| Author |
Message |
Jack (Gilles27)
Member
Username: Gilles27
Post Number: 758
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 4:29 pm: | |
Kevin, have you looked into Bertl (sp?) Roos? His school is down in Kentucky or Virginia, and I believe they run F2000 cars. Judging by this site, a lot of people have had good Skip Barber experiences. But having already driven with slicks and wings, you might not enjoy it as much as someone for whom it's their first experience. |
Kevin Butler (Challenge)
Junior Member
Username: Challenge
Post Number: 159
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 9:36 am: | |
Jon -
I'm glad I'm not alone here. You warned me I would become addicted; well, it happened. I'm not sure I want to mortgage the house for it just yet...that may take a couple of more sessions!
Skippy may be my next move. I guess I will check the Summit schedule to see what they have available since it is probably the closest track. The organizer told me there is a 2-day session at Summit later this month running the Superfox cars. $995 for 2 days on the Jefferson circuit.
Those stats are amazing. They said these cars go 0-60 in 4.2sec and have a top speed of 160. But what surprised me is how easily I adapted to the performance. It really helps being that low to the ground. After stopping the car after my first run, the instructor asked me what I thought. I replied "I love lateral G's!"
Kevin |
Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Member
Username: 95f355c
Post Number: 625
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 6:54 pm: | |
Kevin,
There is no turning back now....welcome to the dark side! Mortgage the house, get the kids employed, tell the wife to get a second job, rob a bank.
All kidding aside there is nothing on the street that can compare to a Formula car. You might be able to get a thrill in an Enzo or a similar exotic but where can you use that kind of performance and even at the track a 150 hp Formula car will dust the Enzo.
I race a Spec Racer with 105 hp (on a good day) and folks ask how I can race such a slow car compared to my 400 hp F car. Just to give you an idea Kevin, since you have been to Summit Point. The Spec Racer is faster from turn 1 to turn 9 by nearly a second.
The 355 is a total 5 seconds per lap faster than the spec car (1:19 vs. 1:24) all that is made up between turn 9, 10 and down the striaght into turn 1. I hit nearly 125 mph under the bridge before braking for turn 10 in the 355. The Spec car is doing maybe 110 or a bit less.
Exit speed out of turn 10 onto the straight is about the same (spec car is maybe 3-5 mph faster through there) but at the end of the straight the spec car is doing 115-120 while the 355 is between 155-160 mph.
A Formula Atlantic car which has "only" 245 hp can turn a 1:07 at Summit.
Nothing beats a Formula car. Now that you are addicted there is no turning back.
Maybe you should try a Skip Barber School next!
Regards,
Jon P. Kofod
1995 F355 Challenge #23
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Kevin Butler (Challenge)
Junior Member
Username: Challenge
Post Number: 155
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 1:44 pm: | |
It was set up in the parking area of Hershey Park (amusement park) in Hershey, PA. They created two tracks using lime and pylons. Don't let the parking lot scenario fool you...it felt like a little road course. |
Jack (Gilles27)
Member
Username: Gilles27
Post Number: 752
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 12:32 pm: | |
Kevin, what track did they use? I know how much fun that can be. What's next? |
Kevin Butler (Challenge)
Junior Member
Username: Challenge
Post Number: 153
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 12:23 pm: | |
Andreas - check them out here.
http://formula101.com/ |
Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Member
Username: Tifosi12
Post Number: 868
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 11:51 am: | |
Kevin, sounds like you had a blast, great!
I only know driving101 and they're pretty cool too, but would like to give that Reynard a try.
Do these guys have a website? |
Kevin Butler (Challenge)
Junior Member
Username: Challenge
Post Number: 152
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 9:53 am: | |
I tried my hand at driving a Formula 2000 Reynard car over the weekend. It was a half-day driving "seminar" put on by a company called Formula 101. They had two courses set up in a huge parking lot. After some familiarization with the car, tracks, racing line, and flags we were strapped in. I got to go for about 35-40 laps total. I have to say I loved it!
Out of 10 guys in the session, I placed 5th in terms of speed (5-lap total ET) however of the 4 that beat me at least 3 had raced these cars before...some actually showed up with their own Nomex suits with Skippy patches. My average lap time was less than 2 seconds off the leader.
It felt as though as soon as I was getting my line down it was time to go home! These cars are a blast and make road cars seem like mere transportation. I am addicted to drifting!! These cars will drift so nice and predictably that you can clip apexes like coupons. I felt my main struggle with lap times was getting used to how f-ing LATE you can brake SLAMMING into turns. I know with more time I could get used to it, but my mind kept telling me it wasn't possible.
I would highly recommend Formula 101 if they come to your town as a first step intro to driving race cars. I want to move to the next level! |