Porsche Experience Center
#1
07-10-2017, 10:15 AM
Porsche Experience Center
For those of you that may be interested, or considering it, I highly recommend attending the Porsche Experience Center - Driving Experience. As far as I know, there are 2 locations (Atlanta and Los Angeles) - I attended the one in Atlanta.
The experience includes, straight from Porsche's website:
1. Dynamics Area: Test the speed, agility and lane-change performance on a large asphalt pad designed to simulate unique maneuvers you may encounter during your daily driving
2. Handling Circuit: A one-mile handling course designed to mimic a winding country road with a number of corners and undulations. Here, a driver will learn the finer points on choosing the correct path when negotiating the curves and proper application of braking technique
3. Low-Friction Circle: Experience the over-steer capabilities of a Porsche at the low-friction circle with its uniform inward slope and polished concrete surface
4. Low-Friction Handling Circuit: A similar polished concrete surface as the Low-Friction Circle, except we introduce a series of unique, tight curves, with a mixture of various radius types on-and-off camber corners
5. Kick Plate: We test your vehicle control skills when encountering a skid or spin. The kick-plate is a flush-mounted, hydraulically actuated plate placed before a wetted epoxy surface. As a vehicle travels over the plate at a safe rate of speed, sensors move the plate randomly left or right to mimic sliding that might occur during inclement weather conditions
6. Acceleration Straight: The Acceleration Straight provides a safe and controlled environment to fully explore how a Porsche accelerates using launch control with threshold braking.
My instructor was very laid back and offered some great pointers, which was awesome compared to some other driving schools that I attended where the instructors acted like they had to much Red Bull prior to getting in the car.
As for the car that I selected: I drove the GT3. To be honest, I think you can get the same experience from a GTS, 911 S, or any other car for that matter. I wanted the GT3 because I own a 991-S and the GT3 is the next car that I want to own. I believe the GT3 I drove was a 2017 and not the new 2018 (991.2) version. The car had plenty of power and excellent handling - loved the car!
One recommendation: try and go during the week (the instructor said Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually the slowest days but you can call ahead to verify. I did it this past Saturday and did encounter a few problems since there were so many students. For example, traffic and passing on the handling circuit; since there are only 2 passing zones on the one-mile course, if you come up on slower traffic, you basically will be operating at that car/driver's speed/capabilities versus what you and your car is capable of doing, which is somewhat frustrating, especially if they don't allow you to pass in the passing zone. I completed at least one full lap where I was cruising at approximately 50% of the car's/driver's capabilities. Also, with more students there, you tend to wait in line for your turn. If there were less drivers on the track, you get a lot more track-time and less waiting.
Attached are a few pics:
1. The White GT3 that I drove.
2. My grey 991S, in front the of Porsche HQ.
3. Pic of the cars that were out there (the blue one was a Turbo-S)
4. GT3 action shot, which you can't really tell by the pic.
Overall - great experience and I highly recommend it.
The experience includes, straight from Porsche's website:
1. Dynamics Area: Test the speed, agility and lane-change performance on a large asphalt pad designed to simulate unique maneuvers you may encounter during your daily driving
2. Handling Circuit: A one-mile handling course designed to mimic a winding country road with a number of corners and undulations. Here, a driver will learn the finer points on choosing the correct path when negotiating the curves and proper application of braking technique
3. Low-Friction Circle: Experience the over-steer capabilities of a Porsche at the low-friction circle with its uniform inward slope and polished concrete surface
4. Low-Friction Handling Circuit: A similar polished concrete surface as the Low-Friction Circle, except we introduce a series of unique, tight curves, with a mixture of various radius types on-and-off camber corners
5. Kick Plate: We test your vehicle control skills when encountering a skid or spin. The kick-plate is a flush-mounted, hydraulically actuated plate placed before a wetted epoxy surface. As a vehicle travels over the plate at a safe rate of speed, sensors move the plate randomly left or right to mimic sliding that might occur during inclement weather conditions
6. Acceleration Straight: The Acceleration Straight provides a safe and controlled environment to fully explore how a Porsche accelerates using launch control with threshold braking.
My instructor was very laid back and offered some great pointers, which was awesome compared to some other driving schools that I attended where the instructors acted like they had to much Red Bull prior to getting in the car.
As for the car that I selected: I drove the GT3. To be honest, I think you can get the same experience from a GTS, 911 S, or any other car for that matter. I wanted the GT3 because I own a 991-S and the GT3 is the next car that I want to own. I believe the GT3 I drove was a 2017 and not the new 2018 (991.2) version. The car had plenty of power and excellent handling - loved the car!
One recommendation: try and go during the week (the instructor said Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually the slowest days but you can call ahead to verify. I did it this past Saturday and did encounter a few problems since there were so many students. For example, traffic and passing on the handling circuit; since there are only 2 passing zones on the one-mile course, if you come up on slower traffic, you basically will be operating at that car/driver's speed/capabilities versus what you and your car is capable of doing, which is somewhat frustrating, especially if they don't allow you to pass in the passing zone. I completed at least one full lap where I was cruising at approximately 50% of the car's/driver's capabilities. Also, with more students there, you tend to wait in line for your turn. If there were less drivers on the track, you get a lot more track-time and less waiting.
Attached are a few pics:
1. The White GT3 that I drove.
2. My grey 991S, in front the of Porsche HQ.
3. Pic of the cars that were out there (the blue one was a Turbo-S)
4. GT3 action shot, which you can't really tell by the pic.
Overall - great experience and I highly recommend it.
Last edited by Jcusa; 07-10-2017 at 11:17 AM.
#2
07-10-2017, 07:13 PM
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#4
07-14-2017, 05:17 PM
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I did the "Master the Manual" experience with a 991-2 and a GT4! I think my big grin lasted for a week, an amazing experience.
#7
07-19-2017, 08:40 AM
I was at the PECA facility for almost 2.5 hours. I walked through and toured the museum and grabbed a bite to eat but was on the track for 1.5 hours.
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#9
07-21-2017, 10:43 AM
As for your own car, not that I am aware of. You can do the Porsche Delivery Experience, if you custom order a new Porsche and have it delivered, then you can drive that one on the track with an instructor but I think there is a time limit from the day of pick-up to the day of track time. Someone else who has done that may be able to provide more details.
#11
07-22-2017, 05:48 AM
How bad was the heat on the track? I'm going in Sept. I've raced (MC) at road Atlanta in July, and I think it was the hottest I've ever been I'm life. 110F on the track. It was brutal in full leathers.
#12
07-24-2017, 07:40 AM
It was hot - that's for sure. However, PECA does not require full leathers or a helmet.
#13
07-26-2017, 08:58 AM
Thats the one i want to do. What did they teach you? Did you learn anything new?