Went to Skip Barber School and drove IS-F big time!
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Went to Skip Barber School and drove IS-F big time!
Disclaimer: It's my first time on a racetrack and I have no previous experience in an "educated" high performance driving. Therefore, my impressions on the cars may not agree with the opinions of "experienced" drivers
Last week I attended a Skip barber high performance driving school class at Lime Rock park, CT. Skip Barber offered M3s (both coupe and sedan), Caymans, and Elises, but one thing I found perfect about the school is that they do have IS-Fs on their fleet! Classmates flocked around M3s and Caymans, but I always drove a black IS-F (And yes, I did not need to share the seat time with others!).
A brief comparison between M3 and IS-F, based on my driving at the session:
When I test drove an M3 sedan (on the street, when I was shopping for an IS-F), the ride in M3 felt softer than IS-F. IS-F's suspension was, and remains a bit stiff side in my taste. On the track at speed, however, M3 felt much more stiffer than IS-F. Also, M3's steering feedback is more solid, too.
Being softer was not necessarily a weak point for IS-F, at least to me. When I exited a chicane (followed by a decreasing radius turn) on the autocross track, I always bumped a curb on the right side of the track.. And bumping the curb made the stiffer M3 unsettling and made me nervous. IS-F soaked up the shock nicely on the curb and I was able to focus better on the next turn coming up fast.
Also, at the decreasing radius turn, without exceptions, M3 understeered, while IS-F planted itself with neutrality, and in one occasion, with a slight, controllable oversteer. I don't know why M3 always understeered.. Maybe my driving style better fits to IS-F? Anyhow, it felt so good in an IS-F going so fast and smoothly.
And there goes the acceleration with the proper V-8 sound! Although not timed, IS-F seemed to accelerate harder and more ferociously.
I have a really good time with IS-F, and now I know that I've made a right choice over M3s and C63s
Yeah!! Baby! Who needs a Torsen LSD??
And this is mine!!
Last week I attended a Skip barber high performance driving school class at Lime Rock park, CT. Skip Barber offered M3s (both coupe and sedan), Caymans, and Elises, but one thing I found perfect about the school is that they do have IS-Fs on their fleet! Classmates flocked around M3s and Caymans, but I always drove a black IS-F (And yes, I did not need to share the seat time with others!).
A brief comparison between M3 and IS-F, based on my driving at the session:
When I test drove an M3 sedan (on the street, when I was shopping for an IS-F), the ride in M3 felt softer than IS-F. IS-F's suspension was, and remains a bit stiff side in my taste. On the track at speed, however, M3 felt much more stiffer than IS-F. Also, M3's steering feedback is more solid, too.
Being softer was not necessarily a weak point for IS-F, at least to me. When I exited a chicane (followed by a decreasing radius turn) on the autocross track, I always bumped a curb on the right side of the track.. And bumping the curb made the stiffer M3 unsettling and made me nervous. IS-F soaked up the shock nicely on the curb and I was able to focus better on the next turn coming up fast.
Also, at the decreasing radius turn, without exceptions, M3 understeered, while IS-F planted itself with neutrality, and in one occasion, with a slight, controllable oversteer. I don't know why M3 always understeered.. Maybe my driving style better fits to IS-F? Anyhow, it felt so good in an IS-F going so fast and smoothly.
And there goes the acceleration with the proper V-8 sound! Although not timed, IS-F seemed to accelerate harder and more ferociously.
I have a really good time with IS-F, and now I know that I've made a right choice over M3s and C63s
Yeah!! Baby! Who needs a Torsen LSD??
And this is mine!!
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I was busy driving, so there is only one video available.. I don't know how to link properly, though..
http://tvpot.daum.net/clip/ClipViewB...d=lr6aJTy6gzA$
More track photos
http://blog.daum.net/huksa/12818332
http://blog.daum.net/huksa/12818333
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I think the race bug finally bit me.. With the generous support from my wife, I've just decided to attend 3-day Mazdaspeed racing school at Laguna Seca! It's also offered by Skip barber, and I'll get to drive Miata spec racer or Formula Mazda depending on what I apply. I'll be traveling to Monterey in the late August for the sessions.
I am split between Miata race car and Formula Mazda.. Any thoughts on this, guys?
I am split between Miata race car and Formula Mazda.. Any thoughts on this, guys?
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Sounds like you had a blast. I am looking at both Skip Barber and Bondurant schools right now. I have been to several driving schools before, but the fastest car I have driven on the track is a police interceptor. It would be great to drive something a little faster and more responsive.
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Sounds like you had a blast. I am looking at both Skip Barber and Bondurant schools right now. I have been to several driving schools before, but the fastest car I have driven on the track is a police interceptor. It would be great to drive something a little faster and more responsive.
As I said in my main post, people usually want to drive M3s and Porsches, so IS-F was kinda a wall flower. Instructors knew I had an IS-F, so they took out the IS-F only for my favor!
The only reservation I had was that Lime Rock Park is too short It's only 1.5 miles long and I could have used a longer track. Yet, the uphill curve was a sensational overload for a novice like myself!
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