I arrived at the track this morning at 8 a.m. and headed straight for the R8s. They had four of them - two Tiptronic and two manuals. Absolutely gorgeous! Lots of pictures that I hope to post an url to later.
After a 30 minute classroom session talking about Quattro and driving dynamics, we piled into 11 A4s A6s, and A3s for steering exercise. Twenty two in the class, two students/car, switching places after a few "laps" of the parking lot. Not really exciting..... infact, down-right boring, but......
Second exercise was an emergency lane change without brakes using A6s. The class broke up into three sections. This exercise is a standard in most driving schools and not too challenging.
Next our team of 6 souls was off to the auto cross exercise. Three different cars: The A3 (best times), the A8L (very impressive handling for such a large car), and the Q7 with the 4.2L engine. We each got three runs with all three cars. Lots of fun.
Then, back to the front straightaway of Pocono for an emergency lane change *with* brakes driving A4s with the 3.2L engine. We could brake anytime after we got in "the box" (group of cones arranged on either side of a lane leading to an "accident" (cones laid on their side in the traffic lane). Again, this is a standard excercise at lots of different drivin schools, but it was fun to wait until the very last second to apply the brakes.
Off to get our helmets for the main track exercise with both the RS4 and the R8. I take an XXL wearing a ballaclava (head sock). Did I ever tell you I hate helmets. I know they are necessary and have a job to do, but I despise them.
The RS4 is a wonderful machine, not as quick as my RS6, but it would lose the RS6 in the twisties. This exercise was a lead and follow. The instructor was in an S5 (in Arrest-Me Red). We went through turn
1 at Pocono and then hard on the brakes, stay to the right next to the wall, down shift to 3rd and a sharp left onto the infield. There were two turns, but I made it into one sweeping one, on the gas, then quick braking and a 90 degree turn to the left, accelerate at the apex while still in 3rd, then hard on the brakes for a carousel type turn, hit the apex and hard on the gas to the turn-out, to the right for another left hand turn at speed, small straight-away, little braking, then hard on the gas back onto the Raceway and turn 1. All of this following the instructor very closely (3 car lengths!).We started out going a max speed of about 60 on the raceway (4th gear), and ended up doing around 95. The instructor took us up to max speed gradually on each lap. I was very impressed with how easily the RS4 turned in after jumping on the brakes for the first turn into the infield. Great fun.
Then it was my partner's turn and I sat in the right seat cheering her on. She did well and it was also loads of fun sitting in the right seat.
The R8: What can I say? Absolutely beautiful to look at. Engine under glass. When you drive it you have a sense of its power looming behind you. Lots of room in the cabin (for two, of course), and four bags of groceries, or a set of golf clubs, or a wader bag and a couple of fly rod tubes behind the seats. No squwenching an adult sideways ala the Porsche 911.
Same exercise, only we started at about 80 on Turn 1 and worked our way up to about 115. Hard on the brakes for the first turn-in, close to the wall, downshift with the paddle (the engine blips to match the speed just like you *should* do with a manual). This car, the R8, is absolutely unbelievable in the twisties. I was amazed at how it handled, especially after driving the RS4 at speed. In the turn after the carousel turn I could get the car in a four wheel drift to the right by simply using the gas pedal. I should mention that we are doing this with only about 3 car lengths between me and the instructor I am following. I think I did five laps, but you could probably convince me I only did 3, or maybe 7. My mind was not on counting laps.
Back to the starting gate and switch drivers. I had picked up a new driver because I "scared" my female partner in the RS4 exercise. She didn't want to go that fast. d;o) Not a peep out of this new partner. Off we went again following the instructor at about 3 car lengths (imagine that at 115 mph!). When I was driving my senses were pre-occupied with driving. When sitting in the right seat going through Turn 1 (banked) at 115 mph, I suddenly became very aware of the Gs we were pulling. With the heavy helmet on, I gave into the Gs and let my head rest against the window. Hey, I'm an old man (70)!
After my partner did his five laps, we returned to the helmet shed, turned in the helmets, and proceeded back to the auto-cross area where a 3.2 L TT was waiting for us. We each got two laps of the course we were familiar with from the previous excercise with the A3, A8L, and Q7. but this time we would be times. I took the fastest lap of my six person group, beating out a young fellow by 1/100 of a sec. It was also the 2nd fasted time of all 22 drivers.
At 12:15 or so, we returned to the barn, parked the school cars, and went inside for a very nice lunch. All in all it was the best Audi driving experience I have been too (two Audi Hands On in the 80s, and a Driving Experience two years ago at Road Atlanta.) I was very impressed with the amount of cars Audi supplied for the exercises, and the amount of different models. A first class presentation. I couldn't have expected less from Audi.
The downer for the day was having to drive back to Massachusetts and face all the New York and Connecticut left lane bandits. At one point in NY, I passed fifteen cars who were in the go fast lane, all going at or about the speed limit. They reminded me of sheep going to slaughter.
My R8 should arrive in about a year. In the meantime, I have decided to go to the Audi Sports Car Experience at Infinity Raceway in Sonoma, California. One full day in the R8! I am sold!
Dave
03 RS6