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      06-13-2012, 07:23 PM   #1
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You guys interested in splitting a skidpad day at VIR?

I have been toying with the idea of renting VIR's skidpad to work on controlled slides for car control on track. I have a decent bit of track experience, but to push it to the point you lose traction in high speed sections is so risky on a track and I'd like to get some more sliding experience without risk to my m3 (though I found T1 at VIR is pretty damn safe for slides )

Talked to VIR today and it's $600 for the whole day and another $100 per 5000 gallons of water if we want water. The guy I spoke with said if you wanted water the whole time it would typically be 30,000 gallons on a summer day and $600 extra. Personally I'd like to do maybe half dry or something, but open to suggestions.

It would be cool to get several E9X M3's there and work on car control together, is there any interest? I don't think I have interest in paying the whole bill and then driving 3.5 hours each way just for skidpad, but if others want to chip in on the rental fee I think it would be worthwhile.

Also, the guy I spoke with mentioned multiple times "You're not trying to just drift right?", which leads me to believe they have an anti-drifter policy. I am not a drifter, but isn't it just semantics whether you call purposeful sliding on a skidpad to better your track skills drifting or whether it is to show off? Kinda threw me off.

If people are interested we can talk dates and such. Frankly I don't want to slide my car (tires) 8 hours long, so if we have quite a few people that wouldn't bother me.

The most convenient thing perhaps would be to get as many as we could to split it, and do it during a track weekend. That way we could do skidpad some between sessions at minimal cost and wouldn't have to drive and get a hotel and stuff just to do the skidpad.
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      06-14-2012, 08:42 AM   #2
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This is a very good idea. Another member and I rented the skid pad for a half day during a Rezoom event. We announced what we did at the event, and a lot of participants joined in and contributed to the cost.

Skid pad at VIR is very good, but you can cause damage to the sprinklers if you leave the hard surface, and this is easy to do if you try and get wild out there. Thus, the concern about drifting. Use the skid pad for its primary purpose, and no problems to anyone. Push the envelope beyond your driving capabilities, and you will perhaps spend more money that the rental.

That said, do it, get an instructor, and learn. Worth the experience.

What event do you think you will try and do this at. Suggest you contact the registra of the event and see if they will offer it as an "add on" to the event, particularly if you plan to subsidize it. Let me know and I will see if I can assist with the organizers - although don't promise.

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      06-14-2012, 08:59 AM   #3
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Doc, can I borrow your car to participate? My "rice cooker" doesn't get sideways!!
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      06-14-2012, 09:41 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by von_zoom View Post
This is a very good idea. Another member and I rented the skid pad for a half day during a Rezoom event. We announced what we did at the event, and a lot of participants joined in and contributed to the cost.

Skid pad at VIR is very good, but you can cause damage to the sprinklers if you leave the hard surface, and this is easy to do if you try and get wild out there. Thus, the concern about drifting. Use the skid pad for its primary purpose, and no problems to anyone. Push the envelope beyond your driving capabilities, and you will perhaps spend more money that the rental.

That said, do it, get an instructor, and learn. Worth the experience.

What event do you think you will try and do this at. Suggest you contact the registra of the event and see if they will offer it as an "add on" to the event, particularly if you plan to subsidize it. Let me know and I will see if I can assist with the organizers - although don't promise.

vz
Good suggestions. Perhaps the next Rezoom event there, I am friends with Greg and the gang and they put on great events. I will update this thread as my research progresses.

So they let you rent a half day at half price I assume? That would be great.

@dcgolf: Put on some street tires and anything will slide (if GTI); The GT-R I drove at VIR loved to slide on street tires, it is just easy to save when it lets go thanks to the magic front diff setup (if GT-R).
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      06-14-2012, 02:11 PM   #5
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I would be interested. Count me in!
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      06-15-2012, 06:57 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dcgolfdr View Post
Doc, can I borrow your car to participate? My "rice cooker" doesn't get sideways!!
Ask Martin to post a pic of his GTR as it "doesn't get sideways."

My E92 doesn't need the skid pad to get sideways.
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      06-15-2012, 01:07 PM   #7
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Doc, I took that pic with Ashleys camera. Martin has much bigger appendages than me. To the OP, I am going to be down at VIR with rezoom in September, I would contribute some cash if you get the skidpad.
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      06-15-2012, 01:19 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dcgolfdr View Post
Doc, I took that pic with Ashleys camera. Martin has much bigger appendages than me. To the OP, I am going to be down at VIR with rezoom in September, I would contribute some cash if you get the skidpad.
I recall it well, and I thought that it was you who took the pic. You plan to stay over and participate with 1st Settlers - 3 day event. I most likely will do both.
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      06-15-2012, 02:45 PM   #9
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Overall I really like the idea so I've subscribed to this thread!

FWIW, I know that when our chapter runs HPDEs at the Shenandoah track there, the skid pad + water is always included and is open both days. Next date is on 09/15.

For me it would be a little bit far for just the pad session though.

Let's see what happens.
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      06-15-2012, 08:21 PM   #10
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I say we rent the patriot course. I will insruct
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      06-15-2012, 09:14 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MTROIS View Post
FWIW, I know that when our chapter runs HPDEs at the Shenandoah track there, the skid pad + water is always included and is open both days. Next date is on 09/15.
Interesting, I did not know any clubs did this. Every time I've been to VIR the skidpad is empty (guess I haven't been enough right!). I'm going to double check my schedule but the Sept. Rezoom event with a half day of skid would be great.
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      06-15-2012, 09:40 PM   #12
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The skid is for rent. Generally, clubs do not rent it because of the expense it would add to the track fees. They try and keep the HPDE fees as low as possible, and that is the reason the skid pad is not included in the event. With leisure time funds being what they are, competitive fees for HPDE take center stage.
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      06-16-2012, 07:12 AM   #13
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I would love to do a skid pad only event. I need the practice. I was at the Summit Point event in April but you only get two sessions on the skid pad of about 5 minutes each. At that rate it will take me decades to build my car control skills.
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      06-16-2012, 10:01 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Merlosso View Post
I would love to do a skid pad only event. I need the practice. I was at the Summit Point event in April but you only get two sessions on the skid pad of about 5 minutes each. At that rate it will take me decades to build my car control skills.
I concur, car control and recognition are two important benefits to the skid pad. Seat time there, like track time at a HPDE, add a lot to the learning experience. The problem with skid pad time at a HPDE event, are the numbers of participants who wish to use it. Do the math. Take one run group, intertmediate as example, probably 35 plus cars/drivers, and allowing 5 mins per car on the pad, normal track run time scheduling does not work, and you quickly run out of time if you attempt to add another group to the mix. No good using the pad if not properly instructed, thus the second problem, class room session and scheduling instructor rotations at the pad. Experience has shown five instructors can be effectly used per group session, rotating in and out of cars as they cycle through the exercises. A lot goes on to hold an effective skid pad option.
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      06-20-2012, 08:37 PM   #15
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I may be interested. Going to VIR July 2nd and 3rd for my debut on the track, wish I had some experience before that!
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      06-29-2012, 08:06 AM   #16
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I may be interested. Going to VIR July 2nd and 3rd for my debut on the track, wish I had some experience before that!
See you there
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      06-29-2012, 08:08 AM   #17
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By the way. You can rent the skidpad for drifting. There is definitely not a "no drifting" policy....here are some pics from when I rented the skidpad a few weeks ago for some drift practice in my Nissan:

Here is a video too:




























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      06-29-2012, 08:46 AM   #18
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Nice pics and video. Looks a little expensive to do that in the dry though.
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      06-29-2012, 11:27 AM   #19
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Looks like you trashed that RR rim.
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      06-29-2012, 01:18 PM   #20
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Looks like a lotta fun!

BTW, yours is one of the cleanest drifting S14 I've seen. Most others have fenders & bumpers falling off and barely tied to the chassis w/ zip ties.
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      06-29-2012, 02:34 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin_D View Post
I say we rent the patriot course. I will insruct
Can we wet that course down?

Learning to correct slides and drift on the skidpad is fun. I still want to go to a track with a ton of run off everywhere to get confident correcting high speed tank slappers. I learned at CMP the other day that you can get side ways with MDM on. I took all traction devices off and I was 5 secs slower because I was driving like a pansy. The car felt better though I will admit.
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      06-29-2012, 03:03 PM   #22
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In before Martin, you are a pansy, because you don't f@ck shit up!!
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