Free Track Day at Atlanta Motorsports Park, Dawsonville, Ga.

[Fierofool]

I received an email from the Ford Motor Company for the track event.  The number of slots available are limited and on a first come, first served basis.  Each of you should have received your email, also.  Get the final application filled out returned right away. 

A credit card is required to reserve your slot.  If you attend or cancel within 72 hours of the event, you will not be charged.  Your card will be charged ONLY if you do not attend and fail to cancel within 72 hours of the event.  The $100 will be donated to the Carrol Shelby Foundation.

Again, you will not be charged for the event unless you fail show up and fail to cancel within 72 hours prior to the event. 

[Fierofool]

I submitted my registration with the provided code number and got acceptance right away, while I was still on the computer. 

[Raydar]

We're in. And confirmed.

[Fierofool]

I have spoken directly with the promotional agency/department that is handling this. You can call Atlanta Motorsports Park and check authenticity.

Get Andy to put it on his card.  I didn't have to provide the security code on the back of the card so there's no way they can make a charge on my card.  Any time a charge is made on one of my cards by phone or online, I get instant notification within minutes.

I've left a message on the track owner's cell phone asking about the authenticity, but anyone can call the track office at 678-381-8527 to check for yourself before submitting your registration.

[Fierofool]

I just received a call from Atlanta Motorsports Park and they said they have been working with the program promoters for about 6 months.  The event is legitimate.

[Fierofool]

TopNotch and TinMan, either of you get registered, yet?

[TopNotch]

I'm registered.

[tinman]

I haven't yet received any registration information.

[Fierofool]

There's at least 1 other who hasn't received anything, also.  I did resubmit yours with a corrected email address.

[TopNotch]

The track day was fun. Here are some pictures....

They had a car turned on it's side...


So you could see the underside.


The engine is a flat crank V8 capable of revving to 8200 RPM.


I had to wear a helmet and head restraint.


And I got to drive this...


An older (1965) racing Muistang


A presentation about Ford Performance


I wish I could have driven this car...

[Raydar]

They did a demo before things really got started.
One thing I found amusing was that the new GT350 (a street car) just walked away from the 65 race car. Technology is wonderful.

[Fierofool]

I am absolutely worn out after the day's events.  I only got a couple of pictures and will add them tomorrow.  Glad there was a good flow of air through the Ford Performance Garage.  Couple of times I thought I was going to have to clock out due to heat exhaustion. 

In the orientation, they told us that when we got out on the track, get up to 3rd gear and leave it there.  No need to touch the clutch or change gears because the car had enough HP and torque to run the full course just by using 3rd.  Sure!  Well, darned, they made a believer out of me.  Even when we went back for Hot Laps with the professional driving, he never got out of 3rd. 

I think it was Tammy (Mrs. Raydar) who said that she wished we had had the Hot Laps first.  Me, too!.  I think we both agreed that we might have been willing to push the car a lot more after seeing it's capabilities.  That thing really holds the track with no noticeable lean in any of the most dramatic of turns. 

I was asked if I would consider purchasing one.  I told them "If I did, my wife would shoot me.  On second thought, You might look for my obituary, next week".

[f85gtron]

Super cool!  Looks to have been quite the experience!  I think the rest of us missed out big time. Cool car. 
In your opinion, Fieros shouldn't mess around and antagonize these things If we see one out in the wild?

[Fierofool]

A little different angle from Pat's picture.  In this one, you can see the three video screens they've installed.  Looking closely, you can see the image of a yellow Mustang.  Each video screen describes the components in the three sections of the vehicle.  Front screen for suspension and engine, center portion-chassis, and rear screen for rear suspension and cooler.  During orientation, the moderator told us that in his early days of racing, he often parked his car in this position. 



This is a lineup of the cars we drove on the track. 



You're right, Ron.  No need to embarrass yourself, even if driving a Fiero with the most powerful engine ever put into one.  These Mustangs were built by Ford Racing, designed for the track, then they put a Mustang skin on it. 

[Raydar]

They let us drive 3 laps, with the instructor riding shotgun. It took that long to get moderately comfortable with the car and the track. THEN we traded places, and the instructor took us for a "hot lap".
My thoughts during the hot lap:
1. We're going LOTS faster than we were when I was driving. (We were.)
2. We're going off track. (We didn't.)
3. OMG! This is a hell of a car!! (It was.)
Partway through the hot lap, the instructor asked how I was doing. (They try to make you scream.) My only comment was, "It just goes to show that there's no substitute for knowing what you're doing."

And yeah. This is, hands down, the fastest and best handling car I've ever driven. As if I even needed to say that.
Probably about the most fun I've ever had with my clothes on.

These pics are hosted on PFF. If they break, I'll copy them to our server.

View of the show from the observation deck.


And the demo, before the proceedings. (The next time we saw these cars, the gray one was about five car lengths ahead of #65. Buh-Bye!)


A GT350R.
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