Learning The Limits

[Killer Bee]

Just bought a new ACR and although I have many years pushing the limits something tells me there is a dark side to the handling of this car. Who has experience out there with driving schools tailored to the Viper? All suggestions appreciated.
BTW,
I have already used the one suggestion "Just get in and floor it".

Lance

Might take me a while to get used to this "Forum Thing" so be patient....

 

[Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder]

Enjoying the performance of the Viper is a lot of fun. My driving school of choice is Skip Barber. VCA members receive discounts ranging from 25 to 10%. The 2 day school has a 25% discount which will pay for 3 plus years of VCA membership. All other programs are discounted 10%, including the Barber Racing series.

Contact your local club officers to get approval to organize a Viper specific Skip Barber school. Skip Barber will put the school under their corporate program. For the past 3 years N.CA. Region (organized by Terri Angen) has worked with Skip Barber to provide a Viper specific program. This years program was June 11, 2002 and a great school. We will have another school in early Sept. to get members ready for VOI7 driving events.

You want a serious bump is driving skills, organize a 2 or 3 day VCA specific school. If you want help let me know.

 

[SoCal Craig]

Viper Days will be at Buttonwillow in September. That's a good event and track to get started on. I went in February and highly recommend it.
http://www.viperdays.com/

Road One is at Willow Springs next month. I've never been but a friend of mine is an instructor and I heard they only run two groups with seven 1/2 hour sessions. You get an instructor for each session. Expensive, but I've heard nothing but good things about this DE event.
http://www.roadoneracing.com/

You'll be impressed at how well the Viper handles on a track. It just feels at home going fast on smooth pavement.

Good luck and look forward to meeting you.

 

[Vic]

I find that the car does tend to oversteer, with equal tire pressures, but it can be controlled by feathering the throttle gently back. At least thats my recent experiences. I didn't launch an all-out assault on the ragged edge, I just kinda bumped it a little. If you go at it without any finese, I'm sure you will just break loose and spin round and round. Practice going around KNOWN turns faster and faster until you find the ragged edge where the rear end starts to go out. I heard here that you can reduce oversteer by going like 32 rear, and 34 front. You can search all this stuff on this site. I'm just starting to learn this stuff, so ask around. Lots of experience on this board.

Viper Days at Willow is a must, (I'm fixin on going soon).

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Skip Barber is probably good, but you HAVE to go to Viper Days.

 

[Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder]

Viper Days is a great event for Viper owners. And there is an emphasis on safety. Great People, lots of track time, great track services (changing fluids, tires, rear ends, brake pads or brake system up grade to a Stop Tech system, and Bobby Archer may even have an engine hidden in his trailer)

I endorse Viper Days 100%!

But the intensive training at Skip Barber is very hard to compare to an open track event of any kind. The both can help maximize your performance driving pleasure. I suggest driving schools before open track to give drivers car control experience. Also do autocross events to stay in tune with the edge. Your favorite turn on the highway may not be your best friend if you find the edge.

Find the edge at Viper Days with skills from Skip Barber to help get you around the track without getting a Woodchuck.

 

[SoCal Rebell]

Go for a ride with Paul Mumford, Ken Adelberg or John Dearing at Willow Springs, you'll learn the limits REAL quick.

I think that Viperdays at Buttonwillow in Sept. is a good place to start. If you wanna get your feet wet John Dearing and I are going to Willow Springs on Friday July 12th with www.wurthmotorsports.com I think John may be an instructor that day, even if he isn't you can ride with us and we'll ride with you, most important is: Learn from someone who drives a Viper well, the snake is a different animal.

 

[Killer Bee]

Thank you!

This Board is a great resource.......

I will be on the phone today with some of the contacts mentioned. I am not new to being on a course, but don't have the skills/experience to run with the fast. I want the option of running the car hard when needed with confidence. I have had the chance to drive with instructors and drivers in the past and I know how much the learning curve is shortened. I admit I need help and no worries about paying for it, probably cheap in the long run. Not only am I new to the Viper, but most of the places I am tossing the car around have guardrails etc........want my first runoffs in a more forgiving place. I know how hard I push the limits and it is coming - actually cant wait.

I look forward to meeting local owners. My office is in Newport near John Wayne. Whoever is in the area drop me a note and we can get together.

I am doing my homework on suspension, tire/wheel, motor and exhaust upgrades now. Sounds as though I am lucky to be in this location, many companies in the area. I would like to talk to some locals with mod experience to see if I am on the right track.....


Thanks,


Lance