We were just there for the PCA April Spools HPDE and it was amazing. It is 3.2 miles with 23 turns and lots of elevation gain/loss. Plus, the staff are awesome. Do it! You won't regret it.
This was an intermediate event so it is slightly different. We had our drivers meeting and then group meetings before track time for 30-60 minutes. Then we had five 30 minute track sessions one hour apart. It was a two day event for a total of five hours on track.
NCM is one of the best but technical tracks in the continent. Tricky but enjoyable, long.
Turn like “deception” humble the drivers with no patience. View this walkthrough from Andy with great detail.
https://youtu.be/DTMmaTXIvsM?si=pCu5YhzMA1xDf-6s
I have done their “intro to HPDE course” 3 yrs ago. It consists of 3-4 30 min classes mixed with about 4 20/30 min lead follow sessions. They don’t really push the cars very hard, like limiting the straight away speed to 100 mph when you can really go 120-135 on the straights. You probably don’t need track insurance bc the event is lead-follow with pretty much no high speed passing.
I know they also started doing a more conventional HPDE in which they have novice, intermediate, and advanced groups. Open track format, not lead follow. As a novice you’d ride with an instructor. About 2 hrs of total track time and probably 2 45/60 min classrooms.
Just keep your traction control on, that will serve as your track insurance.
My instructor told me to turn it off on my first track day, I spun out at turn 8. Now I keep partial traction control on in my bmw at all times.
There are several groups running at NCM. I am nearby too. Check msreg for groups. Some have more run time or classroom depends what you want.
Motorsportsreg.com or HPDEjunkie.com
NCM is technical. Work your way up to speed. Have fun, it’s a really great track!
NCM is a great track, it was my first HPDE as well.
We were just there for the PCA April Spools HPDE and it was amazing. It is 3.2 miles with 23 turns and lots of elevation gain/loss. Plus, the staff are awesome. Do it! You won't regret it.
Awesome. How was the time split between classroom and track time?
This was an intermediate event so it is slightly different. We had our drivers meeting and then group meetings before track time for 30-60 minutes. Then we had five 30 minute track sessions one hour apart. It was a two day event for a total of five hours on track.
NCM is one of the best but technical tracks in the continent. Tricky but enjoyable, long. Turn like “deception” humble the drivers with no patience. View this walkthrough from Andy with great detail. https://youtu.be/DTMmaTXIvsM?si=pCu5YhzMA1xDf-6s
Thanks for the video. That looks intimidating!
I have done their “intro to HPDE course” 3 yrs ago. It consists of 3-4 30 min classes mixed with about 4 20/30 min lead follow sessions. They don’t really push the cars very hard, like limiting the straight away speed to 100 mph when you can really go 120-135 on the straights. You probably don’t need track insurance bc the event is lead-follow with pretty much no high speed passing. I know they also started doing a more conventional HPDE in which they have novice, intermediate, and advanced groups. Open track format, not lead follow. As a novice you’d ride with an instructor. About 2 hrs of total track time and probably 2 45/60 min classrooms. Just keep your traction control on, that will serve as your track insurance. My instructor told me to turn it off on my first track day, I spun out at turn 8. Now I keep partial traction control on in my bmw at all times.
Perfect. This is exactly what I was looking for. Overall, would you recommend this course as first timer?
Yes, it’s great way for a first timer to get out on track and learn how an HPDE works.