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Old 08-11-2003, 01:51 PM   #1
Belvadere
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Default Driving Schools (which ones are best)

I'm curious what driving schools everybody has attended and what grades you might give the various ones out there? Also, what type of driving school was it (primarily safety, read & react, racing, etc.)??

Thanks.
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Old 08-11-2003, 02:49 PM   #2
gtguy
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I think that you'll find few people who have attended more than one. I did Skip Barber, both for racing and driving (three and two-day, respectively).

For the driving, we did heel-toe drills, skidpad, read and react, braking (with and without ABS), lane toss and lapping and some other stuff that escapes me. It was about 70/30, percentage-wise, seat to classroom time, a great ratio.

Racing was a TON of seat time...more heel-toe, skidpad, auto-x and hot laps in the single-seat Dodge open wheelers.

It was fabulous, and worth every penny. I came out a 200% better driver than when I went in, in everyday situations as well as ones under speed.

Seat time was exceptional, and the classroom instruction was never "Yeah, yeah, I know that." The instructors are friendly and knowledgeable, and FAST. I'll never forget whipping the Viper around the auto-x course and thinking "Huh...that rocked." Then having the instructor go more than two seconds faster than me (over a 1.2-mile course). He would have been faster, but the brakes were cooked.

It is the first mod money that anyone who hasn't already been to driving school should spend.

Kevin

Last edited by gtguy; 08-11-2003 at 02:56 PM.
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Old 08-11-2003, 03:00 PM   #3
Leonardo
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I'd start like I did.

If you are looking into DRIVING schools, find your local Porsche Club of America (PCA) or BMW CCA and look to see when the'll be having one.

I am a certified Solo driver with both.

When you go to a more advanced or racing school, you'll know the terms and be ahead (maybee) of someone that hasn't gone to a driving school.
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Old 08-11-2003, 03:07 PM   #4
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Here's what I said in a similar thread some time ago...

I did the 3 day racing school at Skip Barber some years back and it was a blast. It is educational, you get to scare yourself and it's a LOT of fun.

But, honestly (ignore signature because this is the God's honest truth, in my opinion), if you're just looking for straight up car control and skills. Nothing beats Team O'Neil. I learned many more valuble lessons there that I can apply both in racing and in real life. Skip Barber will teach you things like trail braking, lift throttle oversteer and heel-toe, the later of which you can learn on the street. The former however, all boils down to weight transfer, car control and feel. You can't learn these things by being told to press brake 70% at cone 3 bleed off to 50% as turning in at cone 2 etc. etc. Now this isn't really what Skip Barber is like, but I don't believe it helps develop the seat of the pants instinct, sense (as in feel, not common sense) and natural reactions that are the core of any racing driver. Team O'Neil cultivates this with a ton of seat time and a great enviornment.

If you're looking for a road racing licence, Skip Barber. If you just want to drive faster and with more confidence than the next guy, Team O'Neil.

So in the end, Skip Barber is a ton of fun and I reccomend it, but I think you have to look at your goals and what you want for your money. If you just want a thrill on the track, go to Skip's, if you're even semi-serious about improving your core foundations, Team O'Neil.

I say this because I truly believe it and for no other reason.

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Old 08-12-2003, 03:12 PM   #5
GarySheehan
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I always recommend the Bridgestone Racing Academy (www.racef2000.com) outside of Toronto. The school is run extremely well, the exchange rate is good and the racing series is fantastic.

Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
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Old 08-12-2003, 05:25 PM   #6
Brett555
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Default Re: Driving Schools (which ones are best)

Here's a few I've done:

Road Atlanta 3 Day Road Racing (now Panoz Racing school):
Lots of good classroom instruction, plus 3 days of track time, but no in-car instruction. The road course as many know is one of the best. The school is kinda pricey, but well worth it IMHO. I think they now use Panoz race cars, back when I did it they used race prepped 300ZX's. Pics: http://www.pbase.com/soloracer/ra_08102002

Mid Ohio High Performance and Advanced High Performance:
Very similar to the Road Atlanta school, but you can use your own car if you want. No in-car instruction. I had several of the same instructors that were at the Road Atlanta school. Again, a little pricey, but good stuff.

TrackTime (at Road America):
One of the better schools I've done. Really good classroom instruction, plus you are assigned an instructor and you get to ride with them for 1 session, then they ride with you for the rest unless they sign you off. Less expensive than RA or Mid Ohio, and again, well worth it. Pics: http://www.pbase.com/soloracer/ra_08272002

Porsche and BMW Club schools:
These are probably the best bang for the buck. Find your local BMW and/or Porsche clubs, and you can do 2 day schools for under $400. You generally get some classroom time, in-car instruction, and lots of seat time. Most will allow non-Porsche/BMW cars, but check before you sign up. A few years back I did several 2 days at Mid Ohio for around $300.

Last edited by [email protected]; 08-12-2003 at 05:31 PM.
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Old 08-13-2003, 06:38 AM   #7
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i did a Bondurant course in Phoenix Az. with my bud and what a damn fun time. We did the basic course and we got raced prepared mustangs with slicks to burn up. Pretty good class time to drive time ratio and it was a hell of alot of fun. This being the basic 2 day course the emphasis of the course was placed on driver awarness and the ability to read the signs of the car from the gas, steering, brakes and seat. I learned to heel- toe and to really push the cars to the limits on the handling oval. There was also a small autox competition and a little bit of lapping on the bondurant track. If i went back i would definitly try to do the 3 day racing course which ends up with a full day of lapping the track in the bondurant forumla cars.

Overall great experience but i havent taken other schools so i have nothing to compare it too...
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Old 08-14-2003, 05:09 PM   #8
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Seems the Porsche club route is the way most people have steered me. I'm not interested in one where I can't drive my own car. I'm not interested in learning to compete...just want to improve my driving skills (and find out how good/bad I may really be; I realize there are many things I've not learned, even though I'm in my 40's). I'm primarily interested in skills that will translate to help in daily driving.

Thank you for all the quality responses. It was very helpful.
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Old 08-14-2003, 05:49 PM   #9
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Nobody has mentioned it yet, but the Evolution autocross schools are well worth the money IMHO. You'll learn car control at slower speeds than you would on the track. You also get in-car instruction from national level autocrossers. I've been to Phase 1 and 2...well worth the cash. It made me a much better all around autocrosser.

http://www.autocross.com/evolution/
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