ryoung

<A HREF="http://www.audipages.com/on_track/tracktips.html">Track Tips</a> under "On Track". I'm still trying to drum up more business for the ACCNA June 12-13 Driver School at Mid-Ohio. Also see <A HREF="http://www.audipages.com/on_track/Midohio0.html">A Lap of Mid-Ohio</a>.

For you D3 drivers, if you have more than 1000 miles on your A8L and your wife isn't having a baby, you don't have any excuses. We really need a D3 presence, and trust me on this ... you'll thank me afterwards.

And a reminder: I'm offering a set of rust-free, black anodized aluminum license plate fasteners to any A8 owner who joins me at an ACCNA event this year. ACCNA will begin accepting your Mid-Ohio <A HREF="http://www.audiclubna.org/chapters/ohio/events_cal.html">Application</a> on March 1.

<img src="http://shopping.netledger.com/core/media/media.nl?id=54&c=ACCT40184&h=a3918c2b6a1704142a9b" >

cwatters

still pretty much stock, but by then should have new 18" Pilot Sport PS2. Sounds like brake upgrade essential, although for the street I was thinking suspension first. What's the scoop with instructors? having never done this before, very interested in understanding that part of it. Any other suggestions car prep wise? I have a 2000 A8L. Were is mid-ohio near?

Thanks

PaulW

You'll need them, you have big calipers and rotors if you have the L....get a set of Pagid Orange or something that Randy will recommend.

The deal with track pads is that their coefficent of friction is high at high temps, where they will operate on the track. Therefore, they stop the car well.

If you use your street pads, they will get just as hot, but they'll be in a range where their coefficent of friction is vastly reduced over lower temperatures, so your brakes go away.

A set of pads for all 4 wheels is about $400. That's the only thing you really need (besides a brake fluid flush).

With your tires, you'd be surprised how well your car handles, especially if you are smooth.

Mid Ohio is somewhere in Ohio....all I know is that I'll be there in June!

Paul

ryoung

The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is undoubtedly one of the top 5 road courses in the U.S. and is located about half way between Akron and Columbus Ohio. It's on the circuit for both CART and ALMS (with the Audi R8's). and it's the home of the SCCA Valvoline Runoffs, their annual winner-take-all championship race.

These Audi Club events are high performance driving schools, not races or timed events. [If the latter, you wouldn't be covered by your standard auto insurance policy.] Everyone's there to safely have fun learning the real capabilities of their great cars. Passing is only allowed in designated areas, and only when the car in front signals OK to pass. Beginners spend the morning of the first day doing exercises -- braking wet and dry, and slalom. The afternoon of the 1st day and all of the 2nd day is spent in on-track lapping sessions. You'll have an Audi Club instructor sitting next to you until you're both confident that you're ready to solo safely.

About 80 students will be there, and ACCNA divides them into 4 different run groups based on experience, from beginner to advanced. Unlike most other ACCNA events, Mid-Ohio has two sets of instructors. Your in-car instructor is an Audi owner with significant on track experience at Mid-Ohio and other tracks. You also have several classroom sessions run by instructors from the Mid-Ohio School. These guys are professional race car instructors with extensive racing experience. They know absolutely every little detail about what's required for a fast lap at Mid-Ohio. None of the instructors will put you under any pressure to be competitive or to do anything that is uncomfortable for you. They do expect you to be a better driver Sunday evening than you were Saturday morning, and I have no doubt you will be.

Actually, the Mid-Ohio driving school is a 3 day event. The first day is a clinic for instructor's only; the students' Driving School is days 2 &amp; 3, but students are also welcome spectators at the Instructor's Clinic. If you haven't been to the track before, I would recommend (though it's certainly not necessary) that you try to get to the track at least for the afternoon of the Instructor's Clinic. Besides enjoying seeing the Audi's on track, you'll get to talk to instructors, get familiar with the atmosphere, have a chance to walk the track, and probably calm your nerves a bit.

As for car prep or mods, nothing is absolutely necessary other than what's in Track Tips. Having said that, though, don't be surprised if your brakes overheat and fade with stock pads. This isn't a diasaster, you don't instantaneouly lose the ability to stop, but it may mean that you have to run a cool down lap every few laps to give the brakes a chance to cool. As Paul suggested, a set of Pagid Orange pads will solve the problem. They maintain a high coefficient of friction under track conditions (but when cold, i.e. on the street, track pads squeal terribly).

The only essential is that you need to join ACCNA, but you can send in the annual membership fee with your Mid-Ohio application. Also, if you do plan to attend the Mid-Ohio event, be sure to send in your application the first week of March. The Mid-Ohio driver school is VERY popular, and it'll quickly sell out.

And two useful links:

<A HREF="http://www.quattroclubusa.org/">ACCNA</a>

<A HREF="http://www.midohio.com/">Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course</a>

BTW, I also be running on new Michelin Pilot Sport 2's.