Allen Berg Driving School, Race City Speedway

Today's day at Race City was the most educational driver day I've done.  It was also the most fun short of the Baja.

The theory was put to practice in copious quantities, with us rotating through different instructors in our cars.

The group of a dozen consisted of three 911 Turbos, a new V8 M3, a supercharged Jag, a Nissan GTR, a Shelby, two BMW 335i's, a 135, an Audi SUV and the M Coupe.

Turns out the Nissan was driven by a David, who only at lunch's draw prize did I realize was David Eigenseher, who I lived a block away from in elementary school.  Small world.

We divided into two groups for all the drills, and after lunch on the lap time I was put with the 911's, the Jag and the M3.  All these cars have more horsepower for the straight away, but the M Coupe could stick to the ground enough to be nearly as fast or faster through the rest of the track.  Lap after lap we had our times improved by braking, shifting and cornering instruction.  By the end, nearly 200kph on the straight then threshold braking to under a hundred for a series of turns at the traction limits of the car was the name of the game.

The three 911 Turbos were king.  All wheel drive, moderate weight, super electronic traction control for bailout on the wet parts, and and massive hp for accelerating out of turns and for the straight away.  But in some ways it's amazing how tight you can hold to them for how long down the twisty back section, in a car that has less fail safe backup and raw capability.

It's like mountain biking downhill or skiing.  Do less, be smooth.  Don't do three inputs when one will do, maintain speed.   Economy of motion does wonders.