As the title states I am looking for Performance Driving School recommendations. Not necessarily racing schools, but one where I could learn to drive my street Z better. Good and bad recommendations are welcome. So come on... I know you guys have a preference. Let me hear what it is

 

Just a hint for future reference: This is a general forum. Regional questions are better answered in the appropriate regional forum.

 

hmmm I actually asked this in a regional forum, then thought better of it. After all driving schools are not strictly regional are they? Skip Barber, FAASST, etc. are national schools so it would seem that general would apply more than regional. Either way thanks for the response.

 

So, if I make a recommendation on a Texas performance driving school, will it be relevant to you?

 

The BMW school FTW. Its like right next to you

http://www.bmwusa.com/bmwexperience/...center/default

The stuff you learn driving the bmws there is applicable to any car you drive, including the Z.

 

Actually yes it might be. I travel a great deal and you never know when I might end up back in Texas. Thanks for the response.

 

I went to Jim Russel out in Pamona CA. It was a long drive, but the school uses Infineon Raceway (formerly Sears Point) and it is a beautiful track with a lot of elevation change. The area is gorgeous (it's in Napa Valley north of SF) and the wife and I made a vacation out of it. Very nice school with great instruction and lots of track time.
Will

 

Excellent suggestion thank you! Oh and by the way is the "Hood Hump Club" exactly what it sounds like? And if so... how do you keep from scratching the paint?

 

Thank you, I will definitely check that one out as well.

 

try http://www.carolinas-pca.com/

 

If you want to achieve without schools, the collection of Best Motoring videos; particularly, you should purchase the videos where they cover the Z. Especially the first video they have on the release of the 350Z. They talk about driver line-of-sight, and that plays a huge role in how well you do on the road. Don't watch it on youtube because the resolution is too low. You need to see the detail of what is happening and English dubbing which most youtube videos don't (unless you speak Japanese).
Also, get the drift bible and drift bible 2 (recently released), and then try it out in a safe environment like Auto-X. Drifiting is good to learn because it can save you from a spinout or even worse, a crash.
You should use this order:
1. Watch BMI Videos
2. Drive @ Auto-X
3. Drive @ Track Event
This way, you understand the concept of driving fast, then you get used to what lateral G's feel like (and even sliding a car), and finally you can take it to the track where you will really get to learn something because most likely there will be a lot more track time than Auto-X.

 

SolarOrangeZ and Mavtais,

Thank you for the suggestions I will check them out.

 

Find a track doing HPDE or something similar - a lot cheaper than a racing or true driving school. I've done BeaverRun in PA and am going to MidOhio in 3 weeks, which is only costing me $150 for a day and a half. That is actually a PCA event but open to all. Auto-X is fun, but not applicable to most daily driving situations, or even spirited weekend driving. IMHO, of course.
www.morpca.org

 

Skin doesn't scratch paint

Actually, the "hood hump" is the 07's hood

 

guys, im gonna go hump my Z today

 

Sounds good take it easy on her though

 

I have driven several times a Summit Point, VW. Highly recommended. See: http://www.bsr-inc.com/.

 

Okay, then, we have a couple of good ones in Texas:

Apex Driving Academy
http://www.apexdrivingacademy.com/

The Driver's Edge
http://www.thedriversedge.net/

 

Great thanks for all the comments. I definitely have several to pick from and it looks like I am leaning more towards the multitude of HPDE versus a school like Skip Barber.

 

Any preferred positions. You got a SolarOrange?