Driving Schools (archive)

Ross,
Basically you can't go wrong with any driver's school. Even the least professional will give you quality time in your car to learn about it's handling, limits and strengths, as well as those of yourself. A few sessions will improve both, especially if well taught with a good instructor/student ratio and lots of seat time. Cost can be as little as joining BMWCCA or SCCA and going to an autocross school, or you can go all out with a week at Bondurant for a 10 or 15 large. In either case, I practically guarantee that you'll be a better driver afterwards, if only that you are more aware of the car and your surroundings. I was fortunate enough to be a Solo II instructor for a few years, and there is just as much fun teaching an enthusiastic student as there is in balls to the wall racing. Watching someone "get it", during the course of a day, seeing as they gain the confidence to make clean, fast runs, is as gratifying as it is being the student in the driver's seat making his top time of day. OK, not to make it completely rosy, there are obviously risks involved (every good reward is paid for by taking risks). Usually no risk to your person, but if you're taking your 8 out for a day at the track, you must be aware that "there be tigers out there" and you could get bit: i.e. hit a tire wall, blow a tire and destroy an expensive wheel, damage a suspension part, etc. etc. etc., but all things that only take money to fix, so in the grand scheme of things, are minor (after all, it is just a chunk of metal and plastic!).

OK, nuff said. Go out, take a class, take a whole course. If you don't want to beat up the 8, take another car, borrow something, but go and have fun while learning.

Stan C.

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