After reading John's thread about a HPDE event he attended shortly after the Dragon I had to have a cup of the koolaid. Jane Bridges has mentioned 10/10ths Motorsports as a great group to run with. Here is there link <http://www.1010thsmotorsports.com/page/page/5236308.htm>. The group allows passing with a pass by for novice and intermediate group drivers and the advanced is a race type event where the drivers must earn the pass. Everyone I spoke with was very cordial, was impressed with the Crossfire and offered as much information as they could share. The group also offers instruction at no cost for drivers of any level. At Putnam we got 4 dedicated sessions and a final combined session, for $255. I couldn't pass it up.
I started the day in the Novice group at Putnam Park Road Course. As some can attest I can do a solid to good job driving the roads at the Dragon, but this is a different beast all together. Grasping using the whole track, threshold braking, track in, opening the wheel and others were concepts I could talk about, but couldn't apply my first two times out. The third track session I rode with my instructor in his Diasio 962 powered by a 1000cc motorcycle motor. Talk about smooth and settled. Riding with Jack opened my eyes to the line, threshold braking, track in, track out ect.
There is nothing more fun than pedal down to in excess of 120 mph, hard brake into a sweeping right without the fear of the law man! In our last dedicated session were late to the track so I was playing catch the packs. By mid session I had caught two very fast Porches, an older Carrera and a Cayman. The Cayman was a donkey dressed as a clown(censored
) who did not quite know how to handle; he went off track 5 times. The Carrera was spot on with his line and brake points. After a few laps of riding the bumper of the Cayman trying to indicate that I wanted by, he signaled a pass going into 8, a sweeping left. I attempted to take the pass and he ended up changing his mind and forced me off track. A fun by scary experience in going off track. Everything was good after we got rolling again.
In the last session we were late to the track, my instructor had two students over the weekend. I ended up catching a SRT8 Challenger and a previous Gen Evo. I was able to pass the two guys who were also very quick. The SRT8 pulled wide and tried to out muscle the Coupe, but was unable to do so.
I am addicted. The list of mods have changed. No longer I am in pursuit of high HP with no where to go. I am now on the search to build a Benz sourced big brake kit in the same fashion as Steve or Lantana's setup, adjustable koni's, and at least 5 point harnesses. Although its an expensive hobby with the setup I can autocross or do track days. I recommend a High Performance Driving Event to everyone!
My final lap of the day was a 1.27.2 hand timed by instructor's wife, she was an awesome lady who loved track day as much as he did. Track record is 57 seconds set by a driver who was being tested for a CART team.