Z06Vette.com - Corvette Z06 Forum - Alabama PCA Driver's Ed at Barber Motorsports this weekend

quickSS · 10-07-2003, 02:37 PM

There is a Alabama PCA drivers ed this weekend (Oct 11) that I am attending at Barber. Anyone from this board attending? If so, identify yourself. I'd like to introduce myself over the weekend. Looks like it is going to be lots of fun.

ZoSkillet · 10-08-2003, 12:51 PM

is it too late to sign up? How much does that cost and is it an all day event? Barbers is only 5 miles from my house and I'd love to get out there. I went to the AMA championship they had there and Barbers is a gorgous track with a very nice museum.

z06_Jackal · 10-08-2003, 01:09 PM

wish I lived closer :\

quickSS · 10-09-2003, 08:32 AM

I am sorry, it filled up some weeks ago, and very quickly, as Barber is "the" hot track these days. Go to Alabama PCA's website for more info. Although the track will be closed for resurfacing (again) after this event until sometime in Feb, 2004, it will be open after that, and I am sure there will be more DE events therafter.

quickSS · 10-14-2003, 01:43 PM

I just returned from this two day driving event sponsored by the Alabama chapter of the Porsche Club of America. This track complex is just amazing--the entire property is landscaped like a garden, the buildings and facilities are like a country club, and there's a really impressive car and motorcycle museum on the property. It's about 10 miles east of Birmingham, just off I-20, near Leeds, Alabama.

As far as the driving went, this track was super-tough. 15 turns, very few straights--lots of decreasing radius or multiple radius turns, and lots of elevation changes--several blind hills you must charge over, throttle down hard to keep the back end down so your rear axle doesn't get light and cause a spin. Really challenging.

I was the only Camaro there--mainly zillions of Porsches of all kinds (including a good number of Porsche Cup racers and several GT2s), of course, some BMWs, an older Ferrari 308...and several quick Z06s and a few other Corvettes.

Saturday, I struggled to learn this amazing course. After getting a ride Sunday AM with a BMW club racer in a E46 M3 Lightweight, I learned a lot about how to handle this course. My later runs on Sunday were much quicker than my Saturday runs, and I was dogging lots of 911s who had no choice but to let me pass. The big cube, US pony car did really well, considering it's greatest asset was the LS1 motor, not its handling. The fact that the pavement is so smooth really helped keep my solid axle from hopping around. My last run, I nearly ran down everyone in my group--except a fellow in a Porsche Cup car and one of those slick, silver Z06s, both of whom passed me!

I have a roll of pix--when they are developed, I'll scan a few the better ones and post them.

timz06 · 10-14-2003, 04:50 PM

Thanks for the report! I'm looking forward to getting out there, but it's really tough to get into an event at that track.

Thinking about getting me a porsche race car, then I'll be in the porsche good ol boy club.

Subdriver · 10-14-2003, 08:23 PM

Nice summary.
I'm dying to get some time on that track. Maybe a DE next spring.

ZoSkillet · 10-14-2003, 09:38 PM

Did any of the silver Z06s have 02c5Z06 on the tag? I always ask him to tell me whenever he goes to road atlanta so I can ride long. I used to have a clip of a camera mounted on a bike making a couple of laps but I can not seem to find it anywhere!

JOEZ06 · 10-14-2003, 09:47 PM

Hey Tim...

I was thinking the same thing-- maybe buy a VIN off an old totalled Porsche in a yard? Then you can sign up for PCA and get PCA rates (usually a few bucks cheaper)... ;-)

How is the restoration coming? Hope all is well and sorted out.

quickSS · 10-16-2003, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZoSkillet
Did any of the silver Z06s have 02c5Z06 on the tag? I always ask him to tell me whenever he goes to road atlanta so I can ride long. I used to have a clip of a camera mounted on a bike making a couple of laps but I can not seem to find it anywhere!

It could have been--there were two silver Z06s in my group. One of them was always kicking my tail. He was very fast.

ZoSkillet · 10-16-2003, 08:34 PM

If it said 02c5z06 on the tag that would be Mitchel. He has the two tip exhaust but I don't think its the stingers. He is a super nice guy. He has helped me with a lot of questions about my Z. He goes to Road Atlanta all the time and has a H/C package on his car. He loves the road races and never misses a chance.