YOU can drive the high banks! | FerrariChat

YOU can drive the high banks!

Discussion in 'South Central - USA (TN, MS, AL, GA)' started by Gatorrari, Jul 2, 2014.

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  1. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    #1 Gatorrari, Jul 2, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    In May 2011, I took advantage of an offer to drive my Ferrari on the high banks of Talladega Superspeedway, as part of an effort to raise money for the American Red Cross for Alabama tornado relief. Even though I never got much above 100 MPH, it was still a blast, and the sort of thing every owner of a Ferrari (or similar car) should do. I look at the photo and somehow it reminds me of that Ferrari 1-2-3 finish at Daytona in 1967.

    Well, now the opportunity presents itself again, on July 26, for one day only. I'll pass this time, but if you haven't done this before, consider doing it. It's for a good cause, and you'll be glad you did it. (And if you're like me, you'll tour the museum adjacent to the track as long as you are there.)

    Lucky Dog: Want to drive your car around Talladega Superspeedway?
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  2. Scaledetails

    Scaledetails F1 Rookie
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    #2 Scaledetails, Jul 3, 2014
    Sounds like fun, except the part "limited to highway speeds". I can do that on my street.
     
  3. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    #3 Gatorrari, Jul 3, 2014
    Yeah, Stephane, but on a 33-degree banking? It's like driving on the inside of a giant salad bowl.

    When I went, they took about 12 cars out at a time, which on a 2.66-mile track meant that everyone got spread out in a hurry. Before long I didn't see the car in front of me or the one behind, and I probably could have gone at least 110.

    And you won't have to be looking over your shoulder for a traffic cop!
     
  4. Scaledetails

    Scaledetails F1 Rookie
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    #4 Scaledetails, Jul 4, 2014
    That's good, because going around highway speeds on these banks wouldn't be safe at all. 110+ would be more appropriate.
     
  5. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    #5 Gatorrari, Jul 4, 2014
    I know what you mean! I first got up to 90, and the car felt like it wanted to slide down the banking. Speed up to 100, and it felt well "planted" in the middle lane. The car certainly felt like it wanted to go faster (of course, it's a Ferrari!) but the driver was "pollo"!

    One reason the cars might have been as spread out as they were was that the Jeep Wrangler driver who was in front of me got cold feet almost immediately and pulled off. I guess he felt like the Jeep was going to tip over!
     
  6. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    #6 Gatorrari, Jul 4, 2014
    And I wasn't the only Ferrari doing it that day. I saw a 308 on the track in the next run group, so I waited for it to come in. It turned out to be Branko Medenica from Birmingham. We exchanged pleasantries and then went inside together to buy our on-track photos.

    If you have any reservation, fuhgeddaboudit! Just do it; you'll have fun (at any speed) and it's for a good cause.
     
  7. Scaledetails

    Scaledetails F1 Rookie
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    #7 Scaledetails, Jul 5, 2014
    LOL! A jeep on that track would not be smart.
     
  8. FastLapp

    FastLapp F1 Rookie

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    #8 FastLapp, Jul 6, 2014
    There are a number of HPDE events where you can take your car up on the banks as fast as you'd like. Just Track It has days at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Talladega for reasonable prices (justtrackit.net). They utilize some of the banks as well as the in-field course. Would be great to see some F-cars there!
     
  9. 4re308

    4re308 F1 Rookie

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    #9 4re308, Jul 6, 2014
    Sounds like fun!!
     
  10. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #10 Dr Tommy Cosgrove, Jul 6, 2014
    Jim isn't kidding.

    I did the same event and actually chickened out a little in the banking and dove down some on the first approach. It is just not anything like you think it is until you are driving it - you would swear there is no way you won't roll over the first time your on it.

    I was fine on the second one. Lot of fun. I was in the Scirocco and I had my speedometer needle all the way down past the 100 mark (the max on the dial) and had it resting on the trip clear pin at 6:00. :D

    It is not the original speedometer, I have a different transmission with a different speedometer gear screwed on it and different size wheels and tires so who knows how fast I was going but I do know it can hit the trip reset button if I want it too!

    I'm gonna go this thing in a couple of weeks in the 308. It is worth it just for the picture and I am not even a NASCAR fan
     
  11. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
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    #11 Mike C, Jul 6, 2014
    Sounds fun! Do they take the photo like that as part of the event?
     
  12. andy308

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    #12 andy308, Jul 7, 2014
    Sounds like an Fchat get together. What time are you planning to arrive?
     
  13. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #13 Dr Tommy Cosgrove, Jul 7, 2014
    yep!
     
  14. Scaledetails

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    #14 Scaledetails, Jul 7, 2014
    I agree. I would do it just for the picture alone. Looks very cool.
     
  15. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    #15 Gatorrari, Jul 7, 2014
    Remember, they charge $10 extra for the photo, but there wasn't a single person there who wasn't getting one, and the $10 goes for charity as well.

    They actually take photos on 2 or 3 of your laps and you get to choose which one to get printed out.
     
  16. Mike C

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    #16 Mike C, Jul 7, 2014
    It's on my calendar for sure!
     
  17. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    #17 Gatorrari, Jul 25, 2014
  18. andy308

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    #18 andy308, Jul 26, 2014
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    My friend Joe and I got up early and headed to Alabama to drive Talladega, of course we stopped by Waffle House first since this is the South and due to the fact that I forgot to account for the 1 hour time difference so we had plenty of time.

    Even after breakfast we still arrived at about 8:30am and found ourselves second in line behind a nice bunch of kids and their Mustang. After a few minutes Mike from Huntsville pulled up in his 308 so 2/3's of the cars were Ferrari's. We waited a few more minutes until 9am and a 4th car pulled in behind Mike (a camaro if I remember corectly), we all paid our 50 bucks and onto the track we went.

    It has been a few years since I drove this track and you forget just how steep a 33 degree banking is until you drive it, just insane! Since there were only 4 of us on that initial group I was able to let the Mustang get out ahead of me and then get up to 120mph or so.

    It was a great time far a good cause and then we headed back to Atlanta to enjoy the rest of the day. I will try to post up some video we took as well.
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  19. andy308

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    #19 andy308, Jul 26, 2014
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  20. andy308

    andy308 Formula 3

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    #20 andy308, Jul 26, 2014
  21. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
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    #21 Mike C, Jul 26, 2014
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    Great video! And you didn't lose me... I let you get ahead so I had plenty of room :)

    I hit 115 on the straight, but I only had the guts to carry it at 100 on that steep bank!
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  22. andy308

    andy308 Formula 3

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    #22 andy308, Jul 26, 2014
    Great to meet you today Mike. Glad you got her up into triple digits! 
     
  23. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    #23 Gatorrari, Jul 26, 2014
    Yeah, like I said, it's kinda like driving on the inside of the world's biggest salad bowl, right?

    Way to go, guys! I love the video. And you had fun being charitable! I rather wish other tracks, like Atlanta Motor Speedway, would do likewise.
     

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