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It sounds like a true Italian experience and it's definitely not the deal it first appeared to be. I may check it out anyway, I have heard stories that our club used to autocross on the fairgrounds and it seems favorable to us that this type of event is permitted there. I'll have to bring along my shrub disguise to avoid the $5 spectator fee

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92 Miata 1.9L naturally aspirated. SSM 21

I have a friend whose wife bought him one of these for his 40th birthday this year. He was all proud because he got to "drive a Lamborghini" This same friend I have essentially begged and pleaded to come autocross my vette for years... for free... He didn't seem to like it when I pointed this out. I know my vette isn't a Lamborghini, but I also would have no such restrictions on him.

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'07, '08, '11 Autocross VP
'06, '10 Mike Dishman Cup
'21 MX5, '13 Corvette GS, '92 Corvette 383 c.i. 413whp/390wtq, '03 Expedition

You may have got to the core of the attraction here Les (as well as why your friend will not autocross your car).

(1) It gives the bragging rights to say "I got to drive a Lamborghini" without really driving a Lamborghini.

(2) They don't have to worry about actually being fast in a competitive environment. When the topic of driving comes up in casual conversation, who doesn't say they are a good/great driver? Most people will toot their horn in public, but when given the opportunity to objectively measure themselves, they shy away. Basically they don't want the world to see them exposed as the frauds they suspect they are!

I almost wonder if a way to introduce people to the sport would be un-timed runs.

Richard

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

We already have novice schools, don't we?

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In need of car.

The website says the event will held in the lot at the intersection of Blue Ridge and Trinity, a very small lot. Good luck to 'em!

BTW -- my first autocrossing experience (not an actual autocross) was a THSCC charity event for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. It wasn't for THSCC competitors, it was for the general public to try out autocross. I believe I paid $15 for 2 or 3 laps on short course set up on the midway, liked it, and paid for a second $15 stint. THSCC provided the cars (rented Mustang GT convertibles) running on tires donated by Colony Tire. First time I recall seeing George Bright.

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Art McDonald
Premier Amateur #518
2008 Dishman Cup
Pivot Cone Snob

Rodney is a waxer (but in a good way)

Honestly, this sounds like a creative way to finance a 360 and a Gallardo but I definitely applaud the business model. I'd be more concerned about a customer putting one into a curb though.

There's no way to enforce a 5k rev limit and this might put it in perspective relative to how far the needle goes:

That's a good point. I can't say I completely understand the disconnect. I also wonder if someone who is just getting into this may not really understand how fun ANY type of driving school can be. Maybe school = not fun, while instruction = fun? Maybe we need to charge crazy money to create perception of value? Who knows.


I suspect your point is that the car revs quick and has an 8.5K redline. So it is unrealistic. They are likely not enforcing a 5K limit, but they may have some limit. I think enforcing a limit would be easy with the right equipment.

When I rented the track car in Germany for the Nurburgring, they had rev restrictions. You could run to just right at or about 200 RPM above redline, but they had a graduated fee system for X, Y, and Z number of revs above that value. Their primary focus was to protect against accidental over-rev via bad shifts (trying for 3rd to 4th and getting 3rd to 2nd, etc.). They had some type of piggyback logging system in which they checked the data when you returned the car. It did put some fear into me and I tried hard to not hit redline all day (did it at least once, but never did over-rev). They showed us a video of someone accidently over revving one of their rentals (bent valves), then continuing to try to drive hard before the car put itself into limp mode.

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

man i would be all over a 458, but the money penalty yall speak about.. That is nuts, for a poor boy like me, that is like saying money for having blonde hair.
I like my video game gt6 instead. I can virtually drive crazy shit and not pay money. Anyhow, at the car expo at fairgrounds sometimes, i can drive cool stuff at regular road speeds, and have squeaked tires in a wrangler, jumped on it in a camaro ss, and done cool stuff for free. I wanna go out and beat on the e30 for 200-300 dollars anyhow. That way, i can embaress supercar owners with a 2000 dollar jalopy of a bmw!

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hey yall,watch this...

Yes I was there. The MADD people started getting all pissy. That is when the DAMM buttons made their debut.

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George Bright Member # 141
One of the youngest of the old farts.
Yes I voted against you joining the club.

A friend of mine did this. His wife got it for him for x-mas using the groupon. He got 4 runs. Here's a short video

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kPChmXXq-Xo

He has never autocrossed before but had fun and is now looking for an autocross car.

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09 Bullitt - DD
11 Fusion - Wife's DD
03 Mazda6 - Track car
00 PSD Excursion - Tow rig
67 Firebird - Don't you still own your 1st car?
61 F100 - Dad's truck
90 Moto Guzzi Calif III - Tourer
00 Cagiva - Adventure bike
00 DRZ400 - Woods bike