MotorTrend

Testing Out the New Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta

A first-hand look at the various driving programs and attractions.
Writer

You don't need to be a total Porsche geek to enjoy the Porsche Experience Center (PEC) and its driving programs. We aren't talking about a racing school designed exclusively for the boys' club of wannabe 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers. Quite the opposite, actually: You can take your friends and family along, even if they don't worship all things motorcar. You'll all enjoy the gorgeous facility, the fantastic Porsche models on display, and the impressive restaurant.

The Porsche Experience Center shares its grounds with Porsche Cars North America's (PCNA) new headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. The compound sits on land formerly used for the assembly of Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable, and is located conveniently next to both Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and I-75.

The facility includes a driver development track, human performance center, driving simulator lab, Porsche Exclusive personal design studio, business center, classic car gallery & restoration center, restaurant, and café. The idea is to attract a wide variety of people interested in using the building and grounds in many different ways. And, of course, to grow Porsche's brand.

Maybe you own a company and it's time for a team building conference? Throw your group on a plane to Atlanta. Upon landing, it's less than 10 minutes to the PEC. As you enter the vast building, a selection of modern and historic Porsche automobiles greets you. The Carrera Café fulfills coffee and pastry needs before you partake in a variety of on-track activities. You can then enjoy a gourmet lunch (or dinner) at Restaurant 356, followed by a team meeting in one of five board rooms or two conference rooms available to rent.

As we're talking Porsche, the driver development track really is the highlight. It was designed by Tilke, a well-known German engineering and architecture company that also laid out Circuit of the Americas in Texas and Fuji International Speedway in Japan - and just about every modern Formula 1 venue. For as little as $300, you can book one of Porsche's models and take your pick of six track modules -- mix or match, your choice. The handling circuit is the most conventional. In truth, it's not really a typical circuit. Even lead instructor, Brian Cunningham, told us, "It's not a racetrack, it's an experience center. It's to learn a bit about driving and a lot about Porsche."

The 1.6-mile course emulates a country road, and is a simple but fun setup. Just keep in mind that run-off is pretty much non-existent: steel guardrails punish any brain fade. In fact, you may want to budget an extra $50 for insurance if you choose the handling-course module and plan to push the car hard. This inexpensive election lowers your deductible from $10,000 to $2,000 if you severely wad up a Porsche. That said, an instructor sitting in the passenger seat keeps you nicely in check.

The other five modules offer as much -- and in some cases, more -- fun with less risk. The low-friction handling area and the kick plate are our personal favorites. The former is a small, tight course with a polished concrete surface. It's perfect for sliding a car around and learning low-speed car control. "It's the best [setup] outside of a Finish winter driving school, but can be used year around," Cunningham said. Then there's the kick plate: It's the only one of its kind in North America and should make Disney World nervous in terms of smiles-per-dollar value. You drive over a hydraulically actuated plate, which kicks the car's rear end either left or right as you enter a water-soaked epoxy surface. This teaches you how to control a sliding vehicle -- or demonstrates how many times a car can spin around and around if you get it wrong. The kick plate's direction and severity of movement is varied by an instructor via iPad.

"[The kick plate] helps show actual skill versus the perception of skill," Cunningham noted. Think of it as the great equalizer -- an ego crusher, if you will. There is also a low-friction circle skid pad, and a dynamics module featuring a slalom course and an area to try braking maneuvers and to test launch control. Additionally, there is a small but challenging off-road course with a fleet of Cayenne diesels. It's made out of recycled materials from the former Ford factory and shows that Land Rover isn't the only company building mountain goat-like SUVs.

We walked away from the PEC impressed. If you have a good amount of track driving experience, the driver development track won't blow you away but is still fun, and inexpensive. Keep in mind that Porsche has its Sport Driving School at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, to satisfy those looking for more advanced and higher-speed training. We like the idea of making a visit to the PEC with your spouse or son/daughter -- as long as they're at least 21-years old and hold a valid driver's license. It's the type of program that someone with zero to little experience can enjoy, without being intimidated.

With a fleet of 77 cars, it's also a perfect opportunity for a person who's interested in purchasing a Porsche to try out the cars at speed. Can't decide between a Cayman or a 911? Maybe you're on the fence between a rear-wheel or all-wheel drive 911? Drive them back-to-back at the PEC. In fact, talk to your Porsche dealer before you book, as it may be able to cover or at least subsidize the fee. While you're at the PEC, think about reserving some time in the human performance center, to learn firsthand how race-car drivers stay in tip-top shape. You can also drive a 911 GT3 Cup race car (or many other Porsche models) on a variety of international tracks in the simulator.

The PEC concept is growing, as a second U.S. facility will open outside Los Angeles later this year. There's also a setup at Le Mans in France and Silverstone in the U.K. Shanghai, Russia, and Turkey are coming soon.

More info: Porsche Driving

Marc Noordeloos

My grandfather worked for Marathon Oil in Western Michigan. He tested gasoline. He’d connect small glass jars of fuel to the 390 cubic inch V8 in his Ford Galaxie, checking if the refined dead dinosaurs were up to snuff. Sounds safe. My father helped my grandfather build a La Darwi Coachcraft kit car. My father later outran a tornado with that La Darwi. When I was nine years old, I convinced my dad to buy a Volkswagen Rabbit GTI instead of an ex-driver’s training Ford Tempo. I don’t think he fully appreciates how important that decision was.

Every job I’ve ever had intertwines with the automobile. Working at a car wash transitioned into odd jobs for a car collector. Sweeping the shop floors and detailing his eccentric mix of vehicles transitioned into something more. When I graduated from college, I went career hunting but a conventional job reminded me of someone who drives a Ford Tempo. Instead, my car-collecting boss asked me to go racing with him. That developed into a position that sent me all over the world managing (and co-driving) a fleet of historic rally cars and IMSA GTP/Group C prototypes.

After eight years of wonderful adventures in auto racing, I married a lovely lady I met while living in England and had a daughter on the way, which led me to drop Jean Jennings an email about a job at Automobile Magazine. I was looking for something that kept me home a bit more yet still utilized my passion for cars. We met for lunch at Old Town Tavern in Ann Arbor and Jean told me I was stupid to want to work for a car magazine. Luckily, Jean—and a cut in pay—didn’t scare me away and I became the magazine’s road test editor.

Four years later, an opportunity arose where I could move back to my hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and continue to write for Automobile Magazine. I took it.

Read More

Share

You May Also Like