The
Cumberland Valley Corvette Club (CVCC) rented out
Pocono Raceway for driver's
education event. two days. four 30 minute sessions each day. Mario told me about
it and we had an awesome time.
first two sessions on Saturday:
Completed the first two morning sessions. Rain all day. Instructor (Mike from
Speedworkz Racing) said I'm doing great. Using street tires today. They feel
good. Just learning the line, but faster than most in my novice class already.
Getting' ready for the afternoon sessions now (30 minute sessions!!!). Lots of
z06's and zr1's, but also: Audi s4 wagon Ford super coupe tbird, Race prepped
camaro, race-prepped Acura rsx. Old mr2, lightweight 1996 m3. I'm the only ls1
fbody. monsoon like conditions.
third session on Saturday:
Its raining even harder now!!! I passed every single car in my group. No one
passed me. Twin turbo 4wd 911? Buh bye! My instructor said I'm very smooth and
I'm good to go solo. Now I'm waiting for my last session. Since its still
raining and lots of people left, they are combining my run group with the next
higher one. A little nervous now to go without an instructor, but I must. Later.
last session on Saturday:
Wow!!!!! Solo was Friggin awesome. This session had more experienced people and
it was much better. I wasn't stuck behind any slow-pokes this time. I was much
more aggressive and got massive axle hop when I was ultra hard on the brakes a
few times. Clutch in cured that but was unsettling. Got some tail out action a
few times, but it was controlled and modulated by my throttle. That turbo 911
got a new driver (instructor) and blew my doors off on the straight when I
started spinning at 5000 rpm in third; I pointed him to pass me when that
happened. A new z06 (blue) was on my butt and I pointed him past me too. But
those were the only 2 cars that passed me in this session. Tomorrow is going to
be dry and I look forward to being able to use all of my power.
Sunday: bright, dry and sunny.
although my instructor from yesterday said I could go solo, I found a vette race
car driver and asked him to sit with me for a session or two. he is sponsored by
Warnock Chevrolet.
http://207.127.219.37/images/dcp01735.jpg
http://207.127.219.37/images/dcp01736.jpg
we did the first two sessions on Sunday together. he said I was very good and
the autocross experience showed with my car control. he helped me to look way
ahead, instead of just looking at what is right in front of me. I was now using
my racing tires (BFG R1's, 275-40-17 on 9.5 inch wide rims); they hooked like
mad. I toasted everyone in my novice group again. I hit 120 on the back stretch,
banked semi straight, and 90 on the mini straight in the infield. my lap times
were 1:05. two different instructors said my lines were good and they just told
their students to follow me. that was funny. z06 drivers were amazed that I
passed them so hard. some ego driven dudes were reluctant to let me pass, but
that only lasted about one or two laps because I was crowding their mirrors if
they didn't let me pass.
my friend come to watch and I got him a ride with an instructors race 2001 z06
(heads, cam, cage, etc) in the third session:
http://207.127.219.37/images/dcp01739.jpg
I went solo on the third session and loved it!
after that, I took my friend for a session and it was the last session of the
weekend. they combined my novice group with the one higher. I passed everyone
except that blue z06 that passed me the day before. he didn't get far in front
of me and traffic prevented me from getting closer; after the event he came up
to me and said that I really was cooking and big difference from the day before.
the only car that pulled on me in the straight was that twin turbo 911 when the
instructor drive it. me and Adam where like "WOW!!!!!!!!!!!" in unison on the
back stretch when he started pulling on me. I reeled him in on the infield and
he was really sloppy and even got two wheels off the track and showered me with
dirt!! thanx buddy! after that he slowed and I was on his butt; he took pit lane
after that lap and called it a day.
my words can't do this weekend justice. you won't understand it unless you do
it. the most fun I have ever had behind the wheel of a car in my life, hands
down. the car handled great, but there are a few things I would like to do
eventually:
-roll cage, 5 point harness, race seats: I was almost flying out of my seat and
the stock belts weren't cutting it. I think that if I could concentrate more on
steering instead of holding myself in the seat and driving, I would have done
better. maybe I'll just get race seats instead of roll cage and harness first.
- torque arm: I had bad axle hop under extreme braking, so that made me change
my driving style. that race car camaro that was there, who helped me bleed my
brakes on Sunday, uses the random tech torque arm and loves it:
http://207.127.219.37/images/dcp01744.jpg
-man, if money was no object, I'd love to get me some Porsche big red brakes!!!
my stock rotors did me well for 41k miles, but this weekend, I put the finishing
touches on them. I used Hawk HPS pads and they did good. but they are shot now
and I need new ones; I just ordered another set of the HAWK HPS's.
that's about it. here are more pics:
my car after the last session of the weekend:
http://207.127.219.37/images/dcp01745.jpg
nice z06 taped up to prevent stone chips:
http://207.127.219.37/images/dcp01743.jpg
another z06:
http://207.127.219.37/images/dcp01742.jpg
another z06:
http://207.127.219.37/images/dcp01741.jpg
a grand sport LT4 vette:
http://207.127.219.37/images/dcp01740.jpg
a zr1 vette that I embarrassed a few times:
http://207.127.219.37/images/dcp01738.jpg
This shot is of the entire track. We raced on the "North" portion, where it says "North Family Infield".
This grey C4 was a bad driver. I followed him around the track for two laps, and each lap he put two wheels off the track and showered my car with dirt! After finally passing him, i heard he spun out completely. On the final day, after NOT being signed off to run solo, he brought his wife in the car as a passenger!
This is Bill's car. It has a 422 LS1 motor that makes over 500 hp naturally aspirated, and over 800 hp on the spray!
This was taken early Sunday morning next to the Hobbie trailer, while I was flushing my brake fluid, and putting on my "R" compound tires.
Mario and I next to my rain soaked car on Saturday. Since you have to drive with the windows down, even in the pouring rain, it was a good thing we had rain jackets.
This is my instructor for Saturday. He is a wild man, Mike, from SpeedFreakz Racing.
