Considering Driving School Over Performance Upgrades

[DjDATZ]

You sir, are a very very wise man.

[gmookher]

track day FIRST
School second

[einzlr]

Originally Posted by GhostofAkina

I'm in SoCal but have family in NorCal I can stay with so really anywhere in California works. Thanks guys. I appreciate the input!

The day typically kicks off with a Drivers' Meeting at around 6am so typically you want to stay somewhere close to the track. If you go to Thunderhill, stay at the Days Inn in Willows and ask for the Thunderhill discount. Ask in the track section for lodging tips near other tracks.

[einzlr]

Originally Posted by steeloyangster

... since I was 17, which has been ten years. (Hate to date myself.)

Sorry but this is priceless. In 2-3 decades you'll see what I mean <3

And excellent advice in your post - Ghost, I hope you're listening to him. Also, autox and car control clinics are typically closer and involve easier logistics than track days so do consider that as well.

[White64Goat]

Bob Bondurant in Chandler, Arizona. Here is there car list: We are proud to offer a wide variety of current model General Motors vehicles including the Chevrolet Corvette Z51 Coupe 6 speed manual and 6 speed paddle shift, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Cadillac CTS, Cadillac CTS V, Pontiac Solstice, Police Package Chevrolet Tahoes and Impalas.

Also check to see if there are any NASA (not that NASA) programs in your area.

[gunmetal5]

Originally Posted by diirk

I'd suggest attending a track day like this one: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20477

It's very inexpensive on a fairly forgiving track and for the $125 (or whatever it ends up costing) you have access to instructors that are more then happy to spend time with you. They tend to have several instructors and you can go with a different one each time if you want. By the end of the day you will be much more comfortable with your car.

Most groups like this break the attendees into 3-4 categories. Beginner, intermediate and expert. For the non-expert categories they only allow passing on the straights reducing the likelyhood of any car to car contact. But also allowing a beginner to focus on their driving and line rather then worrying too much about whomever is behind them.

I'll be out there at the end of Nov along with a few other 86's.

Diirk got it down exactly how I would have recommended it to you. I took my GTI to the Streets of Willow twice, and I became one with the car! haha Its awesome pushing your car and if you push it too much, run off the track. its safe and everyone is there to be safe + have fun.

Oh and when you go to any track, get an instructor at least the first time. They know the track like the back side of their hand.

[einzlr]

Originally Posted by White64Goat

Bob Bondurant in Chandler, Arizona. Here is there car list: We are proud to offer a wide variety of current model General Motors vehicles including the Chevrolet Corvette Z51 Coupe 6 speed manual and 6 speed paddle shift, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Cadillac CTS, Cadillac CTS V, Pontiac Solstice, Police Package Chevrolet Tahoes and Impalas.

Also check to see if there are any NASA (not that NASA) programs in your area.

I was going to say Bob Bondurant, too (and Skip Barber etc), but the downside is that you're not learning your car specifically. OTOH a lapping day in a Z06 sounds awfully sweet for sure

[Dezoris]

Find a Karting track that does a full day Karting school. Or rental league races.
Work your way to TAG or Rotax karts.

It will be WAAAYYY cheaper than doing any type of driving school, HPDE or track day.

Not only will the seat time be better but you will learn more in a year than 3 years doing car driving schools. Everyone will have a different opinion, but if you start with karting the transition to cars will be easier and it's my belief you will have a major leg up in skill level.

I have done almost every type of school and driving event. I always go back to karting as the most hard core and least expensive.

[Guff]

Well, AutoX is pretty cheap , and karts can get kinda pricey, but nevertheless, both are excellent choices.

I have some AutoCross experience, and I have to say, it's damn good fun and it's an excellent learning experience. Everyone here at my local AutoX are incredibly friendly and are more than happy to give you tips and advice. Plus you can get ride alongs in lots of awesome cars!!!

[Dezoris]

Originally Posted by Guff

Well, AutoX is pretty cheap , and karts can get kinda pricey, but nevertheless, both are excellent choices.

I have some AutoCross experience, and I have to say, it's damn good fun and it's an excellent learning experience. Everyone here at my local AutoX are incredibly friendly and are more than happy to give you tips and advice. Plus you can get ride alongs in lots of awesome cars!!!

That would be all I would recommend initially in a car is Autox. Good suggestion Guff. And its a good hang out scene to learn things. My only issue is seat time. Its pretty much non existent. We are talking 8 minutes tops for an hour hour day.

For $50 thats not bad. It just takes forever to learn at that speed.
Since he is in California the options are endless. Kart rental leagues are basically about $60 a day. You get to compete, practice in slower karts but you are getting 30-40 minutes seat time.

[fatoni]

there are really two things going on and it looks like most of the people have touched base on it. first, education/experience is the cheapest way to enjoy driving and dropping laptimes is time behind the wheel. the second part is that is you want experience with your car.

i come from the school of thought that you shouldnt mod your car until you know what is keeping you back. once you can drive a stock car as fast as your instructor can, there are free seconds you can take off the times just with experience. mods based on need instead of want will keep your car on the track more often and the smile on your face will be the same.

in short, schools, hpde and autox are all ways to get the most out of your car. they are both cheaper and more enjoyable than an exhaust, spring, intake etc (maybe not tires) so spend your money there.

[jstans84]

Not sure how far away you are from Laguna Seca but they do run Skip Barber High Performance Driving School classes out there.

I'm planning on doing it here on Road Atlanta in the spring. It is pricey but from what I've heard it is really worth it.

http://www.skipbarber.com/highperformance.asp

[Accurate Race Shop]

Originally Posted by GhostofAkina

Instead of upgrading my FRS with performance parts when I honestly probably can't drive the car to its full potential anyway I was thinking about investing those funds in driving school. I was leaning toward http://www.dirtfish.com/. Do you think that going to track days is enough to get better on my own instead and save my money? Are there any other schools around you guys have heard of or can recommend?

I agree that all the mods in the world will not be any good if you can't handle the car the way you want to. I have been use to muscle cars for so long I am going to sign up for an autoX training course to get me use to cars like this.

[Guff]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

That would be all I would recommend initially in a car is Autox. Good suggestion Guff. And its a good hang out scene to learn things. My only issue is seat time. Its pretty much non existent. We are talking 8 minutes tops for an hour hour day.

For $50 thats not bad. It just takes forever to learn at that speed.
Since he is in California the options are endless. Kart rental leagues are basically about $60 a day. You get to compete, practice in slower karts but you are getting 30-40 minutes seat time.

Here it's about $30 total for Saturday and Sunday. You get a pretty decent amount of seat time too. And when you're not driving, you're holding on for dear life in the passenger seat of a 600whp Lancer Evo!