I just arrived home after my first Driving School. I was at Road Atlanta with the BMW CCA school. What a total blast, I am completely hooked and would do it again (and I'm sure I will) in a heartbeat.
Let me say first that I almost backed out. By Friday morning I was seriously questioning what I was getting myself into, and why I was doing it. If I hadn't told my children already, I would have called and cancelled and had a nice quiet weekend at home. But since they were aware, I couldn't have them thinking that mom was a chicken, so I got my stuff together and left Friday afternoon. I got there early enough to check in just before the track closed on Friday. The first person I met was Larry Barksdale who was in an '06 HB/W MCS, his two sons were coming in to join him. One with his own BMW, the other would be sharing the MINI with Larry. What a great family, they made me feel very welcome and comfortable. They helped me get my car ready, telling me what to do and have, etc.
After my first class, which meant absolutely nothing to me, I headed off to meet my instructor and hit the track. Let me just say that I really think that it would be a great idea to allow total novices like myself, to walk or ride the track to at least have a small clue. As it was, I went in totally blind and with no earthly idea where I was or what was coming next. Needless to say I was scared completely ****less and when I got off the track I called my husband to say I'd be home in a few hours. The Barksdales told me to stick it out so I did. Well each time got a bit better and by the end I was sorry it was over. I did have some mechanical issues,which almost kept me out completely of day two, but luckily, David Harrison of Harrison Motorsports, who I've gotten to know and trust reassured me that El Kabong was drivable. I had my instructor drive him the first time on Sunday and he agreed so I was good to finish up the day.
More later, but here's a couple of pics.
Annette

 

WOO HOO! Sounds like a blast!

 

Excellent! Once you go out, you get hooked...

FWIW, many schools drive novices around the course and stop at each corner and explain the corner to you in explicit detail, followed by parade laps so you get your bearing - at least, many schools do this and I've found it VERY informative if you're a newbie to a DE experience OR a newbie to a new track...

Of course, not all schools do this - but I think it's a great way to do it!

Road Atlanta's a particularly challenging course, so it prolly woulda helped quite a bit!

Great pics, BTW!

 

Good Job, way to stick it out !!!

 

 

And this level of fear is like virginity... Once it's gone it's gone!

And now you get to spend more $ on a new habit. But isn't it nice to be around a group of people who all share the enthusiasm? And will support your learning? It makes it much easier, and all who are there are willing to help if things come up.....

I also feel much safer, pushing the limits of my skills (never have gotten close to what the car can do) a few feet off the back of another driver on a track, than just driving to work. Communiting? Now that's scary!

Matt

 

Just adding a bit more to the thread.
I will say that absolutely everyone I met was wonderful. I made some new friends (even some Corvette folks ) and hope to see them again at the next event.
I was absolutely the slowest driver there. At one point on my third time out, I was finally at the point where I wasn't going to throw up and could start to notice the cars around me, what type they were, how they were driving, etc. After turn 7, I looked in my rearview and started to laugh. My instructor, who I think was shocked to hear me do anything other that say "oh **it" said "what's so funny" and I said, "well, I think that's the third time that silver corvette has passed me!" Thinking that I was upset by this he said "don't worry about it, we're not here to race" I assured him I was not worried but that I was just glad that I was aware and could enjoy it.
I will say that there were other MINIs in my group and I got a deep sense of pride when they would pass me, as they'd zoom by me and wave I'd say "Go MINI Go" which just cracked my instructor up. Once I figured out that I wasn't pissing off the other drivers by making them have to pass me all the time, I relaxed and didn't hang my head when walking through the paddock.
The oddest thing to me was on the drive home. It felt really weird to be passing on the left and it took me about 5 miles on the highway to re-adjust!
Now my next goal is to learn to heel/toe before the next school! Oh, and buy my own tools!
Annette

 

That was a blast wasn't it?!? I was in the black/black MINI Cooper with the grey wheels. It was my first time out on a real track after a few years of messing around with autocrossing and I don't know why it took me so long.

I agree with you on the getting passed thing. Having only 115 hp I was getting toasted on every straight and my first couple sessions I was nervous having 2 and 3 cars gaining on me through the straights but once my instructor convinced me to stop letting them by so easily I realized that I was at least as fast if not faster than most of them through the turns and I really wasn't holding as many of them up as I thought.

All in all I completely mutilated my Mintex Red Box brake pads to the point I didn't go out Sunday on the last runs (and they were 75% going in I guess I'll go for a set of more suitable pads before the next time out...), and I had about the most fun I can remember. I'll definately be out there at more of these events and I may even abandon autocrossing all together (gasp).

 

Now the scary part is when on the freeway you start looking for the line and the quickest way around the turn... :D

 

Kyle, you were awesome!! Like I said I had a great time watching the other MINIs and learned alot from watching how they went. Although I was interested in Autocross, I don't think I would enjoy it anywhere near as much. From what I've heard it's ALOT of waiting around and then you get your 10 minutes on the track. I really liked the pace of DE, class,track,class,track and so on. Keeps you busy, with a bit of time to meet and socialize, but all in all alot of time driving. I am debating about going to Barber in May, I've heard it's a beautiful track and is not too far.

FlynHawaiin-I was driving down a curvy road near my house this morning on the way to work and found myself looking for the apex!!! I had to laugh because I thought of your earlier post

Annette

 

one of my best learning experiences was following a 57 Alfa around sears point. he had the very best of lines throught the track, and cars with much more horsepower couldn't keep up. A smooth driver with a slow car can do much more than a crappy driver with too much power! (ask me how I know!)

Anyway, glad you all have the bug. The big issue for me is the track fees. Big Mini Day is about $300! The Sears Point and Thunderhill things I do with the Nor-Cal club are $200+ per day, and Laguna Seca is over $300 a day! I'm going to do some AutoX just to get some more seat time for less $......

But I do love the road courses! The only other thing I'm curious about is a really banked turn, but I haven't had the chance...

Matt

 

Matt, be sure to check out the BMWCCA; the Hoosier event in April is "only" $350 for two days. I'd like to do another couple of Phil Wicks events, but I'm balking at $500 for two days, or 350 for *one* day.

 

But track seems to be more expensive than AutoX, so I'll start doing the short track parking lot thing too!

Matt

 

No doubt, but (from what I *hear*) you get much more time behind the wheel at track events like BMWCCA's than at an AutoX. Regardless, I'm going to try an AutoX this year.

 

Yeah, but... you can run a whole season of auto-x for the same price as 1 DE... I'm not choosing sides, but the prices of DE's are high, the potential or truly screwing up your car is higher, etc.

I do both, but if I had to give one up it'd be DE's...

 

I can only get away a few weekends a year. Too much to do with the kids and their activities and our kennel and dog training business. So for me if I do 3-4 DEs a year and am gone a total for 6-8 days but get 24-36 times on the track it's worth it for me.
Annette

 

For those who love to drive then the DEs are the way to go. For those who like to socialize then go with the auto-X.
I'll take the 2 hours a day on the track to the 20 min a day in the parking lot.

 

Well, you know what they say about autocrossing...

If it were any easier, they'd call it road racing...

And, there's plenty of socializing at every DE I have ever been to as well...

 

There may be a few open spots left for CIRPCA "Spring Brake", April 22-23. "Only" $310 for two days (or if you were a member of the PCA, $250 for the weekend).

http://cirpca.org/Events/SpringBrake/

And for those of you who are thinking about trying, but worried you might bend something, you can try the "Intro" program. You ride along with instructors in the instructors' cars and attend one day of the classes. Helmets are provided for this program, but not for the full-on driving students...

 

Thanks for the info, mudfoot. The price is pretty good. For some reason I had it in my head (which should probably be checked) that the ProSport Drivers Group event on 4/7 was in the sub-$200 range. *Boy* was I wrong. $350 for one day, and $400 for most of the others! Crikey!

 

It might sound steep, but for the amount of track time you get for that $350, it is a relative bargain. I've run with those guys once, and by the end of that one day, you have had your fill of track time. Personally, I ended my day a little early due to brain fade.

 

New information -- if you are wanting to give Driver's Ed a try, but worried about taking your own car, CIRPCA has just released the details for the "Intro to DE" program

http://cirpca.org/Events/SpringBrake/IntroDE/