I know a lot of you have attended many of the schools across the country. Did you have a good experience? Was it worth the money? Would you do it again? What school did you attend? Recommend? and why? I know its a lot of questions, but your input is valued. Please post comments and thanks in advance

 

<-------- Spring Mountain. Should be a required course before buying a Vette !! I was totally amazed at what these cars can do


Here is a link to the review I wrote about my 3 days at Spring Mountain
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...light=mountain

 

Get in it and drive it, the car will teach you all you need to know, just get familair with the way the car works, I t won't happen over night.

 

Of course it won't happen overnight but I think he'd just like some reviews and pricing on different driving schools. I too wouldn't mind hearing some reviews from people and if it was worth the money.

 

I took a three day competition course with Skip Barber years ago. It was money well spent. It's amazing what you really learn even though you thought or have been around cars all your life. The school along with lapping days and then open track now with my two cars has really made me a better and more observant driver.

 

1) If you want to REALLY enjoy driving your Corvette (or other high performance car), and get an outstanding increase in performance for the $$, then a professional school's the way to go. There're schools for "high speed road course" driving and drag racing. While the physical skill improvements are great, the "mental" skills you can learn are even better.

2) When the "performance upgrade" you pay for is your own driving skills, that's "portable" to every vehicle you drive from then on...and it's interesting to see how much better time--with less effort, less wear on your equipment--you can make with a motorhome, or pulling a car trailer, when you've learned about stuff like the importance of where (how far out in front of you) you look, "the line", apexes, turn-in & exit points, etc.

I did Bondurant's 3-day school twice--once at Sear's Point ("long time ago"), once at Firebird (over 10 yrs ago)--& and their 4-day "security/anti-terrorism" class 7 yrs ago (more fun than the 3-day class); both classes were great experiences.

I also let a couple drag-racer buddies talk me into attending Frank Hawley's (NHRA) Drag-Racing school; I'd never drag-raced, so that was a REAL "learning experience".

For national/"name" schools, Spring Mountain is DEFINITELY next on my list--lower prices than Bondurant, and "all-Corvette" car pool.

I've also had good experiences with "local" schools, for shorter classes; one was a day of lapping, with instructor "ride-along" for half the day (though it didn't include any of the "basic skills" stuff--heel & toe, skid car, high speed lane-change, etc), the other was 1/2 day "winter driving skills" in an outrigger skid car (did it twice, with friends' kids).

And of course, many marque HPDE (track day) events have instructors available...but again, often not including time (off-track)/emphasis on basic skills to the extent of the "national/regional" classes....

Best of luck, and HAVE FUN, eh?

 

Do you ever think...OK, daydream...about how much SAFER driving in the US could be if that kind of a class were a requirement to get a driver's license here?

 

I'd be kind of worried, cuz then everyone would want to drive like they are on the track. Although, the cost of these schools would make it somewhat cost prohibative so as to keep some people that shouldn't have a license off the road. People would value their license more and drive smarter. Cars are getting safer and safer, but yet the driver's ed requirements have remained relatively the same for years. Perhaps that would be good to keep some people off the road. I'm planning on going to Spring Mountain in about a year or so. I figure it would be a good father/son thing to do since its his fault I have loved vettes since i was 3 lol thanks dad!

 

While just "getting into your car and driving it" does improve your skills to some degree, there is nothing quite like having a professional instructor help speed things up a bit, especially when you start traveling at higher speeds on a roadcourse.

I instruct drivers at a number of HPDE events at several tracks on the West Coast, most recently at Spring Mountain's Corvette Days last weekend. I have yet to see a driver who hasn't improved their lap times CONSIDERABLY after a few pointers and corrections from an experienced instructor, even when the driver has alot of HPDE experience.

Example: Last weekend, after already driving for 6 sessions, an intermediate-level driver in a C6 Z06 asked me to ride with him for 20 minutes and give him a few pointers. His lap times were already well up into the Intermediate class range.

In the very next session after some instruction, he came up to me and proudly announced that he had knocked FOUR SECONDS off of his already quick lap times, all because of a few minor changes to his driving lines and style. FOUR SECONDS!! What other modifications can you make to a car that would allow four seconds to be knocked off your lap times that quickly? He ended up going even quicker later that day, and I know that many others also benefitted by having one of the other skilled instructors ride with them from Spring Mountain that weekend. I see this all the time with the Porsche, Viper, and BMW clubs that I regularly help with....it makes a huge difference.

The school at Spring Mountain (or any other driving school) will teach you things about your Corvette that you will never learn anywhere else, and should NEVER be tested on an open public road. It will be the best money you will ever spend, and I doubt you will find anyone on CF who hasn't had the time of their life taking a class at Spring Mountain.

Go take a look at the comments made in the last paragraph of the first post in this thread:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...pring+mountain

 

PPl say we do a very good job at the NCM - High Performance Driving Events.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1536478

 

Thank you for all of your replies!!!! I've owned my z16 for the last two years and driven as a daily driver. I would love to attend a school to learn more and see what my car may be capable of. Someday here I'll save up and be able to afford a school. Hopefully soon.

 

Last week my wife actually dropped a hint about doing this for me for Christmas. Now, who wants to email her the info...? I promise I'll act all surprised on Christmas day! "Oh, honey, you shouldn't have...!

 

Fill your profile out there fellow Z16'er..........I am considering taking my Z16 to Firebird in Phx the day after Thanksgiving on the road course there. I have owned mine for awhile and it is frustrating always worrying about cops and other drivers anytime you hit the go pedal. I have a CDL to protect so my Z16 has never experienced a good exercise, which I hope to do in about 2 weeks.

 

Did the 3 day and it was awesome. Very professional, knowledable and friendly group. Check their website for current pricing.

 

Thanks to everyone for the really nice comments. We still have a few spots open for the $250 discounted January & February 2007 classes. If you want to take a class at a different time make sure that you request the $150 Corvette Forum discount.

Go to our website for class schedules and info. If you have any questions please phone 1.877.VET4FUN and there will be very knowledgeable ladies available to help you.

Thanks,
Janet Curran
www.racespringmountain.com
1.877 VET4FUN

 

I did the Spring Mountain Level 1 class in Oct '05. It was the best deal I could find last year and after taking the class I was very happy. We really did get almost 300 miles of lapping along with very good instruction. I am doing Level 2 this Thursday and Friday.

 

Now you should know that there can be some side effects to taking these schools. My interest in auto restoration has waned greatly, I haven't been to a gun show in months, and even my wife can now point out a good or bad line from all the track videos we've watched. However, the pile of new parts growing steadily beside my newly acquired Z06 track car will soon be installed and all will be right with the world.
DO IT!!

 

If, you search "Spring Mountain" in the archives on this Forum, you should find posts that include detailed descriptions of what happens from hour to hour each day. Also, search for DATAWIZ' videos of the track if you want to see a guy having a great time and doing some great camera work.

I was there last February for Level 1 and will be there this February for Level 2. The entire staff are very professional. Almost no class time to take away from seat time. When I screwed up in some of the exercises, the instructors were helpful, and didn't make me feel like I should go home and buy a rocking chair. I wish I had a track like that within 500 miles of where I live.

GM should give Spring Mountain Vettes for free for the service they provide to Vette owners. I know some people in my class did not have Vettes and went home intending to buy a Vette.

I'm not a racer but I came away with a greater understanding of how the Z06 responds and hopefully that has made me a safer driver.

Great value for the money.

 

Bondurant's 3 day Grand Prix class is the way to go!! All Corvettes all the time!

Great instructors and a lot of knowledge, plus you get to hang with Bob!

 

any good schools in South Florida?