I wonder how many "Z" owners have actually attended a high performance drivers school?? Do you really know what your car can do and how to handle certain road experiences?? Back in 1975, I drove my 1974 260Z out to california with a friend to attend the Bob Bondurant school of High Perfromance Driving. It was an amazing experience. I went thru a set of 4 tires and a set of brakes during the week. I belonged to the original Z Club of America. We had drivers schools several times a year. Several pro drivers gave us the tips we needed to handle a sports car. Some were at Lime Rock some at Summit Point and others at the old Bridgehampton circuit. Running laps at high speed on a pro track can really make you a better driver. I took several laps in a Porsche Turbo. He hit 178 MPH on the straight away and than down shifted thru the gears to enter the first turn at Lime Rock. Those laps loosened all my fillings!! It was the most violent ride I've ever taken in a car. The speed kept you pinned to your seat. Good thing we had 6 point harness type seat belts. I wish the original group was still around as I would love to take my 350Z on the track. I think everyone should attend a drivers school. Your never too old to learn what your car can really do.

Steve (k2we) Dobbs Ferry & Saratoga Springs, NY 43,706 miles since Sept 17,2002

 

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wow i too am very interested @ learning more bout high speed and performance driving, just gotta get some funds together and try it out... i wouldnt mind hookin up with you though "old fimer" j/k, i'm from ny too.

 

Yes. Several times at Summit Point, WV. Nothing beats seat time.

First fix the driver - then the car.

 

My HPDS was the aggressive driving school (aka the Evasive Driving Course) at Summit Point.

http://www.bsr-inc.com/EDC.HTM

I still want to get in a FATT day at summit point one of these days.

K

 

I might be going to a 2-day high-performance driving school this summer or next at Laguna Seca.

 

I just went to my second open track day event at Sebring. I have gone once with National Auto Sport Association and once with Chin Motorsports. You could go onto a sight of your local racetrack and probably find links to car clubs that rent out that track. It is an absolute blast...and I am totaly addicted now

Here are some links of in car videos from Sebring if you would like to watch. The first is out the window...the second is in the car at me. The first video may take a minute to buffer and start.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/F...1A18FF3446.htm

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/0...27ECBDE386.htm

 

I guess a question here would be:

Would it be worth the time/money to take a HPD course with ANY car, or would it only be worth it if you could take your Z?

I have been of the mind it would only be worth it if I could use my car, (but I have a roadster and those are not allowed without cages). But I have read about Bondurant's course and that uses their cars. Would $3K for 3 days of driving in someone else’s car be worth it?
--B

 

I went to one at Buttonwillow raceway in CA (near bakersfield) this past March. Definitately worth doing at least once in any car you drive--just so you can learn it's limits. There were all manner of vehicles when I went, new, old, coupes, saloons, minivans, suvs, whathave you. I was driving an SUV for the last 10 years so what I learned was that I was basically grandma'ing my Z around

If you plan on attending an HPDE class, you should certainly have the instructor take your car (with you in it) around the track a couple of times, especially if you are not used to the speed and Gs. The first couple time around I felt like we were braking about half the distance closer to the corner than we should have been and entered the corner twice the speed we should have been. Obviously I was wrong on both counts

 

Actually at HPDE days (at buttonwillow) as long as your roadster has a roll bar (which the Z roadsters do) you are good to go. HPDE days are different than track days (where you go out for time). There was no official time keeping at the HPDE day I went to and it was drive as fast as you feel comfortable. And I think it only cost like $250 for the day. We got in about 20 laps.

 

all this abbreviations are killing me... newb question here- what is HPDE?

 

My Guess: High Performance Driving Education / or maybe Event

 

Skip Barber 2 day Driving School
Skip Barber 3 day Racing School
Regional racing school
Porsche Club and track events
I'd say they're worth it. Track days are much cheaper than racing schools.

 

or High Performace Drivers Ed.

 

Nope haven't been. But have thought about it everyday since buying my Z 2 1/2 months ago. I can whip it good, but I have this feeling I'm missing so much more. How much to they typically cost?

 

Summit Point, WV allows the roadster at FATT. No need for an additional roll bar.

 

LOL. I love reading others experience. The first couple of laps the instructor drove my car. In the corners I was like Son of a *****! Were are not going to make it. No way in hell. Of course we did make it. In the right hands, the 350Z is amazing.

 

My instructor drove an auto g35 sedan and he took me for a spin. I started braking much later and took the esses much quicker. Yeah, I was like S###. I have so much left in my car...and so much left to learn. My previous instructor took me out in his race prepped porsche which was awesome and taught me a lot. But riding in an g35 sedan taught me even more about my own car.

 

Dave,

I called Summit and they had to talk to the the Director of Operations (not sure why I never did this before). I had been told back in 2004 the stock roll hoops behind the seats were not classified as a bar, therefore it would not be allowed on the track.

They confirmed it was OK to bring her to the track...

SIGN ME UP..!!!!!! I can't wait, I hope it does not surprise them too much with a 500 whp roadster... If I have to wait until July I might be running well over 600whp by then
--B