Racers ----- Check out General Discussion for Racing School Invite.

[fastoldman]

We host a gearhead get-together every year, as both the owner and I race actively. We would love to have some Cobra owners join us, as this is just a laid back ,bench racing, bunch of gear slamming fools.

Sincerely,
Bill Pemberton

Consider this a personal invite.

[sn8kbit]

when and where would this be? (ha! like i'm a racer...;) )

'perciate the invite!

[fastoldman]

Sorry, I put all the info in the General Discussion area, as I figured it might reach more folks. Most folks have never gone to racing school,but it is a guarantee 5-10 seconds of time improvement for Open Track guys. I found myself using some techniques to even go faster Autocrossing --- you can heel and toe on a fast Autocross and it can help.

Check out Genl.Discussion and the track we are going to is Virginia International Raceway--north of the Raleigh - Durham are in North Carolina. Yep, the track is in North Carolina, even though they call it Virginia International - go figure.

[COBRA #17]

It is close but it is truley in VA. You cross boack over the line right before you turn into the track!!!

Sounds like a decent outing!!


AI EAST ASST DIRECTOR
COBRA #17

[fastoldman]

Thanks for the clarification, and this explains why our N. Carolina friends claim it is in their state and Virginians claim it is in theirs. Sounds like you have answered the question, and it is just a N. Carolina case of " Track Envy," ha.

[b_tone]

If I can attend this school and drop 5-10 seconds off of my lap times you need to bottle whatever it is that powers you and sell it.

I would like a money back guarantee that if I don't drop 5-10 seconds over the school I want to be reimbursed for the entry fee, the lodging, the diesel for the tow vehicle etc.

It sounds like a good time but I think you may be optimistic on how much time I can actually drop after listening to your instructors.

I may be wrong, we can find out if you agree with my above proposal?

[COBRA #17]

:rotf:
:rotf:

THAT'S WHY I LIKE YOU BUDDY !!!!
I was thinking the samethingbut I am trying to behave myself!!!
:thumbsup: :rotf:

Hey I ment to ask you last night let me know on the calliper deal !!! $$$$ :thumbsup: I have the motor out & I'm thinking of going to manual steering email me your thoughts!!!

AI EAST ASST DIRECTOR
COBRA #17 (1 fasthilbilly )

[fastoldman]

Tone,they aren't my Instructors, they are the ones with Bertil Roos. I actually erred on the side of caution with the 5-10 second drop, but this is pretty much verbatim from Bondurant, Derek Daly, Panoz, etc. In 8 years of having folks go with us, no one has come away without learning something. They ( accredited schools ) obviously won't claim this much improvement for experienced racers, but I imagine if they could find a second for you , you would jump at the chance. Woodhouse just ran the American Road Racing Championship at Road Atlanta ( we have gone to the Panoz school 4 times , 3 at Road Atlanta ). He will be the first to admit that what he learned there gained him extra time --- he set a new track record in ITE ( SCCA ) by 5 seconds. You are correct that an experienced driver won't gain as much as someone who hasn't been to a school, but we often spend a ton of money to make our cars faster, and the individual behind the wheel is still the number one ingredient for speed.

[b_tone]

What is the ITE record at Road Atlanta, and eclipsing that record would be easy if I brought an IMSA GTP car. That class is run what you've brung.

My personal opinion is that seat time will make you faster than anything. I have been to a number of schools in which the instructors taught the general line for their specific type of car. At road atlanta w/panoz you get a lot of open wheel guys trying to tell me to drive my 3000lb mustang on their line and it simply does not work. Very experienced instructors will point out some tings that may make a difference but if someone has plenty of experience (like me) it is near impossible to acheive gains of 5-10 sec a lap.

I understand the point, going to a school is a good idea to a point--like when you are just starting down this opentrack/racing road but then it becomes more about seat time than instruction.

Also, I have run near 1500 laps at Road America and I would simply be amazed that a stock viper could turn a 2:34

[b_tone]

EDIT: double post

[fastoldman]

Remember this is just a friendly invite, because I love Cobras, and I enjoyed your group when they came to Mid America Motorplex. I restated that 5-10 seconds would be too much for an experienced driver, which you are, but it is dead on for a newcomer. As to my time being fictitous,please go to www.viperdays.com, look into Past Results ( year 2001 ) and you will see under Super Stock ( this allows a catback exhaust and K&N air filters,and that is it) that a William Pemberton ran a 2:34.9. While I agree with you that seat time is important , we have had the past winner of One Lap of America, Chief Instructor of Bragg- Smith Driving School, and numerous Divisional and National Champions go with us because they thought they could learn more. The ITE record is now in the 1:33's with a Viper, and the only cars that ran faster were Busch Grand National cars in the 1:32s. Bob attributes alot to the Instructors there as we know of two spots necessary to gain time, that are difficult to conquer. Just keep in mind this is nothing more than an invite similar to a bunch of golfers that enjoy each others comraderie and want to try and fine tune their game. I would love to have you go, as it is a congenial group, that helps each other, and the case of cereal malt beverage of your choice is on the table if you don't find an area to improve. We always have a group that includes guys that drive all kinds of cars, and I figured this would be a great group to send out an invite.