Driving School Recommendations??

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

I think any opportunity to Drive and be critiqued by an Observer is beneficial. And, the Porsche DE's are good and certainly affordable, but they are limited. You learn by repetition, and these DE's simply aren'y available often enough to truly improve your skills.

The Evolution Schools are excellent and a good intro into Auto-X. This is one area often overlooked by many Drivers. It is a Fun, inexpensive way to to Drive your car as you never could legally on the Street. Plus, there are Car Clubs and Auto-X Groups meeting frequently (virtually every weekend here in Mpls. during the Temperate months). This allows you to keep your hand in it and improve over time.

You usually only need a Helmet to get started. I regularly see guys bringing their Daily Drivers just to learn and open them up a little. There's one Guy with an Accura RS who yanks the Car Seat out of the Back, but at least he's out there. I've seen everything from Saturns to purpose built Auto-Xers out there. It can be as competitive as you want to make it.

If you really catch the Fever, then Schools like Bondurant, Sharpe, and such are Great! Mrs. MNBoxster has given me several of these as presents through the years including the Indy Driving Experience (the Driving course, not the Ridealong). These are a great way to experience such tracks as Watkins Glen, Sears Point, Laguna Seca and IMS (Indianapolis Motor Speedway). But, these are fairly expensive and not available locally to many. Hope this helps...

[Uncle Bob]

Thanks, MnB. As an avid observer at various tracks I would love to find a place close enough for "Auntie Bob" to send me! I will appreciate the involvement with the local club but I completely agree that to have a trained observer will be a welcome addition to the void that is my practical experience driving on track! I welcome some classroom time as well. Well, food for thought!

[Perfectlap]

definitely go the Evo school/Autocross route before investing bigger dollars into a more well known school like Russell, Barber etc.
You'll learn all the same fundamentals at your local Autocross at a fraction and the instructors are all willing to give you all the advice you want. A tremendous bargain for an afternoon of $50.
After about 6 or 7 events I might consider a set of dedicated tires and wheels. You'll get all of your mistakes taken care of with your "cheap" tires and save your new dedicated tires on perfecting your skills.
Or in some cases your street tires might be the expensive ones that you don't want to tear up. Some of these autocross lots are like cheese graters. I definitely have to go easy on my Toyo RA-1's on some of the venues around here. One afternoon of going too hard and their cooked.

[Uncle Bob]

That's great advice, PL I hear you loud and clear in the tires department! Yes, as well to going a less expensive route for starting out.

[BuffaloBoxster]

As usual, I'm going to chime in and recommend karting as the single best way to learn to drive at the limit period. It's cheap, and there are plenty of decent schools. I just did the Jim Hall school a few months ago. You might just get hooked too

[Perfectlap]

I was in karting races back when I was about 7 years old in the 70's. Those were the days. Nowadays you probably need 20 permission slips.
Recently I participated at an EVO school at a Raceway Park here in NJ and stoped to watch the "figure eight" karting race. These guys were going about 120mph in full race gear at 98F and probably loving every minute of it. I definitely see one of those easy karts in my future when I move to a warmer climate.

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

Agreed, Karting is the Breeding Ground of many of today's Top Racers in Cart, Indy, F1 and other Racing Leagues.

Virtually every Lap Record, at nearly every Track in the World, is held by a Kart.

Also, there is no Restraint System in a Kart - a pretty fair incentive to Get it Right the first time...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99