Professional driver with V8 R8 at BIR WOW!

[mngolfer]

This is the only track I have taken my R8. In October of 2009 Mark White drove the PPI Design R8 at Brainerd International Raceway. This is how we should drive our R8's.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9ALHUqdYiQ&feature=player_embedded[/ame]

[AnOutsider]

looked like a fun time. Having never tracked before, is it customary to throw on the signal to indicate you're allowing a tailing car to pass?

[SteveR]

Yes, signal and point to let them know when and where (which side).

[desperado]

Audi Club North America uses slightly different passing rules than you'll find at the normal track day. ACNA is all about driver education and skills development (NOT about racing). Instead of the usual point-by described by SteveR above, ACNA uses the right blinker to signal safe-to-pass, with the slower car moving to the right and the overtaking car passing on the left. This is intended to imitate normal passing on the highway.

[SteveR]

Neat video. That last exit where you drift out in front of the concrete divider protected by a few tires is scary though.

Driving is a hell of a thing and hard to appreciate in a video. You have to be there to get a real sense for how good these guys really are. Also, like most sports, you can't appreciate how much better than a really good driver these guys are until you have had some track time yourself.

I have had rides in an R8 and a race prepped MR2 (a nice, inexpensive track machine by the way) driven by very fast licensed racers/instructors. Those rides were impressive, but absolutely eclipsed by rides I had with a Champ car driver in an R8 at Infineon. His ability to go so fast, but so much smoother than the previous instructors was mind blowing for me. Those guys can control the balance of the car so well and achieve turn-in rates in slow corners I didn't think were possible, all while holding a radio one hand, looking at students in the rear mirror, and heel toe shifting a manual with the other hand.

You can go pretty fast with bravery and brute force, two characteristics I constantly fight against. I am a little surprised that I haven't broken a shifter yet with my still uncontrolled excitement on the track. This guy looked smooth and precise. It must have been a fun and educational ride.

[desperado]

Steve, a very nicely expressed post and very true. Thank you!

[R84ME]

Neat video. That last exit where you drift out in front of the concrete divider protected by a few tires is scary though.

Boy, I'll say - found myself leaning the other way at my desk exiting that turn! It would do a nice job of splitting a car in half longitudinally if hit just right.

[RXBG]

excellent- "you can go fast with bravery and brute force"- well said.

and describes GTR drivers well ;p