Drove an F430 in Las Vegas
07-13-2010, 07:09 PM
#1
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Drove an F430 in Las Vegas
So I went to the Exotics Racing driving experience this weekend in Las Vegas. [Shameless plug ahead]
http://www.exoticsracing.com/
I paid for the F430. I got lucky and was given two extra laps for free. You don't just guide the car around the short 1.1mile road course. They allow and encourage you to drive the vehicles the way they were meant to be driven; hard and fast. I did about 125mph on the main straight and the instructor let me shift at 8k [most of them limit customers at 6-7k, but at their discretion and if they feel you are listening to them]. So much power at your disposal. Car sounded like ecstasy and drove like a crisis [topgear reference]. I also did the ride-along with French Touring Car champion and professional stunt driver Romain Thieven.
"EXOTICS RACING has been crafted by racecar driver Romain THIEVIN and his team. A five-time French champion in car racing, Romain is also an accomplished stunt driver, having worked on more than 150 movies. In 2003, he won a Taurus World Stunt Award as the stunt double of Matt Damon in The Bourne Identity. Romain is also a co-presenter of FAST CLUB, a car TV show broadcasted on W9 channel in France and Belgium." That was insane! He basically drifted the Corvette Z06 around the track with no mercy. So worth the $100 to be tossed around in the car like a ragdoll. They just got a F430 Scuderia in last week and are in the process of acquiring a new 458 Italia.
Some videos of the experience I found on youtube
In-car video of the road course [not me]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUtHH...eature=related
Promo video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKCOoZKFa1Q
In-car video of ride-along [not me]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEk8Jw1vP_Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fcus...eature=related
The Scuderia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szdAs...eature=related
Was it worth the money? expletive YEAH! Would I do it again? expletive YEAH!
http://www.exoticsracing.com/
I paid for the F430. I got lucky and was given two extra laps for free. You don't just guide the car around the short 1.1mile road course. They allow and encourage you to drive the vehicles the way they were meant to be driven; hard and fast. I did about 125mph on the main straight and the instructor let me shift at 8k [most of them limit customers at 6-7k, but at their discretion and if they feel you are listening to them]. So much power at your disposal. Car sounded like ecstasy and drove like a crisis [topgear reference]. I also did the ride-along with French Touring Car champion and professional stunt driver Romain Thieven.
"EXOTICS RACING has been crafted by racecar driver Romain THIEVIN and his team. A five-time French champion in car racing, Romain is also an accomplished stunt driver, having worked on more than 150 movies. In 2003, he won a Taurus World Stunt Award as the stunt double of Matt Damon in The Bourne Identity. Romain is also a co-presenter of FAST CLUB, a car TV show broadcasted on W9 channel in France and Belgium." That was insane! He basically drifted the Corvette Z06 around the track with no mercy. So worth the $100 to be tossed around in the car like a ragdoll. They just got a F430 Scuderia in last week and are in the process of acquiring a new 458 Italia.
Some videos of the experience I found on youtube
In-car video of the road course [not me]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUtHH...eature=related
Promo video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKCOoZKFa1Q
In-car video of ride-along [not me]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEk8Jw1vP_Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fcus...eature=related
The Scuderia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szdAs...eature=related
Was it worth the money? expletive YEAH! Would I do it again? expletive YEAH!
07-14-2010, 08:50 AM
#6
Originally Posted by Lithium Lotus,Jul 13 2010, 08:19 PM
Damnit Kam, you're just trying to take my money.
I just love seeing the happy meal smile people have when they come off track
07-14-2010, 09:37 AM
#7
So, how do they regulate how fast you drive and the rpm level you take the car? I'd love to do this, but since I've done track days for over 10 years in cars with well over 350rwhp, it would suck to be limited to less than redline in the LP560 or F430 and being able to push the car to 80-90% (leaving decent margin due to unfamiliarity with the car).
I did the Mario Andretti driving experience with 8 laps on a banked oval at Texas Motor Speedway. I had to follow an instructor who was in another car in front of me and I was not allowed to pass him. He gradually increased speed each lap and I ultimately got up to 165mph or so which was UTTERLY BORING in that open wheel car. I darn near feel asleep. Complete waste of $500 or whatever it was. Other people who had never done HPDE events were getting out of the cars laughing, smiling, and shaking from the adrenaline rush. I was bored and pissed when I finished.
I did the Mario Andretti driving experience with 8 laps on a banked oval at Texas Motor Speedway. I had to follow an instructor who was in another car in front of me and I was not allowed to pass him. He gradually increased speed each lap and I ultimately got up to 165mph or so which was UTTERLY BORING in that open wheel car. I darn near feel asleep. Complete waste of $500 or whatever it was. Other people who had never done HPDE events were getting out of the cars laughing, smiling, and shaking from the adrenaline rush. I was bored and pissed when I finished.
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07-14-2010, 11:34 AM
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Kam can give a more in-depth description of what goes on better then I can since he works there.
But from my perspective, they highly encourage you to ring out the car. If they feel you are going a bit slow, they tell you to floor it. You are allowed to pass slower cars, but the instructor will let you know when you can. The price includes insurance for the car.
Here's the faq's page
http://www.exoticsracing.com/Racing-School/faq.htm
"I am a professional race car driver, can I drive alone?
No, but we will make sure our professional driving instructors are aware of the fact so they give you more flexibility on the track."
When my instructor felt comfortable with me behind the wheel, he pretty much let me go.
But from my perspective, they highly encourage you to ring out the car. If they feel you are going a bit slow, they tell you to floor it. You are allowed to pass slower cars, but the instructor will let you know when you can. The price includes insurance for the car.
Here's the faq's page
http://www.exoticsracing.com/Racing-School/faq.htm
"I am a professional race car driver, can I drive alone?
No, but we will make sure our professional driving instructors are aware of the fact so they give you more flexibility on the track."
When my instructor felt comfortable with me behind the wheel, he pretty much let me go.
07-14-2010, 12:36 PM
#10
That is good news. We have a few jobs out in Vegas, so when I'm out there next I'll carve out some time to check this out. Thanks for the review!