Audi Experience at Infineon - November 11

[Jeff]

My wife and I are vacationing in Sonoma the second week of November and I have the pleasure of enjoying the Audi Experience on the Thursday, 11/11. By chance will anyone else be there?

[peterh]

Its a great program - enjoy! Have been there a number of times (I think we just about hold the record) If you have a chance, TonyB and Ken are our favorite instructors, but honestly they are all there to make sure you have a good time and learn some things too.

[raptorduck]

I did the school early this year and it was awesome. Plan to do the next level. Get a good night's sleep the night before as you will be feeling some g's.

[Roy Skousen]

I just got back from Infineon. There were three of us for the whole day. Talk about personal treatment. Ken was the instructor and each of us had an R8 and we just stayed on the track all day. We stopped for lunch did a few paddock drills and then it was back on the track. Infineon is all turns. Out of one turn setting up for the next. All about brakeing and rolling on the accelerator and balance of the car. If nothing else it gives you an appreciation for Ken and other drivers who run with the big dogs. I could really tell the difference between the V8 and the V10. When you are in a hole and accerating the extra torque is right there. It handles just the same but it can swing it's back side out if you chop up a turn. Now when I'm driving on the interstate, I'm looking for the apex of the turn and when my hands are straight the car is neutral and ready for the gas! Thanks to my lovely wife for the anniversery present. 22 years gents.

[harrison]

Congrats Mr.Scousen, a win, win, situation.

[desperado]

We were at Infineon last weekend for the Audi Club's Audifest. The local chapter sold 2-lap rides with the ASE instructors for a club fundraiser. Since I had my R8 there and was tracking it, I wasn't going to do the ride. After my wife took her laps, she bought me a ticket and said I had to participate. Wow, what an E-ticket ride! (you youngsters will have to look up the reference) Those guys really know that track and how to wring the most out of the car. Jeff, you will have a blast at the school.

[Jeff]

Just back from the one-day R8 Experience and thought I'd share.

The weather was perfect. Cool in the morning, a couple clouds but otherwise blue skies. Couldn't ask for anything better.

After a light breakfast, we split into two groups -- one doing slalom drills in TTS's and one doing turns (break, apex, accelerate) in R8s. Both drills were very helpful in preparing for track time in the R8.

After drills, Ken explained the track, where to turn, where to break, when to shift (3 to 4 or 4 to 3). Having never been on the track, I didn't fully appreciate the various "and you'll be cresting a hill and have no idea what's on the other side" comments until we got out there.

Then it was grab helmets and head to the R8s for the first runs of the day.

(Side note -- my car had the full leather interior -- should I get another, that is a must.)

I was alone, so had an R8 to myself. Most others were driver and passenger, switching off halfway through the driving portion. Later in the day, I chose to sit out rather than passenger -- there's a lot of Gs in either seat and I decided I'd rather keep my inner ear balance intact.

The track was a blast. Up, down, curves everywhere, fastest speed I saw was 106, and I had very little time to look (almost no time in fact). I pushed the car very hard, feeling the limits of the stock Pirelli's far too often. We did three or four laps, then into the pits for a break and driver change. You might think that was too little track time, but it wasn't. It was exactly right. Any more, and I think some people -- especially the passengers -- would have started getting ill.

We had a very nice lunch break for an hour and I had a chance to chat with several other drivers. One was a retired music teacher from Pennsylvania, another a mom from nearby (her 18 year old son was taking photos), and the most interesting was a guy from Paris who's turning 40 this weekend and the track day was a present from his wife. All in all, a great group.

Two more driving sessions followed lunch, each lap getting faster and feeling ever-so-close to the edge. Great fun.

For the last session, I rode as passenger with the instructor in a TTS. He was so calm and relaxed yet took the track perfectly each time. I learned a lot from being in the passenger seat, but am glad it was only for four laps.

In all, I highly recommend this to anyone who owns an R8. There's so much more to the car I drive every day than I ever imagined.

[dailydriver]

Just back from the one-day R8 Experience and thought I'd share.

The weather was perfect. Cool in the morning, a couple clouds but otherwise blue skies. Couldn't ask for anything better.

After a light breakfast, we split into two groups -- one doing slalom drills in TTS's and one doing turns (break, apex, accelerate) in R8s. Both drills were very helpful in preparing for track time in the R8.

After drills, Ken explained the track, where to turn, where to break, when to shift (3 to 4 or 4 to 3). Having never been on the track, I didn't fully appreciate the various "and you'll be cresting a hill and have no idea what's on the other side" comments until we got out there.

Then it was grab helmets and head to the R8s for the first runs of the day.

(Side note -- my car had the full leather interior -- should I get another, that is a must.)

I was alone, so had an R8 to myself. Most others were driver and passenger, switching off halfway through the driving portion. Later in the day, I chose to sit out rather than passenger -- there's a lot of Gs in either seat and I decided I'd rather keep my inner ear balance intact.

The track was a blast. Up, down, curves everywhere, fastest speed I saw was 106, and I had very little time to look (almost no time in fact). I pushed the car very hard, feeling the limits of the stock Pirelli's far too often. We did three or four laps, then into the pits for a break and driver change. You might think that was too little track time, but it wasn't. It was exactly right. Any more, and I think some people -- especially the passengers -- would have started getting ill.

We had a very nice lunch break for an hour and I had a chance to chat with several other drivers. One was a retired music teacher from Pennsylvania, another a mom from nearby (her 18 year old son was taking photos), and the most interesting was a guy from Paris who's turning 40 this weekend and the track day was a present from his wife. All in all, a great group.

Two more driving sessions followed lunch, each lap getting faster and feeling ever-so-close to the edge. Great fun.

For the last session, I rode as passenger with the instructor in a TTS. He was so calm and relaxed yet took the track perfectly each time. I learned a lot from being in the passenger seat, but am glad it was only for four laps.

In all, I highly recommend this to anyone who owns an R8. There's so much more to the car I drive every day than I ever imagined.

Great recap on your day - thanks for sharing. It would be cool if they would throw a GT into the mix but there wouldn't be enough to go around.

[SDR8]

I am glad you had a great time. It is an experience I suggest all the R8 owners try.

I did the two day class. All of the driving was in R8s. We had 10 students and two instructors. When it came to track time, the lead instructor lead a group of 6 students (in 3 cars) and the other instructor had the remaining 4 students (in 2 cars). Due to our numbers, each rotation was around seven laps (1 to warm up, and 2 for each car to be behind the instructor). If you have a choice, pick the smaller group. You will get more laps following the instructor. I do recommend asking to be a passenger in the instructors car too. It is amazing how well they do (driving the course at a good speed, watching the students in the mirrors, talking on the students radio and talking on the instructors radio).

Several of the other members here have taken the class and all raved about it. It is a great program and you will learn a lot about the car.

[BlkwdwR8]

I'm really surprised the 1 day class isn't included with the car. Even BMW includes the M Driving experience with any M car purchase, all you have to supply is airfare. Be nice if Audi did the same thing, or at the very least significantly discounted the 1 and 2 day classes for owners.