so i've been driving for 7 years, but when i get my z i want to make sure i really know what i'm doing, so i want to take driving school, like skip barber or something, just so i can really understand my car. plus i've never driven a RWD. any recommendations?

 

That sounds like fun, but unless you're planning to be a professional race car driver it's not necessary. But I'd do it if I had some time and money to spare

 

i do have money to spare, so i'd like to try. i'm at least considering doing autocross.

 

I was thinking the same thing. I want to know what my limits are, and what I can really do with my car. Anyone that has an answer to this, would be VERY HELPFUL.

 

I personally think that it's a great idea even if you never track your car. Unfortunately for you, I've been wondering the same thing and don't have any answers.

 

Driving schools can go a couple of different ways. Some are just high performance driving, and give you a lot of techniques that are pratical on the street, especially in emergency situations. The one I went to (a Panoz school) had us doing skid control on a wet skidpad, threshhold braking, emergency braking lane changes, recovering properly in case you go off road (at around 40-50 mph), and a small autox type handling course. I'd highly recommend this for just the practical use, and if I ever have kids, I'll send them to something like this as a young driver because this type of repetition of these situations you get you'll not ever see on the street.

Then there are the race type schools. There are track racing high performance driving events where you can go with instructors on road tracks to learn to approach the limits of your own car. There are more formal schools for track racing. Then there are autoX specific classes.

If you are interested in autox, check with your local SCCA chapter and see if they offer anything, or look up the Evolution school website to see if they have any events in your area. I also did one of the beginner classes for a couple of hundred bucks and had a blast right after I got my car. I had no idea what I was doing because I'd never been to an autocross before, but it was a ton of fun and I probably got more runs in in one day than I did a whole season.

EDIT: Evolution Classes website.

 

I also highly recommend the Evo School. I think you will get more out of it if you have autocrossed a few times first. YOu get a ton of seat time and great instruction for about $200. For autocross, try SCCA, NASA, or just Google your area and the word "autocross". There are a lot of good autocross clubs that are not SCCA-affilates.

 

Skip Barber

 

you could always do what i did... go out and buy an rx-7 in the middle of a pennsylvania winter and drive it around in the snow.. youll learn how to drive RWD reaaaaal quick...

 

I also wanted to do the same thing tooo.... but dont know whre to start..... know the limit of your mechine is good..... I already check out some websites by Tacoma and Seattle area...... gonna do it when i save up some more money......

 

I took evolution's beginners course, unfortunatelly not in my Z it's still only 5 days old, but I learned a lot about my style of driving using my old car. Probably the most usefull thing of all was never to do go crazy on public roads. As far as skills, you will learn the limits of the car at slow speed corners, patience and other good driving techniques. The instructors are very good autocrossers themselves and they will drive your car with you watching them and you will be amazed what the car can do.

Around the Seattle area there is a track and I might have a hookup for driving school there but I am not sure about it yet - got to check the connections . When I find out more I will try to organize some kind of event so that whole bunch of Zs could come out.

 

Must be nice to have choices for performance driving/racing schools.

Highly recommend taking a course though. Not only do you learn the limits of your car. But you also learn what to do when you surpass those limits. Then when it happens unexpectedly, you don't panic (well I didn't), the training takes over and saves your A$$.