The Xtreme Xperience?

In reply to SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) :
There's some great metal in that bunch.

How tough is it to sit in the passenger seat next to noobs with no training and 600hp on tap under their right foot? You all must have nerves of steel.

In reply to nderwater :

There's a lot to it.  Truthfully many guests are already nervous or intimidated anyway.  That can slow them down naturally, or cause them to drive erratically.  Part of my job is to coach them around the track, tell them when to lift, turn, roll into the gas, etc...  If they're too aggressive or just not listening I can bring them into the pits and have a chat.  That's extremely rare though, pretty much everyone listens and has a great time.

DrMikeCSI said:

Guys thanks for all the info!

Trying to decide between the C8 Z06 and 911 GT3 for my Hanukkah present to myself .

Steve's covering all the questions with a lot more regularity than I get to over Christmas break with 5 kids, so I'll let him do the heavy lifting.

I'll try to help with this unanswered question. 

I haven't gotten to drive the Z06s yet (ours were the release-model Stingrays until this coming year), but Steve might have.  We had trouble getting enough Z06s to fill the fleet so we had to keep it at the normal ones until supply caught up enough to snag them.  I'm super excited to try one! 

Even a base model C8 vs. a GT3 is a surprisingly harder choice than you'd think, but a GT3 wins every time.    The C8 has a TON going for it and is probably 95+% capable and amazing on track, but it's not a GT3.

Sort of like the Cayman GT4RS is 98% a GT3, but it's still not a GT3 :)

Knowing exactly what I know now (i.e., having a lot of seat time in a C8 NON Z06 vs GT3), if I had to choose just one, I'd go GT3 unless a C8 is a dream car for you.  The Z06 may tilt that, but for now that's my answer.   If you can swing it, both is a really good choice...

nderwater said:

In reply to SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) :
There's some great metal in that bunch.

How tough is it to sit in the passenger seat next to noobs with no training and 600hp on tap under their right foot? You all must have nerves of steel.

One of the coolest things about XX is the instructor training and continuous improvement we do.   As Steve says, there's a lot to it, but our job is to be staying ahead of them and coaching to the level that they can a lot of out of it without being dangerous.  We really pride ourselves on the level of safety to the amount of fun we allow people to have.  We have morning and mid-day meetings to ensure that things are running smoothly and consistently and to address any specific problems with the group.

Very, very rarely do we have a problem with a guest where they're a danger to themselves or others and we can't get them to look ahead or be smooth as needed, as Steve said.  Most of the problems are related to not being smooth or consistent and require more effort from us.  I had one guest who for some reason was flicking the 488 GTB throttle continuously.  Remember, this is a turbo'd V8, he was literally snap on, snap off a second later.  Even down the straights!  The whole time he was complaining that the car "didn't want to go."  Despite my best efforts to try to have him roll into and out of the throttle and smooth his inputs, I even tried to explain how a turbo meant you were throwing away 300 HP every time you lifted, but no avail.  I think his internal software was just incompatible with the physics of a turbocharger.  

Most of the guests will get to about 30% of the vehicles capabilities and walk away feeling awesome about themselves with a cherished memory, and we're here for it!

Also, as a note, there's LOTs of videos from in-car on youtube.  If you search whatever track you're thinking of and Xtreme Xperience, you'll find out exactly what you're getting into.

I haven't done the traveling thing, a buddy of mine was an instructor for them years ago and they put out chicane cones on the straights and such to keep the speeds way down. 

I did Exotics Racing in Vegas this summer. They have a purpose built track, great instructors, and they don't hold you back once they realize you aren't a knuckle dragger. I was hitting close to 135 on the front straight in the 488 Pista. If I had the confidence and few more laps to really hit out of the hairpin, that number would be north of 140. 

It is expensive, no doubt. I think I spent $1200-1300 to drive 3 different cars, 5 laps each. But assuming my fiance's company participates in the big conference in Vegas again next year, I will go again just so I can drive that Cayman GT4 RS again around the track again. 

If one of you has the chance, the Huracan EVO was a huge let down, besides the sound of the V10. I will stick to all Porsche's next time. The Cayman was violent and smooth at the same time. I know that doesn't really make sense, but when you get to drive one in anger, it will.

There's only one or two tracks where we use a chicane, and that's simply so we don't hit 170+mph.  Besides, cornering is where these cars really shine anyway.  Sonoma and AMP are two of the best tracks we go to and they aren't huge top speed places.

The 488 oozes smoothness.  Everything that car does is slick.  Easy, predictable and confidence inspiring.  Huracan is the polar opposite.  Raw, brutal, aggressive and nearly violent.  Equally as fast, just very different in how they go about it.  GT3 is about the ultimate track weapon.  Razor sharp reflexes, worlds best communication and it almost becomes an extension of your fingers.  GT4 RS is the world's fastest go kart.  A bit more nimble than the GT3, a lot less forgiving.  Stupid fun.  The C8 is a remarkable American interpretation of the Ferrari.  Super smooth, easy to drive, encourages you to go faster, well balanced and still has the 'Murica V8 sound.  I am beyond excited to try the Z06 next year.  I suspect it'll be a Ferrari killer.

In reply to SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) :

We also have to chicane getting onto the front straight of Portland, for sound purposes.  You can still get up to 145ish (mayyyybe a bit more :)) by the braking zone there, though..

SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) said:

There's only one or two tracks where we use a chicane, and that's simply so we don't hit 170+mph.  Besides, cornering is where these cars really shine anyway.  Sonoma and AMP are two of the best tracks we go to and they aren't huge top speed places.

The 488 oozes smoothness.  Everything that car does is slick.  Easy, predictable and confidence inspiring.  Huracan is the polar opposite.  Raw, brutal, aggressive and nearly violent.  Equally as fast, just very different in how they go about it.  GT3 is about the ultimate track weapon.  Razor sharp reflexes, worlds best communication and it almost becomes an extension of your fingers.  GT4 RS is the world's fastest go kart.  A bit more nimble than the GT3, a lot less forgiving.  Stupid fun.  The C8 is a remarkable American interpretation of the Ferrari.  Super smooth, easy to drive, encourages you to go faster, well balanced and still has the 'Murica V8 sound.  I am beyond excited to try the Z06 next year.  I suspect it'll be a Ferrari killer.

Absolutely, I know you've drive more fancy cars than I have, but I couldn't have said it better. The 488 is just nuts, everywhere all the time. It's the only car I've ever driven that reminded me of the shove you get from a sport bike. Grabbing the next gear at 9k in that thing was fantastic. The Huracan.......it was insane, the brakes are like throwing out an anchor. But I couldn't get used to the steering. 

The Cayman GT4 RS, you know, you've driven one. It's hard to describe. Hard on the brakes, throw it in, and it just sticks. And you haven't gotten back on the gas soon enough.