Hey all,
This Thursday I just completed the Acura High Performance Driving School @ MidOhio. What an awesome experience!! I didn't have the heart to use the S for any of it, so I used their rental RSX-S with revised gearing, suspension, brakes, and tires.
We started off with about 1.5 hrs of classroom time discussing weight transfer, friction circle, oversteer and understeer, blah, blah, blah. Then we broke off into groups and went through drills. First off for Rocket was the heel and toe downshift drill. A quick start to 60 and then hard braking for a 4-3 downshift, then stop and get critiqued, then back around to the top to do it again. Next up was an out-and-back slalom. I was second fastest in my group (and for the day) by a half second. Then lunch, then a wet braking drill both with and without ABS.
The final drill was an auto-x. WOW is all I can say. It took place on about an acre of rolling pavement with the 14 or 15 turn course both painted out and marked by cones, accented by yellow turn in point cones and green apex cones. We got a few free laps, and once I got the hang of the cones the course really opened up and I started to feel fast. The instuctor waved me in and told me to hop in his RSX. That man kept that car at the full capacity of its friction circle for about a full 40 second lap. An insanse experience, but I learned a lot about the course from it. Then we had more free lapping, then competition for time. He told me to go take some laps for time and he'd wave me in. I proceed to run two crappy laps and he flags me in. I was horribly disappointed, but understood my place and didn't say anything. Turns out I was the second fastest for the day with the auto-x too! I ran a 41.00, with the next lowest being a 40.60. The alltime record for students was a 39.6. My best lap that wasn't time was definitely a very low 40, but so goes life.
After all this getting 2nd place (to the same 18 yr old) I had to compliment him. I asked what he drove as a DD, and he told me he has an RSX! Unfair!! I told him if we could find a rental S2000 I might be able to put him in his place.
The final installment of the day was instructor led lapping around the MidOhio track. We got in about 10 laps at around 85% and speeds capped at 100, which was disappointing to an ledfoot like myself, but very satisfying none the less.
The staff and instructors were all excellent and fun to work with. I definitely have the bug now. I plan on a few auto-x days in the S, and maybe a track day or two. There are two more accompanying classes with a heavier emphasis on full course lapping, but that would require amounts of expendible income I definitely don't have. Many, many thanks to my parent for this day, which was a Christmas gift. PARENTS OF YOUNG AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS: this class can do a lot to put someone in their place about their driving ability. It can also teach a person the true difference between the track and the street. This course has definitely made me faster on the track, slightly slower on the street, and more confident all around.
Sorry for the long-winded post, but this was the most exciting day of driving for me since I first jumped behind the wheel. I highly recommend it to anyone who has the ability!

 

Congrats on your fine standings. It is always humbling when you discover just how much faster instructors can go. Weight transfer and dancing feet..... ah, to be young again. Safety fast friend and thanks for sharing.

 

Excellent, Rocket!!

 

Great Job !