I just got back from a full day of classes and racing around a 2.25 mile track.

http://www.proformanceraceschool.com/

It was, without a doubt, the best money I've ever spent on my car. I had so much fun. We did some classroom, cones, ABS avoidance, track basics, and then did about 30-40 laps w/ instructors in the passanger seats. My car did quite well considering the caliber of most of the cars. There were 4 911 turbos, a few NA 911's, E55, CLK55, some other Mercedes, Boxster, Boxster S, 4 Audi TT's, a couple A4 1.8T's, an S4, a Z06, Mustang GT, and of course my CL Type S. I passed many faster cars being piloted by undeserving drivers. The Turbos couldn't be touched, of course. But I did pass the Boxsters (both) and all the Audi's (TT and 1.8T). The Z06 could power past me at will. I also passed the E55 once. On the straits though, those high HP cars could put some distance on me...only to have the drivers back off too much in the corners.

I can safely say that our cars are pretty good overall. It handled very well (w/ my mods) at my present skill level. Probably not the car of choice if you're going 10/10ths. My engine really pulled well next to most of the other cars there. Four people came up to me and were telling me how impressed they were w/ my lil' Japanese Honda. One guy from the grandstands came down and thought it was a Mercedes the whole time. He said the engine sounded really mean when going past the grandstand (CAI and VTEC in 2nd gear).

The only bad thing about the whole day is that I had to cut out early in the last session. My steering wheel started really shaking hard during aggressive braking...those damn stock rotors, I'm guessing. I got off the track and the damn things were literally smoking!!! My engine fan also came on after turning the car off. I have never had that come on b/f. Anyway, I'm gonna take the car in tomorrow and get the brakes checked. I'm at 53000 miles so I wonder if they'll still warranty it??? Should I just upgrade the brakes if I plan on going back again? Maybe just get slotted rotors? Anyway, had a great time and recommend it to everyone that wants to know just how great this car really is...

 

that does sound like fun. i want to do it at PIR. how much did you pay?


i bet your brakes are wasted. and i doubt they will warranty them.

 

Matt, i'd love to do PIR sometime. I love that track !!

 

It was quite pricey actually...due to the instruction and classes (plus breakfast and lunch...Mmmmm, BBQ ribs!) Remember, most of the other cars were 911's. $275 out the door for a full day. Normally, w/o instruction, I think it's $150/day. You also have to include costs like new brakes, new SO3's and, for me anyway, new shoes for all that pedal-to-the-metal stuff.

 

Sounds like you had a blast, worth every penny

 

fun indeed, You prolly took off a year of the car's life on that outing. But sounds like it was well worth it.

 

Time for some Brembos.

 

I have heard of the engine fanning running at times after the car is off but have never experienced it myself.

 

Sweet!! I'm even more motivated to go to PIR now!!!

As soon as I get some better tires and breaks on the S, I'm going for sure!! I think it's around $300 at PIR for something similar.. and like $400 if you want to us their carts.

 

I can believe that was money well spent, hell I droped 400 bucks saturday on a bachelor party. I would have much rather have done this.

 

That sounds like a reasonable cost. It's gets expensive if you become a track junkie

I've got to find a group that does something like that on the east coast (Lime Rock, CT, etc). Most clubs that sponser track days (drivers education) are marque specific (Porsche Club of America, BMW owners, etc).

 

I was going to go to a BMW professional driving school this past May, but I had just sold the CL and hopped into my G.

I was a little concerned taking my CLS to something like this due to the GOOD chance the rotors would be nuked. Sounds like my theory held true.

I'd love to go next year with my BMW buddy, but I'm not so sure I want to put my daily driver through some pretty tough and brutal driving. While it does sound like fun, I dunno if I wanna punish my baby like that.

If I remember tonight, I'll post some pics from the school my buddy went to. He has echoed the same thing that has been said here in this thread... "Worth every penny."

 

Seattle Cl-S....very good way to spend your money and learn a few things. Driving/track schools are great. I am going to do soe east coast ones next year. Watkins Glenn and Lime Rock. You really learn how much of driving is about the driver the car. I would definitely suggest a brake upgrade os some wort for you if you plan to do more track events. DEFINITELY get a track pad and installl them only for the track. They will bit better and no fade as much. BUt the downside is they tend to be dusty and noisy. Save your street pads for the street. Also, getting a decent rotor is a good idea as well. Something cross drilled or slotted to dissapte some heat.

 

This is a great post! $275 is worth every penny of instruction and that many laps! I'd do that tomorrow, but I'm 3,000 miles away!

 

Ray, what's the organization that allows Acura owners to particapate in track days at these tracks??

Contact info or webpages ??

Thanks in advance,

 

this is why i enjoyed mazda revitup, $39 and use of the new mazda6

 

You guys are right, this could easily become a very expensive hobby for me. All night I kept seeing the turns in my head. I wanna go back today. Acura said they'd split the cost to replace the stock rotors w/ new stock rotors/pads...since my car has 53k miles. I'll probably just put them towards new slotted rotors and pads. Is it ok to just replace the front?

 

I think you need to buy a dedicated track car

And a trailer, and a truck to tow it with...

 

You're probably right. I'll blow up this tranny for sure driving it like this...

 

it's fine as long as the rears aren't warped. the fronts do 80% of the work anyway.

 

thanks mattg

 

wow sounds like fun

i wonder if they got places like that around here

 

Has anybody taken their CL-S to the track recently (in the 6 years since this post was made)?

 

6 year bump.

 

i want to as soon as i get my ksports in. i think pacific raceways bumped thier prices again too. i would liked to have seen seattle cl-s' car before he sold it not many seriously modded cl's in the seattle area

 

Not many posts about actually racing your CL-S at the track that's why I re-activated this one. Anybody had issues with the brake fluid boiling? I think DOT-3 brake fluid doesn't boil.

 

U right I have checked street encounters and racing religiously forum for the past 6 months and every time I come up MT.

Not many exciting news or encounters anymore even with the heavily modified cars on here. No more racing, NO enconters Nothing.....
I guess it is the bad economy or the cost of GAS

 

The CL was never a big track car but plenty of people doing 1/4 miles in it so I was surprised nothing about actually legally racing it.