Summit Point FATT - CEG Archives

Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives

Summit Point Raceway in WV (or VA, I can never remember - I just follow my friend) offers a 'class' called Friday at the Track. The track has several instructors at the track that train individuals car control and performance driving techniques for a good price. The one day event is $175 and you get about an hour to an hour and a half of drive time - four sessions of 20-30 minutes.

This was my second time at this track and my fourth track event total. First time I went I took the Cobra and went off track in the rain and since the 'tour was (mostly) finished and there was a chance of rain I took that this time.
However, during the first session I immediately became aware of the fact that my brakes BLOW!! I had no idea what was going on, my brakes were going almost all the way to the floor almost immediately. High speed braking the steering wheel was practically vibrating out of my hands!

Well, after the second session we're all sitting around having lunch and my friend says "Hey, are those the same brake pads you lit on fire riding with Sal?"

Duh, I completely forgot I SMOKED my pads following SalK on his Aprilia a few months ago!!

So the rest of the course I was really forced to practice the line more in order to try to maintain speed and not hold anyone up. I still managed to pass a bug (blah), a '90's Z28, a new Cobra, Z3 speedster, a couplea Porsches all makes and I forget what all else.

I got a few shots of a CAP CEGer passing a BMW but no way to upload and host yet. Have a few videos of a supercharged Z06, AC Cobra and Steve's and my 'tours. Been wanting to get an exhaust clip for some time but it's pretty mild; was being held up by the bug.

Will get pics up as soon as possible.

All in all it's a fun track and not too expensive. I'm going to try to set up a date sometime next year for either a one day event through Summit Point or a two day event (recommended) through Car Guys.

When would everyone be interested in attending?

If this is something everyone would be interested in let me know and I'll start communicating. If anyone has any contact with Cougars/Focii/Escort ZX2 types feel free to send them my way and we'll see if we can get a Ford gathering to happen!

What style event would you be interested in?

The Car Guys event is $500 for two days but you get more than twice the track time and a better chance of assimilating the track. After the second day at Mid-Ohio I was doing 250% better than when I started. You do learn a lot more after two days.

Hey, I'd be in for a one-day event in the Spring. I did one 4 years ago and had a blast.

If you can do an event which coincides with a road racing event i will be able to make it.

Originally posted by {Kontofosho}:
If you can do an event which coincides with a road racing event i will be able to make it.

I have no idea what you are saying. Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point IS a road course. I'm not going to go there and flip burgers.

Can you ask again what it is you would be able to do and maybe we can work something out.

chknhwk,

I think it is very well timed that you bring this up. After attending this past weekend's SCCA Autocross at FedEx, I shot around an email to my buddies about registering for FATT so that we would be better prepared for next year's Solo II racing.

I'm very excited about the possibility of a group event but am a little unclear as to what you are proposing. Are you trying to set-up a FATT event or something like a CEG Track Day(s)?

I ask because completing FATT instruction gives you the "license" to drive at Summit Point's Open Track days. Since you have already done FATT, I would presume that you would not want to go through the instruction again and are instead simply looking for track time on a road course. However, this presents a challenge for those who have not done a FATT event (such as myself) for we would not be able to participate in open track events at Summit.

Depending on interest, maybe we could arrange an optional two-day event through Summit Point, so that the first day is the FATT course which those who have previously done FATT could forego, and the second day is the open track day.

Whatever the case, realize that FATT requires about a two month preregistration, likely longer for a large group. That said, I would vote to do this anytime between now next March, when the racing season starts-up again.

-DCL

dcl, some people (well, most people) require more than one FATT event to be signed off.
If I could get a CEG only event that would be awesome but that would take A LOT of work on my part and A LOT of interest on the part of the CEG. I'm not saying I wouldn't do it, I would just need a whole lot of people to say "Yeah, do it!"
What I'm looking for right now - barring previously mentioned interest - is just kind of a get together at the track for high performance driving education. We've got the cars that can handle the track, it's time to upgrade the drivers.
Both of the options I've listed would leave that organization to provide us instruction and the more instruction we get (which is why I recommend the two day event) the better suited we would be to tackling other challenges. I just want everyone to say whether they would be interested and when so I can start talking to the event coordinators.
I hope this answered or addressed the questions you had.

I suggest we'd probably get a lot more interest for the 1-day FATT; the two-day event would probably be too time- and cost-prohibitive to draw a crowd.

cknhwk,
Keep in mind PSCC will be running at pocono again next year same format... But I'll keep the FATT stuff in mind also.

I have a feeling the one day event would draw more interest but you don't have to sign up for both days of the two day event (I believe). I need to get more info on that.
$175 for a day of instruction IS a good deal, though.

Eric! I'm glad you chimed in. I'd love to have you out there - I need to chase you some more.

I'll definitely check out the Poughkeepsie guys, that was a good deal. They were a little light on the instructions given but still fun.
Did you get my email about the final shine stuff? I'm really curious about this...

Originally posted by chknhwk:
.....dcl, some people (well, most people) require more than one FATT event to be signed off.
.....

I see.

I think the consensus is pushing for the 1 day event. I would also prefer the 1-day event. With about a two month heads-up for FATT, I can wing the weekday. Therefore, I will be one to say, "I'm in, let's do it!" contingent on being able to set this up before mid-March of next year. So, if you could make this happen before Mid-March 2004, count me in for sure.

Originally posted by chknhwk:
.....We've got the cars that can handle the track, it's time to upgrade the drivers......

I like that statement and I think your willingness to set this up is admirable.

-DCL

A large amoutn of high performance driving event weekends also paralell scca club racing or nasa pro racing. The only way I could justify driving to summit point is if i could could be racing that weekend. The track day would just be a plus. Is that more clear?

Not really - we're not racing, it is a HPDE (high performance drivers education). I believe you'd have to be signed off on their track for any sort of other racing events.

We're going to be signed up for MAY 7th. This will be a Friday at the Track HPDE event.

If anyone would be interested in going check out Summit Point Raceway for contact information. This is definitely a hoot and I think anyone going would have a lot of fun.
Plus it would be a good chance to get together and just generally chill.

EDIT: These events do book pretty quickly in most cases so try to stay on top of this if you're interested!! I'll try to update this thread with availability periodically.

Ok sorry, I have a IT prepared mazda rx-7 that I travel with, I cannot justify the travel if i wouldnt be able to compete with my mazda, the hpde would be an aside.

Ah, now I understand.
You could always attend the HPDE to practice a different track and provide assistance to other less-practiced CEGers. Or just hang out!
To find out if there would be anything else planned that weekend I would recommend checking out their website.

Originally posted by chknhwk:
Or just hang out!

hey John, ooo maby i should go 007 style.....<<wink wink>> whats up chickenman.....relax.....you know my sence of humor

i may be intrested in this event you got workin up here. do they rent cars to drive???

too bad the cougar isnt up and running yet, id love to take that. how have you been?

Well, you got 'til May!

Bring it!
I been ok. Busy, busy, busy with work and carbon fiber.

Unfortunately they do not rent cars at this track.

make a CF dash, the part that goes around the head unit and HVAC knobs, that i'd buy in a heartbeat

This is going to sound bad, but I need to ask:

How does your insurance handle any, um, misfortunes at the track?

The majority of the insurance companies will cover this as this is NOT a racing event but a Drivers Education course that you have paid for. I have seen the instructors advise people to say that it was a "single car accident on a private road" in the event that their insurance does NOT cover drivers education events. Which actually, from my understanding, is rare.

More updates for our trip.