CGI Drivers School = Track time

Two words sum up my day at the CGI Motorsports Driving School at Gingerman Raceway: Track Time. Lots of it. Their website says their philosophy is “Serve Track Time Family Style…All You Can Drive” and they aren’t joking! There are cars on the track all day except for a short lunch break!

I was greeted in the morning by a nice selection of cars, from sports cars to sedans, even a few other Audis. I had been placed in the intermediate group, as I had been on the track before and had some experience, so I checked in per their instructions on the website, got my car ready, and went to the driver’s meeting. A great staff from CGI Motorsports welcomed us, and all the instructors were introduced. As an intermediate driver, I didn’t have an assigned instructor, but it was clear that I could approach any of the instructors or staff members with any requests. They talked about the current conditions at the track, explained the schedule for the day, passing zones, rules and suggestions, etc. The advanced drivers were sent off for their first session while the beginners were getting ready for a classroom session.

This gave me a chance to meet with Phil Mirenda, our club contact. He gave me some more information and answered some club related questions before the beginner classroom began. He was very approachable, as were all the other instructors there. Before my first 20 minute lap session began, I sat in on the beginner classroom. Phil started with seating position and hand position and went from there. It was very similar to other driving schools I had been to, which is to say thorough and complete.

When they called my group to grid, I got geared up, and headed over to the grid area. CGI Motorsports runs a very smooth event. If you think that the ACCCC runs smooth Autocrosses, you will love the way CGI runs their driving schools. When the last car from the previous group was at turn 9, the next group was out on the track at turn 2. This is what really made for the amazing amount of track time we all saw. With clearly defined passing zones and procedures, my session was both safe and fun. As my group came in, the beginner group went out for their first session. Every beginner had their instructor in the car with them, and the first 20 minute session was a slow speed, single file parade lap. This allowed the instructors to point out the lines without everyone worrying about speed and to ensure everyone was comfortable being out on the track.

The later sessions for the beginner group had them driving a bit faster, but with limited passing zones, and with the instructors working with them for the rest of the day. Some people were signed off at the end of the day, per the instructor’s approval, to drive solo.

I met with Phil a few times during his day, between his student, a woman driving her husband’s fully built C5 Corvette race car, and running the event, he was pretty busy. He was able to give me a ride for a session in the CGI Motorsports’ Mitsubishi Evolution. It is clear that he has driven this track a number of times, as he was very smooth and very fast. I was impressed. I had told him I was having some trouble with turn 2 and the 5-6 set-up, and he showed me a couple ways to handle them, which turned out to be very beneficial.

As the day passed, I took some time to meet a few of the people at the event to get their thoughts on the school. Many people had done CGI Motorsports Driving Schools in the past, and had been so happy they opted to return. Between those repeat customers and the beginners I met with, everyone had been very impressed with the level of instruction that they had received in the beginner groups and classroom time.

Safety was also a large part of the weekend. Not only was it stressed in the choice of the venue, as Gingerman Raceway is an extremely safe track due to its generous amount of flat, smooth runoff area; but also in the way the event was run. The driver’s meeting and classroom time both started and ended with comments on safety. One of the points repeated throughout the day was your level of stress on the track. Since there was SO much track time, there was no need to go out on the track stressed out. If there was a group of cars that you didn’t feel comfortable driving around, you were able to pull off and get back on to distance yourself, and since there were so many run sessions, that wasn’t going to waste all your precious time on the track.

I had so much track time, in fact, that I used an ENTIRE tank of 93 octane and 5 gallons of 104, and I didn’t even go out on my last run session! As everyone was packing up, Phil approached me and followed up on my line for turn 2 and the 5-6 combo, and I thanked him for his help. I said good-bye to him and the people I had met at the event and headed to the gas station to fill back up.

As I drove home from southwestern Michigan, I thought about my day with CGI Motorsports and I thought that they ran a great driving school. It contained all the best things one wants in a school: good teaching and lots of track time. I would not hesitate to recommend Phil and CGI Motorsports to the beginner and experienced driver alike, as I think they both could benefit.

CGI Motorsports is a proud sponsor of the 2004 Autocross Season. The season winners of each Autocross Class will win a 1 Day CGI Motorsports Driving School as well as other prizes. There is also a $5 raffle at each Autocross for a 1 Day School. Be sure to visit CGI Motorsports online at www.cgimotorsports.com and tell them the Audi Car Club Chicagoland Chapter sent you!

Bryan Knight
ACCCC member


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