Step into any high-performance car on sale in the present day, blast up your favourite mountain street, or partake in an area observe day, and you may really feel like a hero. Whether or not in a zillion-horsepower tremendous sedan or a mega-lightweight hypercar, trendy traction and stability management techniques do far more to maintain us on the street than we frequently understand. They make automobiles accessible to anybody, to a fault.
Since 2021, I’ve been fortunate sufficient to drive virtually each new unique automobile constructed. But, as these machines change into ever faster, my perception that driver coaching is the very best funding any fanatic could make has change into unshakable. It’s why I’m in Chandler, Arizona, attending Radford Racing College’s four-day GT Highway Racing course. As a result of, whether or not you’re a newbie or an skilled driver, we’ve all acquired extra to study.
Shaped from the famed Bob Bondurant College of Excessive Efficiency Driving, the institution re-opened as Radford Racing College in 2021. Dodge is Radford’s present associate, that includes a fleet of Challengers in R/T Scat Pack Widebody and SRT Hellcat Widebody type. Though I’m right here to acquire my SCCA full competitors license, Radford’s choices lengthen nicely past its flagship racing faculty. Attendees can even select from efficiency driving, drag racing, and defensive driving applications provided in configurations starting from one to 4 days.
My classmates and I’ve two automobiles to select from: a Challenger SRT Hellcat restricted to 500 horsepower by its black key, for individuals who need an automated transmission, or a 485-hp Challenger R/T Scat Pack, which incorporates a handbook shifter. We begin with primary maneuvering and automobile management, working by way of varied braking, collision avoidance, and response time workouts to cement the basics we’d realized within the preliminary classroom session.
Then we transfer on to the Maricopa Oval, a sub-section of Redford’s Principal Observe, to apply the talent this course revolves round: path braking. Whether or not you’re in a Scat Pack like I’m, or the SRT Hellcat, each are giant coupes with heavy V8 engines positioned forward of their entrance axles. Given how a lot momentum that heft carries, they have an inclination to understeer, even when these faculty automobiles put on upgraded Cooper Zeon RS3-G1 rubber. Radford has a comparatively laid-back vibe, not like different driving faculties I’ve attended. On the Maricopa Oval, my classmates can drive as a lot or as little as we would like, and this can be a theme that’s continued all through the course.
Day two picks up with a big change of tempo, focusing extra intensively on automobile management strategies within the classroom. Instructors go over the fundamentals of under- and oversteer, weight switch, and methods to get better from an unintended slide. I step exterior and discover Radford’s skid automobile ready. At first look, it might appear to be a regular Dodge Charger SRT 392, however it’s fitted with mechanical arms and wheels that raise its entrance or rear axle on command. It’s hilariously enjoyable, and some laps in, as my teacher lightens the rear so I can apply my figure-eight drifts for a handful of laps.
Then we take that studying to Radford’s East Observe. Not like the Principal Observe, which seems as new as the varsity’s identify, the smaller course we’re operating in the present day is far older and thus has a rougher floor. We revisit the significance of path braking correctly, and our instructors supply ride-alongs, and ultimately launch us for open observe time. Given its added low-end torque and additional horsepower, I go away my handbook Scat Pack in favor of an automated Hellcat. Since I’ve spent most of my life driving previous Porsche 911s, the Hellcat represents the exact opposite of my consolation zone, and having my teacher bounce within the driver’s seat, displaying me how onerous I can lean on the automobile’s entrance finish, convinces me to interrupt my behavior of braking solely in a straight line.
Day three opens with a visit to the classroom for extra instruction earlier than I’m again within the Hellcat, headed for the Principal Observe. Its floor is clean, and its longer structure contains a better mixture of low- and high-speed sections with a couple of elevation adjustments baked in.
Though studying a brand new course so shortly after memorizing one other might sound daunting, the quantity of sophistication and seat time Radford gives makes it a breeze. Just a few laps in, I’m feeling assured. I’ve acquired my path braking down, and began working with my Hellcat, as a substitute of combating it.
I cease often on the pits for pointers, and my teacher assures me that I’m headed in the proper path. Though I’ve had loads of observe expertise earlier than, being in an setting with instructors able to reply any questions signifies that what would’ve taken me fairly some time to determine, I can absorb and apply virtually immediately. It’s a degree of talent development that may be virtually inconceivable to copy elsewhere. Though class begins at seven within the morning and ends by three, I’m exhausted, drenched in sweat, however loaded with new info.
The ultimate day is spent virtually completely out on the observe. By now, the varsity has thinned out and solely my class of 5 stays. It looks like we’ve Radford’s services to ourselves… as a result of we form of do! With information that we’re heading again to the East Observe, I shortly settle again into my Hellcat to maximise my observe time.
Since I’m finishing the course to acquire my SCCA Full Competitors License, Lead Teacher Will Parker and his colleague Canaan O’Connell have been paying shut consideration to my driving to find out whether or not they can log off on my certification. And by this final day, O’Connell is assured that I can deal with the Hellcat with all its techniques disabled.
Though it solely generates 500 hp on this configuration, I’m keenly conscious of how a Hellcat can chew again when provoked. Nevertheless, as I’m going to the East Observe, I’m instantly again in acquainted territory. See, the factor that makes driving an previous Porsche 911 particular is how simply you may assist level its nostril by inducing a little bit of oversteer. Again within the Hellcat, that’s exactly what I can experiment with. I can path brake when wanted, and scoot the rear finish with throttle once I don’t.
It doesn’t take lengthy earlier than this train in automobile management devolves into big drifts with clouds of smoke littering the course because the East Observe eats up the Hellcat’s tires. It’s considered one of only some methods to expertise a automobile at its limits with out concern of a significant accident or having to foot the invoice for dear consumables. This era concludes with a handful of simulated race begins, a requirement for these trying to get our racing licenses, after which it’s again into the classroom for a fast break, which supplies Radford’s workers sufficient time to suit my Hellcat with a brand new set of rear tires forward of my second stint.
My closing time heading out to the East Observe is bittersweet. Though Radford’s four-day program is the longest it affords, I’m keen to remain and proceed bettering. The final afternoon’s session sees me mixing up methodical quick laps and drifting screamers. Though I got here to the varsity with loads of expertise, I’m strolling away with an added layer of confidence created by the power to shortly work on drawback areas to change into a good stronger driver.
For the $6,999 that this four-day GT Highway Racing course prices, the expertise Radford gives makes it greater than value its entry value. Given the vastness of the varsity’s services, its onsite restore retailers, and the number of workouts provided, even skilled drivers will discover no issue studying new abilities. If, like me, you full the course to obtain a certificates that makes you eligible for an SCCA Full Competitors License, the course is a stepping stone to an infinite world of motorsport occasions.
Whereas efficiency automobiles have by no means been simpler to drive, experiencing them to their fullest won’t ever be potential with out correct driver coaching. And regardless of how nicely trendy stability and traction management techniques can fairly simply disguise poor driving abilities, you’ll by no means have as a lot enjoyable as going out on observe, studying methods to dial them again confidently, and seeing what your sports activities or supercar is actually like on the restrict.
