Finally made an upgrade...

[dirkXPC]

Probably a long post, so feel free to skip to the bottom for the impatient.

I wanted to improve my BRZ so I spent money on... a driving course.

After thinking about taking a class with Skip Barber at Road Atlanta for a while, I finally made the effort this past weekend for a two-day driving course and it was well worth my money. With that, here's a rundown:


Auto-X with 6MT MX-5 Miatas, Skid Pad with AT RX-8s and Emergency Lane Change, Braking, Slalom, and Auto-X with Mazda 3s (2014MY). While my years of driving in Georgia already had me familiar with Emergency Lane Changes and Braking, I picked up a few important things:

1- Looking where you want the car to go, not where it actually is going.
2- Recovering from a skid
3 - Understanding the balance between steering/throttle/braking

I'll be the first to admit I have plenty to work on and I am very far away from being a racing driver (was between 3-5 seconds behind on the Auto-X from the instructors). Thankfully for me (and everyone else on the road), I have a better idea of my own limits and Subaru/Toyota designed a car that won't try to kill me at its limits.


Do have to mention two the instructors Todd and Grayson. Todd was spot on with the criticism and explaining the corrections I needed to make. Grayson was awesome in pushing me past the limits so I could understand what happens when I go over it and reeled me in from there. Oddly, he kinda led me to an Initial-D moment: I'll never beat the old guys.

Eventually I'll start Autocrossing the BRZ, but at least I won't be a complete cone destroying novice when I do....hopefully. As for pictures...unfortunately I was engrossed in looking into the track toys going around that it kinda slipped my mind. Besides, it wouldn't be my BRZ anyway, just some random Mazdas.


Sadly, as a another sign of the MT's demise, heel/toe downshift and rev matching aren't taught, particularly with the lack of MTs now in several racing formats. I understood the reasons, but it still feels a bit regrettable.


On a different note, it was a track weekend at Road Atlanta and I did notice 1 White BRZ and a pair of FR-Ss (1 Lava, 1 Ultramarine). Couldn't tell how your laps were, but it was cool to see a few of the twins racing.



TL;DR: Took a Skip Barber driving course at Road Atlanta, improved some driving skills, learned others.

[tahdizzle]

I feel that being able to drive at 10/10 in a twin is the most rewarding use of money compared to any other mod.

[gramicci101]

Look into high performance driver's education events (HDPE) to continue building mad car-handling skills and having fun. I know @ATL BRZ is an instructor around that area, he could probably point you further in the right direction.

[Ammonia]

I need to do this sometime.

[dirkXPC]

Originally Posted by Ammonia

I need to do this sometime.

I do recommend it. Much better to practice in a donated car than your own!

Funny you should use the word "need" as I now feel like a skid pad test should be required for license now. Maybe I'm just biased after this past year's "snowpocalypse" in the South.

[kberkel]

Awesome

Originally Posted by dirkXPC

1- Looking where you want the car to go, not where it actually is going.

Back when I REALLY wanted a bike, I read lots about target fixation. I was in a car with my Dad and Sister.. and I asked my Dad, who rides.. "Did they teach you that at the Harley MSF?".. and he goes.. "No, that sounds kind of dumb"

Literally two days later, my sister is driving us back from a ski resort, and the car she's following veers off the shoulder and she follows him right over onto the rumble strips and goes.. "Oh my God, it's true!"

It's really crazy.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frgDcJFKHD0"]Target Fixation - YouTube[/ame]

Originally Posted by dirkXPC

Sadly, as a another sign of the MT's demise, heel/toe downshift and rev matching aren't taught, particularly with the lack of MTs now in several racing formats. I understood the reasons, but it still feels a bit regrettable.

I try this all the time on the road.

When I was 17 I had a buddy keep telling me you brake with the heel and gas with the toe. You ever use your heel on your brake? Or brake with your left foot? It's feels like your face is being pulled off since you have no control.

[gramicci101]

Originally Posted by dirkXPC

Funny you should use the word "need" as I now feel like a skid pad test should be required for license now. Maybe I'm just biased after this past year's "snowpocalypse" in the South.

It honestly wasn't the snow that was an issue. It was the two inches of ice under the snow that was the issue.

Originally Posted by kberkel

Or brake with your left foot?

I love left foot braking. There's definitely a steep learning curve, and it's not very effective if you have to downshift as well. If you're staying in the same gear it allows for much quicker brake/gas transitions though.

[kberkel]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

It honestly wasn't the snow that was an issue. It was the two inches of ice under the snow that was the issue.



I love left foot braking. There's definitely a steep learning curve, and it's not very effective if you have to downshift as well. If you're staying in the same gear it allows for much quicker brake/gas transitions though.

You got me there. I remember watching Richard Hammond drive the F1 car, he was transitioning from gas to brake as fast as he could.. and they kept saying.. "You need to brake much faster than that"

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGUZJVY-sHo"]Richard drives a F1 car round Silverstone - Top Gear - BBC - YouTube[/ame]

but there's no left foot clutch :p

[AznBRZer]

Driver mod is the BEST mod.

[strat61caster]

Seriously, I just did my second track day and the Toyobaru is still so much more capable than I am on the OEM setup and I thought I'd be done with the tires on the first day, it takes dozens of hours to fully understand a chassis for us shmoes and I know I'm not consistent enough to really understand what the car needs to be faster from an equipment standpoint.

I bet >90% of non-owners complaining about the power and 'crap tires' would struggle to get the most out of this car without several hours of track time and guidance from an expert.