I wanted to take a few minutes and throw out a review of the Mazdadrivers DE I attended at VIR this weekend. Some of you might find it dull, but it might inspire some others to try one.

Mazda Drivers Associates is a driving school outfit out of the DC area. They do VIR and Summit Point, perhaps others. To me, at least, it seemed like a very well run, well organized, and efficient operation. The schedules ran like clockwork for the 2 day event, and the classroom sessions were actually useful. They run 4 groups, and you'll get 4 20-25 minute sessions per day. Everyone has an instructor everytime until you get solo'd out. My instructor had raced Formula Fords in Britain, and now raced a spec Miata. He was very knowledgeable and helped me a lot.

I like mixed-make DE's since I have a HP-challenged MC. If I run with a bunch of MCS's they blow by me on the straights and can do just as well in the kinks. This group had a lot of Miata's, which I find to be a good match for an MC and I got several good runs with some other momentum cars. They welcome all makes, and there were, of course, lots of RX7's and 8's, a few Lotus's (Lotii?), Vettes, Mustangs, Porches, etc. This was the short, roller-coaster North course, and in the classroom they emphasized that the horsepower guys should give the momentum cars a break and let them pass on the straights since they would be all over the back of those Vettes in the curves if they didn't lift and let them by. I think that being Mazda oriented, they stressed that the beauty was in the kinks, not blasting down the straights. That, of course, makes a MC driver smile. There were 4 MINI's there, and we did pretty well showing them what we could do. Never underestimate a good Cooper with a decent set of tires.

If you get the chance, check these guys out. It's a good experience, and well worth the time and $320. You'll be a better driver for it.

www.mazdadrivers.com