Pit Road Exclusive Feature
Three Days in the Desert with Bragg-Smith
By Bill Felkey and Bert Anz - 5/18/2001
What follows is an account of the experiences of Bill G. Felkey and Bertrand M. Anz at Bragg-Smith Level One, Advanced Driving School in Pahrump, Nevada during the week of May 28th, 2001. Rupert Bragg-Smith has operated the premier driving school in conjunction with Chevrolet's Corvette division for the past six years. The school utilizes C-5 coupes, Z06 Corvettes, and Camaro SS's, all equipped with six speed transmissions to give nonprofessional drivers a taste of the art of race driving.
Mr. Bragg-Smith has specifically designed his road course as a teaching tool and you will experience every conceivable type of turn. At the Bragg-Smith Advanced Driving School, Rupert and his staff teach you to drive Corvettes and Camaros over their well maintained and Bragg-Smith wholly owned road course. What you take away from their instruction is how to drive any vehicle on any road course or highway. Please note: Due to a film problem the pictures inserted are from the www.bragg-smith.com gallery.
Bragg-Smith and Track philosophy:
We don't want this article to be so specific that the reader does not feel any reason to attend the course. Central to all instruction, however, is that your eyes are the most important sense for your driving. This assertion will be carefully supported and reinforced throughout the instruction. Each exercise will supply the fundamentals necessary to drive using the visual scanning system. Although you may have developed habits contrary to this approach, you should see the logic behind visual scanning as it unfolds.
You will be driving on a 2.2 mile track with 10 corners and 80' of elevation changes. Your Corvette will always be in transition. If you have balance, smoothness, and precision you will be fast. You will learn that the ideal racing line is that which causes the least load on the vehicle.
Arrival Logistics:
Plan to arrive at the track for a sign in session between 8:15 and 8:30 with the orientation beginning at approximately 9 AM. You'll be asked to sign a $3,000 guarantee for damage to the vehicle as a deterrent to inappropriate driving. There is an insurance fee of $150 in addition to the $1045 balance. The fee covers all damages above the $3,000 you are to cover in the event of a major problem that is your fault. Not to worry, you should go home with your money if you use reasonable caution.
The track is located 55 miles outside of Las Vegas on Highway 160. The track is about five miles before The Best Western Motel on the right side of the road as you come into town. Look for two white domed hangar type buildings set back several hundred yards off Highway 160 as you start coming into town. If you have questions you can call 775-727-6363.
Staff:
Rupert Bragg-Smith:
Rupert, a Canadian by birth, is founder and the owner of the track. He was the original (and only) Chevrolet sponsored Corvette driving school for many years but now has competition from a course that is a lot more expensive. He recently started sharing Chevrolet's endorsement with Justin Bell in Florida. Why Chevrolet felt they needed another Corvette school we don't know because this one is a great asset for the brand. Rupert is approachable, friendly, knowledgeable, and committed to having students receive the best value for their money in his school.
He explains his philosophy and his instructors reinforce it throughout the course. Rupert oversees the whole process and helps out on certain exercises throughout the course but was also busy preparing his T-1Corvette for an upcoming event. You can tell he loves racing and compares it to going into battle when he drives. We got some demo rides and we both got a full-out hot lap ride with Rupert. Can you say fast and smooth and white knuckle all at the same time? If you are timing yourself his 1:46 is the lap time Rupert has set to beat. He told us we wouldn't get close. We believe him.
David Petrie:
Dave has been with Rupert the whole six years and is the head instructor for the course for several years. You'll find him to be very encouraging and articulate. In our session he worked on the braking exercise and on heel toe downshifting and is heavily involved in the track component of the course. An all around nice guy who is quick to laugh and, like the rest of the crew, sets a laid back tone for a safe but fun learning experience.
David Roberts:
This Dave is equally dedicated but somewhat more critical (and therefore less praising) of your efforts. He is competitive and likes to tell you how, when racing, he knocks down the apex cones on his first run for that slight edge. As you would expect, he stressed smoothness, consistently pointed out your mistakes and bad habits, but allowed students to overdrive their vehicles for the experience this would provide and for finding your limits and groove.
Victor Resendiz:
In addition to driving demonstrations, Victor, a very friendly guy, was the skid car specialist and will offer to buy you a steak dinner if you can circumvent his pylon for 10 revolutions. Apparently a student has done 8 but Victor has yet to buy any beef. Victor lead out the Z06 pack of vehicles and set a great lesson in every aspect of trying to catch you doing things right but pointing out screwups in the gentlest of ways.
Debbie Harbulak
If you call Debbie and she asks you to speak up its because she is standing on the paddock with her telephone and hands-free wired. Debbie is the office manager, Rupert's assistant, and she wears several other hats as well. Like the rest of the crew she is helpful and pleasant. Bring some extra bucks for shirts, caps, and jackets as they have a good selection from which to choose.
2002 and Beyond Stuff:
Information on 2002 models of Z06 included the possibility of a wilder cam with just a touch more HP and torque. The model they had at the track for development testing by Delphi was indistinguishable in any other way. The track keeps getting pieces of the new (and future) models to test but are under wraps of silence on some aspects. Everybody on the crew wants a telescoping steering wheel to facilitate optimal driving position rather than the scheduled heads-up display in 2002.
What was clear from the Bragg-Smith perspective is that Chevrolet is really bent on improvements. We also get the feeling they will continue to do the typical stepwise marketing strategy to keep sales up. For example, the C6 will probably come in 2004, after the anniversary edition in 2003 has sold out so that sales of the C6 will again get a boost. Expect the C6 to be one inch wider and longer and look for the possibility of the Northstar engine to replace the current block. Track gossip says you shouldn't expect much more than a special paint job on this anniversary edition.
Performance of the Z06 in track conditions:
You won't believe what you are driving until you get a Z06 on the track. We were very encouraged with the condition of these battle-tested vehicles. They've had a few problems with wheel bearings that they attributed this to the additional load placed on the vehicles by the much-improved F1 Supercar tires.
Problems with oxygen sensors on three vehicles were seen but otherwise they describe these Corvettes as bulletproof. After driving laps the second day we were blown away with the total package we were driving. Our Z's had over 12K miles on them and were doing great in every category. The Z06 ROCKS! So get your garage queen out and drive the damn thing!
Tires:
Camaros are equipped with Camaro tires, Corvette coupes have their stock F1 tires, and the Z06 have the F1 Supercar stock tires on board. They can get about 400 miles from a set of the Z06 tires and two schools from the C5 coupes. They didn't much like the Supercar tires in the rain and sometimes even put the coupe tires on the Z's for better traction.
Modifications done on Rupert's SCCA T-1 class Z06:
The list of modifications done was relatively short. Driver and passenger MoMo racing seats were installed in front of a five-point harness and rollbar system. The shifter had been moved to the left for convenience and improved performance for the driver. A new steering wheel was added.
There was an internally and externally activated fire control system. The external activator was located in a position centered on the right front hood vent. We originally thought this was the pit crew's hood release and we are very glad we didn't follow our initial impulses to have look at his engine. Can we say embarrassing? He put T-1 springs and shocks on the rear but the system was so stiff he has gone back to Z06 springs and a T-1 sway bar. He went for a modified Flowmaster exhaust just so he could hear his engine better on the track.
The difference the driver makes:
This may come as no surprise to you but we found it interesting. In an early course, before there were as many cars available, instructors commandeered some rental cars and proceeded to outdrive the track Corvettes driven by students. Victor led the Z pack on day 2 with a Camaro SS and we were only able to push him a little in the power department but he apparently has the racing line down on the course after several hundred thousand laps.
Brakes and Discs:
According to the instructors, brakes have three functions: slowing the vehicle, weight transfer, and stabilization. Life expectancy for brake pads is one pad set for school for level 1 and 1.5 sets for the level 2 school. We got no fade or caliper percolation even though the track temperatures got up to 110 F. Again, stock components are used and it has been discovered that using aftermarket pads tend to stress the discs rather than the pads, which makes little economic sense. The only exception discussed for a mod on brakes (that was supported by the instructors) was the purchase of a thicker disk offered in the high-performance Chevrolet catalog.
Clutch and transmission:
These components have performed flawlessly at the school. The Z06's we drove were tight, powerful and responsive. One driver did a 4 to 1 downshift at high speed, never put his clutch back in, and after skipping backwards into the desert, still had a good drive train. According to the instructors, Porsche and Viper parts would have been strewn everywhere. Specific instructions on minimizing driver-induced damage to the clutch and transmission were stressed in several exercises.
Rupert emphasize many times that the clutch, in any car, was the weakest component in the drive train and that spinning the tires even briefly at any shift point is always inappropriate and will not add additional speed. Speed shifting is an absolute no-no. You are taught to look ahead so far that you can be slow in the cockpit and fast on the track.
Seat modification:
To give drivers a better feeling of sitting "in" the seat vs. "on" the seat, the springs were removed from the stock seat and a much more secure wraparound feeling was achieved. We were encouraged to raise the front edge of the seat to better support our thighs throughout the long lapping sessions. Proper "push" steering wheel technique is taught to overcome the lack of a supportive upper seat.
Oil and oil consumption:
When we asked if any Z06 they had at the track had consumed oil, they said, "Which one didn't?" We were told five quarts a day were added to the vehicles under race conditions at first. Somewhere between 4000 and 9000 miles they all pretty much dropped to consumption of about one-half quart per day level which would be very expected under these extreme driving conditions. They also reinforce sticking with Mobil 1. They load about 8 quarts in for race conditions or about one quart over a full dipstick.
Z06 vs C5 on track performance:
The instructors quoted a difference of 6 seconds per lap faster for the Z06 compared with the C-5 coupe. This, of course, is huge! Most of the performance was attributed to the adhesion quality of the F1 Supercar tires and the resulting handling achieved by the superior tread and the surface area. The instructors also noted that the coupe, running on the F1 Supercar tires was only one second slower. It is the philosophy of the course to keep the vehicles at "showroom presentation" levels. Thus, drivers are not experiencing unrealistic performance when they returned to their own street vehicles. There are currently 4 Z06's in the Corvette mix and as Z06 owners; we both centered our vehicle selection on the Z's although drivers are encouraged to move between models.
Radio installation:
Each vehicle is equipped with a radio transceiver that can connect the entire class to the instructors and to each other as a whole class or 4 car groups on separate channels. In this way, drivers are able to receive feedback on their performances and in a sense have an instructor "with" them throughout the course. The radio is also great for free lap passing. It is used in the straight away through drivers broadcasting such messages as, "Silver corvette, might I please be allowed to pass you since I have been dogging your butt (six car lengths please) for the entire lap?"
Active handling:
The Corvette coupes and Z06's were equipped with active handling. Several fundamental exercises required to disablement of this system and the ABS braking system. The instructors all seem to agree that the active system behaved in an excellent manner but they personally disabled some or all of the system when they felt they were at the top of their game.
After track driving with the system fully on, it makes you feel like superman and is so subtle that you may have just been saved from the puckerbrush without even knowing you were being saved. It will do all things well until you dump a wheel and then the logic in the computer is reported to be overwhelmed. This is absolutely the most phenomenal aspect of the track experience. The developer, Delphi systems, is using the track for an even better system so stay tuned for future enhancements. Here is a bonus tip: While your engine is running you can reset your active handling and the whole electronic system by moving your key to start again it works! We had to do this after replacing the ABS fuse during one exercise.
Sitting position:
If you were like us and have been criticizing your wife's driving position for years, maybe you need to think again. We were taught to sit a lot closer to the wheel than most were comfortable with (so as to engage the larger muscles of our legs) for braking power and endurance. Again, the instructors commented that the telescoping steering wheel column on non-Z06 Corvettes is a key component to establishing a proper sitting position and really should be on the Z06.
The importance of the sitting position was mentioned throughout the course in terms of the driver of being able to control the car with minimal trunk and shoulder movements. The seats, as installed at the factory, were characterized as a compromise in order to fit many sizes of drivers and accommodate long distance and noncompetitive driving.
Heel/toe downshift:
This method of downshifting was perhaps the hardest component of the instruction to master. A very good number of repetitions used to perfect this technique are employed. It is possible to go through the entire racetrack with only third and fourth gear shifting in the Z06 due to its excellent torque. Mastering heel/toe downshifting is not optional, because without it, upsetting the car's balance is inevitable. You will leave the course doing this without even thinking about it.
Skid car exercise:
Victor had a control car panel on a Chevrolet Lumina where he purposely introduced low speed oversteering or understeering conditions. The value of the exercise was to allow the driver to modulate skids by the use of the throttle and steering. The amount of a whipping that the car did made passengers in the rear seat feel like they were in a carnival ride. The instructors emphasized and demonstrated during hot laps that a skidding car can be controlled with proper technique.
Oval exercise:
We found this to be the most frustrating drill. Its purpose was to teach you to move your eyes forward to the next apex and to therefore "see" your vehicle through the next turn like a chess player working several moves ahead against his opponent. This exercise was done in the paddock. While it marginally achieved the look ahead purpose, we could never get the idea quite down due to a lack of any real definition of a simulated track boundary at the ends of the oval.
Braking drills:
Drivers started with ABS disabled on all vehicles and were told to do normal braking, followed by four-wheel lock braking, followed by four-wheel lock and full left turn, followed by four-wheel lock and 1/4 and 1/8 wheel turns while approaching the barrier of cones. Instructors made it more exciting during the exercise by stepping out in front of oncoming cars.
We turned the ABS on and tried many of the same maneuvers to see how the system supported stability and allowed minimal adjustments while retaining maximum control. Hint: if you don't do a high initial impact brake hit you won't get 4 wheel ABS! Your braking technique is so totally different that a driver needs to consciously change the way he brakes in a non-ABS vehicle. After you see ABS perform in the exercise you won't want to own a car without it.
Serpentine exercise:
This exercise was performed on the paddock and consisted of multiple S turns which were made by looking out the left and right windows throughout the maneuver. The purpose of the exercise was to encourage looking ahead of the vehicle while ignoring what was directly in front of the vehicle so that better hitting of the apex could occur on the track.
Helmet policy:
Helmets were not required at all the first or second day, and mandatory on the third day of free laps driving which consisted of mostly 100 percent track time interspersed with cool down sessions. It makes you appreciate what a 500 mile race car driver puts out for effort. Helmets were supplied and are in relatively new condition.
Places to stay:
We stayed at the Best Western which was only a few miles from the track. The room rate was reasonable and included a continental breakfast. The other hotel was the Nugget which was combined with a casino and appeared to be slightly upscale. The Nugget was only a few miles further from the track.
Places to eat:
Morning coffee and lunch at the track was provided and described as 92 octane to sustain drivers throughout the long, hot afternoons. Remember to hydrate if you come in a hot month. It was 67 to 99 in May. There is plenty to eat and local recommendations for evening dining included a restaurant and steakhouse at the Nugget hotel and casino, a steakhouse called Last Chance, and a gourmet-dining establishment called The Winery. They actually sell some decent wines, so you may want to bring a little extra space in your suitcase. We ended up eating low cost meals at the casino buffets for two of the nights, which were actually okay.
Course Schedule:
Day One
8:15 Sign in
9:00 Orientation
9:40 Braking Exercises
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Briefing
1:40 Heel Toe Downshifting
2:35 Oval driving and skid pad exercise
4:00 Adjourn
Day Two
7:45 Track Briefing
8:50 Shifting and heel toe warm up
9:40 Shadow lapping with instructor
10:45 Serpentine exercise
11:30 Lunch
1:00 Briefing on turns 3 and 4 + chicane
1:25 Demo rides at high speed with Instructors
2:00 Higher speed shadow lapping with instructors
2:35 Briefing on turns 8-9 and new downshift technique
3:10 Shadow lapping
4:00 Adjourn
Day Three
7: 45 Track Briefing By Bragg-Smith
8:00 Warm-up Heel Toe Shifting
8:30 Briefing for Test
8:40 It's a secret but one of the best things you experience
9:00 Debrief from the test
9:15 Final Shadow Lapping
10:30 Free Lapping Rules
10:45 Free Lapping (helmets on)
11:30 Lunch
1:05 Free Lapping Debrief
1:15 Free Lapping and Q/A sessions as needed
3:30 Hot Lapping With Instructors
4:00 Certificate Presentations
Summary
We went to Bragg-Smith specifically to drive their Z06's and learn the capabilities of the Z06's in our garages. We learned that we are driving a vehicle that eats those "clown shoe" looking Vipers for breakfast, lunch and dinner on any track that is not overly endowed with long straight aways. We learned that the Z06 we own was all we could hope, right off of the truck, in a well conceived and executed, totally awesome package that only fully comes to life on the track. We chose this course because of its excellent reputation and better value. After completing it, we both give it two thumbs up! We left our time in the desert feeling loaded with valuable information and experience that will make us better drivers and still left us asking for more. We plan to digest and reflect on the Level 1 course for about 3 months and then try to jump into a Level 2 class. In Level 2 they allow only 8 students per class. Since you are (or are about to be) a Z06 owner too, go ahead and reserve a date at www.bragg-smith.com to learn from this excellent team and program.
Copyright 2002 - Z06Vette.com - Photo Credits: General Motors Inc.
| Do-It-Yourself Tutorials |
|
| Cheap CAGS (external link) Inexpensive CAGS disabler. |
| Lower your C5 yourself Fcalmes lowering tutorial. |
| Lift your C5 Lift your C5 without pucks. |
| Replace endlinks Upgrade your pre 02 endlinks. |
| Install Partition Install the Z06 Parts partition. |
| Install Euros Install the LAPD Euro lights. |
| Throttle Body Install a C5 Throttle Body. |
| Forum Vendor Links |
|
|
Preferred Tuners - T Byrne Motorsports - Horsepower Sales - New Era Performance - East Coast Supercharging - CARTEK - A&A Corvette Performance - TTP Performance - 21st Century Musclecars - Dynotech Engineering - STS Turbo - Anti-Venom Performance - LG Motorsports - Carravagio Corvettes Preferred Dealers - Ross Downing Chevrolet Preferred Vendors - Adam's Polishes - Custom Center Caps - Corvette Garage - Vette Essentials - Los Angeles Performance Division - Corvette Partitions - Corsa Performance - PartsForYourCar.com - Corvette Store - ACP - Fred Beans - Stop Tech - AMSOIL - Spring Mountain Motorsports Supporting Vendors - ZO6 Parts Inc.- Dallas Tx |
Latest Forum Posts:
| C6 Z06 as a daily driver & track car? posted by Macgyver on 01/06/09 01:50 PM AutoSock News posted by AutoSockDirect on 01/06/09 12:25 PM Any safety issues w C6 Z suspension ? posted by LeMans Blue on 01/06/09 12:34 PM Things you can't take back ... posted by proexpert on 01/06/09 03:19 PM Last Chance for a Raffle Ticket posted by Zippy on 01/05/09 05:10 PM |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|