Track Day Pacific Raceways 7/27/11
07-19-2011, 04:43 PM
#1
Mr. Örange
Thread Starter
Track Day Pacific Raceways 7/27/11
I have signed up for an all day lapping session with Proformance on Wed. the 27th. You will need to have HPD experience to attend. If you haven't driven with Proformance you may attend, but will need to hire a coach.
Hope to see you out there
Here are some snippets from the conformation email I got:
Recent graduates of the one day high performance clinic, drivers with new cars, or who haven't driven Pacific Raceways in the last year are required to reserve a 50 minute session with a coach their first time back for lapping. Additional fee is $135.00 Coaches are in high demand with our seasoned drivers as well so please make your reservations early. Afternoon lapping we can only accommodate one 50 minute coaching session per client.
Schedule:
Please arrive early, check in will be open from 7:15-8:15 AM.You will be handed your receipt and advanced lapping number, along with being asked to sign the Track and ProFormance Release statements-required at all tracks in the US.
Mandatory Drivers' Meeting 8:15 AM to review the driving guidelines for the day. Our goal is to have you on track by 9 AM for Group 1 and 9:30 AM for Group 2 Rotating in half hour increments throughout the day.
Hope to see you out there
Here are some snippets from the conformation email I got:
Recent graduates of the one day high performance clinic, drivers with new cars, or who haven't driven Pacific Raceways in the last year are required to reserve a 50 minute session with a coach their first time back for lapping. Additional fee is $135.00 Coaches are in high demand with our seasoned drivers as well so please make your reservations early. Afternoon lapping we can only accommodate one 50 minute coaching session per client.
Schedule:
Please arrive early, check in will be open from 7:15-8:15 AM.You will be handed your receipt and advanced lapping number, along with being asked to sign the Track and ProFormance Release statements-required at all tracks in the US.
Mandatory Drivers' Meeting 8:15 AM to review the driving guidelines for the day. Our goal is to have you on track by 9 AM for Group 1 and 9:30 AM for Group 2 Rotating in half hour increments throughout the day.
07-19-2011, 07:44 PM
#2
Mr. Örange
Thread Starter
I guess the website would help 
http://www.proformanceracingschool.com/
If you were interested in taking an HPDE school day, there is one on the 25th.
http://www.proformanceracingschool.com/
If you were interested in taking an HPDE school day, there is one on the 25th.
07-19-2011, 07:52 PM
#3
The X is silent
Have you been to the school yet? I want to take the class, but I think I want to get some auto-x experience first. Either way, I'd like to know what to expect from the class.
07-20-2011, 01:52 AM
#4
Mr. Örange
Thread Starter
I have been through the class already. And you definitely need to do what you feel comfortable with, but the two events are completely different driving styles.
Autox is more "technical." Everything comes at you quickly. It's turn after turn in a matter of seconds. Track days are faster speeds, but the turns aren't as sharp and you have forever to set your car up to be in the right spot. You also get to do the same course over and over to perfect it.
A school day with Proformance will consist of part class and part practical exercises in the morning and driving in the afternoon. I think they do a great job explaining the balance of the car and how things upset it and how to drive smooth and what the results are when you don't. They also explain what the entrance, apex, and exit of a turn is and why they are important.
Next you will go out to the track and they will get you into antilock brakes. They set up an event to make your car understeer so you know what that feels like. They set up a long slalom and have you keep the same speed while watching a guy at the end tell you when to skip a cone (it's fun and hard to do right) They teach you how to avoid an accident with the "moose in the road" exercise, which teaches you instead of braking and crashing into the object, you can maintain your speed and change lanes. That is hard to do because it is intsinctual to lift off the throttle when surprised, which unbalances the car.
All these exercises are basically part two in driver training. Every driver training class I've been to, and I've been to several (ie the Smith Driving System) teach you how to avoid getting into an accident by driving properly and being aware of the situation around you so you are able to avoid a situation. Not a single class except Proformance has taught me how to handle my car once I'm in that bad situation.
When you get to the afternoon portion, before going to lunch your instructor will drive two slow laps (50 MPH) in your car showing you the line, then you will switch and you will drive two slow laps. You go to lunch for an hour and the advance lappers take the track. After lunch your first session will just be with students at full speed. Your second and third session will also include the advance lappers sharing the track with you.
It's an incredible day, and I highly recommend it. Feel free to ask any questions
Oh, also it's pass by permission only in designated let by zones signaled by an arm out the window letting you know that the slower driver knows you're back there and they are allowing you to overtake them. This is not wheel to wheel racing. No one will try to slip by you through a high speed turn. No arm, no pass.
You will have an instructor in your car at all times while driving your lapping sessions.
Both track days and autox are not covered by your insurance.
Autox is more "technical." Everything comes at you quickly. It's turn after turn in a matter of seconds. Track days are faster speeds, but the turns aren't as sharp and you have forever to set your car up to be in the right spot. You also get to do the same course over and over to perfect it.
A school day with Proformance will consist of part class and part practical exercises in the morning and driving in the afternoon. I think they do a great job explaining the balance of the car and how things upset it and how to drive smooth and what the results are when you don't. They also explain what the entrance, apex, and exit of a turn is and why they are important.
Next you will go out to the track and they will get you into antilock brakes. They set up an event to make your car understeer so you know what that feels like. They set up a long slalom and have you keep the same speed while watching a guy at the end tell you when to skip a cone (it's fun and hard to do right) They teach you how to avoid an accident with the "moose in the road" exercise, which teaches you instead of braking and crashing into the object, you can maintain your speed and change lanes. That is hard to do because it is intsinctual to lift off the throttle when surprised, which unbalances the car.
All these exercises are basically part two in driver training. Every driver training class I've been to, and I've been to several (ie the Smith Driving System) teach you how to avoid getting into an accident by driving properly and being aware of the situation around you so you are able to avoid a situation. Not a single class except Proformance has taught me how to handle my car once I'm in that bad situation.
When you get to the afternoon portion, before going to lunch your instructor will drive two slow laps (50 MPH) in your car showing you the line, then you will switch and you will drive two slow laps. You go to lunch for an hour and the advance lappers take the track. After lunch your first session will just be with students at full speed. Your second and third session will also include the advance lappers sharing the track with you.
It's an incredible day, and I highly recommend it. Feel free to ask any questions
Oh, also it's pass by permission only in designated let by zones signaled by an arm out the window letting you know that the slower driver knows you're back there and they are allowing you to overtake them. This is not wheel to wheel racing. No one will try to slip by you through a high speed turn. No arm, no pass.
You will have an instructor in your car at all times while driving your lapping sessions.
Both track days and autox are not covered by your insurance.
Last edited by TANKERG; 07-20-2011 at 07:49 AM.
07-20-2011, 02:24 AM
#5
not very smart
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If i had the money to take the class and lap day I would.. sadly that is not the case.. thanks for the info on ProF nice to know a little bit about how they operate before throwing money around.
07-20-2011, 07:51 AM
#6
Mr. Örange
Thread Starter
No problem. Prof is a little bit more money than the other clubs, but you get a lot more seat time, and others that have done both, say they are more professional.
07-20-2011, 01:34 PM
#7
The X is silent
I appreciate the information as well. I like to know that I'm getting a good value before spending money on things like this. I think that is why I want to go Auto-Xing first... its just cheaper. From what I understand from talking to Icemaster, there one can gain a lot of knowledge from Auto-X experience as well. Not to knock Prof. Truth be told I would like to do them both and eventually a drifting course as well. Again, thanks for the info!
07-20-2011, 10:48 PM
#10
Mr. Örange
Thread Starter
hahaha
07-21-2011, 12:22 AM
#11
The X is silent
Thanks for the offer Rawr, I'll likely take you up on that. BTW, I drove that road you told me about. It's a lot of fun, but much shorter than I was hoping for.
07-21-2011, 01:59 AM
#12
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07-27-2011, 09:18 PM
#13
Mr. Örange
Thread Starter
Made it back from the track. Not sure about the new tires. I remember thinking the same thing about the Yokohamas I bought last year when they were new, but with 10k miles on them I LOVED THEM!!! I only had 1800 miles on the Michelins so the jury will be out till I can track them with less tread. I was putting down 1:45s (with the best being a 1:44.5) with the old Yoks and I'd say my average with the Michs today was 1:48. My new data logger app did say I got one 1:46, we'll see what the video says. If I find anything interesting I'll post it
07-29-2011, 04:50 AM
#16
Mr. Örange
Thread Starter
I normally log my time by watching my videos and time my laps with a stopwatch. But this time I used an app for my phone called trackmaster. I also bought a bluetooth GPS that runs at 5 or 10 hz to get a more accurate reading.
What kind of times did you get?
Did you go to PGP or PR. I got there around 7:50.
08-03-2011, 01:47 AM
#17
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[QUOTE=TANKERG;4042482]I normally log my time by watching my videos and time my laps with a stopwatch. But this time I used an app for my phone called trackmaster. I also bought a bluetooth GPS that runs at 5 or 10 hz to get a more accurate reading.
It was my first time out on PR. I ran 1.41.6xx I feel that there's a lot left out to be have.
It was my first time out on PR. I ran 1.41.6xx I feel that there's a lot left out to be have.
08-04-2011, 07:04 PM
#22
Mr. Örange
Thread Starter
Yea I'm seriously thinking about seeing if anyone wants to by my Michelins on craigslist. They re great street tires.
I really liked the Yokohamas
Are you in an 8 or a 7?
08-12-2011, 03:33 PM
#24
Mr. Örange
Thread Starter
Well here is a video of my best time as of 6/14/11. It turns out, by the video it is a 1:45. I am on my Yokohamas. Those tires had so much grip compared to my Michelins. Going into 5A the last thing you can see on my speedometer is 78. On my Michellins I go into that turn at 70.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8T7XPZTzqY
Here is a video from the 7/27/11 track day. It's a bit long, but the cool part is that you can see my phone/data logger. I made the gauges with a program called Dashware. Also my favorite part of the video is at 7:40 and at 9:35 when you watch these high power cars just pull away from me. Shows what little power our cars have
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnWAnvzxiSk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8T7XPZTzqY
Here is a video from the 7/27/11 track day. It's a bit long, but the cool part is that you can see my phone/data logger. I made the gauges with a program called Dashware. Also my favorite part of the video is at 7:40 and at 9:35 when you watch these high power cars just pull away from me. Shows what little power our cars have
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnWAnvzxiSk
