Spent the day driving my F-Type at Thunder Hill. Most fun was coming up on a built 911, riding his bumper, and then watching him hate letting me pass. Second most fun was dusting a Ferrari. First time on a track and I had an instructor. Almost spun the car twice getting on the power too soon and the stock tired really aren't that sticky when compared to race tires (I also drove a race prepped Saturn and Corvette ZR-1. The race prepped cars were incredibly uncomfortable and while I loved the tires they had I actually did faster laps in the F-Type. I'm working on the videos and will push them to YouTube when done. Here are some of the shots the photographer took. Both my wife and I were driving so the car did back to back sessions most of the day and held up with no issues other than my tired look like I drove to Europe and back. God this is an incredibly fun car to drive on a track!

 

Here are some more shots of the track day.

 

Can't wait to see the video!

 

Looks like fun.

 

This is the dual with the 911, apparently I didn't adjust the lens so the it's tall and not wide. I clearly need to use this camera more.

 

Looks like you had a great day.

Certainly beats my Saturday!

Graham

 

Here is a picture of all of the drivers at the end of the day. Surprised we were all still able to stand.

 

Looks like it was really fun

 

Hey Rob,
That must've been fun. I was at Buttonwillow Raceway, this weekend with Southern California Audi Club. Because Audi Club does not allow convertibles, I can't take my XKR, so I took my ancient De Tomaso Pantera along with my friend who brought his Audi S5. I don't take the Pantera to the track much anymore, it's just too hard to handle on some of the more technical tracks (no power steering, traction control...), but Buttonwillow is a kinder, gentler track, and I had a blast flogging the old cat around the track. It had been at least a couple of years and I was a bit rusty, but it came back and we all had fun. I'm sure your F-type opened up some eyes!

 

Wow! That is great! I want one!

 

Track days are a blast, everyone should try it! Watching your video I noticed your lines are very good through the corners. Good show.

 

Looks like a lot of fun!

 

very cool - thanks for sharing Rob - looks like all had a blast!

 

Nice Pantera! You can get them reasonably well priced and I've been tempted several times. No place to put one though. I'm guessing the S5 was the hard top, it's a nice ride. How'd it do on the track? I had the Cabriolet. You'd think they'd allow a current gen convertible, they have built in roll protection. Go figure. Damn now I have a reason to go to Buttonwillow, (blew up a car there and haven't been a fan since).

 

Hey Rob,
The S5-6spd is so easy to drive fast that I call it cheating. Whereas in the Pantera I get it into 3rd gear and leave it there throughout (the gearbox is so notchy and the Ferrari style gate means you have to take your eyes off the road and use two hands to make sure you hit the right slot), in the S5 the combination of the silky smooth clutch and shifter just begs to be shifted both down and up. And the suspension is just incredible. My one complaint is that the car is so quiet that you're forced to watch the tach to know when to shift, you simply can't hear the engine through the exhaust at all. The Pantera really hates to be driven on the street as it always runs close to overheating (even with the fluidyne radiator upgrade), bucks like a bronco after it's warm since it wants to be at higher revs rather than what you get in normal traffic, but on the track it runs all day long at 180 degrees, never stumbles, and just enjoys being thrashed.

 

Thx for sharing... great pictures, especially love the one where the Honda S2000 looses it in the background...