Step into any high-performance car on sale at present, blast up your favourite mountain highway, or partake in an area observe day, and you may really feel like a hero. Whether or not in a zillion-horsepower tremendous sedan or a mega-lightweight hypercar, trendy traction and stability management methods do rather more to maintain us on the highway than we regularly understand. They make automobiles accessible to anybody, to a fault.
Since 2021, I’ve been fortunate sufficient to drive virtually each new unique automobile constructed. But, as these machines grow to be ever faster, my perception that driver coaching is one of the best funding any fanatic could make has grow to be unshakable. It’s why I’m in Chandler, Arizona, attending Radford Racing College’s four-day GT Highway Racing course. As a result of, whether or not you’re a newbie or an skilled driver, we’ve all bought extra to be taught.
Shaped from the famed Bob Bondurant College of Excessive Efficiency Driving, the institution re-opened as Radford Racing College in 2021. Dodge is Radford’s present associate, that includes a fleet of Challengers in R/T Scat Pack Widebody and SRT Hellcat Widebody kind. Though I’m right here to acquire my SCCA full competitors license, Radford’s choices prolong nicely past its flagship racing college. Attendees can even select from efficiency driving, drag racing, and defensive driving applications provided in configurations starting from one to 4 days.
My classmates and I’ve two automobiles to select from: a Challenger SRT Hellcat restricted to 500 horsepower by its black key, for many who need an computerized transmission, or a 485-hp Challenger R/T Scat Pack, which includes a guide shifter. We begin with fundamental maneuvering and automobile management, working via numerous braking, collision avoidance, and response time workouts to cement the basics we’d discovered within the preliminary classroom session.
Then we transfer on to the Maricopa Oval, a sub-section of Redford’s Fundamental Observe, to follow the talent this course revolves round: path braking. Whether or not you’re in a Scat Pack like I’m, or the SRT Hellcat, each are massive coupes with heavy V8 engines positioned forward of their entrance axles. Given how a lot momentum that heft carries, they have an inclination to understeer, even when these college automobiles put on upgraded Cooper Zeon RS3-G1 rubber. Radford has a comparatively laid-back vibe, in contrast to different driving faculties I’ve attended. On the Maricopa Oval, my classmates can drive as a lot or as little as we wish, and it is a theme that’s continued all through the course.
Day two picks up with a major change of tempo, focusing extra intensively on automobile management methods within the classroom. Instructors go over the fundamentals of under- and oversteer, weight switch, and how one can recuperate from an unintended slide. I step exterior and discover Radford’s skid automobile ready. At first look, it could seem like an ordinary Dodge Charger SRT 392, however it’s fitted with mechanical arms and wheels that raise its entrance or rear axle on command. It’s hilariously enjoyable, and some laps in, as my teacher lightens the rear so I can follow my figure-eight drifts for a handful of laps.
Then we take that studying to Radford’s East Observe. Not like the Fundamental Observe, which seems to be as new as the varsity’s identify, the smaller course we’re operating at present is way older and thus has a rougher floor. We revisit the significance of path braking correctly, and our instructors provide ride-alongs, and finally launch us for open observe time. Given its added low-end torque and further horsepower, I depart my guide Scat Pack in favor of an computerized Hellcat. Since I’ve spent most of my life driving previous Porsche 911s, the Hellcat represents the exact opposite of my consolation zone, and having my teacher soar within the driver’s seat, exhibiting me how onerous I can lean on the automobile’s entrance finish, convinces me to interrupt my behavior of braking solely in a straight line.
Day three opens with a visit to the classroom for extra instruction earlier than I’m again within the Hellcat, headed for the Fundamental Observe. Its floor is clean, and its longer format includes a larger mixture of low- and high-speed sections with just a few elevation adjustments baked in.
Though studying a brand new course so rapidly after memorizing one other might sound daunting, the quantity of sophistication and seat time Radford supplies makes it a breeze. Just a few laps in, I’m feeling assured. I’ve bought my path braking down, and began working with my Hellcat, as an alternative of combating it.
I cease often on the pits for pointers, and my teacher assures me that I’m headed in the precise course. Though I’ve had loads of observe expertise earlier than, being in an atmosphere with instructors able to reply any questions implies that what would’ve taken me fairly some time to determine, I can soak up and apply virtually immediately. It’s a stage of talent development that might be virtually inconceivable to copy elsewhere. Though class begins at seven within the morning and ends by three, I’m exhausted, drenched in sweat, however loaded with new info.
The ultimate day is spent virtually totally out on the observe. By now, the varsity has thinned out and solely my class of 5 stays. It appears like we now have Radford’s services to ourselves… as a result of we type of do! With information that we’re heading again to the East Observe, I rapidly settle again into my Hellcat to maximise my observe time.
Since I’m finishing the course to acquire my SCCA Full Competitors License, Lead Teacher Will Parker and his colleague Canaan O’Connell have been paying shut consideration to my driving to find out whether or not they can log out on my certification. And by this final day, O’Connell is assured that I can deal with the Hellcat with all its methods disabled.
Though it solely generates 500 hp on this configuration, I’m keenly conscious of how a Hellcat can chunk again when provoked. Nonetheless, as I’m going to the East Observe, I’m instantly again in acquainted territory. See, the factor that makes driving an previous Porsche 911 particular is how simply you possibly can assist level its nostril by inducing a little bit of oversteer. Again within the Hellcat, that’s exactly what I can experiment with. I can path brake when wanted, and scoot the rear finish with throttle after I don’t.
It doesn’t take lengthy earlier than this train in automobile management devolves into big drifts with clouds of smoke littering the course because the East Observe eats up the Hellcat’s tires. It’s considered one of just a few methods to expertise a automobile at its limits with out concern of a serious accident or having to foot the invoice for dear consumables. This era concludes with a handful of simulated race begins, a requirement for these trying to get our racing licenses, after which it’s again into the classroom for a fast break, which provides Radford’s workers sufficient time to suit my Hellcat with a brand new set of rear tires forward of my second stint.
My last time heading out to the East Observe is bittersweet. Though Radford’s four-day program is the longest it gives, I’m keen to remain and proceed bettering. The final afternoon’s session sees me mixing up methodical quick laps and drifting screamers. Though I got here to the varsity with loads of expertise, I’m strolling away with an added layer of confidence created by the power to rapidly work on downside areas to grow to be a good stronger driver.
For the $6,999 that this four-day GT Highway Racing course prices, the expertise Radford supplies makes it greater than value its entry worth. Given the vastness of the varsity’s services, its onsite restore outlets, and the number of workouts provided, even skilled drivers will discover no problem studying new abilities. If, like me, you full the course to obtain a certificates that makes you eligible for an SCCA Full Competitors License, the course is a stepping stone to an infinite world of motorsport occasions.
Whereas efficiency automobiles have by no means been simpler to drive, experiencing them to their fullest won’t ever be doable with out correct driver coaching. And regardless of how nicely trendy stability and traction management methods can fairly simply cover poor driving abilities, you’ll by no means have as a lot enjoyable as going out on observe, studying how one can dial them again confidently, and seeing what your sports activities or supercar is actually like on the restrict.
