performance driving school
04-16-2008, 05:30 PM
#1
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 208
performance driving school
Ifeel like the driver mod should the first one to do, so here is the question:
anybody here took a performance driving course, like http://www.faasst.com/
or other places? share your experiences!
do you see alot of stock/modestly modded cars at those events or is it all racing nuts with street illegal setups?
is it worth the few hundred$ for one day?
i have a stock/stick 07'GT
anybody here took a performance driving course, like http://www.faasst.com/
or other places? share your experiences!
do you see alot of stock/modestly modded cars at those events or is it all racing nuts with street illegal setups?
is it worth the few hundred$ for one day?
i have a stock/stick 07'GT
04-16-2008, 05:46 PM
#2
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Glen Burnie, MD
Posts: 1,019
RE: performance driving school
if you plan on doing road racing then the school can help but if you plan on drag racing I say screw the school and just go to your local track every weekend you will learn 10000x more than any school can teach you and get into the atmosphere quicker
04-16-2008, 06:05 PM
#3
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 208
RE: performance driving school
ORIGINAL: Ortoch
if you plan on doing road racing then the school can help but if you plan on drag racing I say screw the school and just go to your local track every weekend you will learn 10000x more than any school can teach you and get into the atmosphere quicker
if you plan on doing road racing then the school can help but if you plan on drag racing I say screw the school and just go to your local track every weekend you will learn 10000x more than any school can teach you and get into the atmosphere quicker
more interested in road racing (going through the turns the right way, rev matching etc.)
04-16-2008, 07:17 PM
#4
1st Gear Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location:
Posts: 132
RE: performance driving school
tlpvt---
You are wise beyond your years...
You are correct. The best mod you can do is start upgrading yourself. I've been an active member of the BMW car club of America for years and I've been a driving school participant and instructor.
I would highly suggest you go to one and try it out...it's better then any amusement park ride you've ever been on and you're learning at the same time that your enjoying the ride.
Whether it's a BMW CCA school, NASA, SCCA,CHINor any of a number of other organizations you go through, the skills you'll leave with will be invaluable.
Here's the way they run.
You sign up, you tell them what experience you have and they'll take care of it from there. Since you've never been you'll be in the novice run group. They match you with a qualified instructor (my first was a former Porsche race car driver with 20 years experience) and you'll start to learn the basics. How to drive the line, when to shift, braking, turn in, the apex, and a multitude of other terms you'll learn.
I can't recommend them enough...you'll be smiling all weekend.
In answer to your question, the cars that show up are usually a mixed bag. It doesn't matter if your in a Corvette Z06 or a Jetta. You all have to learn the same basics. NASA runs good events. Safe, well run, you'll learn a lot...best money you'll ever spend.
I thought I was a good driver and didn't attend my first one until I was 35 years old. I was a terrible driver when you see what a real expert can do with a car. My first Driving school was in a '99 BMW 323i (170 hp). In the novice group my former Porsche racer took my car in the first session to show me the line and he was passing Porsches, Mustangs, Corvettes with twice my HP like they were staning still. Why?
He knew how to drive "the line", brake, turn in, carry speed through a curve, exit...it was great. Over the years I've gotten better and better and now I get to show the new guys what to do. It's a blast and you won't be the only "new" guy there. Don't worry about it...I was nervous but everyone was so friendly I was hooked.
I'm sorry to go on but I can't say what a great experience it is to drive your car at speed on a road course and feel what you and the car are really capable of doing. If you notice my picture...that's my '07 Mustang on the track last April. I was running in the solo group and had a blast but boy did I put a suspension on my car afterwards. The stock suspension made me feel like I was running the track with a lift kit- ha ha
Good luck and I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.
J.
You are wise beyond your years...
You are correct. The best mod you can do is start upgrading yourself. I've been an active member of the BMW car club of America for years and I've been a driving school participant and instructor.
I would highly suggest you go to one and try it out...it's better then any amusement park ride you've ever been on and you're learning at the same time that your enjoying the ride.
Whether it's a BMW CCA school, NASA, SCCA,CHINor any of a number of other organizations you go through, the skills you'll leave with will be invaluable.
Here's the way they run.
You sign up, you tell them what experience you have and they'll take care of it from there. Since you've never been you'll be in the novice run group. They match you with a qualified instructor (my first was a former Porsche race car driver with 20 years experience) and you'll start to learn the basics. How to drive the line, when to shift, braking, turn in, the apex, and a multitude of other terms you'll learn.
I can't recommend them enough...you'll be smiling all weekend.
In answer to your question, the cars that show up are usually a mixed bag. It doesn't matter if your in a Corvette Z06 or a Jetta. You all have to learn the same basics. NASA runs good events. Safe, well run, you'll learn a lot...best money you'll ever spend.
I thought I was a good driver and didn't attend my first one until I was 35 years old. I was a terrible driver when you see what a real expert can do with a car. My first Driving school was in a '99 BMW 323i (170 hp). In the novice group my former Porsche racer took my car in the first session to show me the line and he was passing Porsches, Mustangs, Corvettes with twice my HP like they were staning still. Why?
He knew how to drive "the line", brake, turn in, carry speed through a curve, exit...it was great. Over the years I've gotten better and better and now I get to show the new guys what to do. It's a blast and you won't be the only "new" guy there. Don't worry about it...I was nervous but everyone was so friendly I was hooked.
I'm sorry to go on but I can't say what a great experience it is to drive your car at speed on a road course and feel what you and the car are really capable of doing. If you notice my picture...that's my '07 Mustang on the track last April. I was running in the solo group and had a blast but boy did I put a suspension on my car afterwards. The stock suspension made me feel like I was running the track with a lift kit- ha ha
Good luck and I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.
J.
04-17-2008, 12:49 PM
#5
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 208
RE: performance driving school
ORIGINAL: BimmerTang
tlpvt---
You are wise beyond your years...
You are correct. The best mod you can do is start upgrading yourself. I've been an active member of the BMW car club of America for years and I've been a driving school participant and instructor.
I would highly suggest you go to one and try it out...it's better then any amusement park ride you've ever been on and you're learning at the same time that your enjoying the ride.
Whether it's a BMW CCA school, NASA, SCCA,CHINor any of a number of other organizations you go through, the skills you'll leave with will be invaluable.
Here's the way they run.
You sign up, you tell them what experience you have and they'll take care of it from there. Since you've never been you'll be in the novice run group. They match you with a qualified instructor (my first was a former Porsche race car driver with 20 years experience) and you'll start to learn the basics. How to drive the line, when to shift, braking, turn in, the apex, and a multitude of other terms you'll learn.
I can't recommend them enough...you'll be smiling all weekend.
In answer to your question, the cars that show up are usually a mixed bag. It doesn't matter if your in a Corvette Z06 or a Jetta. You all have to learn the same basics. NASA runs good events. Safe, well run, you'll learn a lot...best money you'll ever spend.
I thought I was a good driver and didn't attend my first one until I was 35 years old. I was a terrible driver when you see what a real expert can do with a car. My first Driving school was in a '99 BMW 323i (170 hp). In the novice group my former Porsche racer took my car in the first session to show me the line and he was passing Porsches, Mustangs, Corvettes with twice my HP like they were staning still. Why?
He knew how to drive "the line", brake, turn in, carry speed through a curve, exit...it was great. Over the years I've gotten better and better and now I get to show the new guys what to do. It's a blast and you won't be the only "new" guy there. Don't worry about it...I was nervous but everyone was so friendly I was hooked.
I'm sorry to go on but I can't say what a great experience it is to drive your car at speed on a road course and feel what you and the car are really capable of doing. If you notice my picture...that's my '07 Mustang on the track last April. I was running in the solo group and had a blast but boy did I put a suspension on my car afterwards. The stock suspension made me feel like I was running the track with a lift kit- ha ha
Good luck and I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.
J.
tlpvt---
You are wise beyond your years...
You are correct. The best mod you can do is start upgrading yourself. I've been an active member of the BMW car club of America for years and I've been a driving school participant and instructor.
I would highly suggest you go to one and try it out...it's better then any amusement park ride you've ever been on and you're learning at the same time that your enjoying the ride.
Whether it's a BMW CCA school, NASA, SCCA,CHINor any of a number of other organizations you go through, the skills you'll leave with will be invaluable.
Here's the way they run.
You sign up, you tell them what experience you have and they'll take care of it from there. Since you've never been you'll be in the novice run group. They match you with a qualified instructor (my first was a former Porsche race car driver with 20 years experience) and you'll start to learn the basics. How to drive the line, when to shift, braking, turn in, the apex, and a multitude of other terms you'll learn.
I can't recommend them enough...you'll be smiling all weekend.
In answer to your question, the cars that show up are usually a mixed bag. It doesn't matter if your in a Corvette Z06 or a Jetta. You all have to learn the same basics. NASA runs good events. Safe, well run, you'll learn a lot...best money you'll ever spend.
I thought I was a good driver and didn't attend my first one until I was 35 years old. I was a terrible driver when you see what a real expert can do with a car. My first Driving school was in a '99 BMW 323i (170 hp). In the novice group my former Porsche racer took my car in the first session to show me the line and he was passing Porsches, Mustangs, Corvettes with twice my HP like they were staning still. Why?
He knew how to drive "the line", brake, turn in, carry speed through a curve, exit...it was great. Over the years I've gotten better and better and now I get to show the new guys what to do. It's a blast and you won't be the only "new" guy there. Don't worry about it...I was nervous but everyone was so friendly I was hooked.
I'm sorry to go on but I can't say what a great experience it is to drive your car at speed on a road course and feel what you and the car are really capable of doing. If you notice my picture...that's my '07 Mustang on the track last April. I was running in the solo group and had a blast but boy did I put a suspension on my car afterwards. The stock suspension made me feel like I was running the track with a lift kit- ha ha
Good luck and I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.
J.
looking forward to takea course!
04-17-2008, 01:41 PM
#8
1st Gear Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location:
Posts: 132
RE: performance driving school
Gald my suggestions got some interest.
New Jersey guy...here is a link to our BMWchapter in New Jersey.
http://www.njbmwcca.org/event_info/driver_school.php
This will take you right to their driving school page. It looks like they use 3 different tracks in the general area of New Jersey, New York and West Virginia.
Lots of good info on this page.
For those of you that might be in the Alabama area. I run out of Barber Motorsports park.
If you've always thought about doing a schoolbut aren't totally sold on the idea...here is a suggestion.
We have our annual school this Memorial Day Weekend. If you want to come out and watch, let me know.
I'd be happy to arrange a vist for you in the pits. Just send me a pm and we'll chat.
By the way, we have a guy that brings out one of the meanest Fox body Saleens with a Windsor that just eats this road course like it's candy! A sight to behold!
Lots of luck and I'd love to hear from anyone that ends up signing up for a track day. You won't be able to stop talking about it, believe me!
J
New Jersey guy...here is a link to our BMWchapter in New Jersey.
http://www.njbmwcca.org/event_info/driver_school.php
This will take you right to their driving school page. It looks like they use 3 different tracks in the general area of New Jersey, New York and West Virginia.
Lots of good info on this page.
For those of you that might be in the Alabama area. I run out of Barber Motorsports park.
If you've always thought about doing a schoolbut aren't totally sold on the idea...here is a suggestion.
We have our annual school this Memorial Day Weekend. If you want to come out and watch, let me know.
I'd be happy to arrange a vist for you in the pits. Just send me a pm and we'll chat.
By the way, we have a guy that brings out one of the meanest Fox body Saleens with a Windsor that just eats this road course like it's candy! A sight to behold!
Lots of luck and I'd love to hear from anyone that ends up signing up for a track day. You won't be able to stop talking about it, believe me!
J
04-17-2008, 01:55 PM
#9
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Decatur AL USA
Posts: 2,176
RE: performance driving school
I went to the Panoz School at Road Atlanta. It was lots of fun. The Panoz/Ford Spec Racers with the Ford Crate Engines were fast enough to carry some serious speed with their light weight (by street car standards) and big torq. Yet they where mild mannered enough to keep a beginner out of trouble if he didnt do something really stupid.
Great way to spend 3 days and worth every penny. I believe they have been purchased by someone else now.
Great way to spend 3 days and worth every penny. I believe they have been purchased by someone else now.
04-17-2008, 01:59 PM
#10
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Decatur AL USA
Posts: 2,176
RE: performance driving school
2007 Mustang GT:
Real Brake Pads, Hi Temp Fluid, Front Air Ducts, Track Wheels (can be scuffed up used stockers) tires that wont chunk (should be able to get them with lots of life left from World Challenge guys).
Trust me its cheaper in the long run.....
Real Brake Pads, Hi Temp Fluid, Front Air Ducts, Track Wheels (can be scuffed up used stockers) tires that wont chunk (should be able to get them with lots of life left from World Challenge guys).
Trust me its cheaper in the long run.....