GO SPEED RACER GO
I recently attended Audi's 'Driving Experience' test drive program at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. First did some classroom time (learned what under/oversteer is, the Quattro system, car physics and how weight change affects handling. And finally basic driving principles-look where you want to go, not where you don't want to, your hands follow your eyes; slow into turns/apex/accelerate out; patience; scan the road, no tunnel vision, etc.)
We then went out to the parking lot and learned how to position ourselves correctly in the driver's seat. Your body should basically be in the 'ready' position like in sports, relaxed and ready to react, not straight and rigid or lazy. We even learned the the correct way to hold and turn the steering wheel. They teach the 9 and 3 o'clock hand positions. Better control. And the 'dead pedal' is there to brace your body against the seat during hard turns. I never knew that. I drive like that now-9 and 3 o'clock, dead pedal. For safety and control reasons. No more one hand, lean back, cruising position. Now always ready. I feel more in control and in tune with the car.
Back to driving school...Now time for some emergency braking and handling drills in the parking lot with cones. Lots of flying cones and screeching tires, fun. A6, A3, A4, A8L and Q7. Had the R8s at the track (sweet) but we didn't drive those. That thing is fast. Still my new dream car.
Then we got to drive this little red baby, 2008 Audi S5, not even on the market yet. 4.2 Quattro 354 HP 6-speed V-8, stick. Push button start, rev the engine, yes!
Two laps around the course. Don't know my top speed since I had to follow and keep up with the pace car. The instructor guides you through the course over walkie-talkie, talking you through the turns. When I did peek at the speedometer it was inching toward 100 mph. Still only in 3rd gear, sheez. Nice to abuse a car that's not my own, stomping the gas on straightaways, hearing the engine whine, shoved into your seat, tight turns at speed, tires squeeling.
I was a little lightheaded afterward. Maybe because of the the adrenalin/stress/excitement. Maybe I forgot to breathe during laps, haha.
I had so much fun and learned a lot. I'm a better 'civilian' driver now. I'll definitely do it again. Maybe next time in the R8. Zoom...
