The Ron Fellows school meetup thread
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,911
Likes: 2,568
From: Chicago-ish
The Ron Fellows school meetup thread
I figure we get a lot of individual threads for people asking around about who is going to classes and when. Couldn't hurt to make it a little more organized and easier to find right? If people end up liking this idea for a thread I'll gladly go on to add months further down the line. Each months classes are in spoilers to keep things easier to read. Just post up what date and class level (Corvette owners school
Be sure to register asap for classes, they're booked well into next year!
Registration information
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Class graduation pictures!
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2022
NOVEMBER 22
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DECEMBER 22
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JANUARY 23
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FEBRUARY 23
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MARCH 23
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APRIL 23
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MAY 23
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June 2023
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July 2023
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August 2023
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September 2023
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October 2023
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November 2023
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December 2023
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Now serving #214
Last edited by Amoreloba; Feb 20, 2023 at 03:12 PM.
Popular Reply
Aug 21, 2023, 03:49 PM
Racer
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 383
Likes: 342
From: Bernardsville, NJ
Ever type a novel of a thread, only to have your iPhone lose it when you have to sign in to post? Hate that...
Anyway, I just got back yesterday from a Friday and Saturday Level 2 Advanced Track Days class at Ron Fellows. I will say that all of the praise they get is not hyperbole - it is all well deserved. So as not to repeat everything that is essentially a "universal truth" about these schools, I'll add some comments/suggestions in bullet form...
Anyway, I just got back yesterday from a Friday and Saturday Level 2 Advanced Track Days class at Ron Fellows. I will say that all of the praise they get is not hyperbole - it is all well deserved. So as not to repeat everything that is essentially a "universal truth" about these schools, I'll add some comments/suggestions in bullet form...
- If you have track experience in upper run groups of HPDE, the level 2 is probably for you. They do a terrific job as instructors with customizing their lead/follow sessions and coaching to each driver individually. When on track and being coached, they talk to you via the CB (you are mostly in listen mode, although there is a communicator to answer them). The coaching is aimed to keep up (and slightly ahead of you and keep you from hitting a plateau...they work hard to make you better. I really enjoyed the mix of instructor-led lead follow sessions, student-led lead-follow, instructor in right seat, and open lapping with analysis.
- The Level 2 is the highest Corvette school they offer. Anything faster than level 2 would require roll cages, six point harnesses, etc., and so the Radical school is their only option in Level 3 and above schools.
- We were on the Charleston Peak circuit, which is newly introduced. They finished it a couple of years ago, but they have developed and used it sparingly. I think they said that only 15 classes total have run this course to date, very few being Level 2 (mostly Radical classes on this track.). It is a much more challenging,"signature" track on both the car and driver, compared with their other tracks which they said were more like "club tracks." Charleston Peak is designed to be used as a professional circuit, and it likely will be in the near future.
- The Corvettes really take a beating in Level 2, being used essentially all day on track and in autox on the second day. They run them windows up with A/C on full blast. Other than eating brake pads, rotors and tires, the cars performed flawlessly.
- The internal PDR system included on the C8 LT2 and LT3 is not just a camera system - it is a complex data recorder. They did several sessions where our half of the group was off-track to analyze our data from our SD cars using Cosworth software. Cosworth (yes, THAT Cosworth) co-developed the PDR system for Chevy. It records tire temps, pressures, oil temp and pressure, water temp, all of the acceleration and braking data, G-forces, and much more that probably only professionals would appreciate. The software (which is a free download) allows you to do detailed analysis of your laps, and even compare them easily with a second "reference" lap if you have one. You can run them together at the same speed (it adjusts the faster one) so that you can see your inputs at the same time as the reference. This was absolutely amazing and helpful to see how braking earlier and getting back to the gas sooner helped lap times, for example. Just another example IMO of how Chevy went above and beyond with the C8 design.
- It was interesting to me that they run all activities including the autocross with windows up and A/C on. You cannot leave windows down. I suspect this is to help preserve the cars.
- They sell the used C8 track cars perpetually through a company in CA, when the cars reach 8,000 miles or so. They buy the cars from Chevy without warranties at a significant discount (second owner will also not have a warranty as a result, so it's something to consider into any deals for one of these.
- When booking your trip, consider adding extra travel days on the front and back, especially if coming in from a distance. I came in from NJ, and by the end of the two days with all of the travel, lack of sleep, jet lag, high altitude, high heat, etc, I was completely wiped out. I think I would have been fresher/better able to take advantage of the class if I was better rested overall.
- Some of the instruction was about preserving equipment (brakes, tires, etc) and your own (driver's) energy while lapping. They connected the dots of driving at a reasonable pace while not abusing your equipment, and being in it for the long haul. They also connected some driving techniques to this goal, such as braking hard at first and trailing off, as opposed to using lighter and longer pressure. The first appoach is better for wear on the track, and is less likely to cause rotors to warp (and C8 rotors apparently do warp easily when provoked by over aggressive braking and/or improper cooling and/or cool down laps).
- Do not rent an electric car at the airport, even though they are pushing them and offering special deals. Pahrump is 49 miles away, and at a high elevation - high enough to drain a battery quickly and leave you stranded in the mountainy desert with the snakes, tarantulas, and mountain lions. Especially avoid the Polestar 2 (I had to abort my initial trip to the resort, take a u-turn, and return to the airport to exchange for a real car). I literally was losing 10 ,miles of range for every mile driven at one point. And avoid Hertz, at least at this airport.
- If you can stay on the property in one of their condos (sometimes they don't have enough room and they will put you offsite), it's awesome. Its very convenient, and the rooms are really nice.
- The steaks in Pahrump at the steak place in the Nugget hotel were pretty solid.
- In the autox, resist the urge to "send it." Our group was slit down the middle by track speeds. The top three "faster" group times in the autox were all slower than the top three "slower" group times...
- Programing the Z button to your track settings including PTM reference (double Z button tap on these cars) is the way to go! (Much easier than navigating a menu on pit road.)
- Make you have $100 or so to tip the instructors at the end (like a tip jar approach)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 3,312
I figure we get a lot of individual threads for people asking around about who is going to classes and when. Couldn't hurt to make it a little more organized and easier to find right? If people end up liking this idea for a thread I'll gladly go on to add months further down the line. Each months classes are in spoilers to keep things easier to read. Just post up what date and class level (Corvette owners school (COS), LV1, LV2, LV3) you're doing and I'll add it in. All listed dates are for the corvette owners school, and if there is an advanced class the same day it will be noted. I'll be there February 6th and 7th for the level 1 class
Be sure to register asap for classes, they're booked well into next year!
NOVEMBER 22
DECEMBER 22
JANUARY 23
FEBRUARY 23
MARCH 23
Be sure to register asap for classes, they're booked well into next year!
NOVEMBER 22
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DECEMBER 22
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JANUARY 23
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FEBRUARY 23
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MARCH 23
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FYI I was scheduled for 10/27-28 and had to cancel at the last minute - Covid. Spring Mountain was really terrific about it, and I'm rescheduled for February!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 1,911
Likes: 2,568
From: Chicago-ish
@Amoreloba , a grand idea. Is there a way to "sticky" or otherwise make your framework permanent so that new entries get carried onward?
FYI I was scheduled for 10/27-28 and had to cancel at the last minute - Covid. Spring Mountain was really terrific about it, and I'm rescheduled for February!
FYI I was scheduled for 10/27-28 and had to cancel at the last minute - Covid. Spring Mountain was really terrific about it, and I'm rescheduled for February!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 3,312
