Took a performance driving class over the weekend. Had an awesome time and the GTI did much better than expected. Pics aren't the best quality, but you get the idea.





And the other cars...

 

Nice! I'd like to do the same in the near future. What did the day run you?

 

Nice "other cars" and yours too.

'Mustangs are for drag strips- I think.

 

Just shy of $300 for the 6 hour class, which included about 70% on track time and 30% classroom time going over the techniques practiced on the track.
Here's the website:
http://www.drivewayaustin.com/main/content/home

I did the L1 and found it extremely informative! Well worth the money/time.

 

Yeah, the 'Stang was the slowest of the group. It really didn't do that, but there's no getting around the fact that it's a heavy car not necessarily made for the turns.

 

the GTI looks like a minivan in the 4th pic.

 

looks like a lot of fun, i don't get the 4th pic tho, were you showing off your VW engine? and the porsche guy was showing off his trunk space?

 

Suite!

...but if you can't get the inside rear wheel in the air...you are not trying hard enough!

 

I was wondering the same thing. I know guys who open up the engine bay to allow the motor to cool between runs but I'm not sure what the guy with the Boxster is trying to accomplish.

 

Awesome, that looks like it was a ton of fun.

 

Nice

 

He had beer in a cooler

 

^damn beat me to it i was about to say he was letting his lunch cool off, or maybe he has an engine in the front too for an AWD boxster monster

fixed

 

Glad you had fun. Track events are a much safer way to have fun in cars than the alternative.


Gotta question the lack of helmet requirements, though.

 

Haha, ya next to the boxter the GTI looks big, but next to the Lotus, it looked like a monster truck.

Exactly. I lifted the hood up to let a little more air into the engine to help cool it off. That was right after a 25 minute, high-revving, lapping session. As for the porsche, I'm not sure why his front hood was up...

As for lifting the rear inside wheel, it was definately off the ground a couple times over the course of the day, especially with the instructor driving. It's a shame none of the pics were able to catch it riding on 3 wheels.

And in regards to the helmets, we were told to bring them and I brought mine, but we never had to put one on. The classes running a little higher speeds definately wear helmets, as well as during practice lapping sessions.

This was my first track session and I can't wait to do more. Definately can do much more on a track and in a more controlled environment than on the road.
And yes, the GTI is completely stock. :wink:

 

at the guy with the Boxster with his trunk open




I can only imagine.........

 

The Driveway is a neat little track. Did you get to run the "newer" section that takes you out along the lake? The last time I was there they hadn't even begun the new section, but we still had fun

 

Tracking an Enzo

I know cars are made to be driven, but it's still surprising.

 

^^ Haha, I would tear an Enzo up if I had one...it would never be a garage queen.

 

G,
Ya, The Driveway is a very nice facility. And it's local too which is also neat.
As far as the track, no, we stayed on the .7 mile short course since it was just the L1 training. The L2 incorporates the bad-ass corkscrew and elevation change with the L3 inicorporating the whole 2.2 mile course with the long straights by the river. Before we went out to lunch, Bill piled us in his Tundra pickup and we did a full lap of the 2.2 mile track. Now that was fun...
But I was definatley surprised by the short course. It was a lot more technical than I thought, and quite fun to drive.
And you weren't kidding when you said it's been a while. lol The place has changed a lot with a ton of additions. You should stop by sometime and check it out. I'm sure Bill or someone would be happy to take you around the full track if you asked. They're very nice people there....

 

Oh, and nice cars (to say the least) in those pics of yours btw.
I had no clue there was an Enzo here in Austin. Any idea who's it was?

 

There are actually two Enzos in town (with a possible third one that no one seems to be able to verify).

I do need to make it out there. Bill is great and has actually driven my car around the .7 track. That track is fun, but probably not as much fun in my car then as yours (high torque motor).

Do they have the offroad course set up or did that idea get scraped? Any garages up yet?

 

not only that, he was driving w/ top down... wtf was he thinking?

 

Hmm interesting about the Enzos. I didn't know that.

And ya, I can understand about the torque. It'd be interesting to drive a car on that track with over twice as much twist as in the GTI.

Do you know the guy with the 1400HP viper that goes out there? I saw a vid of it on you tube, and I can't even imagine driving that beast around a track that tight.

Yes, they do have the off-road course, at least that's what Bill was saying, tho I've personally never seen it. Sounds neat tho.

And no garages yet, but I've seen the proposed layout/blue prints and it looks top-notch. It'll be really nice once they get it all finished.