You have two sessions. If you are comfortable after driving their car on the course I would probably go custom and select track for suspension, whatever you weight you like for steering and sport for traction (the first session minutes and then traction off the 2nd session if you are comfortable). If you are practiced with the paddles I would use those.
Goin' to the Raceway
Greetings all!!
So I have a big birthday coming up in August. Oddly, my wife tells me she wants to give me my birthday gift now in May. Strange but ok. Turns out she got me the full driver experience at Pocono Raceway and there is only a few dates over the course of the summer to book. One of which is close to my Birthday weekend.
We have some others coming with us so I booked a weekend in June. If you are not familiar it basically goes down like this... You stay overnight on property so in the AM you attend classroom instruction. Then ride along in a stock car for a tour of the track and further instruction. Then you have 8 Laps driving their car on the track. Then FINALLY you get 2-15 minute sessions driving your own car.
It a very large triangle track. 3 turns 3 long straightaways.
I obviously am crazy excited for this but wanted to check in here to see if anyone has any tips, suggestions, advice on anything I should prep for or anticipate. But most important how would you set up your ride for such an event? Track mode, Sport mode, Traction on/off/street, paddles, manual, auto, etc.?
For context I drive a 21 Widebody Scat. A8
Thanks!!
So I have a big birthday coming up in August. Oddly, my wife tells me she wants to give me my birthday gift now in May. Strange but ok. Turns out she got me the full driver experience at Pocono Raceway and there is only a few dates over the course of the summer to book. One of which is close to my Birthday weekend.
We have some others coming with us so I booked a weekend in June. If you are not familiar it basically goes down like this... You stay overnight on property so in the AM you attend classroom instruction. Then ride along in a stock car for a tour of the track and further instruction. Then you have 8 Laps driving their car on the track. Then FINALLY you get 2-15 minute sessions driving your own car.
It a very large triangle track. 3 turns 3 long straightaways.
I obviously am crazy excited for this but wanted to check in here to see if anyone has any tips, suggestions, advice on anything I should prep for or anticipate. But most important how would you set up your ride for such an event? Track mode, Sport mode, Traction on/off/street, paddles, manual, auto, etc.?
For context I drive a 21 Widebody Scat. A8
Thanks!!
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
Are the laps actual Hot laps, or Paced Laps?
What is your experience driving in such way?
I would personally be in manual mode keeping rpms up, with good engien braking for slow downs. Don't cook the brakes. Traction on, Track mode on.
Remove ALL loose items in the car.
What is your experience driving in such way?
I would personally be in manual mode keeping rpms up, with good engien braking for slow downs. Don't cook the brakes. Traction on, Track mode on.
Remove ALL loose items in the car.
No speed limits and passing allowed on the straights!Are the laps actual Hot laps, or Paced Laps?
What is your experience driving in such way?
I would personally be in manual mode keeping rpms up, with good engien braking for slow downs. Don't cook the brakes. Traction on, Track mode on.
Remove ALL loose items in the car.
I've always been a 1/4 mile guy but i've been itching to try some road course driving.
I'm comfortable with the paddles for sure and leaning towards using them once I run a lap or two in auto. Will for sure help down-shifting coming into the turns.
All good advice. Thank you! I was kind of thinking of approaching it that way as well. Definitely track for suspension. I'm familiar and comfortable in Sport Mode as I use it as my default. Track mode is a little hinky, at least on the street. Just bangs through the gears soo fast.You have two sessions. If you are comfortable after driving their car on the course I would probably go custom and select track for suspension, whatever you weight you like for steering and sport for traction (the first session minutes and then traction off the 2nd session if you are comfortable). If you are practiced with the paddles I would use those.
All in all I just want to get out and have a good time. I'm not going to go out aggressively and wind up doing something dumb.
I of course want to open it up on the straightaways but I think i'm going to gear down and take the corners at a moderate pace then hammer out.
Ill be going to Wisconsin in August to visit and may go to Road America in Plymouth, Wi. I have a 21 white knuckle SP widebody I ordered new. I'm a bit reluctant to drive the car on the track because I heard that if the car is damaged in any way on the track my insurance doe not cover it?
Did the Richard Petty Driving School experience at Disney track just over 20 years ago. Only got to drive their Cup cars, not my own. Was only a one mile track, so unlike Pocono straights weren’t that long, but gotta say it was awesome. Two things I remember. Their car was setup perfectly for the track and almost felt like it was designed to go up the track, then down coming out of the turns. Possible Pocono cars will be the same, although obviously yours won’t. The other thing they emphasized was stay off the brake entirely. Downshift, and coast the last lap so we were just about stopped when it was over. Pocono has some funky turns so I think your plan to yourself about slow into them and then getting on it during the straightaway is right on. One other thing with ours, then emphasized during the ride along precisely where to be at all points on the track, then ended up having one of their guys in a car ahead of us and telling us to lineup perfectly with him just three car lengths back wherever he went. Am sure things have changed over the years. Anxious to see how yours goes. You’re gonna love it.
Hey, congrats on that gift... whatta great wife!! Enjoy. Have fun, and be safe!!
Years ago I took several NASCAR Cup series driving lessons here at the Texas Motor Speedway with de-tuned NASCARS. But if you drive your own car and wreck it or even if your hit by someone else's car on a race track Allstate will cover the loss. At least that's what I understand.
Good info, Robski.
Where in TX are you? I'm in McKinney. I'm looking for a Mopar group to join. Do you have any info?
Where in TX are you? I'm in McKinney. I'm looking for a Mopar group to join. Do you have any info?
Hey Dan, yes in Rowlett by the lake shore. Im not part of any group or know of one. Maybe FB or google- theirs certainly one around the DFW area.
Sounds like a hell of a lot of fun!
"...I heard that if the car is damaged in any way on the track my insurance doe not cover it?"
You "heard" where? At the Shell station drinking coffee before the mud bog race with the good old boys?
When your insurance company finds out that you took your car on a track, your insurance is canceled.
"But if you drive your own car and wreck it or even if your hit by someone else's car on a race track Allstate will cover the loss." Right, a large insurance company will totally pay you when you wreck your car off-road. I mean seriously, what year do you think this is, 1973?
"At least that's what I understand." What is your source on this "information?" Re-runs of Dukes of Hazzard?
You "heard" where? At the Shell station drinking coffee before the mud bog race with the good old boys?
When your insurance company finds out that you took your car on a track, your insurance is canceled.
"But if you drive your own car and wreck it or even if your hit by someone else's car on a race track Allstate will cover the loss." Right, a large insurance company will totally pay you when you wreck your car off-road. I mean seriously, what year do you think this is, 1973?
"At least that's what I understand." What is your source on this "information?" Re-runs of Dukes of Hazzard?
That's what I heard as well. Racetrack=no insurance...
Hint...hint.... remove your license tag.. wink...wink...
.....and DON'T wreck out !!!!!
Hint...hint.... remove your license tag.. wink...wink...
.....and DON'T wreck out !!!!!
If any property damage or bodily injuries occur while on the track, your standard insurance will not cover it Period end of sentence LT1 iron. I do believe you can get race day-insurance from another company.
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