I have been a road racing fan since I was a kid, and after attending the SRT Track Experience and getting the bug for driving I knew I had to take my car to the track. Unfortunately. every time I found out about an event near me it was either too late and booked up or conflicted with some other event. So finally Dec 16, there was an event being held close to me at Moroso Motorsports Park that I could attend. This event was being put on by the PBOC (Porsche and BMW Owners Club), which was a very organized great group of people. I signed up for the Novice Class since my only prior Road Course Experience was at the SRT TE. We had three sessions of 30 minutes and you had an instructor ride in the car with you. In addition to novice class they also run sessions of Intermediate, Solo, Super Solo, and Race. They actually had three 30 minute races which were pretty cool to watch. A wide variety of cars, from purpose built Diasio and Radicals, to Porsches, Ferraris, BMW's and Mustangs. So my first session it starts sprinkling as we enter the pit lane...wonderful! I let my instructor take the car around the first time to show me the line, which was a huge help since I had never seen the course before. After a lap we swapped, and away I went, what a freaking blast, unfortunately as my session went on the rain came down harder and harder to the point where there were puddles in the turns! I will say that my Falken FK452 tires handled AWESOME in the rain. Very predictable and never lost grip. The nice part about the rain was that it made you really learn the line since you were forced to drive a little slower that if it was dry. The session was great and I felt much more comfortable once I was done. After watching a few other classes go out, and the rain subside, it was time for me again. The track was still wet but it had stopped raining. So out on the track I went again, this time with much more confidence. My Novice class was made up of a wide array of cars. Mini Coopers, Civic Si, Mustang GT's, Porsche 911's & GT3's, BMW 3 Series and M3's, and a Camaro Z28. In this session and the next one I went faster and faster each lap, braking later and accelerating off the corners better. I could feel my times dropping each lap. Now here is the best part. In the Novice class you have to point to allow a pass. So if you see a faster car behind you then you point them by in the straights. The only car I had to point by all day was a new 911 GT3, the cars that started behind me Mustangs, BMW's, Porsches I never saw again, and I passed alot of the Mustangs, Camaros and BMW's in front of me. The car handled awesome, and I can truley say that I love the EBC Red Stuff Pads, I have been running them on the street for a while and liked that they didn't dust much, but was unsure how they would do at a track day. I can tell you after numerous 100+ to 40 mph stops all day I expereinced no fade, and they still feel great on the street. My Falkens held up great, were very sticky and did great in the rain. And of course the coilovers and strut brace helped out in the corners. My two favorite things were when my instructor yelled..."do you realize you just passed a Porsche with a 4 door car!" And when we were done he told me he really enjoyed riding along, which doesnt happen often as most Novices either scare him by trying to drive too hard or drive to slow lol. He was also very impressed with the way the SRT handled. The best part is that after only one event he recommended I get bumped up to Intermediate for the next one!! Woot! Bottom line: If you havent driven your car on a road course you havent really driven it! These cars are a blast to drive and you gain so much more knowledge about the way they handle whne you do an event like this. Drag racing is cool and I will still do it, but it isnt even on the same planet as Road Racing as far as fun goes IMO. Ok here are a few vids that Lisa took, she didnt get me in the last session, so alot of these were when I was stuck behind slower cars lol! A Huge thanks to Lisa for taking all the vids! These will probably be the last vids you see becasue at the next event she will be on track too lol! I hope the next time I go I will see another SRT there so I wont have to carry the flag alone! http://www.tvbmc.com/play.php?vid=648 http://www.tvbmc.com/play.php?vid=637 http://www.tvbmc.com/play.php?vid=647 http://www.tvbmc.com/play.php?vid=649 http://www.tvbmc.com/play.php?vid=641 http://www.tvbmc.com/play.php?vid=626 here are some of the race class: http://www.tvbmc.com/play.php?vid=640 http://www.tvbmc.com/play.php?vid=625 Crash! http://www.tvbmc.com/play.php?vid=638
Nice write up Kris,Im very very very sorry I missed it.Looks like the most fun you can have with your clothes on..
It really was a blast, I know there are some coming up at Homestead and Moroso, I will keep ya posted!
Any other comments made on the 4dr???I hear from time to time at other events some smarta$$ comments fly around
DITTO!!! People who are out A$$ing off on the street have no idea what they are missing. I'll try to get some pics posted from a Road Atlanta OTD and Auto-x event soon.
aaahh!! I can smell the next season comming!!! :grin: im looking foward to burning more sets of tires :grin: :yahoo:
thats awesome Kris!...the road course at the TE was a lot of fun I must say...hopefully ill get some time one of these days to open it up on the track!!... I guess Danni didn't come out cause of the rain hu?
Sounds like another suck'a hooked...muhahahaha. Straight line is alright, but there ain't nothing like turning the wheel.
