Autocross Test 'n Tune and Taste of the Track

A half-day test-and-tune for autocrossers with the option of taking our new half-day "Taste of the Track" intro to high performance driving schools

This event is for drivers who have thought about taking a HP Driving School on a world-class racetrack, but for one reason or another, haven't done it yet.  Maybe the opportunity never arose, or the timing was bad, or you don't think you have a suitable "track car". Maybe you just weren't willing to shell out over four hundred dollars in tuition for a quality driving school when you have no idea whether it's something you would enjoy, or even what a HP driving school is all about.  

Well, GVC has devised a program just for you!

• If you are an experienced autocrosser, then you can sign up for "Test n' Tune" for a mere $35,  You can spend the morning knocking down cones and tearing the tires off your car on a course set up on the infield paddock of the Watkins Glen Media Center.  
• However, if you want to Test n' Tune AND drive the Watkins Glen road course, you may register for the Test n' Tune combined with our new Taste of the Track program, which runs on Sunday afternoon, both for only $125.  
• Lastly, if you are not an autocrosser, and only want to get onto the track to see what a driving school is like, you may register for Taste of the Track alone for $100 (includes lunch).

Our Taste of the Track program is a low-pressure, low-risk, and low cost introduction to the world of high-performance driving. It only takes about 6 hours of your time. You won't have to stay one or two nights in a hotel, spend for a couple of days of meals out, or buy three or four tanksful of fuel for your car.  Because it is run on Sunday afternoon during a regular two-day GVC driving school, you will not only get to see a real driving school in action, but also directly experience the thrill of driving with your own highly-trained instructor on one of the most famous race tracks in the world.  

Taste of the Track begins with a meet-and-greet with GVC driving school instructors and staff followed by a guided tour of the track facilities and driving school paddock to see how our driving schools are organized.

After that introduction, you and your fellow students will take your cars though tech inspection, where our tech staff and your instructor will show you how cars are checked over to ensure track-worthiness.  Then the group attends a special classroom session geared toward first-timers.  There you'll learn some basics of high-performance driving and car control, and become familiar with track and driving school rules and procedures.

Then the fun really begins!  You and your compatriots will take your cars out for a private half-hour session on the Glen’s historic 3.4 mile-long road course, Your instructor will coach you from the passenger seat, teaching you the fundamental principles of HP driving at whatever pace you are comfortable with.  At the end of that session, you will hop into your instructor's car as a passenger for a ride-along, so you can experience how a skilled driver safely guides a car at speed around this challenging track.

The day ends back in the classroom with refreshments and a group debriefing session with the instructors.

Complimentary perks include:

• Loaner helmet (if you don't have your own; must be Snell 2005 or 2010, SA or M)
• Driving school event shirt
• Pre-event vehicle safety inspection courtesy of The Little Speed Shop and/or Eksten Autoworks, who will also provide mechanical assistance at the driving school should you need it, 

Schedule of Events:

8:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Autocross Test and Tune.

12:00 - 1:00 PM:  Taste of the Track meet-and-greet over lunch* in the Media Center cafeteria.  

*Note:  Buffet lunch is included in the price for those taking Taste of the Track alone. Other participants may purchase lunch for $10 (cash at the door). 

12:45 - 1:15 PM:  Tour of the driving school paddock

1:30- 2:00: Vehicle tech Inspection

2:00 - 2:45: Classroom session

Break and vehicle staging

3:00 -3:30: On-track driving session  

3:40 - 4:00: Ride Along with your instructor

4:00 - 4:30: End of the program, with refreshments and debrief with instructors and staff 

Test n' Tune is open to experienced autocrossers ONLY.  Taste of the Track is open to drivers at all experience levels.

Registration for combined Test n' Tune with Taste of the Track limited to 10 drivers.  

For more information about our driving school program, please see the GVC website:  http://gvc-bmwcca.org/DrivingSchool/WhatIs.aspx