PDA/NASA had an unusual event at Monticello Motor Park in Monticello, NY yesterday. It was unusual because it's a private millionaires motor club with state of the art facilities and all the amenities any well-heeled car buff could dream of and only 90 minutes from New York City in the Catskills. Nevertheless PDA got a shot at it this season (it just recently opened) along with one of the Porsche Clubs earlier this year. From what I could tell, there was a bit of insider help getting the clubs to open up to these guys for an event.

The club offers a one day tour of the facilities with track time for $2500 (exotic car rental extra). With the PDA, this event was just too much to pass on at a miniscule $320 cost so I went and it was fun. Although it was much like any other HPDE event there were a few salient differences that were hard to miss and were greatly appreciated! For starters, well you can't help be blown away by the facilities, the helipad, the brand new shiny pristine track, the 'members only' signs everywhere for parking, eating, bathrooms and, of course, the split of one half of the 4.1 mile course for members use only! The two guys in blue suits opening the doors for you as you enter the glass and steel facility to eat, to go to the bathroom, or to warm up, was, well, unusual to say the least for an HPDE, much more like a fancy hotel. Even though we were kept in our 'place' we were treated very very well, irrespective of the fact we didn't get to use/see the 5-star dinning area or private lounge, spa, etc.,... maybe after I win the lottery lol.

What we did get was access to the 'South Course', a surprise run at the whole course (!) and a bountiful catered lunch, a track talk by the resident gurus and a reception by the resident CEOs and other track officials with a bit of a sales pitch thrown in. The pics are a collection of both the PDA club members cars and the 'members' cars, as we were separated, but in the same parking lot for use as the pit area.

After the morning session while we were dining on our lunch, the were informed that we would be allowed access to the entire track for the afternoon. Yippee! Fortunately we got one session in before they changed their minds (at the request of the members) amid complaints of the 'novice' run group slowing down the track to the detriment of the members enjoyment. Full track privileges were summarily revoked and it was back to the south course for us plebs for the remainder of the day! Well it was good while it lasted.

www.pdadrivingschool.com http://www.monticellomotorclub.com

If you get a chance to go to this facility it is one hellofa track and if you get to join, need a track buddy lol? BTW, where are all the NY, NJ, CT RX-8 guys, this place is right in your backyard?

The vid is of the spinster on one full lap of the 4.1 mile course. The pace car had just taken us on 3 laps of the track and now we're on our own on our fist solo lap, with me in the lead. I calculate my average speed was 78.1 mph, there's the back straight of .75 miles to stretch your legs, but also lots of twisties. Overall my RX-8 was right at home here on this circuit. You'll notice I was not caught & passed until the very end of the lap, and I don't hold people back, I'd point then by in a second if they are on my tail. As the Vet passed me you can see we are lapping the crowd and coming up on their tail end at that point.

While on the slower south circuit, high power like the many Vets enjoyed was an obvious advantage, but still, at least in my advanced intermediate group I had little problem staying ahead or at the front of the pack for most of the time.

For those that don't know, I use 255/40/17 NT-01s on 17x9 RPF01s, Cobalt XR2/XR5 pad combo, Cusco Coilovers, Whiteline sway bars, no other performance mods currently. Enjoy




Main Clubhouse Monticello


Cadillac Themed Lounge, not sure why?




Pits


Full Cource 4.1 Miles


Race Car Rentals


South Circuit


Pit Out for South Circuit in background


Member Parking


Oh Geee, two to go...members of course!


It actually looked really really amazing in person...




Drool....






Spin's RX-8

 

more pics

Lotus Engine Bay


AMG 6.3L




Interior Corvette

 

Beautiful pics! That club looks ultra posh!

 

wow, nice pics. That place looks amazing.

Would have loved to see that ZR1 and GT-R going at it on the track

 

i instructed a silver acura and we let you pass; your red rx8 handles very flatly
i also instructed mike in the yellow rx7 FD. that is a beautiful car.
how fast did you get on the .75 mile straight?

 

Some of those pics def gave me a chubby

 

I didn't get data for the full course run must have forgot to start my recorder and never looked...

but from watching the vid in HD I can see...

Full Course
Best time: 3:08 min
8,000 rpm in 4th so about 109 mph

too bad that was a learning run only.....and never got that flat out run in the second session.

South Course Trackmate data
Best time: 1:28.6 min
max 1.445 G left
max 1.449 G right

max brake was 1.0G
max speed 93.18 mph
Ave speed 64.68 mph

Here's a friction circle for the south course, definitely shows the right turn bias of the circuit.




You must have been flying in that blown RX7! That was a beast with like over 350hp to the wheels (vs my 180hp) How was it doing on the circuit?

Here's my favorite part of the full course...simply wonderful to run thru this in the 8

 

cool vids For comparison sake, I did 1:25 on south course in my LS1 FD. Ferrari 360 challenge did 1:23.
On full course, I did 2:48 without 2nd and 3rd gears (tranny messed up) and lifting at the kink in the straight; need more practice (and courage) there to flat foot it
430 scuderia did 2:30 on full course (155 mph at straight). I might have traqmate video of that for you soon

 

Yea, one day of 20 min sessions wasn't much time to get things nailed down, esp. when the 1st south track and 3rd full track sessions were primarily a 'follow me' exercise, leaving only 2 south track sessions to work on perfecting the line! We can only hope for a next season summer event w/longer 25-30 min sessions to get in the groove there.

Love to see the Traqmate vid!

 

2MCHPWR, thanks again for riding with me, it was good to have someone who`s been on the full course. Good luck with that dream job at the track.

 

Monticello Motor Club - Ferrari F430 Scuderia

 

I've always wanted to driver there, looks like a great track.

 

Wow! I've been reading about this track and others they are building.

What a great deal.

I wish I had a job that could afford that much!

$320 was a steal.