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What is a good driving class out there. I have a FD and want to take a driving class to beter handle my car. What is a good class available out there and how much does it cost?
Check BMW CCA, PCA, NASA, and smaller driving clubs. They all offer high performance drivers education events for sports car enthusiasts like you. Of course you can do a pro school like Skip Barber, Jim Russell, Bertil Roos. All are very expensive ($3500 for 3 days or something?), and are geared toward providing a competition license.
Since you're in the area, and a beginner, I would go with the Thunderhill Street School, run by the SCCA. www.thunderhill.com
Reasons: Fairly inexpensive, runs on a weekend most of the time, beginning classes are enforced instructors, and the final reason, they put cone chicanes out to slow down the very fast portions of the track. I think for people new to the environment, it's a very good idea.
Other clubs to check out:
NorCal Racing Club: Runs much the same way as the T-hill street school, but at last check, they don't use the cone chicanes, and are almost always a weekday affair. Still, bang for the buck, this club rules the roost. www.ncracing.org
NASA HPDE: Instruction is good, but it's a much much bigger event, sometimes 40+ cars on track at any one time, which can get clogged up in the Group 1/2 beginner ranks. Prices are comparable or just a bit higher than T-hill's school, but as you have a few street schools under your belt, you'll want to go over to NASA, they don't run the restricted course that SCCA does. These are almost always run on racing weekends, so you get the bonus of watching us out there racing too www.nasaproracing.com
PaulC
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1988 RX-7 PS-1/ITS racecar - SOLD!
1999 Trans Am
there is also the professional schools, but you will most likely use their cars. Russell, Skip Barber, Bondurant, Bragg-Smith are some of the big ones. if cost is not the most important thing, then these schools can be a great learning experience and you don't have to do any wrenching on cars. if doing one of the club schools have someone there to help out in between sessions so you don't have to wrench on the car when you could be discussing lines and driving techniques with the instructors. either way you will learn alot.
If you're intersted in Auto-X, you should check out Evolution Pefromance Driving Schools. The classes are one day events and cost about $220. You will really learn an incredible amount about car control and how to reduce your run times.
The Evolution School is a real bang-for-the-buck option. Cost is cheap; but it is in your car and probably does not even come close to the amount of seat time as a true performance driving school. However, you get insight on what the fast line is; how to handle the car at the limits of adhesion; and a good look at your car's potential (instructors will drive your car a few times)! I had a great experience with the Evolution School and I highly recommend it for anyone who just wants to get better at pushing the limit. Most good auto-xers make good track racers ... but not all good track racers make good auto-xers.
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