Re: Track Attack !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Luke, it was great meeting you too.
Time for a more complete post and review of the experience.
Day 1 and the driving the Boss was great.
Before you get on the track, there is classroom time, 2 exercises ( heel and toe, skid-pad ), walking the two most challenging sections of the course, a couple laps in the car with the instructor, then a lead and follow session, then a solo. Then there is the afternoon. Its a full day. Getting familiar with the Boss on the track before I take my Boss on Pacific Raceway in Kent in July gives me some confidence. The swag from Day 1 included the "Piston Cup" ( a plaque with a real Boss 302 piston attached ), a certificate, your free driving gloves, a USB stick with a ton of photos, a calendar, and a shirt. No swag for guests on Day 1.
On to Day 2.
Day 2 was a chance to experience a different car...the FR500S...a purpose-built not street legal race car for the Mustang Challenge Cup series...sort of Grand-Am "lite". Its a 2006 Mustang GT with upgraded engine at 350 hp (stock is 300), Tremec rear-end, clutch upgrade, racing coil-over suspension, 2-piece floating rotor brake upgrade, DOT racing slicks, 300 lbs weight reduction, single driver seat, full roll cage, instrumentation, and fire suppression. The suspension and tires mean a ton of grip at the edge, the suspension means it corners a bit above the Boss, the weight reduction and engine mods mean its very quick, and the brakes work wonders and for repeated extremely hard use without fade.
Its nothing like my 2006 GT daily driver, LOL, nothing. Totally different car, total blast.
The 2nd day starts on the track so there is double the track time. If we got 90 minutes of solo track time Day 1, we got more like 180 minutes Day 2. And a 20-30 minute track session is more tiring than you think. It is physical work to control the car but it is also a lot of mental work, concentration, and putting all the elements of race driving together. 3 hours is a lot. We had 3 morning and 3 afternoon sessions and came in for a debrief after every session which was very helpful.
Another detail. Day 1 you are on the East track, its way more technical and a bit slower. 2.2 miles with 12 corners and 2 straights. Day 2 is the West track its also 2.2 miles but only 10 turns and thus is faster and a bit more fun.
Overall a great time, highly recommended. The instructors were top notch, the facility was great, the cars are amazingly maintained and a ton of fun.
The swag from Day 2 included a plaque for completion of the 2-Day School, a 2-Day High Performance Driving School certificate, and a T-shirt for the Boss Owners. The guest drivers get the plaque, certificate, and T-shirt plus the swag bag Boss Owners get except no "Piston Cup" and no free racing gloves. Guests did not get anything after Day 1, so it was cool to see my buddy Jon Park get his swag.
Thanks Ford for such a great Boss Owners Experience.
Note Miller Motorsports Park is selling their Racing GTs (15,000 ) and their FR500Ss (29,000) soon, something to think about...