WPS member · Automotive forum
11 replies2337 views19 photos
Cazalea's detailed account of the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School offers an invaluable look into mastering the Corvette C8. His firsthand experience highlights the comprehensive training provided, making it essential reading for any Corvette owner considering enhancing their driving skills. This article provides a unique perspective on the program's structure, benefits, and the diverse community it attracts.
Hi guys, here is an overview of the
Ron Fellows Performance Driving school I attended at at Spring Mountain Motor Resort about 50 miles NW of Las Vegas.
The intent of the course is to familiarize Corvette C8 owners with their spiffy new 495 bhp toys. One visit for the first registered owner is subsidized by Chevrolet, at a cost to the owner of about $1000. Others are welcome for a regular price of about $3500. That includes their car, furnished room, all the facility amenities, breakfast, lunch, snacks, 16 hours of instruction/driving, etc.
The facility is shown in this quick drone video (assembled by them, edited by me)
This is extracted from their PR safety film
We performed a number of maneuvers in the school's Corvettes:
Vision and looking in all directions (including driving with windshield blocked off!)
Maneuvering on a dry serpentine course
Braking and turning with ABS activated on wet surface
Figure 8 on wet surface (sliding and recovering from understeer / oversteer)
Drag racing / launch control
Autocross / Slalom
Road Racing Course
We had small group instruction in:
Specific Features of Corvette electronic controls (launch, performance handling - Sport, Race, Wet, etc.)
Mechanical inspection / walkaround Corvette battery, fluids, emergency
Finding and maintaining the proper line on a race course
Class
Our class of 10 ranged in age from 19 to about 72. One gal and nine guys, from all over the US - Connecticut to Florida to California. My wife and I were the only ones in our group to drive in, the rest flew into Las Vegas. Interestingly, after conversation we realized a number of guys had gone through life-threatening situations - COVID, hepatitis, death of loved ones, etc and had decided that life is too short and they'd better get this box checked on their list of things to do in life. Several had signed up only days before arriving here. About half the group came with a spouse; the rest on their own.
Instructors
The school is named for
Ron Fellows, notable Canadian, SCCA Trans-Am, IMSA, NASCAR and LeMans racer, and Corvette driver.
The head of the driving school is Rick Malone; our chief classroom instruction came from Justin Johnson. About two dozen additional driving instructors work at the track, leading students arend the track and narrating what we should and shouldn't do.
NOTE: They do this from a lead Corvette, driving with one hand, using the other on the microphone, and watching us like hawks from the rear view mirror (while driving faster than we can).
At the same time, JJ was flying a drone overhead, and capturing our triumphs and mistakes on camera, bringing them to the classroom, and going over our performance (or lack thereof).
Wet maneuver skid pad is MUCH slipperier than it looked...
Running laps -- just in case you wondered, top speed on this course for us is about 100 mph
I'm in red 49, shown here.
Spare time occupied by happy hour, showing pictures of our new cars to each other, playing pool, spa, etc.
Breakfast and lunch provided each day, and endless liquids and snacks. Dinner on your own.
All the cars are STOCK 2LT or 3LT with the only obvious change being a CB radio where the glove box should be. They buy the cars new from Chevy, put about 6000 hard miles on them, and sell them on.
A tank of gas lasts about 100 miles, and the tires last about 4 schools, or 8-9 days. Michelin is the tire sponsor/partner at the school.
The C8 cars have been running at the school for over 2 years. The garage manager told us they have had NO overheating issues in 115 degree heat, idling between sessions, a/c on full all the time.
We had a tech session where we learned what is behind all the plastic panels on our Corvettes, how to get to the filters, the importance of enough lubricant when the car will be used on the track, etc.
IN CASE YOU REALLY LIKE DRIVING HEREYou can take classes which include accomodations, but if you want to drive your own car(s) then buy a lot at the resort for about $250k and build your own house, or you can rent or buy a condo.
The lake was partially drained when we were there, so there was no frolicking in the water for our group.
MORE Corvettes at the south classroom facility
Cadillac CTS-V and so forth, also parked by the lake.
Enough nonsense ... Shall we go out on the course now?
Go to the later posts below for additional videos of autocross and drag racing.
PS - the guys even found a free hour to take any wives for a drive... sadly my happy lady came back with her head spinning like a top, and had to lie down for an hour to recuperate.
