Last year I put together a track day/class at Driveway Austin and we had a good sized group show up. I'm looking to see if there is any interest in doing that again this year.
At this point I'm only looking for how many people would be interested in doing something like this in the spring.
It looks like they may have changed the way they run things a little. So take a look and let me know if you're interested.
http://www.drivewayaustin.com/
I'll spin it up from there if enough people are interested.
Karl
Added material from post further in so you don't need to dig for it.
Date: May 16th 2015 Gates will open at 8:30 AM and the event will run to 4:00'ish.
Once people start registering for the event we will set up a backup day in case it rains on the 16th.
We came up with a couple different ideas based on the number of people which actually put up their money to drive.
(**** You are NOT a driver until you have registered and paid in full *****)
While there will be driver instruction, this is going to be different than what we did last time. Last time we did a short class then did about 20 min of track time to practice what we just learned and repeated that process throughout the day. This time we're looking at doing something along those lines in the morning and then going to a lead/follow deal which may be modified based on how things are going. There will also be some right seat coaching from a professional driver that rides with you. Some of these details are still being worked on but I have no doubt this is going to be great!
Neither style of event will be a "show up and drive it like you stole it" day. This is a structured event. I'm not saying this to deter anyone from coming but I don't want anyone mislead into thinking this is going to be a full day of open track time.
Plan one:
MINIMUM 15 drivers - MAXIMUM 25 drivers
With a minimum of 15 drivers we will use the FULL CIRCUIT for all drivers!
There will be a mix of lead/follow as well as some laps done with a professional driver in the right seat coaching you. They are professionals, not just someone that's done a couple track days and thinks they can teach professionally. Generally speaking, sessions will be in 20 min blocks. This track is over 2 miles long and has it's own corkscrew like the one at Laguna Seca! You have to see this course to appreciate it. Awesome falls short by a long shot.
This is that course:
Description off of the Driveway Austin website:
Grand Prix Course
The Grand Prix Course is the ultimate experience at Driveway Austin. This is the full course with all of the dynamics rolled into a full experience lap. As an extension to the Short and Elevation Course, it adds the element of speed with a 2500’ straight away that emulates the winding straights of the Nurburgring in Germany and the “dogleg” experience from Imola in Italy. At the end of both straights, a prepared car can reach speeds in excess of 130 mph. This circuit is the training ground for mass momentum delay, vehicle degradation at high speeds and most importantly, “Driver Perception”.
In the event we only get about 10 people signed up........
For those of us which have already been to Driveway Austin and have our Foundations license, we will be set up to run the upper courses (Elevations & High Speed put together) while the new guys will be running the short course. Toward the end of the day, Bill indicated everyone will get the chance to run the full course. The way that would probably be worked out would be by running one group while the other is in class.
Both event types will have lunch provided.
Helmets are required to run the upper tracks (Elevations & High Speed) They have loaner helmets for free if you don't have your own.
CONVERTIBLES ARE OKAY TO BRING TO THE TRACK DAY!!
In order to make this a private day 10 people need to be paid in full no less than 30 days prior to the event. Since we are on the calender for May 16th, that means the deadline is April 16th. Day after tax day! Put that tax return to good use! LOL
The cost is: $400 Per Driver.
If you think about that, it works out to $50 bucks an hour for you to be on a track with a professional coach/driver.
Here's a link to the website to signup: http://www.drivewayaustin.com/events...hw_attendees=0
Either way, you will learn a lot about your car and yourself all while having a great time. We all had a great time on our first time out. There was plenty of driving and learning, no one felt short changed at all.
I also stopped in and talked to my Chevy dealer about them sponsoring this event. They seemed up beat about the idea and want me to get them an email with the details. I suggested bringing cars out for test drives too. Never know.... This is going to be great!
Something I think is worth reiterating is this is not going to be your typical rally cross type event, nor is it "open" track time. This is a structured event with professional race car drivers instructing you in the art of high speed racing. They will make you a better driver and the entire day will be a hoot!!
So, there is no comparison to another "track day" which "only" cost a couple hundred bucks. Those are not instructing you with professional drivers riding with you, classroom time, AND lead/follow laps.
Another big thing is after you finish this training day you will have earned your FULL TRACK LICENSE! It even has your picture on it. LOL That license allows you to come back on any day they have open track time and run OPEN TRACK TIME for cheap.
Upper Course (Short Track) practice sessions $25.00 for 20 minutes, or monthly unlimited sessions for $199.00
Full Grand Prix course practice sessions $100.00 for 30 minutes, or monthly unlimited for $399.00
I've done practice time and there's nothing cooler than getting out there when there's no one else on the track and doing your own thing.
People interested at this point: --Current Count: 21 -- (If you're not already on the list I'll still put you on there if you want. Remember, your only interested until you are PAID then you are a Driver/attendee.)
DRIVERS
- Krazzyk01
- PAID
- h018871
- PAID
- txthunder
- PAID
- ss1letx
- PAID
- mp51998
- PAID
- aquaholic
- PAID
- PMJ
- PAID
- Jerry7297
- PAID
- nrr8865
- PAID
- CameronG63
- PAID
- KRich2587
- PAID
- STONE SS
- PAID
- Mrs Synergy SATX
- PAID
Interested Parties:
- Aries240SS
- 12blkgrayRS
- wakespeak
- austinscott
- racer778
- Klepton