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YOUR RESEARCHAtlanta Porsche Driving Experience - I did it.
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closest thing
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Reported cause · Original poster
I specifically picked the Carrera S to drive for my experience since it was the closest thing to my 2002 996 C2.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Having never done a track day or autocross before, I've never really tested a car's limits.
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Suggestion · Original poster
I have a feeling I should temper my use of the word 'coach' in my original post.
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Suggestion · Original poster
In retrospect, I should probably describe what I got as a very-capable driver in the right-seat, explaining how to specifically use the performance features of a brand-new Porsche, which can be applied in other aspects of your driving.
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Suggestion · Original poster
In retrospect, I should probably describe what I got as a very-capable driver in the right-seat, explaining how to specifically use the performance features of a brand-new Porsche, which can be applied in other aspects of your driving.
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Posting here since I have a 996. I checked out the new Porsche NA headquarters and Driving Experience in Atlanta last week while there for work. Had been looking forward to it for a few weeks before my trip. It was a great experience.
I specifically picked the Carrera S to drive for my experience since it was the closest thing to my 2002 996 C2. (That is, RWD, non-turbo, 911). Could have done a Boxter, Cayman, Cayenne as well). Apart from the significant technology updates and PDK vs. my manual, I wanted to feel what is was like to get into situations and learn how to hang the end of a rear-engine car out and how to recover.
The facility itself is cool. Small museum, retail shop, simulator lab, etc, in addition to the 'track'.
For the actual driving, you get paired up with a coach who takes you through all the paces. I checked in a couple minutes early, met my coach, talked a little about my goals and experience (none as far as performance driving goes), and headed out to the car. The experience itself is 95% wheel-time. Was glad there wasn't a lot of theory or desk time.
Started on the kick-plate, which they mention every chance they get is the only one in North America. As you drive over it, it randomly kicks the rear-end of the car left or right as you are driving onto a skid pad, and it's up to you to recover without spinning. Got it on my first try, and failed on the next 3. (Eventually came back to it and was able to get it every time with varying degrees of recovery). From there it was off to do launch-control launches, and slalom driving. After that, skid pad work trying to drift around a wet skid pad. Eventually got that down pretty good. Next came a low-friction circuit which takes you through a short'ish circuit on polished concrete where you hang the ***-end out on the corners and drift through. Once I got the hang of it, it was fun, but then my coach took the wheel for a lap, and I realized how reserved my cornering and drifting was vs. hers. If there are exercises or things you want to do more of, they're flexible enough to let you keep going back to those things multiple times.
Finally, you get on their 'track'. It's short, but long enough for them to teach you a line and get the car going pretty good. Never out of 2nd or 3rd gear. I consistently found myself having to pass other drivers on the straights that I was catching in the corners and the coach said I picked up the car and the course really quickly. There were a couple of Sunday drivers in GT3's ahead of me that I kept having to go around. My favorite thing to do were the actual track laps, but I also liked the slalom course and low-friction circuit too.
Having never done a track day or autocross before, I've never really tested a car's limits. I'm sure I didn't there as well, but definitely beyond my previous experience. I totally want to do a track day sooner than later now.
It's a little pricey @ $400 for the Carrera S and 2 hours of time, but to get some instruction and beat on someone else's car for a while, I thought it was worth it. The Boxter and Cayman experiences can be had for a little less, and they have sampler experiences where you can compare one against the other. I think I'd try the Cayman vs. 911 if I did it again, just to see how they stack up against each other.
Pics and a short video below. I'd definitely recommend if you're in Atlanta and want to try out brand-new Porsche cars. Those of you already doing a lot of Autocross or Track Days may not think it's as awesome as I did.
Carrera S
996 GT3RS in their museum.
Magnus beat me there by a couple weeks.
Nice timeline in the museum.
Awesome condition 356
Another view of the museum and the great examples they have.
Supercar lineage on display
Supposedly went around their track a couple times, and parked since.
Observation deck looking over the track. Kick plateright in front the Porsche-logoed skid pad.
Panorama of the track and individual exercises.
Sweet. Sounds like you had a blast. It sounds nice that they were willing to be flexible and work on things that felt the most important to you. BTW, any pics of "her".
What kind of tires was on the Carrera S?
Sorry, no pics of 'her'. She was cute though. Probably more importantly, she races spec Miata's on the weekend. She knew her stuff and was a good teacher though and helped me pickup some of the ideas on getting the car stabilized and through corners quicker.
I didn't check out the tires on the Carrera. I probably should have spent more time walking around the car and checking it out. I was pretty excited to just get in and start driving.
I tried to do it earlier in the month but they don't do any sessions on Sundays.
I tend to think $400 for a 2 hour session in a 991 with a coach is dirt cheap....
Yeah, I'd agree. I felt it was worth it, but you never know what others will think.
I'm looking forward to the LA Experience as well. Coach mentioned that while their building won't be as big (Atlanta is also their NA headquarters), the track itself will be bigger. Will also have a kick-plate like the Atlanta one does.
Even better, I'm only 30 miles from Carson, so right in my backyard.
Looking at my thread title, I realize it reads something like this:
Wasn't supposed to be a commentary on my ability to actually 'do it'. More that I 'attended it'.
I'm a dork.
Sounds like a great experience. I'm planning to go next summer. Been driving track for about 3 years, but you can always improve your driving skills with good coaching.
I have a feeling I should temper my use of the word 'coach' in my original post. I'm guessing if you've done a DE event or similar, or those that track and started with a ride-along, you've probably gotten more 'coaching' from a car control standpoint.
In retrospect, I should probably describe what I got as a very-capable driver in the right-seat, explaining how to specifically use the performance features of a brand-new Porsche, which can be applied in other aspects of your driving. YMMV.
I think things like the kick-plate are really useful as a way to teach fast recovery if the end on our 911's gets loose on ice or too fast a turn. Obviously skid-pad and low-friction teaches throttle and steering control, etc. etc.
For me, as a relative beginner on that front, yeah, I'd say I learned a lot
. Two hours isn't a ton of time in the grand scheme of things, and I'd love to spend more time actually practicing those things I learned. But, at least I've tried some new things and learned some stuff in the process. I for sure learned cars are way more capable than I've been pushing them.
$400 for two hours is DIRT CHEAP! And they provide the CAR?!! wHAT! Around me to put your own car on Pocono Raceway or Dover Raceway or New Jersey Motorsports Park is a minimum of $175 (special pricing) and more typically $250. And then you need to add insurance $$ plus the wear and tear on your own vehicle. You got a great deal.
Thanks for posting! I hadn't heard of this, and really like the way you broke it out so that it explains exactly what is included. $400 seems like a really great deal for what you were able to do. I've toyed with the idea of doing some of the Ferrarir/Lambo rentals out in Vegas and its more than that for just a few laps around the track.
Exactly. I did the Exotics Racing course in March there and it was like $450 for eight laps in the GT3. A blast for sure, but I'd rather be out there for two hours for the same price.
