2007 SRT Track Experience Schedule

[Wezenator]

For those of us waiting to go and anxiously checking the website daily for the impending 2007 Schedule promised for early December, here is what I learned:

"The 2007 Schedule is expected to be announced around the 1st of the Year. – DaimlerChrysler is implementing some changes to the program for 07 and we expect the tour to kick off in late February/early March."

. . . so much for hoping to be at an event in January 2007!

And here's the website: SRT Track Experience

[glhs837]

Only a Texan could expect an event in Jan Wonder what the changes are. Hope they dont water it down. Bad enough that crashes led to the Vipers being pulled back from the road course, Id hate to see any other diminshment happen.

[RTP SRT8]

We had a bad experience. We weren't able to drive the Viper out of 2nd gear. Also, we went to the Daytona Int'l speedway and we weren't allowed on the actual speedway. The put us on a "go cart" sized track. Then they offered us a "goodie bag" full of fun stuff like a pen and a keychain. We were very dissappointed. Not even a t-shirt or a cap was offered, you even had to buy a bumper sticker if you wanted one. I'm glad that we didn't pay for the "experience" as it was part of our purchase price of the car. I would want my money back given the experience we had. It seemed to me that the ones having the real "track experience" were the Richard Petty experience where they drove stock cars on the actual Daytona 500 Speedway. We even wrote to the SRT Track Experience to tell them how cheesy it was and that we left 3 hours early. They never even returned our e-mails. The last 3 hours was where the professional drivers took you out for a ride in the viper (if you were lucky) or one of the other cars. They were allowed to go faster than they allowed us to go. I tell ya' it was a waste of time and hotel expenses. We couldn't even drive the Viper and we weren't even on the Daytona 500 Track. No t-shirts, no cap, not even a bumper sticker. Very dissappointing!

[1fastsedan]

The big change is who is running it. At Laguna Seca, the Skip Barber instructors told us that they had just found out that they had lost the contract for 2007. All 2007 SRT Track Experiences will be run by the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Which probably means changes to venues more than anything. Don't know about anything more than that.

[Steve Levin]

I just did the SRT:TE at Laguna Seca, and it broke down as follows:

There are three sections:

1) a mini-drag and slalom (picture it as a elliptical loop, you drag down on straight, turn a 180, then slalom down the back straight) -- you had time to try all the vehicles offered (RAM SRT-10, Grand Cherokee, 300) a few times. You just do it with your buddies, external (no in car) supervision

2) Autocross. a reasonable size autocross course, done with the instructor. First time in the Crossfire, second time in the Viper. Sure, you leave the Viper in 2nd gear, but if you are tromping around, that's a lot of speed -- and drifting if you want)

3) Track time! Three cars are used: the 300, the Charger, and the Crossfire. Groups of three cars (all the same type) follow a leader around the track for 3 laps (just you in the car). Sounds slow, but believe me, if the instructors in the lead car are happy with their group, you'll turn some impressive times. If someone in the group is significantly off-speed from the others they pulled into the pits and gave that person their own lead car so others didn't get tied up with them. You get to do at least one run in each of the three types of cars. Crossfire was by far the most fun in this part!

Obviously, I would have rather spent all my time on the track and the autocross and skipped the drag/slalom, but I was happy overall.

The autocross was by far the toughest physically. In the Viper I went into full attack mode (because a spin in the autocross section is a non-event, unlike going off-track), and used every bit of the Viper's ferocious braking ability. Not to mention getting back on full power as quickly as I could.

I was brutally sore all over by the time I got home that night, especially across the shoulder -- which I attribute to the autocross laps in the Viper.

I thought that even for the $500 it was good value for the money. It's not a racing school experience, but we had a lot of fun.

Steve

[SRTJEFF]

Yes it is true - The biggest change will be in the drive team. Richard Petty has been awarded the drive contract for 2007.

We are currently working with them to confirm dates and locations, I imagine we will return with some of the same venues and some new ones we havent visited with this new partnership.

For 2007 the look and feel of the entire experience will be looked at, from what we see so far it will only improve the experience.

I personally have been on the tour since its birth and I can say first hand that the Skip Barber crew are some of the most talented drivers and first class people to work with. It has been my honor and all of you that we met through the past 2 seasons, hopefully we able to take away the value that they added to the program.

For all of you "crazy" forum folks we greatly appreicate all of your support and look forward to seeing all of you in 2007.

And RTP_SRT8 - Please contact me, this is the first i have heard of your "disappointment" and would like to discuss it with you.

Jeff
SRT TRACK EXPERIENCE

[glhs837]

RTp, I think maybe you misunderstood and left too soon. There is only one time they drive you, and thats the very last thing, which maybe lasts 30 minutes. What dates did you attend, I think we can find reviews from toehr attendees to illustrate this.

[Ella C SRT]

Woah, wait, the Richard Petty Driving experience? If they're going to turn this event into a full on left turn event, count me out.
I would have hoped to see more action on a skid pad at the SRT TE, not more driving around in circles.

Originally Posted by SRTJEFF

I personally have been on the tour since its birth and I can say first hand that the Skip Barber crew are some of the most talented drivers and first class people to work with.
Jeff
SRT TRACK EXPERIENCE

Not that
I doubt the abilities of the Richard Petty guys or anything, but I agree. I was hoping to see the Skip Barber team for another round... this time at Road America.

[SRTJEFF]

Ella,

The Richard Petty Team will not be just limited to Left turns and Nascar ovals or driving around in circles.

The SRT Track Experience and the Petty Experience are 2 completely seperate functions.

Actually Richard Petty is a past drive lead on the AMG tour - so again it wont be all lefts and ovals. - I expect there to be some fine tuning of the daily events but the core elements will remain.

If you ask many of the past participants a majority of the tracks we visited we did not have access to use the oval, due to Petty having it for a seperate program and many owners would of liked to had a chance to drive on it - with this partnership we may get to for 2007.

Although exact tracks arent yet available many of the same ROAD courses we visited in the past will be on the 07 schedule, it will just depend on availablity - which is currently being addressed as you read this

The SRT TE was designed to allow owners to better understand the abilities of their SRT. - Im sure the Petty staff will continue the trend in the same fashion as Skip Barber.

[Ella C SRT]

Originally Posted by SRTJEFF

Ella,

The Richard Petty Team will not be just limited to Left turns and Nascar ovals or driving around in circles.

The SRT Track Experience and the Petty Experience are 2 completely seperate functions.

Actually Richard Petty is a past drive lead on the AMG tour - so again it wont be all lefts and ovals. - I expect there to be some fine tuning of the daily events but the core elements will remain.

If you ask many of the past participants a majority of the tracks we visited we did not have access to use the oval, due to Petty having it for a seperate program and many owners would of liked to had a chance to drive on it - with this partnership we may get to for 2007.

Although exact tracks arent yet available many of the same ROAD courses we visited in the past will be on the 07 schedule, it will just depend on availablity - which is currently being addressed as you read this

The SRT TE was designed to allow owners to better understand the abilities of their SRT. - Im sure the Petty staff will continue the trend in the same fashion as Skip Barber.

Okay, that's good to know.

I know that they're two completely different things, but I was just basing my assumption on pervious knowledge of the Richard Petty Driving Experience as opposed to the Skip Barber School. The former is just taking stock cars on the oval... sooo

Thanks for the clarification!