My First Track Experience

"Flat Six" (flat-six)
02/23/2014 at 14:30 • Filed to: Austin, Ferrari, Audi, Racecar

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! came to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! this weekend. They brought 9 supercars with them and I signed up to drive a Ferrari 430 and Audi R8. They also had a Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari 458, Nissan GT-R, Porsche 911 Turbo, Corvette C7, and a Mustang.

Harris Hill is in San Marcos, TX - halfway in between Austin and San Antonio. The facility is nice and casual. Out front are a lot of sweet Miatas:

I sure miss my Miata. Here is an "Abarth-b-q":

Inside there is an old Lotus:

a Top Gear style lap board:

Before my turn there was a group of senior citizens in funny shirts:

Prior to getting into the cars, there was a half hour class where the instructor went over some of the basics of driving on a track - where to brake, where to apex, etc... It was very informative for a newbie like me. The instructors were all very polite and helpful and encouraged you to push the cars.

One thing that really surprised me is that I am a terrible driver. I am an excellent motorist, meaning I drive briskly but safely, am very courteous, use my mirrors and signals, etc... I can parallel park a stick shift on a hill in San Francisco. However none of those skills really helped me on the track. I did my best to listen to the instructor and go as fast as possible but I kept reverting to road habits. I'm sure I barely got 1/10 out of either of the cars.

The Ferrari was incredible. It was really loud; I had to wear an ear piece to talk with the instructor. I didn't drive the coupe at the top, mine was a blue spyder. The Audi was also incredible, although slightly less incredible than Ferrari. I would love to have one. Or any sports car! My current two cars are a "Sport" wagon and "Sport" Activity Vehicle.

Overall it was a lot of fun and not too expensive, especially if you go through a deal site like Groupon/Living Social.

Question for fellow Oppos: how do you become a good driver? Where do you practice?

DISCUSSION (16)

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Flat Six
02/23/2014 at 14:33

You practice at Harris Hill.

I joined there in January and honestly you should too, the fees are totally reasonable and you get tons of track time with no session fees. Lol, I was there on Friday with a car trailer to move a lemons car around.

Flat Six > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
02/23/2014 at 14:36

Well that makes too much sense!

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Flat Six
02/23/2014 at 14:38

With taxes it's $215 a month, they'll finance the initiation fee over time with 0% interest if you want. If you can find friends to join you can convert your membership to a corporate one and recoup some of your initiation fee. If you're into cars and live in the Austin or San Antonio area this is really a no-brainer.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Flat Six
02/23/2014 at 14:39

I had a track experience in an R8, felt very safe and stable and I got nowhere near its limits even though it felt like i was driving quickly. I drove an ariel atom the same day which was terrifying and made me realise how good professional drivers really are, got a small amount of oppo at 50 ish mph and nearly did poos.

Flat Six > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
02/23/2014 at 14:42

Have you ever been to Driveway Austin ? If so, how do they compare?

Flat Six > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
02/23/2014 at 14:43

Both the R8 and the 430 felt very safe, like I was driving a (very very very very excellent) normal car.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Flat Six
02/23/2014 at 14:45

I haven't been to Driveway Austin but I've been told that they are much more like a school and are much more expensive, and less fun. They get pissed off if you do drifts on purpose or stuff like that. It's not a place you can just go and drive anytime you feel like. At Harris Hill they encourage you to push the limits so you know where they are and don't freak out if you go off track or spin or something. Also you can shoot guns and stuff after hours.
If you're considering joining H2R sign up for a mini-school there. It's a 1 on 1 session with an instructor for $250 and if you join they'll credit the cost toward your initiation fee.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Flat Six
02/23/2014 at 14:46

Yeah the R8 seems like it would make a great GT car. Drove a ferrari 360 the same day with the paddle shift gearbox... which broke almost immediately. I highly reccomend the ariel atom if you ever get a chance to do a track day again, was a hell of an experience.

Flat Six > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
02/23/2014 at 14:49

I would love to drive an Atom. A Caterham Seven is another car I've always wanted to try on a track.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Flat Six
02/23/2014 at 14:50

A better explanation of the difference. Driveway Austin is a school, every time you go there you have to pay money. Harris Hill is a club, you can come and go whenever you want and only have to pay the monthly fees.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Flat Six
02/23/2014 at 14:53

Yeah a caterham would be awesome too, any stripped out track focused car is going to be more enjoyable than an exotic. As much as the Audi was a great car when it comes to a track experience you want something raw, the atom just demands attention to the point where i felt tired after three laps at similar speeds to the audi.

Flat Six > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
02/23/2014 at 15:56

Haha that depends on how you define enjoyable. I need a lot more practice before I can get in cars like those!

Flat Six > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
02/23/2014 at 15:57

Thanks for all the tips! Will definitely look into it.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Flat Six
02/23/2014 at 16:14

Haha, I only had an earlier trackday, then the drive in the r8 and 360 before the atom and i did okay with that small amount of experience, I'm sure you'd be fine.

FlimFlamMan > Flat Six
02/24/2014 at 18:07

Kinja'd!!!

Is this a statue of a naked lady holding engine pulleys? I like it...

Flat Six > FlimFlamMan
02/25/2014 at 14:47

I think it is less a statue and more a metal sculpture / cutout thingy. But yes!