JeffreyTT

Just got back from the Audi Driving Experience at Fontana Motor Speedway. I signed up for the for-pay version that promised seat time in the RS4, S5, and R8.

Totally awesome experience and it's convinced me to sign-up for either their 1 or 2-day sports car experience program at Infineon Raceway.

The day started with a little class time, mainly marketing on Quattro and the Audi brand.

Next up was some seat time in A4's doing panic braking, crash avoidance. Lots of fun. Two drivers to a car, switching positions from time to time.

Next was the high-speed lane changes. This was in A6 3.2 and V8. Again the same format with two drivers to a car each switching off.

Lots of cones met with an early death!

Next up, our group of eighteen split in three, with six going to the autocross course, six going to R8, and six going to the RS4/S5.

The course was Fontana's in-field course. Lots of turns and twists, but a straight long enough to bounce the R8 against the limiter in 3rd.

I started with the RS4. There was a pace car, and three chase cars. I and my partner in crime has a red RS4 and we were Chase car #2. Chase car #1 was a auto S4. We pretty much got stuck going their slower pace. The pace car kept radioing me to slow down to give the slow-poke S4 some room. Must go faster!!!! I got five laps behind the wheel and then five laps as passenger.

Next up - R8!!! I and my driving partner were not going to get stuck as #2 so we bolted to the #1 R8 (manual w/ magride), and the others got the R8s with DSG. I was elected to drive first (Oh F-ing Yeah!). The R8 is a beast, but incredibly easy to drive. I kept 1-2 car lengths behind the pace car and we were flying around the track. The #2 and #3 R8s kept falling way off so we'd have to slow down and let them catch up Again, five laps driving, five laps as passenger.

Last but not least, there was a autocross course. We were given 3.2 TTs, two practice laps, and then one for the money. I and my driving partner for the day were selected to go 2nd to last (him), and last (me), because the group thought we'd set the best times... I guess our R8 driving must have impressed them!!!

Anyway, my partner set the fastest time on his run... then it was up to me. Pressure!!! I was getting dark, so my first practice lap resulted in some killed cones, 2nd lap was better... then the money lap. I managed to beat my driving partner by a hundredth of a second. Yeah me!

I will say this... I don't like the 3.2 TT on the track as well as I do the my 2.0T. The 3.2 is sluggish off the line, and the nose wants to plow too much.

Overall, I highly recommend the program. It was a lot of fun, the instructors were having fun, and the ability to drive the RS4 and R8 on the track were the day's high point. I only wish I could have paid for 10-20 more laps in the R8.

Jeff

USP

that sure sounded like a blast!

sterni

info on how to sign up for these? TIA

Troy H

I'm sure it was fun, but 5 laps driving an R8 just isn't worth $600 to me.

JeffreyTT

<ul><li><a href="http://www.audidrivingexperience.com/">Audi Driving Experience</a></li></ul>

JeffreyTT

I got to drive various Audis in ways that I would never think of doing with my own car, and the track time in the R8 and RS4 was icing on the cake.

The two-day Audi sports car experience is $3400! Ouch!

Jeff

Troy H

I'm comparing it to a full weekend at the track, 10-12 45 minute sessions, for less than $500.

zerinS4

LOL. Seriously, LOL. Of course this is coming from a person who said his 200hp TT kept up with a 305+hp V8 in a drag race.

Rawhide Rosenwad

It's heavier and has 50 more marketing department horses....

PeaceOuTT

I'd like more info on this kind of driving school