Racing Schools - Lateral-g Forums

**XcYZ** · #1 08-24-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfain

I moved to Pahrump and did the engineering and supervised the construction of the orignal 2.2 mile circuit of Spring Mountain for Rupert Bragg-Smith, the original owner/designer.

Pappy (56 Corvette Road Racer)

Wow, awesome. Not to hijack Todd's thread, but since you played a major role in SM, what features of the track do you like best and what do you like least? Is there a certain corner or progression of corners that really stand out? I'll be going there in a few months and I'm curious about it from your side of the fence.

**GregWeld** · #2 08-24-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XcYZ

Wow, awesome. Not to hijack Todd's thread, but since you played a major role in SM, what features of the track do you like best and what do you like least? Is there a certain corner or progression of corners that really stand out? I'll be going there in a few months and I'm curious about it from your side of the fence.

Scott --- 8 and 9 then 10 (I think those are the numbers) 10 being the last turn onto the straight -- are the turns I liked best... if you hit them right - you could haul some mail -- and if you came in too fast - you're bungholio was puckering as you tried to gather it up! Coming out of 10 - if you carried your speed through 8 and 9 -- you could drift to the wall as you grabbed another gear going up the hill... WAY FUN!

The top of the straight - is a fast right hander --- but it's blind going in (almost) and I was hauling up there and some dufus had spun and was sittin' sideways in the middle of the turn.... THAT is where your koolness comes in -- and you could slam the binders and t-bone him - or you could just drive around him and hammer the loud pedal.... EEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAA

I drove around him -- then cleaned up afterwards. LOL

Shoulda seen the look on his face!!

Vegas69 · #3 08-24-2009, 08:32 PM

Damn you make it sound fun Greg! So you did the one day Z06 experience at Bondurant only? That looks like it could be a good first course for me and I have a buddy in Scottsdale anyway. Which class did you take at Spring Mountain?

**GregWeld** · #4 08-24-2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegas69

Damn you make it sound fun Greg! So you did the one day Z06 experience at Bondurant only? That looks like it could be a good first course for me and I have a buddy in Scottsdale anyway. Which class did you take at Spring Mountain?

I will tell you Todd that doing this (either one) was the most fun I've ever had doing anything... totally serious here! The best 3 days a guy can have!

I did the Ron Fellows school while at SM...

In fact -- while at SM -- they had the C5 ZO6's and the new C6 "regular" Vettes... the guys I was with (we took the whole class up so we could "own" the track) loved the older ZO6's... while the newer and lighter (and more nimble) C6's were my pick. I'm short at 5'5" and the new Vette just fits me better. It reminded me of "back in da day" when I had a 66 and my best buddy (now brother in law) had a 68 BB Vette... I just couldn't drive that 68 with it's laid back seat position... and the big fenders -- I couldn't see a damn thing!

LOL

**GregWeld** · #5 08-24-2009, 08:52 PM

Yeah --- this is the only thing that holds most guys back from doing the ultimate thrill --- it's not cheap... but it's worth EVERY DOLLAR and then some!

Okay -- the shifter karts -- a must do thrill ride -- do 0 to 100 mph in 6 seconds... they're about an inch off the ground - making the feeling of doing 80 feel like mach 10.... and shifting them is a blast!!

Vegas69 · #6 08-24-2009, 08:58 PM

Dude, I spend 3k on parts without blinking....it's not holding me back!

I have to put it in perspective for myself.

It's a done deal, I just have to figure out what I'm doing. Not sure I have time to make the bondurant special. The thought of learning on my home track has it's advantages as well. You must of done the spring mountain school 3 years ago. I wonder if it's progressed. John Parsons just got done with it, I'll have to talk to him more about his experience as well.

**GregWeld** · #7 08-24-2009, 08:33 PM

Here's the SM track -- the school I took only used the lower part... you can see the sweeping 8 into 9 and out on 10 I was talking about in my earlier post...
http://www.springmountainmotorsports...acklayout2.jpg

**GregWeld** · #8 08-24-2009, 08:37 PM

I just checked the Bondurant school line up - they still offer the ZO6 exerience - but it's now 1 or 2 days - your choice. I did 3 days - and had my (at the time) 17 year old enrolled in the 3 day Teenage drivers school... he's 22 now and still talking about the fun he had and what he learned.

Vegas69 · #9 08-24-2009, 08:42 PM

It looks like bondurant is offering some nice specials. hmmmm http://www.bondurant.com/high_perfor...l/specials.php

mfain · #10 08-24-2009, 09:17 PM

To answer Scott's question, I guess the most important thing to remember is that exit speed (off a corner) is more important than entry speed. If you blast around turn one, a 300 ft. radius/180 right turn and exit way to the left, then you are in the wrong position to hit the apex on turn 2 (a 180 degree left hander). This will cost you a lot of speed and time. The same applies at turn 9 that Greg mentions -- if you are too fast entering turn 9, you will exit way right and will not be able to enter turn 10 with any chance of having a good line from which to accelerate out of the turn onto the front straight. Greg also mentions blind turns. The car goes where you look, and if you don't know the course and don't look where the asphalt goes (whether you can see it or not), then you may not hold a good line. Like I said earlier, it is a pretty technical course and a blast to drive.

Pappy