Audi Sports Car Experience in Sonoma CA

[swansailor]

Audi Sports Car Experience … 2 day R8 program at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma CA Sept 22, 23 2008

As previously promised, a few comments on the program in which I participated this week:

Met three other R8 owners (including “Desperado” who posts on this forum) …. All love their cars and …we are such nice people!

Plenty of time behind the wheel, all of it in R8s (contrary to some comments I have seen). Both stick-shift and Rtronic cars are available. Of a total of roughly ten cars, I think that two had the Rtronic. One of the cars was a European spec without mag-ride (more of that later); all others had mag ride. All driving was done with ESP on and mag-ride on the sport setting. Cars were all 2008 models which are permanently at Infineon for this program. All equipment was completely standard (brakes, tires, seats, seat belts etc). I was impressed with how good all of the cars looked after being thrashed round the circuit for many months.

First morning program: a 30 minute class room session (position of seat, arms and legs, how to steer, consequences of weight shift during braking and cornering, over-steer, under-steer and, most important, the RULES of the track …no racing, no overtaking etc.). After class, two 30 minute exercises in the parking lot (high speed slalom and a high speed steering exercise) then out to the track for a first 30 minute session split between two drivers. All of the remaining driving (Monday pm and Tuesday am and pm) was on the track. Infineon is a windy course with plenty of elevation change and bends and corners. Several track configurations are available …we drove three or four different ones.

First day format was four cars following instructors in lead cars (RS4’s …they are also impressive). Leading chase R8 was rotated on every lap. Instructors provided running commentary on track line, apexes, braking and acceleration zones and gear shift points etc. via 2-way radio. Each session was filmed from inside the car (forward looking cam and interior cam) and we were promised we will receive DVD’s of our sessions by mail. Afternoon of the first day included several 30 minute session (15 mins for each driver) with 15-30 minute breaks during which individual and group feedback was provided …can’t recall how many sessions. As our ability improved, the speed increased significantly.

Day two saw us split into groups of two or three cars so more time in the position behind the instructor. Sessions in the morning were 30 minutes with 15 to 20 minute breaks and in the afternoon we had three sessions of 45 minutes. Each car had two laps as the "lead chase" car before rotation. We drove different configurations of the track. By the end of the day it was clear that we were holding back a little in order to stay behind the RS4 …at the start of the first day I couldn’t keep up with the RS4 so I felt that I had made a lot of progress.

Was it worth it? For me and I believe for almost everyone else a big “yes” (maybe not for the couple from Canada ...see below). Since this was my first track experience (other than in a go-kart) it was a fantastic opportunity to get plenty of time with expert instruction on a challenging track.

Quality of the instructors: uniformly excellent. Great communication and very “diplomatic” criticism.

Drawbacks? I think a lot depends on the person with whom you pair. I was lucky to pick someone with similar ability and a great sense of humor.

Other lessons learned? Several:

The R8 is really a phenomenal machine. Several of the other participants were former Porsche owners …none preferred the Porsche. The standard “street” cars really perform on the track. Our car gave a brake-pad warning during the morning of the second day. While new pads were installed we were given the European spec car which did not have mag ride. The difference in handling on the track was dramatic. With mag-ride we only detected ESP intervention when we made a serious mistake, with no mag ride the ESP was interfering with our trajectory on almost every high speed bend. This gave both my co-pilot and me a lot less confidence.

Final comment … not everyone understood the “no overtaking” rule and I had a very hairy moment when the car that was supposed to be following me attempted to pass me on the right as I was about to take a sharp right hand bend (braking from over 100 mph at the end of the straight). Luckily I saw him in the mirror and there was a good run-off area on that bend so I was able to bail out and avoid a very nasty accident. If you attend a track event and come across a married couple from Kitchener Ontario who talk a lot about what great and experienced drivers they are … stay well away from them.

I had a BLAST and would happily do the program again. I now feel confident about taking my own R8 out on a track and hope to do so soon.

[R84ME]

That cinches it for me. I'm in! Here's my correspondence with Sean Creane regarding the R8 program. All confirmed now....

Congratulations on having the R8 on the way to you and my apologies that the site does not provide as much information as it could! If possible it would be great to talk with you on the phone and I can really give you some
good detail but I will also address a few of your questions below:

The course will begin at 8:30 on day 1 and we will discuss vehicle dynamics, Quattro technology and how it will affect technique and also a few small details that drivers tend to forget such as hand positioning and the like. The total classroom time will be approximately 45 minutes and then throughout the course we will do discussions in between sessions. We will pair up drivers as they will share an R8 throughout the course and when a driver is switching they can either watch from the sideline or ride as a passenger.

Day 1 is going to have some paddock exercises that include high-speed slalom, threshold braking and a high-speed "technique of a curve" exercise that will be driven to the point of losing traction. All of these exercises are done in the R8 as well as all of the track time. We do occasionally get a request for someone wishing to try out the S5 or RS4 and we will accommodate them.

Day 2 is where we are completely focused on track time with 5 sessions of continuous lapping.

Maximum class size is typically 12 but the maximum that we would ever run is 14 unless it was a corporate or private group. We have 9 R8's in the stable including both manual and R-Tronic transmission.

[peterh]

Sounds like you had a similiar excellent expeience as I did. We did a private group in July and Sean was great getting everything set up for us. Worth every penny for the 2-day event.

Just cant decide to do the R8 event again or move up to the Jim Russel school also operated out of the same facitily.

[swansailor]

Sounds like you had a similiar excellent expeience as I did. We did a private group in July and Sean was great getting everything set up for us. Worth every penny for the 2-day event.

Just cant decide to do the R8 event again or move up to the Jim Russel school also operated out of the same facitily.

I am wrestling with the same dilemma

[utah]

Your comments are spot on. My wife and I went in August. We did not have any problems with passing but some drivers come up too fast on your tail in corners when you are following traffic ahead . (Idiotic late-brakers you’ll find them on Open Track Days too)

The best part of the format is that each car gets to follow the instructor – that makes a large difference and other similar programs from manufacturers don’t do that.

My wife was very smooth driving but probably a touch slower than the others in the beginning but by end of day she kept her smooth driving habits and improved speed to as fast as anyone on the track. The instructors said that woman who have the ability (the other ladies there did not) typically can improve beyond the guys at a fast pace because they are smoother drivers.

We have the DVD movies of the in car video and they are great mementos but still seems like they are slow compared to what it feels like in the car. The speed around the track was just fine. However most track warriors here would feel held back (ESP on, follow only etc). It was perfect for us and we would do it again.

For the testosterone boys (I think MichaelP (?) here did it and loved it) the Russell program in F3 cars would be great fun but that is more excitement than I need.

PS
You do get partnered with another person but can elect to stay out of the car while the other person drives their turn. I stayed out of the car when my wife drove, not only to avoid spousal conflict but if I’m not driving I can get a bit sea sick from all the motion.

[desperado]

Great review by swansailor. I too had a BLAST!

I'd just add that the entire Audi Sportscar Experience program as operated by the Jim Russell school is VERY well done. This is not your usual tent-by-the-side-of-the-track affair. The Audi Forum facility and adjacent Jim Russell classrooms and garage are modern, clean, and very well staffed and equipped. They provided breakfast and lunch each day in the Audi Forum, and it was an elegant affair. The Infineon track is in great shape; obviously well financed with all aspects well thought out and implemented. I'd love to be able to watch a race from the Audi Forum someday. (Sean?!?)

The attentiveness of the instructors and mechanics to the needs of the students was outstanding. For example:

• I mentioned to our instructor during a fifteen minute track break that at some point I'd like to try a car with mag ride, as the euro-spec one I had initially chosen was not equipped. Immediately he was on the radio and within a few minutes the mechanics brought a freshly prepped car from the garage and swapped it with our current mount prior to the start of the next track session.
• Among the participants was a father-daughter team, and she was quite automotively inexperienced. Instead of letting this affect the rest of us (and perhaps causing her to have a poor experience) the staff quickly rearranged the groups so she could be with her own instructor. Initially fearful around the simple slalom cones in the parking lot, by the end of the program she was tearing around the track with the rest of us, and was all smiles!

As good as the Audi Sportscar Experience staff and facilities are, the clear star of the show was the R8. Everyone commented how forgiving the car is of mistakes; it just made us all feel we were better drivers than we really are! That's probably why utah's videos seem slow - the car is deceptively calm, even when being driven quite hard. At the end of the program, in jest I asked when I would be allowed out of the 'slow group'. Our instructor, missing the joking part, gave me a strange look and responded that we had been lapping at the limits of his RS4 lead car, and just a few seconds below the full capability of the R8. Since the instructors are all extremely smooooth and experienced pro-racers, and as I'll be the first to admit my driving was quite rough and inconsistent (although I hope slowly improving), this is quite a compliment to the R8.

PROS:

1. I expected that the follow-me format wouldn't permit us to go very fast; on the contrary the consensus among the participants was amazement that they were actually encouraging us to blast around the track in these rare cars as fast as our skills would allow: (Radio patter: "White Car - full throttle ... Full Throttle now! Close up the gap!").
   
2. The follow-me format is a great support tool for a driver looking to gain high performance experience in the car while building good habits and without getting in over your head.
   
3. Great track, gorgeous facility, and enthusiastic people (staff & participants).
   
4. You don't incur the wear and tear on your own R8. We surely went through some tires and brake pads!
   
5. You don't need to own an R8 (or any Audi) to participate in the program. One participant was on The List and was there to see if he really wanted to own this car. (I'm pretty sure the answer was YES.) Others were simply enthusiasts wanting a taste of "the best handling sports car in America" ~ MotorTrend.
   
6. Even though it's not inexpensive, everyone left feeling that they "got their money's worth".

CONS:

1. Experienced racers might feel held back by the follow-me format (however nowhere else can you flog someone else's R8 around a race track.)
   
2. One aspect of the R8's allure is its relative rarity, so it was strangely disturbing and desensitizing to see so many of them casually lined up in one place.
   
3. They wouldn't let us drive enmasse to In-N-Out Burger in Napa for lunch. Now THAT would REALLY have stopped traffic!
   
4. My face still aches from two solid days of .
   
5. Now that I've had a taste of the track, it's a bummer to come home and drive the R8 according to the traffic laws

[Jimmyz]

Seems like this event is a lot of fun, but at 3500 bucks, I feel that it's a bit overpriced, or at least in my opinion. I would have liked to see a big discount for R8 owners, but unless they lower the price to 1500 for the 2 day R8 event, I don't see myself doing this in the future, although I would really love to do it.

[peterh]

Yeah, its spendy, but I dont think they are making much profit at $3500. They put a new set of tires on after 2 or 3 days max, gas, insurance, track rental, professional drivers for instructors, mechanics, support staff, etc, etc. Not to mention the wear and tear on the cars. I hesitated initially at the cost, but found it to be well worth it and really in line with the other driving schools out there.

[R84ME]

Using someone else's car to explore the limits of the R8 seems like a good investment to me. I've seen some pretty impressive crashes resulting from mis-handled supercars.

[wings22]

Did you guys who did the experience drive your own r8 to Sonoma? If you didn't because you live far but you lived close enough, would you (i.e., is there good and safe parking for two days)? I'm assuming so, since a whole lot of nice cars besides the r8s would be there.