Driving School
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 138
Likes: 1
From: Seneca SC
Driving School
I was recently reading an editorial by Rich Ceppos in the November 17th issue of Autoweek. The editorial's premise is that everyone ought to go to a high performance driving school periodically just to hone your skills...whether or not you race. That got me to thinking that this would probably be a pretty good idea, not to mention a lot of fun. It has been a number of years since I used to race (on the track). Question: Has anyone on the forum gone to a high performance driving school? Was it worth it? Where did you go? Theres a alot of schools out there with prices all over the map. I'd be looking for a school that is probably not for open wheel cars and not front drivers either. Not sure whether I'd like to trash my car on the track. Probably a one or two day school and I don't think location matters too much with the low cost of airline tickets now. Has anyone out there done this or been thinking about it and done some research? :steering:
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,125
Likes: 1,727
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: Driving School (wmrobert)
Those i've spoken to about it at NCCC events always said good things. Just too much $$$$ for me now though.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,315
Likes: 0
From: Stoughton WI
St. Jude Donor '12
Re: Driving School (wmrobert)
I did the three day Skip Barber school this past summer. Very well run program, but it's open wheel. If you interested in using your own car try these guys. http://www.tracktime.com
Mark :seeya
[Modified by marrepka, 10:57 PM 11/20/2003]
Mark :seeya
[Modified by marrepka, 10:57 PM 11/20/2003]
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,615
Likes: 1
From: New Lenox IL
Re: Driving School (marrepka)
Back in Phoenix, there was Bob Bondurant driving school. I was really interested but it cost like $2000 for it, so I said screw that. I'd rather put mods on my car before I do something like that. It'll be worth it once my car is done.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 296
Likes: 2
From: Commerce, MI
Re: Driving School (wmrobert)
I took 2 track time schools here in MI at MIS. (Michigan International Speedway). One was a NASCAR school, fun but not applicible to your question. The other was a one day sports car school. I was driving a '76 L-82 at the time. For $350 I got to spend quite a bit of time one the track and in the class room w/one on one instruction. Passing on course was controled, but you were never "stuck" behind a slower car. Had instructer in car with me. You have to give credit to these guys. After only knowing me for 20 minutes, he trusted me to run flat out at 140mph! Thought I was all cool till the ZR-1's passed like I was standing still....
Anyhow, the course was very good for a beginner, professional and friendly staff, and good saftey management. Also get in touch with your local SCCA chapter. they often have autocross schools at the start of the season. Good learning here for next to nothing. Do a few events during the year. You'll learn a lot and its very cheap.
Good luck,
POWER OVERSTEER!!!! :steering:
Jeff
Anyhow, the course was very good for a beginner, professional and friendly staff, and good saftey management. Also get in touch with your local SCCA chapter. they often have autocross schools at the start of the season. Good learning here for next to nothing. Do a few events during the year. You'll learn a lot and its very cheap.
Good luck,
POWER OVERSTEER!!!! :steering:
Jeff
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 7,338
Likes: 137
From: WilkesBarre PA
Re: Driving School (Gearheadotaku)
Check your local Corvette Clubs. We run a drivers school at Pocono every Memorial weekend with instructors if needed. Other clubs also run Pocono through out the year the same way. :cheers:
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,008
From: Texas
Re: Driving School (RichS)
Check your local Corvette Clubs. We run a drivers school at Pocono every Memorial weekend with instructors if needed. Other clubs also run Pocono through out the year the same way. :cheers:
The BMW CCA & PCA school fees are usually $250 - $300 for two days and includes instruction and classroom time. You'll spend ~3 hours on the track over the two days. Doesn't seem like much, but it's plenty for first-timers.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 4
From: middle TN
Re: Driving School (96GS#007)
I did three events with Car Guys back about 6-7 yrs ago (CG is under new mgt now), once at Road Atlanta, twice at Roebling Road. AWESOME!!! Even spun it off at RR, didn't hit anything because was a fairly wide open layout at the time.
Felt alot safer on the track than when driving through Atlanta on the way to and from the track!! :eek:
Having done both Auto-x and track schools, my impression is that A-x helps you develop quickness and reflexes, while track schools help more with smoothness and maintaining concentration for a longer time rather than the 45 seconds or so with most autocrosses.
Felt alot safer on the track than when driving through Atlanta on the way to and from the track!! :eek:
Having done both Auto-x and track schools, my impression is that A-x helps you develop quickness and reflexes, while track schools help more with smoothness and maintaining concentration for a longer time rather than the 45 seconds or so with most autocrosses.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 665
Likes: 2
From: Southington CT
Re: Driving School (Scooter 94)
if your cheap or poor or some combination of the two: Auto-X cross is the best thing anyone can do. if you commit to 3 or 4 events you'll spend less than $100 and know alot more about your car and yourself than any other $100 bucks spent. :cool: of course you may need some new brake pads and tires but oh well :party:
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 138
Likes: 1
From: Seneca SC
Re: Driving School (RichS)
I've done a lot of autocrossing over the years as well as SCCA racing, but not for a while. Now I work on Sundays, so most of thats out. However, I do have a weekend off a couple times a year. The Pocono event on Memorial Day weekend sounds interesting. Where do I get some more info? :auto:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 7,338
Likes: 137
From: WilkesBarre PA
Re: Driving School (wmrobert)
http://www.pocono-csd.com/main.html
This link was from the last event. Nothing is set yet for 04 with the other clubs. We just sent in our deposit for the track rental and will start having meetings soon on the agenda for the weekend. Keep a eye on the Northeast and auotx sections begining next year. :cheers:
This link was from the last event. Nothing is set yet for 04 with the other clubs. We just sent in our deposit for the track rental and will start having meetings soon on the agenda for the weekend. Keep a eye on the Northeast and auotx sections begining next year. :cheers:
