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Matthew at
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June 19, 2001 |
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After lunch, the instructors took everyone (including Robert and Madeline) on a "tour" of the
Laguna Seca track. We all piled into the Neons and got the ride of our lives! Traveling at speeds of over
100 mph (our best guess) and with distances between the cars measured in millimeters, we tested the strength
of our grips as we hung on for dear life. What a thrill! The course included the famous Laguna Seca
"corkscrew" which provided an added dimension to our hair- and stomach- raising e-ticket ride.
After everyone recovered from the "tour", the teams went into their afternoon exercises: learning Trail
Braking on the skid pad; traversing the Autocross track in first a Neon and then... a Viper; doing
lane-change/accident avoidance maneuvers in the Neons. The afternoon exercises ended with an autocross relay
in the Viper. Each individual was timed and scored, plus the overall team time including driver changes
was computed. Matthew and his team had 0 penaties; the team was second in the overall time score.
Ready, set ... |
Go! |
Round and round we go on the Laguna Seca track |
Our driver is looking for a chance to get ahead. He did twice; one time we got "bumped" by the car he cut past! |
Madeline didn't take any photos when the cars were millimeters apart --- she was hanging on for dear life! |
Matthew loved it! (Of course) |
Robert can still stand up after his ride! |
Back to the Skid Pad to learn Trail Braking |
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At Turn-in point |
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Matthew's first time around the autocross course (in Neon) |
The idea is to apply the Skid Pad and Braking skills to this course |
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Getting briefed on the Viper |
Matthew's dream-come-true: he gets to drive the Viper |
Zoom, |
zoom, |
zoom! |
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Next, please! |
Check out that smile! |
He gets a 2nd turn ... with a different instructor. |
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After 2nd time driving Viper |
The Neon on the left with the spoiler was the only Neon with an automatic transmission. It was a replacement for a car that had a slipping clutch. |
A closer look at one of the Vipers. |
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The relay ... individual and team times recorded |
Team "A" |
Matthew waiting for his turn. |
His turn is NOW! |
Three laps around the track... no penalties! |
Quick change to next driver |
Team "A" had 0 penalty points |
Andrew ... lead instructor. Excellent teacher and driving instructor; great sense of humor |
Matthew's graduation! Yes! |