You should take the SD card and overlay your lap and instructor demo lap on Cosworth Toolbox -- it will show you so much on what you can improve.

I paid $200 insurance, and I was glad I did -- I knew I pushed much harder and learned more about the car without the worry of high deductible. And yes, I pushed until the car started oversteered and I had to catch the slide. I would be too scared to do it without that $200 insurance.

 

Great write up. Wife and I went in May. I particularly wanted her to take the class. She gets anxious around hipro stuff and after taking the class, she is much more comfortable driving the C8. I had a blast on the track - it was my sixth time at the school and it was worth it just as much this time as all the others. I may even go again, although I am getting a bit long in the tooth.

 

Close, but I am 7/2-3....

 

I went to the three day class back when the C7 first came out. I was strongly considering the C7 and went with a friend and my dad. We all had a great time and the school was very well run. I ended up getting a GT350 instead of the C7, but I can’t recommend the school strongly enough. Great communication tools, great instructors, great venue.

It’s totally worth the full price IMO, and if you are getting subsidized by GM it should be a no-brainer.

-T

 

Should I bring a thumb drive or do they provide one for you?
Thanks ,
Nelson

 

They provide a 32GB micro disk, which you will nearly fill with 2 days of driving and PDR recordings. Great review when you get home to see the many mistakes you make and room for improvement.

 

Sounds like C8 doesn't overheat at all!? They didn't add cooling etc it's stock right?

6 track slots over the two days? so there were track time on first day too? I went for C7 and first day was always classroom only, and many people who had went before skipped the 1st day and just go on 2nd day for the track times. I was planning to do the same for C8 but I guess they have track time for 1st day too? is it auto cross?

 

I call BS. Or you didn’t go to actual C7 Corvette Owners School, put on by Ron Fellows Performance Driving School. I’ve gone to COS at Spring Mountain three times plus Level 1 and Level 2 and there was ALWAYS track time on the first day of each. I’m there now at the C8 Corvette Owners School and most of day 1 (today) was spent behind the wheel on skills exercises and an equal amount of time on the track. There was an appropriate amount of classroom instruction and review. Their program, at least since introduction of the C7, has always had classroom instruction on both days followed immediately by practical application behind the wheel and then classroom analysis and review. Then more instruction on new concepts, drive, analysis. Rinse and repeat.

 

In my experience at Spring Mountain I have learned one thing: Don’t go there thinking that you’ll be the best out there and that you’ll really tear up the track, you won’t. Listen to the instructors. They really know the best way to get around the track. One other thing, relax. If you get too tensed up, you may not enjoy yourself.

 

I have a question for those of you that have already attended the C8 COS.
When I went to the C7 COS they wanted you to shift before redline on the track. Do they still tell you to short shift the C8 or do they say to shift at redline?

 

If by 'short-shifting' you mean shifting before reaching the power band, then I do not recall them telling us to do so. They did recommend a range of RPMs to stay in, where the engine makes the most torque for coming out of the corners. They did, however, tell us to make sure we brake before downshifting, and not to downshift first before braking to slow down.

 

Absolutely. I challenge if "okaythen" went to the school. There is no way The school would let you just show up for day two.

I went in mid June, That was a well presented program and they insisted on safety and punctuality.

 

Let me correct myself, I was asking if there are any track times on day 1, where you can drive fast etc or I will just skip day 1.

Day 1 does have times in the car, but it's just exercises mostly and no "track times" that's what I was asking. I went there twice before so I know about the exercises etc.

You can absolutely skip day 1, that's what a lot of people did like I mentioned. But before they never had autocross for vettes, is autocross on day 1 or day 2 for C8?

Again there is no BS, I am trying to find out if there are "track times" on day 1, lol what do I gain by doing this BS? Like I said I am looking for some info, and based on the info I might skip day 1 or not, that's all where is the BS in that lol.


Yeah during exercises that's what they told me to do for C7, they told me to shift way before redline, and during track times next day I did the same thing and the instructor ahead of me kept saying come on keep up, let's go keep up. I guess during track times you can redline it? but I was doing what the instructors told us to do the day before. How about you did they let you redline it the second day during track times? (kind of inconsistent for that, I mean once the car is warmed up it's no problem for the car the redline it, and students should get a feel for it)

 

It must be great to be such a stud that you would blow off an entire days worth of instruction. I don't care how much anyone thinks they know, we all learn every day we are alive. Both days were VERY well done and NOT one person skipped or even mentioned skipping the first day. There is track time both days and there is no mention of short shifting either.

 

We were told that the shift points they gave us were to get the maximum area under the torque curve (which is probably true). However, some suspected that it was also to prevent overheating of the C7s.

 

I am just glad to get out of "BSer" (and into a stud)

I do agree yes.

 

For those unlike myself, who are already at the very experienced level of performance driving, I believe you will still be entertained and able to glean something useful from the C8 Owners School.

There is little more humbling than sitting in the shotgun seat, while an instructor takes you around the track in the car you have been driving all day at the best of your ability, and the instructor can drive the course one handed, eating a sandwich and stomp your best effort into the dirt. The important part of that scenario is that you pay attention and learn from it so that you improve your next session.

 

You're not a stud, but a fool if you would pass on the first day, irrespective of track time or not. This is a whole new platform with different weight distribution and your old driving style does not apply. People that think they know everything are usually the ones that need instruction the most.

 

I feel like a stud, from getting out of "BSer"

I do agree yes.

Yes I was thinking about that! It's MR and different than C7 and C6 COS I went. Thanks for point that out you have been very helpful as I was trying to get some info.

Now if I have been to C8 COS twice, I would probably skip day 1's basic exercises and basic class knowledge. I mean how many times would you do the same exact thing over and over? (After the first time I recorded the class etc and took notes) Especially most of the time you are waiting for the group and waiting for your turn. Twice is enough for me sir. (If it's exactly the same thing)

 

So what are your options for dinner?