HPDE in Ontario?

[hmong337]

Where can I get more information about doing some HPDE in and around Ontario? This is part of the reason why I got the FRS. I absolutely want the proper training to learn the right techniques to be a good driver. I'm a true track virgin and would love to get some guidance.

A co-worker of mine is really big into time-attack.ca and is pushing me to get into the series. Especially now that I have an FRS. I would love to do the time-attack thing but first amd fore most, I would like to learn the proper techniques. An Xbox, Forza 4, and a steering rig can only do so much lol.

[Veovius]

Barrie speedway does a driving experience where you learn how to drive a nascar car, with one on one instruction and about 50 hot laps.

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[hmong337]

Originally Posted by Veovius

Barrie speedway does a driving experience where you learn how to drive a nascar car, with one on one instruction and about 50 hot laps.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

That's interesting but not interested in just turning left lol. I would like to do TMP or Mosport as those would be the closest to me.

[colHolm]

I've done the Hanson International Driving Academy at Mosport DDT, and it was great. One day course, $275.

Ontario Time Attack puts on a few instructional events that I've only heard good things about. Their courses are 2 days and run around $450 I think.

[ansibe]

Try Apex Driving. They have track day events at Mosport, and their instruction is very good.

[btune]

I did the Ontario Time Attack (CASC) two day course. Would highly recommend it! I did it with my Prelude back last year (first time on the track as well), and was thinking of doing it again this year but missed it. It usually happens early in the season, and you can get it for cheaper if you go to their open house sometime in April. They rotate you from the classroom, to the skidpad, to autoslalom, to the track throughout the day so it turns out to be a great way to warm you up to the track.

If you're thinking of going, let me know, maybe we can get a couple of 86's out there together.

[engsr]

Because I'm lazy, I'm going to regurgitate what I wrote in this thread from a while back.

One of the best ways to learn the dynamics and understanding car control is via an autoslalom style school of advanced driver training. Due to the nature of our cars, I would suggest that if you have never participated in any lapping or autoslalom to do this type of school first.

This is personal opinion of course but having participated and instructed/coached in both autoslalom and lapping schools, I've found that people that are completely green to any type of advanced driver training have an easier time absorbing and understanding the fundamentals of control in the autoslalom style school. This is due to the fact that the curriculum is progressively designed, meaning the exercises more or less lead into each other, and the fundamentals are understood better throughout the day (skid pad, figure 8, threshold braking, slaloms, increasing/decreasing radius turns, etc.). Usually all the exercises are all tied together by the end with an autoslalom course.

At an HPDE/lapping school, aside from learning the dynamics and control, you have to worry about learning the line, watching for other cars, braking zones, gear changes, etc. There are some people that are simply not comfortable in going faster than they're normally used to, so it's a lot harder for them to focus their attention when there are several things being thrown at them at the same time. Plus, there's the fact that because the speeds are much greater, the consequences are just as proportional.

Now I'm not saying DON'T do a lapping school because I know many drivers that went straight into solo1 and became really fast drivers. But the fundamentals of car control are more or less the same between the two - the autoslalom school just provides a bit more of a relaxed and focused environment. I guess it really depends on what your comfort level is and what you really want to achieve out of the type of training. The key is seat time - your skills and development will only improve with lots of seat time.

Oh yeah, Calabogie is an absolutely beautiful track and is well worth the drive. Even though it looks daunting (5km, 20 turns) the track really isn't too overwhelming (unlike Mosport) and there are a lot of technical parts that are really rewarding once you figure them out - my favourite section is Beak through Quarry. I'm really hoping to make it there in May for a racing school but my schedule might not accommodate it. We'll see.

There's a few other good bits of info in that thread regarding schools like Ian Law Racing Car Control School, BMW Trillium, CASC-OR, etc.

[bdon22]

+1 for http://hansoninternationaldriving.com/ great place to get your feet wet for track days. They have a school coming up next month (Friday, August 9th).