Last year I was considering signing up to do the performance course at PSDS. I thought I remembered it being about $1500, but now it is $3200. Did they recently double the price or was I mistaken before? I would really like to do it, but don't think I want to spend that much... Has anyone done the precision course, and how was it?
Could I just do some DEs with the PCA and learn enough from that?
Thanks,
Chris

 

I think you're mistaken. I've been thinking for a couple years and I believe it's always been about $3000 or so.

 

they raised all the courses this year....

if was like $1500 for the one day course and $3000 for the two day...

now I think its $1800 and $3300...

the master went from $3500 to $3800

 

That cries out for the question: enough for what? A good instructor at DE days can teach you a lot, but essentially the curriculum boils down to two points:

• How not to get killed having fun on a track.
• How to drive a car faster than most people think possible.

If you want to raise your skills high enough to let you drive as fast as your own talent permits, that's a tougher standard. For that, you need more intensive and rigorous training. At least the PSDS, and probably a school like Skip Barber as well, where the car is stripped to the essentials so every twitch and every perfect corner can be traced directly to your own developing ability.

If you think your talent is deep enough and broad enough, then you also might want to drive a car as fast as that car can go. This goal is a tough one. You almost have to be a person who met those first two goals up above intuitively the first time you got on a track before this question even arises. Most cars are capable of far more than their owner/drivers ever realize. On this forum, I flat guarantee it.

But if that goal does appeal to you, or if you just want to see how very good you can be, then you want the Master level course at PSDS.

Astute observers will notice I omitted the obvious goal: "being faster than the other guys." That is an endless pursuit. Not to worry that it grows expensive very quickly. If that one obsesses you, the house can probably bring a season's worth with a second mortgage, and the kids bring startling prices on the little known slave market, and they won't be using their college fund in that case, which ... well, never mind.

Gary

 

I guess I just want to learn how to drive on a track and the limits of the car. I don't really care about being the best driver or doing any competitive racing, but I'd love to be able to go to a track and feel confident that I'm not going to wreck, or mess up my car in any way. I've watched some in car action of people on the track, yours Gary most recently, and it looks like a lot of fun. It seems like a waste to only drive the p-car on the streets.
Chris

 

You're right. The DE courses are designed by PCA for exactly those purposes. If you didn't notice, I posted some more track videos recently in a thread on a different subject. (Bad planning.) The view through a windshield grows boring fast, but this one gives you more: a chance to watch some pretty experienced drivers in a variety of fast cars, including an orchestra seat for some ... well, not mistakes, but let's say deficiencies of technique that even experienced drivers suffer: .

Those guys are just doing what you want to do: Safely enjoy driving your car as it is capable of being driven. Some of the cars are faster than others, but they're all having fun. Uh... me too.

Gary

 

Last year I did Driver Skills, then PSDS and then a DE. The cost was 3200 for performance for two days...with travel and hotel it cost me about 4 grand which is not bad. One DE cost me about $1k with track insurance, tires wear and PCA fee. So you pay a premium to use someone elses car and and also spend some time with some professionals on probably one of the best tracks around. Its especially fun if you do it with a friend. Planning on doing it again when they have 991s to decide if I want to upgrade my car. But honestly you can get the same with DE but you have to be comfortable driving your own car. You can't go wrong by doing either. I added the link if you want to see the video from my first PSDS. https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ool-video.html

 

Lowpue, I believe it was $3200 for you last year since you aded the extra insurance.

I think 1K is on the high side for someone starting out in DE's in a green novice group. I've seen one day PCA events for less than $200 and two day events for les than $300 and insurance can be had for about the same.

For anyone thinking about PSDS who has never been on a track I strongly suggest one or two DE's with the PCA novice group before you go.

You have a basic understanding of what goes on at the track and with the car and you will grasp more of what the PSDs has to offer.

 

Yes you are right...3200 did include insurance...
as far as DE...my calc is as follows....PCA-$265 plus insurance of a $85K car was $450 plus about $200-300 of tire wear and not to mention gas and wear and tear on the car was how I got to $1k. Now of course you can blow off insurance as do most of my friends and then it is half that. You mention $300 for insurance, where do you get that or you don't insure the whole value?

Finally, I thought doing PSDS was better to do first so you can get experience onthe track driving someone else's car

In anycase, I definitely will be doing many DEs and PSDSs in my future.

 

For insurance I get a package deal....something like $1400 for 9 events (not days, could be 1- 3 days per event) in one year for my car which I valued at 45K. My car is an 05.


I got about 9 days on the my Michelin Super Sports rears till they corded which cost about $600 with alignment.

I did PSDS as my first event on any track. It was a wonderful experience but if I had done even one PCA event with an instructor first I know I would have been more relaxed at PSDS and would have had a better idea of what to expect on the track and what the cars are capable of.

However i can certainly see how using PSDS to determine if you want to take your car to the track is a good choice to make.