I arrived at the track this morning at 8 a.m. and headed straight for
the R8s.  They had four of them - two Tiptronic and two manuals.
Absolutely gorgeous!  Lots of pictures that I hope to post an url to
later.

After a 30 minute classroom session talking about Quattro and driving
dynamics, we piled into 11 A4s A6s, and A3s for steering exercise.
Twenty two in the class, two students/car, switching places after a
few "laps" of the parking lot.  Not really exciting..... infact,
down-right boring, but......

Second exercise was an emergency lane change without brakes using A6s.
The class broke up into three sections.  This exercise is a standard
in most driving schools and not too challenging.  

Next our team of 6 souls was off to the auto cross exercise.  Three
different cars:  The A3 (best times), the A8L (very impressive
handling for such a large car), and the Q7 with the 4.2L engine.  We
each got three runs with all three cars.  Lots of fun.

Then, back to the front straightaway of Pocono for an emergency lane
change *with* brakes driving A4s with the 3.2L engine.  We could brake
anytime after we got in "the box" (group of cones arranged on either
side of a lane leading to an "accident" (cones laid on their side in
the traffic lane).  Again, this is a standard excercise at lots of
different drivin schools, but it was fun to wait until the very last
second to apply the brakes.

Off to get our helmets for the main track exercise with both the RS4
and the R8.  I take an XXL wearing a ballaclava (head sock).  Did I
ever tell you I hate helmets.  I know they are necessary and have a
job to do, but I despise them.  

The RS4 is a wonderful machine, not as quick as my RS6, but it would
lose the RS6 in the twisties.  This exercise was a lead and follow.
The instructor was in an S5 (in Arrest-Me Red).  We went through turn
1 at Pocono and then hard on the brakes, stay to the right next to the
wall, down shift to 3rd and a sharp left onto the infield.  There were
two turns, but I made it into one sweeping one, on the gas, then quick
braking and a 90 degree turn to the left, accelerate at the apex while
still in 3rd, then hard on the brakes for a carousel type turn, hit
the apex and hard on the gas to the turn-out, to the right for another
left hand turn at speed, small straight-away, little braking, then
hard on the gas back onto the Raceway and turn 1.  All of this
following the instructor very closely (3 car lengths!).

We started out going a max speed of about 60 on the raceway (4th
gear), and ended up doing around 95.  The instructor took us up to max
speed gradually on each lap.  I was very impressed with how easily the
RS4 turned in after jumping on the brakes for the first turn into the
infield.  Great fun.

Then it was my partner's turn and I sat in the right seat cheering her
on.  She did well and it was also loads of fun sitting in the right
seat.

The R8:  What can I say?  Absolutely beautiful to look at.  Engine
under glass.  When you drive it you have a sense of its power looming
behind you.  Lots of room in the cabin (for two, of course), and four
bags of groceries, or a set of golf clubs, or a wader bag and a couple
of fly rod tubes behind the seats.  No squwenching an adult sideways
ala the Porsche 911.

Same exercise, only we started at about 80 on Turn 1 and worked our
way up to about 115.  Hard on the brakes for the first turn-in, close
to the wall, downshift with the paddle (the engine blips to match the
speed just like you *should* do with a manual).  This car, the R8, is
absolutely unbelievable in the twisties.  I was amazed at how it
handled, especially after driving the RS4 at speed.  In the  turn
after the carousel turn I could get the car in a four wheel drift to
the right by simply using the gas pedal.  I should mention that we are
doing this with only about 3 car lengths between me and the instructor
I am following.  I think I did five laps, but you could probably
convince me I only did 3, or maybe 7.  My mind was not on counting
laps.

Back to the starting gate and switch drivers.  I had picked up a new
driver because I "scared" my female partner in the RS4 exercise.  She
didn't want to go that fast.  d;o)  Not a peep out of this new
partner.  Off we went again following the instructor at about 3 car
lengths (imagine that at 115 mph!).  When I was driving my senses were
pre-occupied with driving.  When sitting in the right seat going
through Turn 1 (banked) at 115 mph, I suddenly became very aware of
the Gs we were pulling.  With the heavy helmet on, I gave into the Gs
and let my head rest against the window.  Hey, I'm an old man (70)!

After my partner did his five laps, we returned  to the helmet shed,
turned in the helmets, and proceeded back to the auto-cross area where
a 3.2 L TT was waiting for us.  We each got two laps of the course we
were familiar with from the previous excercise with the A3, A8L, and
Q7. but this time we would be times.  I took the fastest lap of my six
person group, beating out a young fellow by 1/100 of a sec.  It was
also the 2nd fasted time of all 22 drivers.

At 12:15 or so, we returned to the barn, parked the school cars, and
went inside for a very nice lunch.  All in all it was the best Audi
driving experience I have been too (two Audi Hands On in the 80s, and
a Driving Experience two years ago at Road Atlanta.)  I was very
impressed with the amount of cars Audi supplied for the exercises, and
the amount of different models.  A first class presentation.  I
couldn't have expected less from Audi.

The downer for the day was having to drive back to Massachusetts and
face all the New York and Connecticut left lane bandits.  At one point
in NY, I passed fifteen cars who were in the go fast lane, all going
at or about the speed limit.  They reminded me of sheep going to
slaughter.

My R8 should arrive in about a year. In the meantime, I have decided
to go to the Audi Sports Car Experience at Infinity Raceway in Sonoma,
California.  One full day in the R8!   I am sold!  

Dave
03 RS6