I am thinking of putting together a private extreme driving school. It will not be like any of the chest puffing, fat lawyer/doctor schools that exist for water cooler talk. This will be a hard nosed, highly technical, and extremely beneficial school run by two extremely competent and experienced race engineering/instructors, PhD engineering level no less. They most often teach driving instructors and have done work for factory schools at BMW, MB, Porsche, etc.

The program would look something like this. Rent out the Burlington Proving Grounds (near Milwaukee) for extensive skid pad and "getting comfortable really driving at the limit". You can't do this at the track because you don't want to go off the track so you really can't spend major - constant - time at the limit. Maybe classroom, 1/2 day skid pad, classroom, then 1/2 day braking and turn in (peak turn corner entry) exercises. After that, go to Gingerman or Blackhawk and run string line, alternate lines, line development etc.

Costs might be in the in the $500 range for 12 guys. Is anyone interested?

 

Wish it were closer to NY, but yes, may be interested depending on date.
David

 

Bump:

Not much interest? If you have any questions, please ask.

 

Hi Tim,

I actually may be interested in some sort of technical driving day on a proving ground. Doing dry/wet skid pads, holding drifts, etc... not auto-x stuff, but more along the lines of at-the-limit driving in the Porsche.

For some background, I used to auto-x a long time ago, and have gone to Gingerman many times already. I ran a best of 1:42.x in an S2000 (17" street tires, stock suspension) and 1:38.x in the Turbo (1st time on track with Turbo, and only had enough time to run about 6 laps, stock suspension/wheels/tires).

Stephen
'01 Turbo Ti

PS. I live downtown.

 

How 'bout something a little closer? Ohio maybe? David (dmilzoff) and myself could then attend.

 

Ohio would be better (only 11 hours or so away). I assume this would be in the Spring?
I have a nephew in Madison, WI which I would like to visit again so Milwaukee may be OK.
If I do go, and timing is OK, my son may come also with his new STI.

 

Your nephew go to school at Wisconsin?? I went there, Madison is a really fun place to go to school. You should definately visit your nephew, you will have a great time.

-Lou

 

I would be interested in the driving/high performance class. Count me in for sure.

-Lou

 

Well I feel better that there is more interest. This will really be an amazing experience. I am definitely talking heavy skid pad testing. Just as a quick description, you will spend enough time at the limit (and past it) that you will be comfortable doing it. Literally, you will change the radio, have a look around, all at the full limit.

When you are that comfortable, then they work on different things, like "peak" corner entry. One of the hardest parts on the track is getting on the limit immediately at turn in. This separates the really good from the wanabies. What they do is have you enter a coned corner at higher and higher speeds, and this forces you to fly into the corner (much faster than you ever thought you could), throw your car into the turn, and be on the limit immediately.

I can go on and on. If you want more on these guys’ backgrounds or a more detailed itinerary, I can offer it.

I would be willing to seek a more central location if people are interested. They may also be willing to conduct classes on the west or east coast.