Always windows down. -not so hot, hand signals, can hear the exhaust better (more fun). Also agree very much with Dan about instructor's experience in a Viper. It ain't like the other cars out there.....at all. I think even the Z06 guys have an easier time with control. (not as much chance of getting bit) Those are very fast, similar power to the Viper, but not as much a handful to drive at/close to the limit. ( I took my Corvette to the track once and found it quite boring ) An instructor that's only used to a 'momentum car' like a Lotus, Miata, M3, or something like that, will get you killed in a Viper. I've rode with some good drivers in those kinds of cars, and they approach the track completely different. In a Viper you need to scrub some speed before you turn in, then you fix it with the throttle on the corner exit. A miata doesn't need brakes, they just go full blast constantly (it seems like) If they do hit the brakes, it takes them three laps to regain what they lost (it seems like). ......Slow in - fast out, Viper still smokes the little cars on a full lap.