fighting the car just smooth and fast.
Now to the cars...the Z06 is INSANE!!!! The car is capable of so much more than I ever expected. After riding with the instructor I really knew how far I could push the car without having to cash that $10K liability check. I am still on a high from driving at that level.
To all the haters of the Z06 on track please stop reading here!
We beat the tar out of the cars. I had the same car the entire second day, an M7. We drove several sessions of 20+ minutes and never had one stingray or Z06 overheat...NOT ONE. The outside temps were 104 on Monday and 102 on Tuesday. Again, NOT ONE VETTE OVERHEATED!!!!!! Now, the carmaros that the instructors were driving...we canned two of them. One had a motor overheat and the other had a tranny overheat.
Overall the course is amazing! If anyone isn't going to take advantage of their GM discount send it my way! LOL Honestly, you need to go if you have never been...simply amazing! Go in with a willingness to learn and you will be blown away. Ask questions and take advantage of every second...it goes by WAY to fast!
Great review of Spring Mountain, and certainly reflective of my experience at the site (November '13, ZR1). Fantastic!
The capabilities of these cars is tremendous. Hearing and seeing them roar on the track driven by the pros is quite the spectacle. They're "race cars" for the street.
Just yesterday got my "notice" that I was eligible for the "reduced" rate for the driving school. Will need to see what is still available before the end of the year. When I bought MARIAH (2010 ZR1) did 4-day school at Bondurant, so this will be a change for me. We will see.
I love how those guys can out drive mere mortals, in a slower car, while looking in their mirrors and giving guidance. I miss that place. I miss Rick.
Agreed. I've done track days for 10 years, but Rick was following me in a Grand Sport, driving with one hand, talking on the radio with the other, and I was in a ZR1 and I couldn't shake him on a lead-follow session. That was an eye opening experience on the difference between a decent amateur driver and a pro.
were there any A8, Zo6s out there? Did they have overheating problems?
They have A8s but talked me out of using them. The track only requires 3rd and 4th in the M7. In the A8 the gears are so close the car keeps up shifting and down shifting and on 100+ degree days they see tranny temps too high.
They were more than willing to let me drive the A8 (like i own) but the learning and fun factor would be better in the M7. At least give the M7 a try...the rev-match is awesome and way to much fun. They did say the A8s are faster but the extreme heat in the Nevada summer play havoc on the tranny temps when tracking them.
FIrst off let me say THANK YOU!!! for the service of our freedom and country. It's guys like you that continue to keep the doors of freedom open for us. ����
Second, I'm a old guy who really enjoyed your write up. I to want to enjoy the Spring Mountian experience. I've been to the Bondrant driving 4 day course in 06 but now want to refresh my old skills as the best mod for my new Z.
Thanks from a old vet. Got out in 63, to a young VET. God bless you and God Speed.
Nice write up for us track noobs! too bad about the A8, I want one because I have one so would like to learn how to work that car. I am sure though that I got enough other stuff to learn that it probably won't matter. Didn't know they had a shooting range. That will be a good way to work off the adrenaline. Do they have a weight room?
They have A8s but talked me out of using them. The track only requires 3rd and 4th in the M7. In the A8 the gears are so close the car keeps up shifting and down shifting and on 100+ degree days they see tranny temps too high.
They were more than willing to let me drive the A8 (like i own) but the learning and fun factor would be better in the M7. At least give the M7 a try...the rev-match is awesome and way to much fun. They did say the A8s are faster but the extreme heat in the Nevada summer play havoc on the tranny temps when tracking them.
Without data from the PDR, the "tranny temps" claim is hearsay, of course. I don't believe anyone has seen excessive transmission temps in any data. The engine overheats from the A8 keeping revs insanely high when driven in D.
I checked-in at Spring Mountain yesterday and ambient temps have gone down a little bit... still in the low-mid 90s during the peak hours of the day but forecast is not over 100. Plus there's some breeze/winds in this area for the next few days. Anyway this place is pretty cool.
I checked-in at Spring Mountain yesterday and ambient temps have gone down a little bit... still in the low-mid 90s during the peak hours of the day but forecast is not over 100. Plus there's some breeze/winds in this area for the next few days. Anyway this place is pretty cool.
Pic from 6pm yesterday:
You are going to love it. Nice track and no cement barriers like we are used to in Florida.
Enjoy!
S.
They have A8s but talked me out of using them. The track only requires 3rd and 4th in the M7. In the A8 the gears are so close the car keeps up shifting and down shifting and on 100+ degree days they see tranny temps too high.
They were more than willing to let me drive the A8 (like i own) but the learning and fun factor would be better in the M7. At least give the M7 a try...the rev-match is awesome and way to much fun. They did say the A8s are faster but the extreme heat in the Nevada summer play havoc on the tranny temps when tracking them.
Like previously mentioned, the transmission does NOT overheat in the A8 Z06, but it's the fact that the shifting algorithm keeps the engine very high up in the rev band when driven in 'D' mode that causes the engine oil/water temps to overheat and place the car into limp mode. Same result of course in that you can only drive rapidly for a few laps before the car shuts down, but again the issue is not the transmission overheating but rather the engine having insufficient cooling to keep temps in check.
Bish
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Spring Mountain = Level EPIC!!!!
However, for a military transplant from Alaska, it was top-notch! Swimming pool, golf course, gun range, and many more amenities. 
bob noob
