driver training

[225hp]

Hi Guys, First Porsche, first post.

2000 Porsche 986

I've read the forums and agree that a driver training course is probibly the best investment I can make before any "bolt ons" Previous car was a Subaru Forester and would like to do an advance driver course. I'm currently in Southern Cal, can anyone recomend one from experience?

[drburton]

As a starting point I would contact your local PCA and see what they offer. They probably have a 3 day class at a local track. I took the one through my PCA and felt it was pretty informative and a really good start.

At that point if you feel you need more 'serious' training I hear the Skip Barber school is very good.

[racer_d]

PCA (Porsche Club of America) and or POC (Porsche Owners Club) would be good "porsche" places to start. SCCA and NASA may also offer you additional opportunities. You could also try a professional school like Skip Barber or Bondurant. Even a Jim Hall (karting) school would be helpful. I am sure Southern California and Ne, Az, NM and Northern Ca have LOTS of places due to the good weather.

[Perfectlap]

socal? nice. lots of good clubs as some of the socal forum members will tell you.

at begining, I'd skip the driving schools in favor of some autocross. The driving schools are great but driving is not something you can pick up in a day or two as a newbie. Those ah-ha! momments come after days and days of mistakes,
Its very much a trial and error thing that takes dozens of hours. Porsche racer Randy Probst began his road racing career in Autocross and still does it localy.
Basically you pay $40 have an instructor ride with you on each of your 10 or fewer runs and along the way you will pick up all the basics at a fraction of the cost of the expensive driving schools like Skip Barber. After about a dozen autocross events sign up for the EVO school and do some PCA DE track days. You'll show up like a pro and with more confidence.

[SC986]

We really have no AX close in the area, so I did sign up for a DE our PCA chapter is having in October.

You're right, I haven't been accpted but in a way I'm concerned about being in over my head and overwhelmed.

[225hp]

Guys I really appreciate the info. Tks for that!

[Topless]

Iflyadesk,
I agree with some of what you said. Auto-X and track days DE's are different. If you go in the spirit of learning I believe both are valuable. If you go thinking you will lay the FTD your first time out it will be a very humbling experience.

I have lots of dirt track and off road racing experience so I know a little about going fast. I am fairly new to asphalt though and regularly get spanked by experienced drivers (men and women) who have been playing this game for a long time. It's all in good fun. Our Auto-X courses here regularly reach 80mph on the straights so speeds are very valid for performance driving street or track.

My car does not suffer the horrible understeer at low speeds you describe. Perhaps just tire differences. I actually find it to be very balanced and predictable fore and aft. Fast or slow, street, track or dirt, smooth smooth smooth is always the name of the game. An unsettled car is a slow car.

[iflyadesk]

Originally Posted by Topless

An unsettled car is a slow car.

Have you ever won at a Nationals or Pro Solo Autocross?

I agree that smooth is faster than the jerkiness we all have to cleanse at the beginning. However, at the cutting edge of autocrossing--not winning the local PCA or regional event, but getting on the podium in Pro Solo or a National series--you have to really toss the car around.

Now, I will caveat this statement with the following.

(1) I have never autocrossed a Boxster that was well set up.
(2) I have never won a Nationals or Pro Solo autocross.
(3) I am terrible at autocrossing, and when I have friends who are nationally competitive ride in the car with me, they tell me that I'm just too gentle with the car.

That's ok, though. I have never enjoyed autocrossing, and there isn't a track event within 6hrs of my home that you won't find me at either racing W2W, time trialling, instructing, or just lapping. Autocross is a very enjoyable sport to a lot of people; I'm just not one of them.

[Topless]

To each his own. I enjoy both but I am better on a track. I believe John V holds a solo National title. Perhaps he can clarify.

[NickCats]

iflyadesk,

The one thing I think you are missing is the difference between wear and tear to the car and the possibility of damage between autocrossing and track driving. I love autocrossing, and since we only get about 6 - 1 minute runs a day there really is not a lot of wear and tear on the tires or brakes. I would love to try a DE someday, but the expense of tire and brake pad wear keep me away for now...

Nick

[Perfectlap]

not my words but very spot on:

"autocross makes for faster and safer track drivers"

its like driving ranges and 18 hole golf courses.. you need to spend time at both because your seat time is limited at both.