Hey Guys,

I'm from Massachusetts (near Boston) and will be doing my first HPDE in late august with the Northeast Audi Club at Watkin's Glen. I'm really excited!

I need to get a tech pre-inspection prior to the event, and I assume I need new brake fluid. I've been doing service at the dealership but don't know if I should go there for the inspection.

Where do you guys suggest I go?

 

Usually you can go anywhere with a certified mechanic and have them do an inspection. I went to a dealership for mine, but I'm sure you can go elsewhere.

 

would I have to worry about any warranty issues if I talk to them?

 

You might.. I just handed them a form and said I was doing a technical driving school.. They didn't seem to care. Every dealership is different though.

 

I always have and still do get my paperwork done at my local dealer. Since the papers say that the inspecting station is not responsible for anything, it shouldn't be a problem. Just tell them what you are going to do. Chances are they will be more interested in your hobby than anything else.

To this day ... Mine just asks "Where to this time?" when I go in

PS. I did MY 1st HPDE at Watkins Glen way back in '04. Let me tell you, that's a track that can scare the living daylights right out of you!!!! Consider the history of the track and all the awesome race cars and drivers that will have traveled the same corners and straights that you will be .... and be humbled!

But after that wild 1st weekend there, with one day of pouring rain and the next of sunshine, both me and my new stock RX-8 were thoroughly infected with the track bug ... both of us came through the weekend with flying colors (well the oem pads were toast but driveable) and I had a big SE grin too. Have fun!!!

 

Oh yea, I have been in for warranty work so many times I simply lost count. No problems...my dealer was cool about it all throughout the whole time.

 

Depending on where you live, you could also try Flatout Motorsports, Dent Sport Garage, Kaizen Tuning, Turner Motorsports, Small Fortune Racing, or maybe HMS motorsports.

 

I watched some track day vids of watkins glen, i got that impression. I've done a fair amount of karting (top speed around 50mph), and a little bit of autocross with my dad's mini, but nothing on a full-blown race track. I assume its gonna scare the crap out of me :-)

 

Oh yea ... er.. hell yea Probably these comments won't register until after you've been there...done this... but ...

- Top speed in the 8 at WG is around 120mph (if you get a good slingshot out of turn 2) just before the bus stop. The bus stop is one of the most fun parts cause it goes like a big "S" and you can shalom thru there real fast once you're good at it!

- Watch out for turn one, it comes up fast at the end of the front straight and the turn there is tricky. Once I spun there and as it's highly banked I went down into the pit out lane (thankfully) at ~ 90mph... I say thankfully as there were cars immediately behind me and that got me out of their way

- best pretend that all the steel armco barriers (not more than a foot of the track in many places) just aren't there - otherwise they'll slow you down too much I guess they hadn't thought of off-track runout when they built the Glen lol!

- I would recommend you get a roll of the waffle shelf stuff - the 12" wide variety fits nearly perfectly (looks like a rubbery screen and comes in different colors) and just lay it top to bottom in the seat and seat back because elsewise you'll be sliding all around in your seat. The speeds and the G-forces that can be developed at the Glen mean if (when) you can't stay put - you'll be hanging on to your steering wheel for support. Not the best for car control. That clingie stuff in the seat will grip you something wonderful. It's a cheap and way simple solution.

I could go on, but I'm sure with the good instruction from the Audi folks you'll have no problems.

 

thats a good idea, I'll look into it.

that's the plan, I'm just excited to have fun and learn more about my car!

Now I just have to get my car tech-inspected and book a hotel.

Also, I see another rx-8 signed up, so if any of you out there is going to the Glen, hope to see you there!