Volkswagen Driving Experience 2013

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ryan_R

So yesterday was fun, although to be honest I was a little disappointed that it was almost a carbon copy of last years Progression course.

Met tigger73 (Damien) and AdamD (Adam) down there too

---

Was great to meet you Ryan. Sorry I had to run so quickly; had a plane to catch back to ADL, and hours of unfamiliar Melbourne peak-hour traffic to negotiate.

It was very interesting to compare and contrast the Progression and Evolution courses, which I did back to back on the Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning. You're right, there was an awful lot of overlap - much more than I had expected. I personally would have preferred a much greater emphasis on lapping and overall technique, rather than so many little exercises. When the best you get is 2x3 lap sessions - which allows for only 2 complete (non in- or out-) laps - there's very little time to hone your skills and demonstrate consistency. Once you understand the theory, it's all about practice practice practice.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ryan_R

They were thinking of creating an 'Evolution 2' course for us next year but I can't help thinking that it'll just be more of the same with a higher price tag (the feedback form mentioned $500 for a half-day course although I assume we'd get a $100 discount again).

---

They mentioned that the Evolution 2 course would potentially focus on the VW technology aids. TBH if I was even contemplating spending that kind of money, I'd want a solid focus on driver skill and lap performance, not a glorified sales pitch for ESP, EBD etc. Needless to say, I gave that question a tepid response.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ryan_R

I've got one of the videos uploaded - I was a fraction late with my brake and turn in but not too shabby, just takes time/practice like anything else

---

Great vid Ryan. I saw 215km/h down the straight a couple of times, and my peak corner speeds were high too, but my driving style looks a whole lot more aggressive and I was quite hot on entry to a number of corners on my first couple of laps. Unfortunately my (and Damien's) car had warped rotors, and my videos are filled with the noise of a badly pulsing vibration from the brakes - although they continued to pull the car up well. My instructor mentioned they were going to do a disc change for the afternoon session.

I found the Scirocco to be reasonably neutral and fairly adjustable on track, and feels much more entertaining than what some journos would have you believe (based on on-road observations). You could still describe it as very safe and predictable though - a Megane RS265 it is not.

Indeed. Car 13 was pulled out of service for the arvo so perhaps that was yours. If I braked and turned in half a second earlier for most corners I could've carried a little more speed. The brakes in the Roc didn't seem to bite as hard or as quickly as my Golf which was odd, although maybe it's done on purpose in the performance cars to allow for better feel/modulation. Not that I've ever stepped on the brakes from 200kph in my car, although I did get the same feeling in the Swerve tests at 80kph.

If anything I'd be looking at trying to sneak into an Audi course next time. The Extreme Snow course in NZ looks particularly fun.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ryan_R

Indeed. Car 13 was pulled out of service for the arvo so perhaps that was yours. If I braked and turned in half a second earlier for most corners I could've carried a little more speed. The brakes in the Roc didn't seem to bite as hard or as quickly as my Golf which was odd, although maybe it's done on purpose in the performance cars to allow for better feel/modulation. Not that I've ever stepped on the brakes from 200kph in my car, although I did get the same feeling in the Swerve tests at 80kph.

---

Mine was car 20 - the only blue one in the morning session.

These cars have copped an awful lot of abuse over the period they've been running the Evolution course, and even though they will change some parts, it's unlikely everything's fresh (discs, pads, fluids) when you drive the car. Repeated emergency stops, dozens of high-speed laps, over several days, are going to take their toll. To be honest I'm surprised that they hold up as well as they do... these are just Sciroccos (ie tarted up Golfs), not BMW M cars or Porsches with really serious braking hardware.

Audi's not the only one that does NZ snow courses. I know AMG do it too. Looks like an absolute hoot, and would really reward incredibly accurate/fine/gentle throttle and brake control, and steering inputs. Those skills would serve you well on the track too.

I actually asked Alex (chief safety guy who tells everyone over radio when to change stations) about that and he said all of the cars were new (not the ones from last year). Still plenty of time to be abused (they had come down from Queensland :P ). He didn't know what they did with the old cars (he actually works at the Eastern Creek circuit in NSW).

"My" car had less than 1,000km on the odo at the start of the day. That didn't mean the braking hardware wasn't already very second-hand, of course. Clearly they've been worked hard since delivery mileage.

I did the Thursday afternoon Evo session with pontiff. Was a bit wet but that makes it better is some ways... Our car (17) also had warped rotors but didn't make much difference... but the GPS in ours was flakey. Both files wouldn't copy off the USB drive when I got home, had to recover them, and then repair the AVI... speed/G sensor data cuts in/out...

My feedback form was all about 'more laps next time please'.

Didn't realise you guys had a special on this, think we paid full price $350 each?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ferni

I did the Thursday afternoon Evo session with pontiff. Was a bit wet but that makes it better is some ways... Our car (17) also had warped rotors but didn't make much difference... but the GPS in ours was flakey. Both files wouldn't copy off the USB drive when I got home, had to recover them, and then repair the AVI... speed/G sensor data cuts in/out...

---

Yes even though wet = slower lap times if you're there for car handling then wet = best. We were lucky in that both Tuesday and Wednesdays sessions were fine. More about getting in and out of the car that it's a pain in the wet.

Bugger about the recording on your USB - it's one of those things that you only find out about when you get home....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ferni

My feedback form was all about 'more laps next time please'.

---

Yes I think that is everyone's comments. Particularly after doing the Progression and Evolution courses back to back there wasn't much difference between the 2 courses other than smaller class size in the Evolution (2 per car instead of 3). VW obviously set the course content as ultimately they're the ones putting the event on.

The Progression course only had an "out" and an "in" lap x 2 so quite short time on the track.

Though there is always only so much one can absorb in a training course before the brain is "full".

I'd personally like feedback between lapping sessions so that you can look to make improvements.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ferni

Didn't realise you guys had a special on this, think we paid full price $350 each?

---

Yeah if you're registered on YouVW (the owners section on the VW website) then you should get a $100 discount code to go on the course. Best register there to make sure you get a discount for next year :P

Yeah I was just lucky I could recover and repair the files, most people would have just thrown it away.

Agreed - Laps with feedback in between. Even the instructor we had kept encouraging us to write on the feedback form more laps next time.

I've done the BMW M3 course at PI years ago and that was a full day with morning similar types of exercises as the VW day, and then a good amount of laps in the afternoon.

I've done plenty of track days all over so I was mainly there for some laps, but still appreciated some of the tips and playing with the XDL in the car...

Thanks for the tip about YouVW - I didn't even know that site existed...

The 2014 Audi Driving Experience courses are available to book now, in case anyone was interested:



Events: Audi Australia > Experience > driving experience > Drive Experience Form

Brochure: Audi Driving Experience 2014

Crikey! The pricing seems to increase exponentially over the 4 levels available...