huksa

Disclaimer: It's my first time on a racetrack and I have no previous experience in an "educated" high performance driving. Therefore, my impressions on the cars may not agree with the opinions of "experienced" drivers

Last week I attended a Skip barber high performance driving school class at Lime Rock park, CT. Skip Barber offered M3s (both coupe and sedan), Caymans, and Elises, but one thing I found perfect about the school is that they do have IS-Fs on their fleet! Classmates flocked around M3s and Caymans, but I always drove a black IS-F (And yes, I did not need to share the seat time with others!).

A brief comparison between M3 and IS-F, based on my driving at the session:

When I test drove an M3 sedan (on the street, when I was shopping for an IS-F), the ride in M3 felt softer than IS-F. IS-F's suspension was, and remains a bit stiff side in my taste. On the track at speed, however, M3 felt much more stiffer than IS-F. Also, M3's steering feedback is more solid, too.
Being softer was not necessarily a weak point for IS-F, at least to me. When I exited a chicane (followed by a decreasing radius turn) on the autocross track, I always bumped a curb on the right side of the track.. And bumping the curb made the stiffer M3 unsettling and made me nervous. IS-F soaked up the shock nicely on the curb and I was able to focus better on the next turn coming up fast.

Also, at the decreasing radius turn, without exceptions, M3 understeered, while IS-F planted itself with neutrality, and in one occasion, with a slight, controllable oversteer. I don't know why M3 always understeered.. Maybe my driving style better fits to IS-F? Anyhow, it felt so good in an IS-F going so fast and smoothly.

And there goes the acceleration with the proper V-8 sound! Although not timed, IS-F seemed to accelerate harder and more ferociously.

I have a really good time with IS-F, and now I know that I've made a right choice over M3s and C63s

Yeah!! Baby! Who needs a Torsen LSD??


And this is mine!!

mikefate

thats awesome. nice write up. wish you had some video!

if you go again in CT, please pm me. id be interested in attending.

huksa

Definately!

I was busy driving, so there is only one video available.. I don't know how to link properly, though..
http://tvpot.daum.net/clip/ClipViewB...d=lr6aJTy6gzA$

More track photos
http://blog.daum.net/huksa/12818332
http://blog.daum.net/huksa/12818333

N54MPower

iTrader: (3)

Nice write up and it sounds like you had fun, which IMO is the most important thing. Lime Rock Park is also one of my favorite road courses.

mikefate

thanks for the video link. pretty cool. nice to see an isf on a track.

bnizzle87

great video. glad you had a great time!

Fitment Factory

iTrader: (-1)

Looks a great time!!! Great vid

stanleyCa

that looks like alot of fun!

huksa

I think the race bug finally bit me.. With the generous support from my wife, I've just decided to attend 3-day Mazdaspeed racing school at Laguna Seca! It's also offered by Skip barber, and I'll get to drive Miata spec racer or Formula Mazda depending on what I apply. I'll be traveling to Monterey in the late August for the sessions.

I am split between Miata race car and Formula Mazda.. Any thoughts on this, guys?

Autobacs

iTrader: (1)

Wow. They had Dodge Neons and Formula Dodges when I attended Skip Barber years ago.

Maybe I'll attend again now that they have ISF"s available.

Gymkata

Sounds like you had a blast. I am looking at both Skip Barber and Bondurant schools right now. I have been to several driving schools before, but the fastest car I have driven on the track is a police interceptor. It would be great to drive something a little faster and more responsive.

huksa

Bondurant is tempting as well. When I get a chance, I will definately put my hands on their Z06s. But I had such a good time with Skip Barber because they have IS-Fs. (However, they said not all locations have IS-F.. Lime Rock Park have them, for sure)

As I said in my main post, people usually want to drive M3s and Porsches, so IS-F was kinda a wall flower. Instructors knew I had an IS-F, so they took out the IS-F only for my favor!

The only reservation I had was that Lime Rock Park is too short It's only 1.5 miles long and I could have used a longer track. Yet, the uphill curve was a sensational overload for a novice like myself!

HyperMKIV

iTrader: (1)

awesome!!!
one of the instructors here in norcal just joined CL too...
i so want to do this soon... looks like a lot of fun!!!

huksa

A couple of pictures from in-house photographer..