Track Day at WGI

S

steve

With "LOD" Since 1997
I did my very fist ever track day at Watkins Glen international race track in NY with the SCDA sports car driving association.
It was better then an E-ticket, I even got motion sickness

Here I am my first session ever at a track in the rain and I am holding up all the Lotus Elise.
20080428_WGI_NOV_2819.jpg


As a n00b I don’t know what I am doing so the next session have the instructor take my Vette around to show me how it is done.
20080428_WGI_NOV_2950.jpg


Ok, next time out I get better, less traffic behind me.
20080428_WGI_NOV_3041.jpg


Most people are taking the wet line, but my instructor wants me to stick to the dry line.
20080428_WGI_NOV_3062.jpg


The next day is great, a dry track and I get to use the power of the Vette and take the dry lines.
20080429_WGI_NOV_3275.jpg


20080429_WGI_NOV_3304.jpg


20080429_WGI_NOV_3818.jpg

20080429_WGI_NOV_3330.jpg


My last session was the best, I was getting a rhythm and more confidence, no more traffic behind me, it was like I had the track to myself.
20080429_WGI_NOV_3784.jpg
 
RIP porsche gt3

IMG_3813.jpg


IMG_3812.jpg


IMG_3810.jpg


The other Lotus guys were all ready to cannibalize this pore guys car.

IMG_3809.jpg
 
Burbank 98 LSC said:
Wow!!! This must be way more fun than drag racing.
Click to expand...

After doing both I would say yes it is. I will still go to the strip but this is a whole other level. You get 4 20 to 30 minute sessions a day and class room instruction. However this is more expensive then drag racing so you can’t do it as often. It also differs from drag racing as it is a school and there in no “real” competition except maybe some bragging rights, there is no timing. Also you will be going through brakes a lot. The best part is you can become a better driver on the road since you learn about you vehicle dynamics.
 
95blklsc said:
Were those wrecked cars track crashes? Am I right that your insurance does not cover you at the track?
Click to expand...

Yea, the guys crashed them at the track. I don't know about their insurance. I think my policy said as long as it is not a timed event, and this is considered a school. But I would not want to test the policy. I just hold back a bit and try not push to hard but accidents can happen.
 
95blklsc said:
Thats not too bad. So did you go through a set of tires also?
Click to expand...

No, I used my OEM tires that have 25k miles on them and they are still good. I just cut my rotors, put new pads and changed the brake fluid. Pads are still good, fluid is good but I will change the rotors before my next event.
 
Very cool steve. Is your vette lowered? Or is it because the pics were taken from the side your car was leaning on in the turns...

How does your car compare to the elise in terms of track times and what about that silver S2000?
 
maxmk8 said:
Very cool steve. Is your vette lowered? Or is it because the pics were taken from the side your car was leaning on in the turns...

How does your car compare to the elise in terms of track times and what about that silver S2000?
Click to expand...

No, my Vette is stock height. You can’t just compare cars, it comes down to driver skill. With a skilled driver my Vette can outperform an elise. By my last session I was not giving any point byes to any elise except one time to one skilled driver. Otherwise I was not passed. Did not see much of that S2000.
 
These are the kind of track events Brad does in the Lightning.

So far, he's been to: Waterford Hills (MI), Indy Raceway Park (now O'Reilley), Putnam Park (IN), Autobahn (IL), and his favorite is Gingerman Raceway (MI). I'm frequently the only "girl" at the track, and I take pictures for him :cool:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top