POLL: Spring Mountain for ME

[John]

Are you planning to go to Spring Mountain Motorsports Resort to better learn how to drive your mid engine Corvette?

Before answering, assume the following:

1) GM will similarly subsidize the two-day Corvette Owners School — thought at a $1,250 cost.*
2) The programs requirements would be the same, that is a) only within the first year of ownership and b) only for the original owner of the ME;
3) Spring Mountain will continue to provide ME’s for you to drive (no need to drive your own).

https://www.springmountainmotorsport...-owners-school

*I have no idea of whether the cost would increase, but with fuel, tires and the car costing a little more in the last four years since the program started, I roughly guessed that $1,250 would be about an “inflationary equivalent amount.”

[John]

I will be going, for so many reasons. I felt I needed to go when we got our C7 Z06 due to its outrageous power levels, and left there not only for the first time totally comfortable with the car, but also, very nicely, became a better driver on the street. I have never driven a mid engine car, and right now feel it is important to learn how to drive it properly, and completely using its capabilities.

I can’t wait to return to Spring Mountain!

[nightraceZ]

I NEED to do this and I promised myself a museum delivery. Since I never seen the museum it would be the perfect timing.

[meyerweb]

I NEED to do this and I promised myself a museum delivery. Since I never seen the museum it would be the perfect timing.

If still available, and you can manage the time, do the buyer's tour. You get to watch YOUR car being built, which is way cooler than museum delivery. (And you can still go to the museum while you're there.) My only regret in my Corvette purchase is that I didn't do the buyer's tour.

[Racer86]

After you guys do the Spring Mountain deal, why not join the Chin motorsports group and do some great track days at many of the major road racing tracks. Dr. Chin and Mark run a great program. 3 levels of driver skill, so no reason to be afraid to enter. Well run group. More track time then you have the energy to run.

[John]

If still available, and you can manage the time, do the buyer's tour. You get to watch YOUR car being built, which is way cooler than museum delivery. (And you can still go to the museum while you're there.) My only regret in my Corvette purchase is that I didn't do the buyer's tour.

FOR SURE! Our last and our current Corvette were done via the Buyers Tour. I will wait for that tour to resume, for it is truly a “life’s top ten” to see your car, over a two or three day period, be assembled right in front out you (with one guest and a full time guide just for you two).

https://www.corvettemuseum.org/visit...s/buyers-tour/

As meyerweb mentioned, currently suspended because there is something within the Plant they do not want us to see (wonder what that is), but next year I am very sure it will return.

And it definitively will be part of our next Corvette purchase.

[bobbytinvab]

I never heard about the buyers - tour, that sounds pretty cool. I might have to do that. I did participate as a guest with a museum delivery. My good friend got a C6 roadster and we went to pick it up. A great time for us to see the factory, the museum and we got to drive home in a new vette.

[John]

The emotions of having the BGA employees come over and visit, talk to you, thank you for your purchase, and you/they know that you are watching while they build it, piece by piece. And then at the end of the 2 1/2 days, you get to get into your car and be the first one to drive it a little bit.

Then a little bit later you watch as your car driven by a plant employee into the test booth, where in three minutes, 800 tests are done on the car. 799 is a failing score and it goes to the repair area. When mine got a 800 with the green “pass” light, I would be lying if I said that tears did not come out of my eyes.

And lucky me, for I was asked if I wanted to go into that test booth while those tests was happening (something done every so infrequently).

The Buyers Tour was truly one of the best experiences of my life.

[VETTED53]

If I end up purchasing a C8 I'll probably end up at Spring Mountain again. Only this time my wife will be the pilot and I'll be content riding in one of the Camero pace cars. I'll still learn a lot about the new car's capability.

[John]

Sounds lke a great plan to insure you get one, getting your wonderful wife already excited about its upcoming...

[Fasttoys]

To far for me, I have the F1 track in Austin.

[John]

The wonderful thing about the Spring Mountain Corvette Owners School is that they start from radically different driver skill levels, then set up classes into different ability groups to maximize the experience for all. In my class for example, they had a couple SCCA championship drivers, as well as two individual who volunteered that since they live in the New York City area, they never had their Corvettes over 65 MPH in their entire lives — and a bunch of the rest of us “in betweeners.”

Yet, we all learned, had great fun, and became better drivers in just the two day school.

With the ME being so different in terms of front end length/turn in, weight distribution, cornering, braking characteristics and much more, I can not wait to return to Spring Mountain to learn how to properly drive a ME (never have driven one).

And to have big fun while doing so!

[Shadow]

I have heard 100% consistently positive feedback on Spring Mountain from other Corvette owners who have gone there. My experience there was super.

[Adrenaline Junky]

The emotions of having the BGA employees come over and visit, talk to you, thank you for your purchase, and you/they know that you are watching while they build it, piece by piece. And then at the end of the 2 1/2 days, you get to get into your car and be the first one to drive it a little bit.

Then a little bit later you watch as your car driven by a plant employee into the test booth, where in three minutes, 800 tests are done on the car. 799 is a failing score and it goes to the repair area. When mine got a 800 with the green “pass” light, I would be lying if I said that tears did not come out of my eyes.

And lucky me, for I was asked if I wanted to go into that test booth while those tests was happening (something done every so infrequently).

The Buyers Tour was truly one of the best experiences of my life.

Wow !! Sounds awesome, thanks for the sharing

[Dfontanese]

I did the Spring Mountain school and R8C. Both well worth the time and money. Once I get my C8 I can't wait to see how it's different on the track, compared to my 2016 Z51 coupe. I've read a number of articles indicating it is a little bit different, especially on the track. I was wondering if you can take a few laps in your new C8 the NCM Motorsports Park, following R8C delivery, anyone know? Bummer that those first C8 owners will be taking delivery in the winter months (for most of the country).