I've been reading and lots of people suggest going to these Driving/Racing schools to learn techniques on better driving (Manual). Stuff like heel-toe, etc. Well I've been driving my first manual car for a month now. Want to learn some techniques or at least smoother driving.. So basicly like learning to drive but with a manual and teach tricks instead of road rules

Does anyone recommend a school for that around LA? I searched online and they all seem to be for driving Nascars or 20 laps around track for $$$...

Any school that offers their vehicle instead of using my own? and how much are these classes?

Thanks

 

I'm not aware of any myself but I know what you are talking about. For instance, my dad just came back from a private seminar in regards to advanced riding techniques for Harley Davidson riders given by a former cop.

Had a lot to do with practical everyday driving as well as advanced maneuvering, bike control, balance, throttle control etc etc.

He said it was tremendously beneficial.

 

theres a program by BMW where they let u track out the M cars

 

That sounds sick

 

Yeah, you get invited if you own a BMW. My buddy gets invited every year. Don't know if there's another way to get in though?

 

http://www.buttonwillowraceway.com/clinic.htm

 

Thanks Cheston, even though I consider myself a good driver and have already done one event (I know, only 1) I think a clinic like this will teach me things I don't know.

 

that clinic is a good for beginners and intermediate.

it has class room instruction, instructors that sit next to you, and some time by yourself on the track.. although its not the full configuration 13 until later in the day.

it also has skidpad and spin control. which i think everyone in a RWD should learn to do.

even with some of the HPDE groups that run, there are instructors you can take along and they drive with you.. this is definitely the best way to learn what ur doing right and wrong...

if people want to hire personal instructors. i have a couple of friends that are like $150-200 / day that are SCCA licensed racers that offer 1on1 personal instructions.. pm if u want their info.

 

Mike, do you wanna do this sometime, the clinic?

 

a friend told me the school up at willow springs isn't bad:
http://www.raceschool.com/

 

you can read up on theory of shifting and weight transfer first before going to a track school. let the theory sink in and practice the basics on the street. you can practice heel-toe in a parking lot or just going down the street in a straight line when no one's around. other good things to practice are braking in a straightline before turning in, tipping in the throttle through the turn, looking through the turn (keep your eyes up), both hands on the steering wheel at 3 and 9 o'clock (your right hand only leaves to do the shift, then it goes back on the steering wheel), etc etc. just basic driving techniques.

going to a track and learning about late apexes, braking points, and using the entire track is a little too much if you've only been driving stick shift for a month. take it slow. there's plenty of track time ahead of you.

 

Yea I got a HPDE course training thing last year as a birthday present at button-W...When I went - they were like, sorry all the instructors are taken, you're on your own...which for me is cool and all. - I actually picked up quite a bit just running in the pack and talking to other drivers but to actually get personal instruction, I found that you basically had to run up to them when they became available like a silly fan wanting an autograph or something.

 

that is messed up.. must have been a race at another track to pull them off instructing at the clinic. they usually have enough for each run group-

BMWCCA is a good group to run with. very very organized, and no. you dont need a bimmer. a little more expensive. but its usually ~ two days at a track and they have good instructors.. (my cousin John is an instructor for them)

 

^..cool.

 

BMWCCA is very well run, has good instructors, and is very pricey (like 1.5-2X more than speedventures or redline). you don't need a bimmer but you do need a hardtop car to run. no convertibles.

 

^ So what price range am I looking at???

I'm slowly picking up some techniques from friends or just driving around daily in the Evo... but from research, the EVO X has a weak clutch and the EVO eats it up fast... people can screw up on a few launches and out goes the stock clutch. I know a guy who tracked his X and launched 6 times and drove home with a slipping clutch. Don't really want to risk a few thousand dollars that way

 

Try http://www.evoschool.com/index.php

It's decently priced compared to the others. They have an upcoming event at el toro.

A few friends of mine mentioned that the buttonwillow clinic/school left much to be desired. They also said they'd rather pay for a regular track day at buttonwillow instead.

 

bwmcca two days is like $3xx-4xx. but they strictly limit cars on track and give ample time, and spacing for newbs.

if u run with some of the other groups, like speed ventures, and depending on track, i think it high 1xx to mid 2xx per day.

 

i've been paying around these prices for single day events.
130 at SOW
180 at BW
280 at laguna

i think cal speedway (now called auto club speedway) is 200-280.
i think spring mtn is similar to BW prices.

bmw weekend is typically 400-600 for two days depending on the track.

you don't have to launch your car at track days. as long as you heel-toe so you don't wear it out downshifting, your clutch will be fine.

for your first time on the track, i'd suggest just leaving it in 3rd gear and learning the line. then after your first session, go to 4th on the straights so you can get a feel of your braking points, then downshift early to 3rd and continue on your merry way.

 

...and who have you been racing with inregards to the company? Has it always been speedventures?