"(by racing the 1⁄4 mile then applying maximum brake pressure)"

They also mention "achieving the official 3.6 seconds 0 - 60 mph" for the drivers as well so there must be some telemetry equipment to measure all these numbers.

Is it not "free" for the owners???

I am sure lots of people will definitely be there. Owners or not. This is one amazing opportunity to experience something most cannot in their life time.

I would really appreciate if you get some of your performance data and share it with us.

 

So it's $3500 for one day, and they're running this from March 8th to March 15th? How much time is LFA time vs. ISF time? A one day event for $3500 is not a small hurdle when there are many other schools you can attend for ~$2500 and two or three days on track (depending on venue).

I know I'll be busy from the 8th to the 10th, but I'll be out west. Friday the 11th is sounding really interesting.

 

Seems like participants spend most of your time in the LFA. According to the official details "they teach the driver how to use the launch control to achieve or exceed the 3.6 seconds 0 - 60 mph", "racing the 1/4 mile and then braking down to standstill" and also "acceleration tests beyond the 1/4 mile".


This should answer your question:

"This unique opportunity is for current LFA owners, potential LFA owners or any sports car enthusiast that wants a full day of high-performance dri*ving behind the wheel of the LFA — under the guidance of professional driving coaches, participants will first test out the LFA’s acceleration & braking (by racing the 1⁄4 mile then applying maximum brake pressure), and then move directly to the track, first with some IS-F test laps, then followed by 4 track sessions behind the wheel of the LFA. The day ends with an all-out, pedal-to-the-metal lap with a professional race car driver."

 

I've been told that it's limited to six people a day -- also, here's the recommended hotels in the LFA invitation:

That said, no personal experience with any of them.

 

i think owners have to pay as well

but i think it's great that they are opening this to everyone not just lfa owners.

though 3500, that's quite a bit of money for a day

 

Thanks for the info Krew.

I believe all participants pay the same amount.

Regarding costs, if only 6 folks a day, that is a small denominator to spread across the track costs, staff costs, food, pro drivers, transportation of gear and costs to run and upkeep of the cars.

I have got to believe this will be a first class event.

The two other LFA events I went to in 2010, Homestead and Autobahn Chicago were terrific (and Lexus picked up the tabs for those).

 

They didn't mention anything about the daily participant limitations, although I'm a bit surprised by krew's post about actually having as many as 6 drivers a day since this is supposed to be a full-day program. That said we don't know how many LFAs Lexus will have on hand for the event. They should have extra LFAs around - given the possibility that many of the drivers are beginners, I wouldn't be that surprised if an LFA winds up in the wall at some point during the program. Crashes at Ferrari's driving schools for owners are pretty common, for example.

I've never even traveled to Napa so don't have any recommendations for lodging. I decided just to stay at the Lexus partner hotel at the event, the Bardessono. I'm sure most of the recommended hotels will be fine. I'll be eating at the Meadowood's restaurant during my stay, and can give thoughts on the property if I wind up walking around there.


Again, I just don't read that the same way. It's a huge jump to infer from some marketing fluff about taking a car to its limits that there will actually be telemetry equipment.

Not free. As I mentioned in the OP, it's $3500.


I actually think the $3500 is a tremendous bargain. As I alluded to in the OP, we could go to either extreme for comparison, and either demonstrates the value of $3500. On one side, there's the typical introductory track instruction experience at a local, club-style racetrack which usually runs around $600 for a half-day experience in a car (Corvette, M3, etc.) not remotely as interesting as the LFA on a track not remotely as interesting as Infineon. On the other, you've got factory programs like Ferrari's owner track day instruction program which for the 2-day experience generally runs $20,000. The value of the sessions has made me consider signing up for multiple sessions - who knows, maybe they'll let me.

 

But you're staying at one of them aren't ya.

 

To my knowledge they are going to have data recording instruments at this LFA Driver Development program.

Which is Great News..!!

Joe Z

 

Good to know, thanks.

 

Do you know this for a fact Joe? I think what you're talking about is still in the works and not confirmed. And im sure the source you heard this from is not really wanting people to share this info until official.

 

No Ryan, I don't know this for a fact !!

Really once again I have no idea what you are talking about

Common sense tells me they are not going to use a stopwatch with pen & paper.

Regards,

Joe Z

 

Agreed. That is exactly what I think.

If there is no telemetry equipment such as, video vbox, it will become very boring since you have no idea lap after lap, if you are getting any better than before or not. I mean, Lexus equipped every LFA with video VBOX when they held the event at Goodwood England.

Besides, they said we will teach the driver how to achieve or exceed the official 3.6 seconds 0-60 mph, which can only be confirmed by telemetry.

 

I'm pretty sure driving an LFA at Infineon won't get boring. I've never tracked with timing devices... ever.

 

I wouldn't say boring, but if they had recording and telemetry equipment on the pre-production LFA's at Goodwood, why wouldn't an official LFA driving program have them? It just makes sense that they'd keep details about the laps, and have drivers and times on hand to show people where and when they make a mistake, or where it can be improved etc.