About this event
Spring Mountain Motor Resort
Friday, March 12, 2021 - Sunday, March 14, 2021
What is it?
- Have Fun driving your own car on a private racetrack.
- Feel Secure in our supportive learning environment where Safety comes first.
- Learn More about your car while improving your driving skills.
- Enjoy a diverse group of friendly individuals who embrace performance driving and really understand, appreciate, and enjoy their Audi automobiles.
Why drive with Audi Club SoCal?
Drive your OWN car! You will drive your own car during all driving exercises. Club instructors will help you improve your driving skills to ensure you get the most out of the experience, all in a safe learning environment.
Don’t have an Audi (yet)? No Problem! All makes and models of coupes and sedans are welcome at Audi Club SoCal driving schools.
We train you! At Audi Club SoCal, we don't just "drop you into the deep end"! Beginners and novice drivers will spend the morning of the first day learning about vehicle dynamics and practicing car control on the skid pad. After lunch you will join the more experienced drivers on the track for the remainder of the weekend. In-car instruction and live classroom sessions are suspended due to current health restrictions, but online and remote instruction via lead/follow along with safe outdoor download sessions in small groups are equally effective learning tools. Whatever your level of experience, Audi Club provides learning opportunities tailored to your skill level.
Safety is not negotiable! Spring Mountain has extensive health protocols and procedures in place for our protection. Run groups are established to allow students to be on track with other drivers of similar experience. This is not a race or a racing school, so passing is allowed only on designated sections of the course and under controlled conditions. Drivers with documented experience will be placed in a run group appropriate for their skill level and their car's capabilities.
Registration Fee: The student registration fee (see next page for details) represents an incredible bargain! Your registration includes everything necessary for two days of fun with your car, including:
- On-track driving supervised by trained Audi Club instructors.
- Car control exercises and a free motorsports helmet rental are provided for all first time beginners.
- Sophisticated online learning is included for first time beginners and is available at a discount for our experienced drivers.
- Lunch at the track both days (grab-and-go box lunch).
- All meetings are online for your safety. Downloads and briefings at the track are outdoors.
- Audi Club North America allows many models of late model convertible cars and selected models of small SUV/CUVs.
There is even an optional Friday HPDE Practice Day - but only for experienced and advanced drivers as no formal instruction is provided on Friday. Open pit lane format provides plenty of track time.
Who are we?
The Audi Club of North America (ACNA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization providing its members with driver safety training and education about the Audi brand. Audi ownership is not required for ACNA membership. Audi Club SoCal is the Southern California Chapter of ACNA, serving our members in Southern California and Southern Nevada. To support ACNA's educational purpose, Audi Club SoCal offers a range of events throughout the year including technical seminars, social events, driving tours, as well as High Performance Driving Education schools. Our driving schools are open to all ACNA members driving any make and model of coupe or sedan. Visit us at www.audiclubsocal.org, facebook.com/AudiSoCal and facebook.com/groups/AudiClubSoCal for more information about Audi Club SoCal.
Summary
This High-Performance Driver School is a safe, exciting, fun, and educational two days spent with friendly people at a terrific racetrack. You will learn about your car and its capabilities in a safe, controlled environment. When you have completed this school, your improved driving skills will enhance your daily driving experience. You will learn from and with other Audi owners and club members, forge new friendships, and make lasting memories.
Still have Questions? You may contact the organizers at eventmaster@audiclubsocal.org
Get all the details
Click the Continue button below to view event details and requirements.
Event requirements
Spring Mountain Motor Resort
Friday, March 12, 2021 – Sunday, March 14, 2021
>>> NOTE: Weekend Registrations for A-Beginner, and B-Intermediate are full. There are stilll a few places available for C-Experienced, D-Advanced drivers, and Friday. <<<
EVENT OVERVIEW
This is not a race or even a racing school, but rather an event where the primary focus is SAFETY, FUN, and LEARNING.
The school is held at a closed road course to avoid the many unknown hazards found on the public streets, such as distracted drivers and opposite direction traffic.
All activities are conducted under close supervision of experienced and trained Audi Club instructors. You will be learning the principles and practicing the art of precise driving in a safe, fun, relaxed, and highly organized school setting, while observing reasonable health and safety protocols. Our training is designed to allow you to safely explore your skills as a driver while learning about the capabilities of your vehicle. It will help prepare you for emergencies that may occur in normal driving situations. You will improve your own personal performance behind the wheel!
At no time will you be pushed or encouraged to go any faster than is comfortable for you. For your safety, all participants will be organized into run groups based on prior experience, demonstrated skill, and type of vehicle.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (;TLDR)
Safety Protocols – Our driving school will comply with health & safety protocols in effect at the time of the event. Spring Mountain enforces all state and local safety protocols. As of the date this summary was prepared, the following are expected to be in place.
Driving: There will not be an instructor in your car. We expect that drivers in all run groups will be driving solo. However, remote instruction via lead/follow will be provided in the Beginner and Intermediate groups by our trained instructors with radio communication to each student. Lead/follow instruction will also be available in the Experienced and Advanced groups.
Meetings: We have suspended all indoor meetings and classroom sessions. The main Drivers Meeting will be online via Zoom on the Wednesday evening prior to the event. Each morning’s Safety Briefing and post session downloads will be conducted outdoors in small groups. Spring Mountain currently requires no more than 20 persons per meeting with plenty of space for distancing and masks.
Masks: We require face covers be worn at all times when outside your immediate pit area, including inside all buildings. Spring Mountain currently requires that face coverings are worn at all times on the property, which is strictly enforced. Cars shall park in the paddock with at least 6'-8' separation.
Meals: Grab-and-go box lunches are included with your registration. Dinner at the Spring Mountain Club House may be purchased separately; seating will be widely-spaced with no more than three seats at each large round indoor table. Dinner will be a no-touch buffet, served to your order by Spring Mountain staff behind clear plastic.
One-Day Options: We have added additional options for those still concerned about overnight hotel stays. Friday, as always, is a single-day option. We have added Single-day registration options for Saturday or Sunday for Intermediate through Advanced Drivers. To provide a quality learning experience, the Beginner school is only offered as a two-day weekend package.
Weekend Course Configurations – We will run the 3.4 mile Mansell C course configuration (without the Loop) on Saturday and Sunday. Spring Mountain asked us to make this CHANGE from the configurations we had previously advertised.
Friday Experienced Driver Day – Experienced and Advanced drivers will again run the exciting and challenging 4.1 mile Andretti B course on Friday. This optional HPDE practice day is an open pit lane format, so expect to get all the track time your heart desires! There is no formal instruction on Friday so this option is only for instructors and drivers who have previously been approved to drive solo at an Audi Club driving school. (If this doesn’t describe you, but you believe your prior experience qualifies you for Friday, please see the instructions in the Experienced Driver section later on this page.)
We regret that Friday demo rides with an instructor will likely not be available at this event due to health restrictions. Note to Racers eyeballing our event: Friday is an HPDE Practice day with passing by permission in designated passing zones; it is not suitable for race car test & tune.
Dinner at Spring Mountain Club House - Optional – Spring Mountain has extensive safety protocols in place at their member’s Club House to provide us with a safe and enjoyable dining experience. To accommodate those who are not comfortable with group dining, Friday and Saturday dinners are priced separately and are only available during online registration. Note that only 60 dinner tickets are available each evening due to limited seating capacity. Current Spring Mountain protocols only allow three at each large table, allowing forty indoors with another twenty on the heated patio.
Schedule and Fees – We've adjusted the schedule to reflect lead/follow instruction for Beginners and Intermediates and eliminated our organized social events to accommodate health restrictions. The Fee structure reflects the expenses and limitations involved in running a safe and compliant event.
Convertibles and SUV/CUV – Audi Club North America allows convertible cars with adequate roll over protection (for example, A4, TT and R8 cabriolets) and certain models of small performance SUV/CUV cars at our driving school (for example, Q3, Q5, and SQ5).
EVENT DETAILS
Registration Fee
The registration fee for this Audi Club SoCal High Performance Driver School includes everything you need for two days of learning more about yourself and your car: online driving theory and car control exercises for Beginners, on-track instruction both days utilizing radio communication from our trained instructors for Beginners and Intermediates, and Saturday & Sunday grab-and-go box lunch at the track.
| Item | Price thru 2/28 |
|---|---|
| Friday Experienced Driver Day | $319 |
| Weekend Driving School - Beginner* | $599 |
| Weekend Driving School - both days | $549** |
| Weekend Driving School - any one day*** | $299** |
| Weekend Driving School - pre-approved Instructor | $259 |
| Dinner, each | $30 |
Please help us plan for this event by Registering Early! Your card will not be charged until March 1st.
Last day to Register is 3/7/21 (see late fees)
*Beginner registration includes online learning, radio communications, and helmet rental.
**Add $50 late fee after 2/28/21.
***Beginner school is offered as a two-day package only.
Audi Club Run Groups
Audi Club provides a run group for every skill level, plus separate sessions just for our trained and experienced instructors. Run Groups may be adjusted based on the number of participants.
| Group | Description |
|---|---|
| A | Beginner |
| B | Intermediate |
| C | Experienced |
| D | Advanced |
| X/Y | Instructor |
Preliminary Schedule - a detailed event schedule will be provided at event check-in.
Friday
All Day: Friday Experienced Driver Day on Andretti B - at the Track
Evening: Optional Dinner & Weekend Check-In - at Spring Mountain Club House
Saturday
All Day: Driving School on Mansell C - at the Track
Evening: Optional Dinner - at Spring Mountain Club House
Sunday
All Day: Driving School on Mansell B - at the Track
The track will be cold at lunchtime.
Venue
The Track – This Audi Club driving school will be held at Spring Mountain Motor Resort & Country Club, a private state-of-the-art closed course road track and exclusive motorsports country club located at 3601 South Hwy 160, Pahrump, NV 89048 (800) 391-6891, only 55 miles West of downtown Las Vegas. With over six miles of challenging racetrack, additional track under construction, and a wide array of resort-style amenities, Spring Mountain delivers a world-class motorsports experience to driving enthusiasts of all levels. If you are serious about performance driving, Spring Mountain is truly a destination not to be missed.
Check-In and the optional evening meals will be held at the Spring Mountain facility.
Lodging
Pahrump is very busy in the spring, with snowbirds from all over the USA as well as students at the very busy Front Sight training academy. Hotel rooms can be at a premium so make your reservations NOW to avoid disappointment or the long daily drive from Las Vegas.
Hotels
Best Western Pahrump Oasis, (775) 727-5100
Holiday Inn Express, (775) 727-9100
Nugget Hotel & Casino, (775) 751-6500
Saddle West Hotel & Casino, (775) 727-1111
Housekeeping Cabins and Condos
Wine Ridge RV Resort & Cottages, (775) 751-7805
Spring Mountain Motorsports Resort, (800) 391-6891
RV Camping with hookups (Don't want to stay in a hotel? Rent an RV and camp!)
Best Western Pahrump Oasis RV Park, (775) 727-5100
Saddle West RV Park, (775) 727-1111
Preferred RV Resort, (775) 727-4414
Lakeside Casino & RV Park, (866) 751-6500 (this one's beautifully landscaped, but is farther from the track)
Audi Club has not paid for camping at the track. If there is enough interest in dry camping at $45/night we can make those arrangements. See the registration form.
DRIVING SCHOOL
"He who loves practice without theory is like the sailor who boards ship without a rudder and compass and never knows where he may cast." — Leonardo da Vinci
An Audi Club SoCal driving school is much more than just a track day. We provide you with a balanced learning environment utilizing modern eLearning, classroom*, and on-track instruction.
On-Track Instruction
Personalized on-track instruction at the event will be provided remotely by trained Audi Club instructors using radio communicators using the lead/follow technique. Radios will be provided to drivers by the club. All beginner and intermediate group drivers will participate in lead/follow instruction. Modified lead/follow will be provided in the Experienced and Advanced groups as resources allow.
Classroom
This event is a school teaching advanced driving principles to make you a safer driver - it is not practice for any racing or speed contest. *We have suspended our at-the-track driving theory classrooms due to health restrictions.
In lieu of traditional in-person classrooms, our Beginners will learn Performance Driving fundamentals via an included lifetime subscription to Speed Secrets Performance Driving 101. This professionally produced self-paced online program has easy to digest modules on how to use Vision to make the car go where you want it to, proper use of the car’s Controls (steering, brakes, accelerator, and shifting), and a simplified description of Vehicle Dynamics. It then puts it all together to explain proper Cornering Technique. This outstanding program gives you insight into the principals and application of precision driving, enabling you to have a better time at the event as you improve your in-car skills. Instructions for first time beginners to enroll in the Course at no cost will be provided after they register for this event. The online class is also available at half-off for all of our Audi Club drivers.
Car Control Exercises
Car control exercises are provided on Saturday morning for our Beginning drivers. You will practice the principles learned in the online class in a controlled environment before going on the track with your instructor.
EVENT REQUIREMENTS
BEFORE REGISTERING, please review the detailed event requirements on our website audiclubna.org/southern-california/driving-school/
Brief Summary of Driver Requirements
Spring Mountain requires all drivers to be at least 18 years of age.
All registered Drivers must possess and present a valid driver's license issued by their state of residence.
Drivers must provide and wear a auto racing helmet certified to Snell SA2010 or later, a long-sleeve shirt and long pants, and practical closed-toe shoes while engaged in the car control exercises and during all on-track driving sessions. Clothing should be made of natural or flame-retardant fibers – ladies, please no slick leggings.
Membership in Audi Club of North America (ACNA) is required by our insurance. Audi ownership is not required for ACNA membership. ACNA member benefits include the glossy magazine quattro with the inside scoop on all things Audi, membership in your local Audi Club chapter, preferred pricing on new Audi automobiles, and discounts from club sponsors.
Brief Summary of Vehicle Requirements
All makes and models of coupes and sedans are welcome. You bring your own car. The club does not supply cars.
ALL cars must be in excellent mechanical condition and must undergo and pass a safety inspection prior to arriving at the event.
Equal safety restraints (seat belts, air bags, seats, etc.) are required for driver and a single passenger.
Currently, due to health restrictions, both car occupants must reside in the same household and must wear face coverings; and at least one of them must be an Audi Club approved instructor registered at the event.
Cars must have functional turn signals (see Passing, below)
Competition tires are not permitted for SUV/CUV or Beginning and Intermediate group drivers, and are discouraged for Experienced group drivers.
Open cars and convertibles are allowed if equipped with approved OEM rollover protection or an aftermarket 4-point (or greater) roll bar meeting the broomstick test. (Note that the OEM rollover protection on Mazda Miata / MX-5 is inadequate and NOT approved for this event.)
In general, high center of gravity vehicles are inappropriate for this high-speed driving event; however, select performance-oriented sports utility and crossover vehicles are permitted with some restrictions. No competition tires are permitted on these vehicles.
You may inquire via email about your specific convertible or SUV/CUV model.
For complete Requirements, including the required Car Inspection Form, download and review the Audi Club SoCal documents at www.audiclubna.org/southern-california/driving-school/.
Passing Protocol
Passing in all run groups at Audi Club driving schools will only occur in designated passing zones with the permission of the car being passed. Passing protocols used at Audi Club driving schools are mandated by Audi Club North America (ACNA) and require drivers to use street-style turn-signals to indicate permission to pass. “Street-style” means the turn signal of the car being passed indicates the position/direction that that car, the one being passed, will maintain. The overtaking car will pass on the side opposite the turn signal. Passing may directed on either side; and the car being passed is expected to enable/assist the pass by lifting throttle as necessary and avoiding any surprises by staying on their normal driving line. These passing protocols apply all three days.
First-Timer? If this is your first time at an Audi Club driving school, see we have a First-Timers Introduction and Preparation article on our website. We recommend that cars driven in the beginner group be stock, and are equipped with a functional FM radio.
Experienced Driver? Are you an experienced driver but registering with SoCal Audi Club for the first time? Please make sure your External Driving History in your MotorsportReg.com Profile is up to date. This will help us place you in an appropriate group. Do you have questions about your driving or instructing qualifications? Please email your references to our Chief Driving Instructor at cdi@audiclubsocal.org.
Garages? Day rental garages are not available at Spring Mountain.
HPDE Insurance? Does my regular insurance policy cover my car at this event? This article helps you find out: A guide to your personal auto policy. If you find your regular policy excludes coverage, you may purchase special HPDE insurance for your car while participating in this Audi Club driving school. Search HPDE Insurance online to see a selection of providers
Still have Questions? Contact Bill Vogel, the Spring Mountain eventmaster, at eventmaster@audiclubsocal.org
