Spring Mountain

ImportConvert · 09-09-2011, 05:20 AM

Cannot sum up how awesome of a time it was and how much I learned about balance, etc. there.

I also took away a few other points:

-They keep their corvettes for 12-14K miles. During this, it's all track and skidpad exercises at the hands of instructors, and us students, some of which can be pretty ham-fisted. Noone babied the cars except on take-off, which we did engine take-off's as launching the car was not part of the information we were trying to gain.
-They have never had one blow an engine, transmission, or rear-end, and after 2008, wheel-bearings were no-longer an issue, either. Only had about 3-4 clutches go out so far on the C6, and it was a hydraulic issue, not wear.
-Us students got oil temps up to about the 230's tracking the cars following instructors.
-On a hot-lap that I got an instructor to take me on, which consisted of 1 warm-up lap, and then 1 lap at about 90% of the car's potential with the 100* ambient and hot track. The oil temp hit 273.
-They use standard fluids except in the rear-end.

I just found it interesting how durable cars really are. All the whining over 240* oil temps in the 370Z makes me LOL even more, now, except that yes, I can see how the 370Z will easily hit limp mode if you know how to drive it. Nissan needs to fix that, but unless you track the car, 240* oil temps are meaningless. They also were breaking in some CTS-V's for a big GM press-show yesterday. The cars got VERY hot very fast, especially the differentials. I wasn't told the temps.

They REALLY! push the Michelin PS2 ZP tires, and I LOVED! the feedback the tires gave me on the wet exercises.

Anyway, I am sure there are other driving schools than Spring Mountain, and probably a few that cater to the 370Z. I think that you owe it to yourself to go. I find myself driving even my little Infiniti much smoother and more competently. A LOT! can be learned, and if you do attend the Spring Mountain facility, there is a lot you can take home to your 370Z, too.

Will post horribly crappy video I took of the warm-up lap my instructor took me on before our hot lap.

shadoquad · 09-09-2011, 12:03 PM

Sounds great! Can't wait for horribly crappy vid!

ImportConvert · 12-07-2011, 07:18 AM

Aaaaannnnnd I fell down on the ball on this one.
Shitty vid as promised:
049.3gp - YouTube

Rooster89 · 12-07-2011, 08:50 AM

I like your cat

Red__Zed · 12-07-2011, 09:25 AM

I dont understand how cars that see 230* oil temps on the track for less than 15k has anything to do with people fretting 240* temps in traffic....that people hope last for 200k....did I miss something?

*im aware not everyone sees ridiculous street temps in the z, but that is obviously the reference....

Mike · 12-07-2011, 09:36 AM

I did that school about 3 years ago, it was a blast, and I found one of the most valuable things I learned was all the time we spent on heel-toe work.

09-09-2011, 05:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
ImportConvert A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: SWMO Posts: 4,454 Drives: 2019 CX5 GT Reserve Rep Power: 7627	Spring Mountain Cannot sum up how awesome of a time it was and how much I learned about balance, etc. there. I also took away a few other points: -They keep their corvettes for 12-14K miles. During this, it's all track and skidpad exercises at the hands of instructors, and us students, some of which can be pretty ham-fisted. Noone babied the cars except on take-off, which we did engine take-off's as launching the car was not part of the information we were trying to gain. -They have never had one blow an engine, transmission, or rear-end, and after 2008, wheel-bearings were no-longer an issue, either. Only had about 3-4 clutches go out so far on the C6, and it was a hydraulic issue, not wear. -Us students got oil temps up to about the 230's tracking the cars following instructors. -On a hot-lap that I got an instructor to take me on, which consisted of 1 warm-up lap, and then 1 lap at about 90% of the car's potential with the 100* ambient and hot track. The oil temp hit 273. -They use standard fluids except in the rear-end. I just found it interesting how durable cars really are. All the whining over 240* oil temps in the 370Z makes me LOL even more, now, except that yes, I can see how the 370Z will easily hit limp mode if you know how to drive it. Nissan needs to fix that, but unless you track the car, 240* oil temps are meaningless. They also were breaking in some CTS-V's for a big GM press-show yesterday. The cars got VERY hot very fast, especially the differentials. I wasn't told the temps. They REALLY! push the Michelin PS2 ZP tires, and I LOVED! the feedback the tires gave me on the wet exercises. Anyway, I am sure there are other driving schools than Spring Mountain, and probably a few that cater to the 370Z. I think that you owe it to yourself to go. I find myself driving even my little Infiniti much smoother and more competently. A LOT! can be learned, and if you do attend the Spring Mountain facility, there is a lot you can take home to your 370Z, too. Will post horribly crappy video I took of the warm-up lap my instructor took me on before our hot lap. Last edited by ImportConvert; 09-09-2011 at 05:22 AM.

12-07-2011, 09:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2186	I did that school about 3 years ago, it was a blast, and I found one of the most valuable things I learned was all the time we spent on heel-toe work. __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

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09-09-2011, 12:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
shadoquad A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: . Posts: 42,608 Drives: . Rep Power: 3886	Sounds great! Can't wait for horribly crappy vid!

12-07-2011, 07:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
ImportConvert A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: SWMO Posts: 4,454 Drives: 2019 CX5 GT Reserve Rep Power: 7627	Aaaaannnnnd I fell down on the ball on this one. Shitty vid as promised: 049.3gp - YouTube

12-07-2011, 09:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 120	I dont understand how cars that see 230* oil temps on the track for less than 15k has anything to do with people fretting 240* temps in traffic....that people hope last for 200k....did I miss something? *im aware not everyone sees ridiculous street temps in the z, but that is obviously the reference....