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How is COTA during December? is it really cold and is the performance program busy during that time?
Last year I think someone said it was mild temp wise but poured the rain the whole time, flooding in the surrounding areas. I went in April, high 60s the whole time.
You can also use your Private Lounge discount (20%) if youre on the AMG Forum btw.
hello, I’m new to the forums; I just seen where you can get 20% off for private lounge, if I already paid can I go back an ask for the discount?
btw I’m going to road to Atlanta in may, I have never driven an MB before.
After purchase of my new car I signed up for Laguna Seca in September which I'm very much looking forward to it! I will also be doing a track day in May near home and I'm really interested how that feels compared to the few years of motorcycle track days I've done in the past. Know the track fairly well but I'm sure its a whole new ball game on 4 wheels . . .
I raced motorcycles for a couple seasons and have done tons of track days. This format is totally different, much more managed than a track day.
At Laguna, and I imagine as well for the other tracks, it is broken down into two sets of groups. One set hits the track and starts doing the lead follow exercises and the other set hits the infield area and works on a different set of exercises, braking, slalom, skid pad, etc. After lunch you switch between infield and track.
You'll be paired with another driver and you take turns on each of the various training exercises.
On the track the pace is set by the slowest of the three cars in your group that will be taking turns following the instructor. If your group has mostly folks with good sports car experience and some track time, the pace will be higher. My group, not so much. At 59 I was the 2nd youngest person in my group. One guy was 78, and btw, kudos to him for having a go at it, but he did hold our group up a lot and had one four wheels off track excursion which killed the session for us. I think there might have been only one other person with track experience and pretty much for the rest of the group performance driving was a new thing. Needless to say, our pace on the track was not too quick. I barely used the brakes.
In contrast, at an Audi event I attended a few years earlier where we were driving the R8, our pace at Sears Point (called Infinion at the time) was much higher and we spend more time at full throttle and getting a feel for the car sliding a bit on all four wheels in the turns. It's what sold me on all wheel drive and ultimately what put me in the E63 a few years later.
I know other folks who attended the same day I did at Laguna had better luck and felt they got to push the cars more. None the less, I still had a great time and thought the instructors did a very good job too. Brought my wife too as a non-driving participant and she enjoyed it as well.
The highlight of the day was the Pro lap in the GT-R. Wish I could remember my driver's name. He really pushed the GT-R and after a somewhat ho hum day it gave me new appreciation for what the car can do.
Pippa Mann was one my driving instructors for the day, and another bonus for my wife was that she got to go on a Pro lap as well, and got to have Pippa Mann as her Pro. Made her day.
Is anyone here Attending AMG academy at COTA on April 27th? I might be doing April 27th if I finish thisproject at work completed on time lol. If not I really might go to COTA in December or might check out laguna some time September or October.
Last edited by Michael Khan; Mar 7, 2019 at 05:13 PM.
I raced motorcycles for a couple seasons and have done tons of track days. This format is totally different, much more managed than a track day.
At Laguna, and I imagine as well for the other tracks, it is broken down into two sets of groups. One set hits the track and starts doing the lead follow exercises and the other set hits the infield area and works on a different set of exercises, braking, slalom, skid pad, etc. After lunch you switch between infield and track.
You'll be paired with another driver and you take turns on each of the various training exercises.
On the track the pace is set by the slowest of the three cars in your group that will be taking turns following the instructor. If your group has mostly folks with good sports car experience and some track time, the pace will be higher. My group, not so much. At 59 I was the 2nd youngest person in my group. One guy was 78, and btw, kudos to him for having a go at it, but he did hold our group up a lot and had one four wheels off track excursion which killed the session for us. I think there might have been only one other person with track experience and pretty much for the rest of the group performance driving was a new thing. Needless to say, our pace on the track was not too quick. I barely used the brakes.
In contrast, at an Audi event I attended a few years earlier where we were driving the R8, our pace at Sears Point (called Infinion at the time) was much higher and we spend more time at full throttle and getting a feel for the car sliding a bit on all four wheels in the turns. It's what sold me on all wheel drive and ultimately what put me in the E63 a few years later.
I know other folks who attended the same day I did at Laguna had better luck and felt they got to push the cars more. None the less, I still had a great time and thought the instructors did a very good job too. Brought my wife too as a non-driving participant and she enjoyed it as well.
The highlight of the day was the Pro lap in the GT-R. Wish I could remember my driver's name. He really pushed the GT-R and after a somewhat ho hum day it gave me new appreciation for what the car can do.
Pippa Mann was one my driving instructors for the day, and another bonus for my wife was that she got to go on a Pro lap as well, and got to have Pippa Mann as her Pro. Made her day.
I really didn't have a clear picture how these events are organized so I much appreciate the explanation. Very much looking forward to the training exercises in regards to braking, slalom and such! Definitely the way to improve control of the vehicle, even if its not my own. If I'm honest, I was hoping to get a little bit of time on the track where taking advantage of AMG cars' capabilities in regards to acceleration/topspeed is concerned but that really is secondary. Chances are I'll get more of a chance to do that on the local track which I'm familiar with . . . My wife will be accompanying me as well and she seems to be looking forward to it as well . . .
The Pro lap, is that offered in any of their events where any participant has the opportunity to take a lap with an instructor?
I’ve only taken just the basic freebie class so far. The Pro lap ( I got two :-) was included both for me and for my wife as part of the $250 fee for her to attend.
that's likely what I signed up for, I don't recall the name for it. Trying not to get my hopes up about the Pro lap but it sounds like an experience second to none!
Just completed the Driving academy at Laguna Seca yesterday and had an absolute blast . The event is much like E634Me describes it ( I also brought my wife as a non driver) but my group was quite fun as there were only 8 of us and we all had at least been on a track before . Our group took first place in the timed slalom event as well as 3rd and 2nd place in the individual events so we had some spirited driving in the lead follows.
Overall a well organized and top notch experience. A few pics below :
Lot’s o Gt’s Getting ready for the pro laps in the GTR’s Sadly did not get to drive the SLS Black ...
Just completed the Driving academy at Laguna Seca yesterday and had an absolute blast . The event is much like E634Me describes it ( I also brought my wife as a non driver) but my group was quite fun as there were only 8 of us and we all had at least been on a track before . Our group took first place in the timed slalom event as well as 3rd and 2nd place in the individual events so we had some spirited driving in the lead follows.
Overall a well organized and top notch experience. A few pics below :
Lot’s o Gt’s Getting ready for the pro laps in the GTR’s Sadly did not get to drive the SLS Black ...
I was there on 3-6 too Happe63s. Based on your description we were on the same team. GO BLUE TEAM!!!!! My wife said she laughed all the way through the ride a long GTR lap. We never thought she would get to do much and she was reluctant to go with me but now that she got a ride she is hooked. I asked her why she didn't tell him to slow down like she does me. She absolutely loved the entire event.
Just completed the Driving academy at Laguna Seca yesterday and had an absolute blast . The event is much like E634Me describes it ( I also brought my wife as a non driver) but my group was quite fun as there were only 8 of us and we all had at least been on a track before . Our group took first place in the timed slalom event as well as 3rd and 2nd place in the individual events so we had some spirited driving in the lead follows.
Overall a well organized and top notch experience.
Sadly did not get to drive the SLS Black ...
I'm signed up for Lime Rock, June 21st (Friday)...
Those SLS Black make a glorious noise on the track. Great pics.
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She absolutely loved the entire event.
