View Full Version : VW/Audi "Driver for a Day" Program
PeTTey
08-29-2004, 09:24 AM
Have any of you done this VW/Audi Track Day at Shannonville?
I just got word of a $250 program in Oct where you bring your own car and do the classroom/track stuff (8:30-5:00pm).
I VERY rarely get to drive my car hard so it's enticing but I'm worried that sometimes these classes are geared more towards housewives who want to learn a bit more advanced driving skills! :)
Opinions?
PeTTey
10-27-2004, 06:15 AM
Well, I'm surprised this didn't generate any interest from this group...it was an amazing day!
Lot's of TT's, A4's, 911's and Pfaff brought out the new A6 as well as a +400hp RS4!
Some of you probably have some track experience but for me, this was a real eye-opener.
Day began with a class on the physics of cornering and under/over-steer...vehicle dynamics, etc.
Then we started lapping around the twisty Nelson track with a coach beside you. (The afternoon was dedicated to lappping again with some emergency braking exercises...to the point of exhaustion!!).
Skid pad (soaked oval!) was next....designed primarily to learn how to counter understeer in near zero visibility conditions (with the odd yank of the e-brake to induce huge oversteer). That was an absolute blast.
Here are some pics but they really don't do justice to the actual experience. I have some video footage also but don't have anywhere to link video to!??? I could e-mail a compressed clip (2MB) if anyone's interested.
click here for "Driver for a Day" Pictures (http://driver.infocalypse.net/)
RippleChip
10-27-2004, 07:14 AM
That's awesome Pettey.
Heard about this...and you're right I am surprised as well that it generated no discussion.
man - those pics of the skidpad make it look super fun!
I'm debating the winter driving thing up in Minden
RS4? You sure? Where the heck did Pfaff get one of those?
Colour? And it was an avant.....?
jefferson88
10-27-2004, 01:05 PM
Looks like a lot of fun. How hard is it on your car?
Tanner
10-27-2004, 01:48 PM
Blair (MTM'ed S4s) got a few photos of Eshel going through the water - great shot, wall of water being sprayed everywhere.
Unfortunately Eshel's engine decided to quit - learned it was only his turbos that went bye-bye. Ouch.
I like this particular one, getting some opposite lock!
http://www.infocalypse.net/albums/driverforaday/DSC03869.sized.jpg
RippleChip
10-27-2004, 04:28 PM
Ouch....now will Pfaff warranty that work [:p]
PeTTey
10-27-2004, 07:05 PM
Originally posted by Aman
RS4? You sure? Where the heck did Pfaff get one of those?
Colour? And it was an avant.....?
Well, you know I kind of debated it myself but it DID have an RS4 badge and the licence plate was "RS4 Something"! :)
It was yellow...not an Avant....I know kind of confusing! It was more than likely, a tweaked S4.
You should have heard that sucker drive by though...ferocious.
PeTTey
10-27-2004, 07:12 PM
Originally posted by jefferson88
Looks like a lot of fun. How hard is it on your car?
The lapping was probably far harder on the brakes than anything else. I learned that after a few hard laps DO NOT PUT YOUR E-BRAKE ON RIGHT AWAY...could warp the rotors from the extreme heat.
I didn't notice too much tire wear since the emphasis was on proper cornering as opposed to my tendency to drift around the hairpins...quattro, or no quattro!! [:p]
The skid pad being fairly deep water didn't seem to be too rough. I thought for sure the water would have made it's way into the roadster TT and cabrio 911 though!
PeTTey
10-27-2004, 07:17 PM
Originally posted by Tanner
Blair (MTM'ed S4s) got a few photos of Eshel going through the water - great shot, wall of water being sprayed everywhere.
Unfortunately Eshel's engine decided to quit - learned it was only his turbos that went bye-bye. Ouch.
That's right...I forgot about that!! Poor bugger...at first he thought he blew a head gasket I think. He got in most of the day at least...what a drag...had to call a tow truck in.
Tanner
10-27-2004, 07:42 PM
Originally posted by RippleChip
Ouch....now will Pfaff warranty that work [:p]
He wished they did.... $6000 bill. Hmmm I would have said, big... turbo... upgrade!
Tanner
10-27-2004, 07:43 PM
Originally posted by PeTTey
That's right...I forgot about that!! Poor bugger...at first he thought he blew a head gasket I think. He got in most of the day at least...what a drag...had to call a tow truck in.
He did have a chance to drive the TT 3.2 DSG and he said that thing was actually pretty quick and he loved how smooth and responsive the DSG was. I just might have to test drive one with the DSG just to get a feel of it.