Nut behind the steering wheel upgrade?

I was wondering what you all here think of performance driving schools, and if there are any you recommend, specificly for awd cars?
If you have any firsthand experience, good or bad, please speak up.

While I feel I am a pretty good driver, I realize 99% of drivers out there probably feel the same way about themselves, and we all know how rare "good" drivers are these days.

I am bringing this up because in a lof of threads about "what first mod should I get" driving school is often recommended.

A tough question, and also sounds like an opening line to a joke:
How do you know if you need to take driving lessons?

 

I know I can do a bit behind the wheel, but I DO want to know where I can improve.

 

I think that everyone could probably profit from driving lessons in someway or another. If you have the time and money available it would most likely be a fun experience.

Alot of the track based courses are supposed to be alot of fun, such as the Car Control Clinic or the Auto-x instructional course.

 

i'm definitely going to try and run as many car control clinics as possible once the new project is done

 

BIR - http://www.donnybrooke.com/
MAC Novice Schools - http://forum.mnautox.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6396
Evolution School (MAC usually runs this in June) - http://autocross.com/evolution/modules/news/
BMW Club - http://www.northstarbmw.org/drivingschools.aspx
Audi Club - http://www.glacierlakesqclub.org/

If you're interested in AutoX and haven't been to an event yet, MAC will be out at DCTC again this coming Sunday, 9/16. Feel free to swing by and pay us a visit.

Stuart.

 

I think the idea of Driving Schools is always great and its no joke, over confident drivers usually get into trouble. I wish there was more affordable schools locally when I started. But never the less I continue to find opportunities to catch rides or work with different drivers and continue learning and improving. Learning is a process and though you may not get it the first time, you'll probably get it the next few times.

The only local school that would specialize more in AWD is probably the Glacierlake Quattro club, but that not to say you cant go to any of the other clubs and ask for a AWD Instructor background. Some Instructors will consider a AWD more like a FWD, just because how they interact thru the corners.

I currently instruct for Northstarbmw and the next high speed event is on Oct 13 &14 @ BIR and Teen clinic on Oct 28 @ DCTC. As for reviews, you'll have to get from my students, there are a few board members who I've worked with in the past.

A word of advise, before you start adding more mod's, let a more experienced driver show you what your car is already capable of; than you'll see where spending your money will pay dividends.

http://www.mnsubaru.com/forums/showpost.php?p=309602&postcount=12

 

Other then ice, GL doesn't do much. One of their instructors was a guest at the last DCTC day and said she hoped that changed soon.

+1 for northstarbmw. Excellent instruction on a perfect sized track for learning the basics. For the money it's hard to beat.

 

+1 for Northstar. IT costs $40 to join the BMW club for a year, and each Car Control Clinic (CCC) is $100.

At the CCC you get roughly 80 minutes of on-track time with an instructor. My last two instructors have been NASA certified guys who brought a wealth of knowledge. You also get roughly 80 minutes of in-class instructions from some VERY experienced drivers. You cannot beat the value of a CCC. You also get breakfast (Krispy Kreme, usually) and lunch (Papa John's usually).

I've been to two of their schools and one of the High Performance Driving Events up at BIR. Some of the best money I've ever spent. BIR was expensive ($400 just for track time) but that much track time with an experienced driver with you is worth it.

Anyone can join the BMW club. Just pretend you have an interest in BMWs and show up with your car. The last DCTC I went to (this spring) there were 3 WRX/STis, Two Evos, and a whole host of other non-bimmers. Nobody cares what you drive, there. Everyone is there to put mod money into the nut behind the wheel.