To those of you who have never tracked your car

[kthacher]

DISCLAIMER - track vets can skip this, as what I have to say will be old news for you guys.

When I bought the car, it was not for track purposes, but after going through an HPDE school and getting some seat time, my opinion is that everyone needs to track at least once. There is just no other way to fully appreciate the engineering marvel we are lucky enough to own.

I was lucky (unlucky?) enough to be out in really crappy conditions - rain and temperatures between 5 and 10C for the entire weekend. Those conditions really set the car apart. Most everyone else was having a bi**tch of a time controlling their car, but not me. The brakes, balance and stability of this car is something to behold when you are powering out of a turn, even in poor conditions.

The other point that you don't really appreciate, no matter how often you read about it, is the value of outstanding brakes in giving you the confidence to brake way later than almost anyone else.

The only uncomfortable thing for me was that the R8 puts a bulls eye on you in mixed (car) company. I had a few guys trying to run me down, and in one case the guy ended up off the track because of it.

Finally, if you have it in you let the odd guy who REALLY knows how to drive take the car out with you in the passenger seat. That is how I ended the day. He instructed at the course, and has been racing for 7 years. On this particular weekend he took out students in a Carrera 911 4S , and a C63 AMG. He felt that the 911 was way tougher to corner in these conditions and wanted to go straight, and that the C63 could not properly handle its HP, rendering it quite difficult to control. He was using these comparisons to illustrate how outstanding he felt the R8 was.

He was a little hesitant with my car at first, knowing that it was not his, but I told him to show me how it was done, and his reaction was amazing to behold. He was simply awestruck at the overall driving experience - it was pretty clear that he felt that the R8 was the best machine he ever drove. At this course, the instructors come from all walks of life and various financial means. Most of them would never have the chance to experience an R8 any other way.

This guy seemed like a kid when all was said and done. As I was packing up, he was getting his picture taken with the car. As I was leaving, I could see him speaking about the experience with great enthusiasm to the course director. Then he stopped me to make sure that he encouraged me to come back for solo sprinting.

So bottom line, if you have not tracked you have to try it, and if you are comfortable sharing, then you can count on a memorable experience. I also got an invitation to trade some seat time in a Ferrari, with another one of the instructors

[Vincent]

Thanks for the encouragements. I can't wait to get mine out there this summer.

[desperado]

When I bought the car, it was not for track purposes, but after going through an HPDE school and getting some seat time, my opinion is that everyone needs to track at least once. There is just no other way to fully appreciate the engineering marvel we are lucky enough to own.

I can't agree with you more. It is such a worthwhile experience, and perfectly safe for you and your car if you select an event that concentrates on instruction and learning, not speed and timing. Audi Club is a very good place to start.

I also got an invitation to trade some seat time in a Ferrari, with another one of the instructors

That would sure be fun, just be careful that you don't end up buying someone a new car! (see Common Instructor Mistakes #6)

[kthacher]

That would sure be fun, just be careful that you don't end up buying someone a new car! (see Common Instructor Mistakes #6)

This is for a Sunday drive out in the country - no way would I want to try someone's Ferrari on the track. So this will be pretty tame stuff - more of a social thing.

[Bodhii]

Great to hear, Vincent! Your R8 is a door to a very fun new world. At the track, just relax, listen and watch your instructors, and just have some great serious fun. Remember to take it all SLOW and EASY for the 1st couple of track days, no matter how much you are pushed by others, and by yourself to find the limits of the R8. It will take awhile to get yourself up to such limits. Especially with a turbo.

Don't try to be faster than anybody else until you have a few days on track. Do NOT worry about appearing slow in such a fast car. Accept this BEFORE you go to the track, and BEFORE every driving session. This will be the case for a long, long time. It's the same for everyone. But you do have a very fast R8, and your time for very fast WILL eventually come!

So listen to your instructors, be smart, be relaxed, and have fun!

[desperado]

Great advice for newbies from Bodii. Another way to view it is that even while driving slowly and learning the entirely new skills required at the track, a newbie in a R8 will still be lapping faster than most of the other novices and some intermediates driving lesser cars. The only thing that is looked down on at HDPE is over-driving the car (driving over your head) not only because it is unsafe to yourself and others, but because it interferes with the learning process.

It is a common truism that the slowest drivers on Saturday morning are often among the fastest by Sunday afternoon. That's because the slow driver is keeping the speed down to a level where learning can occur. The converse is often also true, as the guy who starts out driving at the limits of his ability is so saturated keeping it together on the track that there is no spare capacity for learning what the instructor has to teach.

[kthacher]

Great to hear, Vincent! Your R8 is a door to a very fun new world. At the track, just relax, listen and watch your instructors, and just have some great serious fun. Remember to take it all SLOW and EASY for the 1st couple of track days, no matter how much you are pushed by others, and by yourself to find the limits of the R8. It will take awhile to get yourself up to such limits. Especially with a turbo.

Don't try to be faster than anybody else until you have a few days on track. Do NOT worry about appearing slow in such a fast car. Accept this BEFORE you go to the track, and BEFORE every driving session. This will be the case for a long, long time. It's the same for everyone. But you do have a very fast R8, and your time for very fast WILL eventually come!

So listen to your instructors, be smart, be relaxed, and have fun!

Spoken with much wisdom. There were a handful of guys basically telling me I was a wimp for not pushing the car to the max on day 2. This was in spite of the fact that the instructors said to watch the speeds, especially in the poor conditions we had. I can only imagine the pressure you are going to see, with that TT. Our event had a young guy who races for VW in the Jetta Cup series. He was constantly telling anyone who would listen, that speed will come, and to focus on precision and technique first. Lots of guys still want to prove something right away though. Keep your distance from them.