On the ground at the first GT350 Track Attack

[Honus]

Those numbers on the cars are awesome. Whoever designed those deserves a raise.

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[pa93cobra]

Nice! Good stuff man.

What's this dolly car you're talking about?

It is a skid car (a Fusion or a Taurus is normally used) that allows the instructor to change how the car will handle in different road situations. An autocross course is setup and the driver is meant to control the car around the cones and prevent spins. Sometimes it feels like you are driving on an icy surface. The main lesson is to learn to control the car with gentle acceleration and steering while keeping off of the brakes. Using brakes in a spin equals very bad results!

 

[mcgraw]

It is a skid car (a Fusion or a Taurus is normally used) that allows the instructor to change how the car will handle in different road situations. An autocross course is setup and the driver is meant to control the car around the cones and prevent spins. Sometimes it feels like you are driving on an icy surface. The main lesson is to learn to control the car with gentle acceleration and steering while keeping off of the brakes. Using brakes in a spin equals very bad results!

Great explanation! Thanks!

 

[morjo02]

are all of the cars in this program a Shelby GT350 ??

 

[mattlqx]

Nice!

I'm going to be there next weekend, still saying a chance of rain on Sunday which I hope isn't the case but be interesting running in the rain if so.

Don't be afraid of some rain! You'll learn way more about car dynamics in a little bit of wet. It rained towards the end of the final session. On the light side of rain, but enough to start using the wipers. Didn't affect traction at all though, tires and track were still too warm.

 

[mattlqx]

Nice! Good stuff man.

What's this dolly car you're talking about?

Skid car/dolly car/drift car. Not sure what the proper term for it is, but it's an old Ford Fusion that has an extra set of wheels (caster style) outrigged to it. They're on hydraulics so the car can be set up for an under or oversteer situation. At 20mph, you can effectively simulate what those conditions would be at approx. 100mph. It's one of the absolute best learning tools. I could do a full hour in that just by myself but unfortunately, you only get a few minutes behind the wheel of it yourself.

 

[mattlqx]

are all of the cars in this program a Shelby GT350 ??

All owners drive a GT350. If you have a paid guest, they drive a Mustang GT.

If you opt for the second day, both you and your guest are in Boss 302FRS race-prepped cars.

 

[mattlqx]

So it's a wrap on day 1 (the included day). It was as great as I have come to expect. Afternoon is again the same format as the Boss TA program was. First session is lead-follow, which even for experienced drivers is a ton of fun, especially if you're not familiar with UMC. Second session was half with instructor in the passenger seat giving you pointers and other half on your own. Third session is completely on your own, followed by a quick 2 hot-laps by an instructor in the pilot seat.

I've found myself getting much more comfortable with some movement from the rear end and controlling the car both when it happens and turn in to get it to that point when you need it. We did east track, all sessions were 15 minutes long. Tomorrow the Boss FRS day will be on the west track (of which I'm way less familiar with).

It's a great program, goodies besides the USB stick with your photos (we were given over 600 photos) are a Ford Performance catalog, GT350 TA sticker, GT350 TA t-shirt, certificate of completion, and a trophy (not a piston this time, sorry guys) but a mini replica of the fender design.

Car notes: my car started with 60 miles on the odometer. Ended with 164. So a little over a hundred miles of driving. Cars are equipped with Watson Racing roll bar, not a full cage like the Boss cars were. Harnesses are Safecraft 4-points. Suits and open-face helmets are provided, but no neck protection. I brought my own equipment, no problems there.

Dan noted that the only things done to these cars are the roll bar, Castrol brake fluid and longer/open wheel studs added. That's it. They're running stock pads and stock Pilot Super Sport tires.

I think I hit most everything. Hope you all can get out here soon!

 

[mattlqx]

HPDE Champion :cheers:

 

[LindsayEOD]

Thanks for the update Matt. My wife and I really enjoyed the Boss TA so this looks like it will be worth attending. I actually like that trophy, changes is up from the Boss TA.

 

[1mic]

When you guys are going to the later events look up at the head liner, there will be an etching that says "Matt K. was here, x:xx.xx laptime".

 

[Joe Stang]

1900 not counting insurance. I would hate to own a wrecked Ford race car.

Wow, I don't think it was anywhere near that high for the second day when I was at the Boss 302 Track Attack in 2013. I did the second day in the Mustang FR500S race car. They had a deal to do a day in the Ford Rapture off road course too. Do they have GT350R's at the Track Attack?

Joe

 

[Honus]

If you have the opportunity the raptor assault is a freaking riot.

 

[Bender]

My track day is May 4th. Cannot wait to do this.

 

[84venom]

HPDE Champion :cheers:

That's pretty cool, now I have to go!!!! Thanks for the write-up

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