On October 4, the SoCal Viper Club put on a Car Control Clinic for it's VCA members out at California Speedway.
There were 4 driving stations set up, each one designed to give the driver firsthand experience of the
Viper's handling characteristics in a safe and controlled environment.
Station 1: Zero to Sixty and Threshold Braking.
We were coached on how to properly stage and launch our Vipers by DC Performance's Lyle Larson,
who is/was a 6 second pro drag racer . Once up to speed, we forced the cars into full ABS mode
to see how good our cars really are at stopping.
Station 2: Skid Pad
With an instructor in the passenger seat, we were coached around the skid pad. With the steering wheel held in essentially
one position, creating a perfect circle around the cones, we were able to experience a few key handling characteristics.
By giving the car more throttle, the car would "push" through the turn thus creating a larger circle around the cones.
Lifting off the throttle slightly would settle the balance of the car and the circle around the cones would again tighten up.
If you lift off the throttle abruptly, the weight transfer would move forward and the rear of the car would want to rotate out and around the car.
By easing into the throttle as the back end starts to step out, the weight transfer moves back and the rear wheels gain traction and gain
control of the car.
Station 3: Figure 8
The figure 8 took what we learned on the skid pad one step forward. The instructor had us set the steering wheel around the
top of the 8 and control the arc around it with throttle input. As we approached the turn in point to cross over, lifting slightly
from the throttle would cause the car to rotate into the corner more. Once the car was pointed in the right direction, we could
accelerate through the center of the 8 and once again slightly lift and turn in the opposite direction to create the arc around
the bottom of the 8.
Station 4: Timed Slalom Course
Armed with the skills learned from the first 3 stations, the timed slalom was set up to put us to the test.
In order to get a good time, you had to launch at the right rpm and put the power to the ground without spinning the tires
and losing time. Winding your way around the sharp turns, loop and sweeper without getting too wide or sliding was the key to
a quick time. Carry too much speed at the end and fail to threshold brake correctly and you would miss the pit box.
This event was sold out and everyone had a great time.
I want to welcome some of the "new" members and encourage them to join us in future events.
Rylee and Roger
William
Hooman
Steve and Michael
Joseph and Art
Kristine
Darryl joined the VCA in May 1996 and is one of the oldest club members !
Bill and Laurence
Jim and Scott
Dax and Drew
John and Dan
Sarah and Dax A big THANKS to Sarah who came out, helped greet and sign everyone in.
Eddie, Nelson and Cameron
Bruce and Sean
Diann, Karen, Carol and Steven
Ben and Bruce
Drew with his future ACR
Armen and Angel
Jim, Judy and Scott
Deb
Anthony and Linda
Cathy
Drew, Dax and Dan
Albert
Me
Rylee
Angelica
Albert and Norman
Bill and Cassie
Mike and Ben
Stephanie and Anhtuan
Armen
Linda and Ray
Mike and Cheryl
Darryl and Sean
Angel and Eddie
Bruce
Dave
Ray III, Linda and Ray jr.
Dan and Glenn
Diann
Pam
Michael "Rev"
Ben
Laurence
Jim
Brent
Linda
Bill
Scott
Lance
Dax
Ruth
Weston
Bill
Roger
Peter
John
Stephanie
Glenn
Norman
Justin and Mike
Carlos and Carlos jr.
Steve
Steven
Linda and Ray
Anthony
Armen
Yosi
Cassie sure looks good in her FE ACR !
John
Nelson and Cameron
I love this picture !! Notice dad in the back holding the keys !!!!!
Mike
Sean
Joseph and Art
Bob Blizzard and his team of instructors....Thank You for coming out and teaching us so much !!!
Linda set the fastest Ladies time with a 1:37 Congratulations !
\
Kobi set the fastest Men's time with a 1:36.686
Ray III came in close second with a 1:36.76 !!
Honorable mention goes to "Rev" who set the mark with a 1:35 in Kobi's car. That is a great time !
