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VIR is fabulous - particularly if your event uses the 'full course.' Latest Car and Driver does a high speed test at VIR with a very good technical discussion about the full course with layout and speeds.
Ralph
2002 Carrera Coupe - Orient Red Metallic
'93 968 Coupe Amazon Green Metallic w/airbox mod (sold 2009)
'89 944 S2 (gone to live in the Midwest)
'77 911S (RIP)
And a whole bunch of VWs over the years...
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I've driven both although I haven't been to the Glen in a few years. VIR is beautiful, very challenging, and has some extremely high speed gut check sections. I'd say I like VIR a bit better than the Glen. It just has something about it that's really cool.
I have to admit I was bored to tears going up the back straight in my 89 944. I found myself looking at the gauges and watching the BMW DE going on the Patriot Course off to the right...
Joel Wahlsten
93 968 Amazon Green w/LSD and a few mods
2017 Cayenne GTS Mahogany Metallic
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I haven't been to WG but I did learn something about VIR. My lessons learned are: 1) If your steering gets behind in the climbing esses, just back off and write off the quick lap time. You can try to do better the next time around. 2) The elevation changes have a much bigger effect on your vehicle dynamics and you need to pay attention to the places like the climbing esses where the rear suspension unloads and the back of the car gets momentarily very light. Careful with your steering input at that moment. 3) Your car does not stop very well on grass at high speed. Don't let all of the runoff room give you a false sense of security. 4) VIR is a beautiful facility and you should enjoy yourself.
My $.02.
mike
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93 911 C2 Coupe
95 Black 968 M030 Coupe (R.I.P.)
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I've been to both, and I would definitely recommend that you try VIR. Both are excellent tracks, but having only been to the Glen, you'll learn a lot by driving a new track. I'm a firm believer that the more tracks you drive, the better driver you become.
VIR has a wider variety of corners than the Glen, so you'll definitely be learning some new things. The Glen really doesn't have any slow sections, and you never see 2nd gear there. VIR has two slow sections. Oak tree is a 2nd gear corner, and the 4-5 section is either 2nd or 3rd depending on your speed.
VIR also has some really high speed sections such as the Climbing Esses, and South Bend which is a very fast left hander following the Esses. In my car the VIR Esses are much more challenging than the Glen's Esses. At the Glen I can easily go flat out from turn 1 through the Esses all the way to the Bus Stop. At VIR, I can do the Esses flat out, but everything has to be perfect - car setup, fresh tires, a perfect line, and a willingness to experience a very high pucker factor.
VIR is narrower than the Glen in most places, so there is a premium placed on driving a very precise line. Also, at the Glen you have positive camber to help you in most of the corners. You don't have that at VIR, so that will take some getting used to.
If you're going to make the trip there, make sure to sign up for an event where they're running the full course. Often times they'll just be running the North or South course, but that won't give you the full VIR experience.
Jim Child
'94 968 PCA E-Stock/NASA GTS2
'01 Boxster
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Best of Luck Jason !!!...show them what the tail of a 968 looks like <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
Regards,
Jay
“Faster, Faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.” - Hunter S. Thompson
"I couldn't find the sports car of my dreams, so I built it myself." ~Dr. Ferdinand Porsche
"968Forums, a quaint little drinking community with a serious horsepower problem"
"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn-out, shouting, 'Holy sh*t! What a ride!'"- Unknown
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'95 968 Cabriolet White/Chestnut Brown
'94 968 Cabriolet Midnight Blue/Gray
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Jim Child
'94 968 PCA E-Stock/NASA GTS2
'01 Boxster
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Rich Glickel drives the Amy car. He's also a PCA guy.
Joel Wahlsten
93 968 Amazon Green w/LSD and a few mods
2017 Cayenne GTS Mahogany Metallic
