Driving School / Track Time

[986 Girl]

I've never been to, nor do I know anyone who has been to, a PCA event, but Im just here to give you the obligatory "do an autocross to get a feel for your car" even though you said you didn't want that

In the very minimum it will show you how your car will react to fast turns, what you can and can not push her to do, and what to do if your car does go into a spin, or you start to lose control, etc. Only then would I consider a track day. Autocross is not about speed, it's about handling, and you should understand handling before you graduate to speed.

Then again, the PCA schools might cater very well to complete, brand new performace drivers, but someone else will have to chime in about that.

[Perfectlap]

well I would suggest getting a set of smaller wheels and of course less expensive tires. 19" Tires are pricey for sure. Now does that mean you will shred them at your first track outing?
No. For a first time event your seat time will be very limited.

Could you shred your tires in one Autocross? Definitely. Particulary super sticky r compounds in high heat and on a ****************ty course pavement full of gravel.

It's two very different approaches to high performance driving.

Autocross really throws allot of driving customs out the window, where on the track you are using the momentum of "racing lines" to limit your braking,
in Autocross you are using abrupt bursts of acceleration to cut the shortest distance between points.

in my opinion, its much harder to be quick in Autocross than on the track. And your driving skills in general will get much much sharper at a proper Autocross venue after say a dozen events then a similar amount of timed seat at the track.
Reaction skills become VASTLY improved which translates well on the road in avoiding accidents.

Now that being said, Autocross doesn't work well everywhere. If your local clubs have these mickey mouse courses where the cones are never more than 6 feet apart from each other and you are never going straight long enough to get over 75mph then its really not so much fun. Don't worry about it "only being 2nd gear" most people have no idea how fast a sports car will go in 2nd gear. Its really the workhorse gear. Take your car to 75mph on open lot and knock out a hard right hander and you will swear you were going 150mph.

do the DE with PCA, its not so much a question of whether it will be worth the expense but more an issue of whether you will wish you had never done it all because you'll feel like you are wasting your Porsche just driving to Starbucks everyday.

[986 Girl]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

Now that being said, Autocross doesn't work well everywhere. If your local clubs have these mickey mouse courses where the cones are never more than 6 feet apart from each other and you are never going straight long enough to get over 75mph then its really not so much fun. Don't worry about it "only being 2nd gear" most people have no idea how fast a sports car will go in 2nd gear. Its really the workhorse gear. Take your car to 75mph on open lot and knock out a hard right hander and you will swear you were going 150mph.

Whose putting on events with speeds over 75mph?? SCCA limits their courses to 65mph.

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

Doc, PCA Courses are great, but spendy both in entry fees and Tech requirements. But, they are not the definitive source for skilled driving education. In fact, having been a PCA Memeber for 5 yrs., I have yet to join Nord Stern (Local Region) or attend any of their events. While in the Lotus Club, an affiliate of Intermarque (just like Nord Stern), I've found these guys to be standoffish and such - so I have never participated.

Check out the Minnesota Autosports Club (MAC). MAC sponsors a whole season of Auto-X events s well as numerous Driving Courses, including a Novice School which will be scheduled on 4/21,22. Open to all members, this 2-day school is only $50 and held at Dunwoody, just outside Downtown Mpls. Check them out at: http://forum.mnautox.com/forums/

MAC is much less expensive and has less expensive Tech requirements as well. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[insite]

Originally Posted by 986 Girl

Whose putting on events with speeds over 75mph?? SCCA limits their courses to 65mph.

we've had a course or two here where i've hit third gear solidly. not often, but it happens. we don't have a speed limit per se. (Peacstate PCA Auto-X)

[limoncello]

A lot of good advice here, not a lot I can add except: If you want to drive a DE, go for it by all means. You bought a Porsche, you like cars. You should experience what the car can do (in a controlled environment!), whether it's AX or a road course, and if your heart says road then do road.
I did 4 or 5 DE's with my Boxster and have done one in the RX8, and love the experience. I'm not a racer, don't have a license. I found the training and the driving experience to be what I was looking for.
Having said that, I'm starting to get curious about those cones...
Tires: You might consider trying your first day on your street tires - the first day's wear is usually not too bad. At worst you will pick up some road noise from the scruffed edges. It's not a bad idea to re-balance tires and re-align after a track day; some things can shift a little on the track. I ran one set of tire on the Box, the hum of the tires reminded me of the fun I had on the track. For the RX8 I picked up a set of used OEM wheels and got a set of track tires, since I'm officially hooked now.
Venue: I chose the local driving school, inexpensive and I could do one day at a time instead of the PCA weekend. PCA is certainly an option, as are other car clubs in an area that usually open slots for track days after they cover their members.
Good luck and have fun!
Cones, hmmm...