Driversource TrackDay event @ TWS College Station | FerrariChat
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Driversource TrackDay event @ TWS College Station

Discussion in 'Texas' started by speedy_sam, Mar 5, 2008.

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  1. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

    Jul 13, 2004
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    #1 speedy_sam, Mar 5, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Last Friday, I participated in an trackday event coordinated by Driversource and Jeff Moore. They always run superb events with lots of track time, passenger rides in race cars, and ability to you to take passengers along for a ride. Met a couple Fchatters - (Dr. Who, Chet Parsons, Jagbuff).

    It was my first time at TWS. I like this circuit better than the MSR track - a lot more high speed running and some really cool corners. Driving along the banked straight at 120 mph and turning into a double apex corners 1, and 2 was real fun. The track surface was quite smooth as well.

    The cars that showed up were:
    Ferrari: F40, 348, 355, 430, 550M, 360 Challenge, 308
    RUF: CTR Yellowbird, RT12, RGT RS, RGT
    Porsche: 997 Turbo, 997 Carrera S, 996 GT3 Cup, 997 GT3
    Lotus: Elise
    Chevy Corvette Z06
    Mazda Miata Cup

    The best part of the day was that I got a couple laps as a passenger in the 360 Challenge and Ferrari F40 :cool:
    The Challenge car had amazing grip through the corners thanks to the underbody downforce and slick tires. It didn't have much low down torque (need to keep the revs high up) but the acceleration when it was on cam was superb. It seemed quite forgiving as well. I think it was hitting 150 mph on the straight.

    The F40 impressed me even more. Why? 1) I was driven by a racing driver with lots of racing experience 2) It had street Michelin PS2s. The car was really fast - hitting something like 160 mph on the front straight! I hear people complaining about the F40 brakes being poor but Steve (the driver) said that he had no issues with the stock brakes. I think this more a litmus test of the driver than the car. The car accelerated pretty smoothly till about 4000 rpm or so and then it just accelerated like a rocket when the turbos kicked in. A Thrill ride indeed!!! Steve said the F40 was his favorite car to drive on the track (and he has driven a lot of exotics and race cars) - fantastically direct steering, very responsive handling with no slack or slop anywhere. I can see how this car can scare the **** out of a ham fisted or booted driver but in the hands of the gifted it is like a bloody video game.
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  2. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

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    #2 speedy_sam, Mar 5, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  3. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

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    #3 speedy_sam, Mar 5, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  4. TexasF355F1

    TexasF355F1 Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #4 TexasF355F1, Mar 5, 2008
    Great pics! Sounds like one hell of a time out there.
     
  5. Driversource

    Driversource Formula Junior
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    Nov 8, 2003
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    #5 Driversource, Mar 5, 2008
    Thanks for posting those photos, Sameer. I'm glad you enjoyed the day. We're already looking into having another event in the fall, but will probably plan to have it at MSR for various reasons. TWS is a great course, though. In between coordinating the day's events, I had time to get my car out for a few laps as well and had a blast.
     
  6. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Eight Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 Texas Forever, Mar 5, 2008
    Kudos to Chet Parsons and Jeff Moore for putting this on. It really was a hoot. It was too bad that the FCA was MIA.

    Dale
     
  7. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

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    #7 speedy_sam, Mar 5, 2008
    Chet - MSR, TWS, Fiji ... wherever you host it I will be there! :)

    I also wondered why most of the FCA members were MIA - perhaps there was some other event running concurrently? At least Dale, Ronnie, Mike and I represented the Houston Chapter. :)

    Nearly a week on, I am still buzzed about my passenger ride in the F40 with Steve Ott. What an awesome experience! Next time I want a ride with Kathleen in her Cup car :)
     
  8. Pcar928fan

    Pcar928fan Formula 3

    Jan 21, 2008
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    #8 Pcar928fan, Mar 5, 2008
    A good driver in a cup car should hit 150 and an F40 at 160 would not surprise me a bit. In my '88 928 S4 I can hit 135 before I chicken out and I know some folks who could do better than that in my car. It is MUCH less capable around the last corner AND down the front straight than either of the cars you got to go for a ride in.

    What a great gathering of HIGH END metal! WOW! Wish I had been there just to watch (though I would have preferred driving!)...I just LOVE TWS!

    James
    Austin, TX
     
  9. LamboLover

    LamboLover F1 Rookie

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    #9 LamboLover, Mar 5, 2008
    Great photos. Wish I had known about this. Probably could have made it. :)
     
  10. Driversource

    Driversource Formula Junior
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    #10 Driversource, Mar 5, 2008
    I thought we spoke about this list being incomplete. There is no mention of the "vintage" BMW that was in attendance! I mean, it's bad enough nobody got any picture of it...
     
  11. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

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    #11 speedy_sam, Mar 5, 2008
    LOL.

    Addendum:

    The cars that showed up were:
    Ferrari: F40, 348, 355, 430, 550M, 360 Challenge, 308
    RUF: CTR Yellowbird, RT12, RGT RS, RGT
    Porsche: 997 Turbo, 997 Carrera S, 996 GT3 Cup, 997 GT3
    Lotus: Elise
    Chevy Corvette Z06
    Mazda Miata Cup
    BMW M3 E30
    Others ....
     
  12. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Eight Time F1 World Champ
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    #12 Texas Forever, Mar 5, 2008
    Are you talking about that POS M-3 that I blew off into the weeds?

    {Just kidding. Just kidding.}

    Again, thanks for a good time.

    Dale
     
  13. Pcar928fan

    Pcar928fan Formula 3

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    #13 Pcar928fan, Mar 5, 2008
    Dale,

    Did you drive your 550 on the TRACK? And you were giving me a hard time because I don't own one yet talked about how they ought to be driven on the track! Tisk, tisk, tisk! ;)

    I figured you were just pulling my leg about not taking a 550/575 on track! LOL!

    Best,

    James
    Austin, TX
     
  14. Bimmerista

    Bimmerista Formula 3

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    #14 Bimmerista, Mar 5, 2008
    Great pics! Thanks for sharing!
     
  15. nthfinity

    nthfinity F1 Veteran

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    #15 nthfinity, Mar 5, 2008
    Nice shots Sameer!
     
  16. WJHMH

    WJHMH Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #16 WJHMH, Mar 5, 2008
    Does Dave Scott still do events like this? I haven't seen him in years.

    Btw, excellent photos.
     
  17. Gonzalo92

    Gonzalo92 Formula Junior

    Dec 30, 2006
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    #17 Gonzalo92, Mar 5, 2008
    awesome pictures sameer, looks like a fun event
     
  18. F40meAgain

    F40meAgain Rookie

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    #18 F40meAgain, Mar 8, 2008
    I gate crashed the track day for whatever rides I could get! I was lucky enough to ride with Steve Ott in the F40 and it was amazing! I'm fairly new to cars but I could still appreciate every second of it! Thanks so much Jeff Moore, Steve Ott and the rest of you at DriverSource! I'll try and gate crash the next event too!
     
  19. Pcar928fan

    Pcar928fan Formula 3

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    #19 Pcar928fan, Mar 8, 2008
    Emily,

    Nice to see a young lady posting to our mostly boys club here!

    Best,
    James
    Austin, TX
     
  20. Driversource

    Driversource Formula Junior
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    Nov 8, 2003
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    #20 Driversource, Mar 9, 2008
    In all fairness, I think that was mostly due to the driver of the M3. That and 1/3 the cylinder count!
     
  21. F40meAgain

    F40meAgain Rookie

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    #21 F40meAgain, Mar 10, 2008

    Thanks James. I'm learning what I can from you boys!

    Emily
     
  22. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

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    #22 speedy_sam, Mar 10, 2008
    Yep Steve was brilliant. He made going fast look real easy. :)
     

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