Mid-Ohio PDX 8-8-08 experience (pics)

[bikerbob951]

I recently decided to step up from Auto-x with my B5 A4 and go to Mid-Ohio race trak for a PDX session, where you get over an hour of track time with trained instructors to help you on your way. This is not a race at all, but you can pass in certain areas and you are definitely at speed!

My car behaved extremely well, no funny smells or high temps or weird sounds. The car performed flawlessly, and I was losing mini cooper-s's in the corners all over! I'm chalking that one down to good tires and light wheels and great suspension. I passed a Ferrari at 115mph, that was an ego boost! Also passed a Diablo, Maserati, and a couple more Ferraris and a Gallardo. I don't know if they just weren't trying, or if they couldn't drive, but they were novices like me, and they would waive me by in the straights cause they were holding up traffic. I'm not trying to brag by any stretch, I'm just so impressed at how well my car did, and how well I did as well! My instructor told me to race novice next time, apparently I won't be coasting through the corners in that class.

Okay, pictures.


Lola Classic race car, don't know a whole lot about it...








My baby, gotta protect those lights...






fresh from the delivery truck, so I'm told...

and... the big oops for the day, not sure if i'm allowed to share, but here we go anyway.







So, in conclusion, I had so much fun, I can't possibly describe it here on the forums. So, go find something similar in your area, and have some fun.

P.S. I did a lot of temp. readings on the car throughout the day, epically on the effectiveness of the heat shield and cone set-up. Watch for an interesting testimonial!

[boostedup]

sounds like fun. wow! how the hell did that guy crash, that rim is in peices.......what a shame.

[xraycer2012]

poor ferrari, that's what you get when you have a ton of power and don't know how to "really" drive. either that or that guys a complete moron.

[K04B5]

sooo what exactly did you do? race, a driving class? I'm really interested because I'm only about 1.5hrs away and have been there many of times... love that course and know it like the back of my hand!!!

[Dolphin18T]

Looks like a lot of fun (except for that Ferrari owner, I heard he wasn't even there).

I hope to see you this Saturday at the kart-track!

[bikerbob951]

sooo what exactly did you do? race, a driving class? I'm really interested because I'm only about 1.5hrs away and have been there many of times... love that course and know it like the back of my hand!!!

Well, it wasn't exactly a race, with timed laps and heated competition, it was more like a driving school done at high speeds. There was no passing allowed except in the front and back straights, and you had to be flagged past by the car you were following. Make no mistake, even though you aren't in competition with the other drivers, you are definately moving at a very high rate of speed in a fairly tight pack, so it was very intense.

The Ferrari owner was indeed not driving, don't know if he was even there or not. Also, this happened in the straight, it happened directly in front of my buddy who was driving the other heat, and even he couldn't tell what happened. Some were talking about tire failure, others about failure to properly check tires for pressure... there's no clear story here. Sucks for the owner, and for the driver, cause if it was in fact a tire/wheel failure, it could have happened to any of us.