Just attended my first track event of any kind and wish to share some observations of everything that happened. I came across this organization http://www.pdadrivingschool.com/ and with help from this board
PDA Thread
received positive feedback on them and this past weekend went to a two day event they ran at Pocono Raceway. The first day there must have been over 150 cars of all kinds with Corvettes, Porches and BMW’s being the most popular one’s. Here is a link to some pics of the more unique cars IMO.
PDA Photos
Over the weekend I counted about 10 Rotary cars in total, mine being the ONLY RX-8 There were 2 1st Gen RX-7 and 7-8 FC's (why were the FC’s so popular I don’t know). After registering and going through a tech inspection if you didn’t do one before you got there they held a quick general drivers meeting where they went over the track layout, what all the flags meant and hand signals you needed to know. While this was not a timed event passing is permitted in the straights provided you get/give the proper “point by”. After the general meeting novices or the “Green Group” had it’s own meeting where they go over the flags, track again. They also go over the schedule. There are a number of different color groups based on “skill” and we each got five sessions on the track that lasted about 20-25 minutes and was about 25 miles. The greens run with instructors in your car with the next group up being the whites. I would guess that on the first day there were about 20-25 cars in my session. Since the cars can vary from Civics’ to Vipers the track clears out and you have plenty of room.
I have to say PDA ran a great event and I at no time felt overwhelmed, or over my head. The people were great and didn’t get too technical with use this gear or must heal and toe etc. What was stressed to me was taking the proper apex in my turns and using the brake, gas & wheel in a smooth fashion and track safety. The first run the instructor drives your car for 2 laps so he gets an idea of what your car can do so you do not do anything beyond the cars ability. Then you take over for the rest of the day. They place cones on the track for braking and turn in points and there are usually marks of various kinds on the track you can use for points of reference. It is also recommend going for a ride with the instructor when he takes his car out. You learn much watching him take the same track you were on. I highly recommend us RX-8 owners’ try to do things like this because the car is really fun to drive and gets a ton of respect from the more experienced people you meet. Kudos to Mazda for making a car that enables a novice like myself have a good and safe time driving 120 MPH on a track. The two attached pics are of the track layouts used on Sat & Sun and in no real order I have some observations. Please remember I am new at track events and might have missed something or worded some things wrong .

You notice the lack of power on the track; I could keep up with many cars on the infield sections but once out on the straights I could not overtake cars with more torque. Shifting into 5th at 110 just doesn’t give you that boost you can get in other cars. The cars I did pass let me do so because they knew I was better in the turns and would get ahead enough to negate the power they had in the straights.

Don’t bother detailing your car, it gets dirty fast

7-9 MPG on the track

Cooling fan running after shut off issue has to be solely based on outside temp. You would think running at track speed would create more engine heat than going to the store on a 95-degree day. It was in the high 60’s but my fan NEVER came on after shutdown and I did 9 sessions.

Brakes are GREAT! On the Sunday track I was coming out of the turn 2 (by gate 1) around 120 and you have to hit the brakes HARD to shift and make the hard left and there were great.

Ran with DSC off (short button press) most of the time. I think I was not going that aggressive to notice much of a difference but felt better having it on most of the first day.

Take out the crap, mats, tapes etc and leave them home don’t need stuff flying around

I have the GT package and I am short. Wearing a helmet made it tough to get a comfortable set position. I kept hitting the side of the sunroof, I had to recline and move the seat back further than I normally would have. I am going to start a tread about seat replacement later.

Taking NASCAR turn 1 (Sunday Track) at 110 is great !!

2004 Dodge Vipers are VERY FAST!

Watch for Cadillac CTS-V’s they can dust us easy and handle pretty well.

Bring Blue painters tape to protect headlights / Fog lights and to use to number you car

If you get hooked on this buying a set of race tires is advised.

 

Nice! It sounds like you had great time and you guys had the whole track to yourself. The last time I went we were only running on the south end of the track (turn 1 and the infield) because two other groups were using the North & East courses. The shorter course (1.1 miles) made for some low lap times.

Was Charlie Greenhaus still doing the classroom sessions?

If you're interested in doing another track day this summer you should join us at Watkins Glen on September 27 & 28.

 

Ah... memories

I used to LOVE slinging my CRX around Pocono. You think YOU have problems on the straights... try using all 91hp of honda 12 valve fury to get past the V8s, lol.

Thing is, I could afford to stuff the CRX into a wall.

Not so with the 8: I can't absorb a 30K loss of a car. I assume there's no insurance that covers track events?

 

I did some time at willow springs a couple of weekends ago and had a blast as well - very fun. I had a good mini-battle with a Sube WRX and the cars (and probably drivers) were very well matched.

One thing I noticed is that towards the end of the day my temp gauge was going a little higher than where it normally sits (couple of clicks left of center) and would get to be one click to the right of center at times after constant periods of 7k+ RPMs and lots of WOT.

I also got somewhere around 9mpg for those track miles (about 100) and got around 20mpg on the ride back home.

Track days are fun and I'd highly recommend them to anyone who wants to test their cars at the limit. The 8 handles exceptionally well, one of the driving instructors commented on it a couple of times during the day

 

Don't think so , not great on the names but I think it was JC? Tall grey hair. Can you discribe Charlie? There was also a younger guy with a beard that liked to walk around barefoot that talked alot.

 

The guy walking around barefoot would have been Charlie. He was a lot of fun to work with on previous track days.