Driving School Experiences

Now that I am awaiting delivery of the Cayman, I have been looking at attending a high performance driving school (to save myself). There is one close by at Willow Springs Raceway and the price is decent. I have also looked at the Porsche Driving Experience and that would be acceptable but more costly due to the travel expenses. The last one is in Phoenix AZ and we have friends there so could probably stay with them while doing the course. I would like to know if anyone has attended a driving school and how the experience went and whether or not it was worth it in terms of driving improvement vs. cost of school???? I have also convinced the wife that our son (21 y.o.) should go for his safety as well.

I've attended several and have found them worthwhile. I'd certainly recommend PDE, but also suggest you consider a DE with your local PCA chapter as some of the best experiences I've had have been at those events. We have an advanced course coming up in April and a full range course (beginners to advanced) coming up in June at our local track.

BTW, here is what Porsche is saying publicly about the Cayman S at the Porsche Driving Experience (PDE): Thank you for your interest in the Porsche Driving Experience. At this time, we are unsure of when we will take delivery of the Cayman. It will hopefully be within the first quarter of 2006, but we cannot make any guarantees. When we get the Cayman, it will be incorporated into our current schools; we will not offer a program that is exclusively Cayman. Attached is the schedule for the two-day high-performance course. We utilize the Carrera on track and the Boxster and the Cayenne during our autocross exercises. Just to give you an idea, the Cayman will be utilized in the same way, at various exercises. (See attached file: ~ PDE Two Day High Performance Schedule ~.doc) If you have any other questions, please let us know. Best regards, Shelly Kendrick Porsche Driving Experience Now according to my sources PDE already has a Cayman but not one that they've placed into service yet for customers. They are currently doing testing and evaluating what events they will use the Cayman in (which is referenced in the letter above). I've been told the car should be cleared by the last week of February or first week of March, depending on weather and a number of other factors between now and then. Suffice it to say that if you do a PDE later this year you'll be able to drive the Cayman. Although if Porsche decides for some reason not to let you take it out on the road course I would bypass PDE altogether - there is currently some politic'ing going on that the 997 should be the focus of the road course but thankfully it is falling on deaf ears at some points and I really hope that the powers that be will use the Cayman extensively at PDE or PDE will lose credibility in my opinion which would be a shame. The Cayman will be available and part of the PDE at the PCA Parade in Portland Oregon this year I've already had that confirmed. (There's also a DE, autox, etc. as usual at parade)

Well then I may have to for go the xtra goodies for a while then. I was thinking that the PDE would probably be the most useful but wasn't sure. Thanks for the input K-Man

I assume from your post that you've had no track experience. If so,I'd suggest deferring PDE until you feel you'vegot a goodunderstanding of the basics. It's first rate w/top notch instructors& I think that'll maximize what you'llgetfrom your investment of both time & money. A local PCA DE (Novice Group) would be a good 1st step, since it'll be convenient, relatively inexpensive & low pressure. Moreover, you will be learning to driveyour car. However, the quality of instruction can vary so ask around.Bondurant's (link below)2 or 3 day HPD coursefocuses on street driving & would provide anexcellent foundation for you and your son. All IMO, of course. http://www.bondurant.com/pages/home.html Warning: DEs can become very addictive & before you know it, you're a track junkie.

Driving schools are definitely worth the money. I took the Intro to Racing a few years ago through Skip Barber at Lime Rock and it was one of the best experiences I've had. I also agree with the recommendations to go to PDE...I have several friends that are instructors there - in addition to honing your skills you spend time with some nice guys and you get a lot of seat time.

I attended the Porsche Driving Experience in 2004 at Birmingham, Alabama, at the Skip Barber race track. I thought it was worth the time and money. There was quite a bit of driving the 996 on the track at speeds well over 100 mph. They used the Boxster, Boxster S and Cayenne (believe it or not) for autocross. Based on what I went through, I believe PCNA will continue to use this course as a means of promoting the 911 more than anything else. Although, I would be interested in going back if they focused track time on the Cayman. The instructors are top notch pros who seemed really interested in teaching you. I had never done track driving before but still felt very comfortable with what the instructors wanted you to do. I recommend it and agree you may become addicted to circuit driving!

I went to Bondurant a few years ago. Took the 4 day GP course. Spent 1 1/2 days doing skid control, lane manuvers, etc. Spent 2 1/2 days on the track including 1 day in formula fords. It was a great experience and paid off for me. I was vintage racing & the school saved me 1/2 - 1 sec a lap from that point on. Fantastic. They treat you right, even brought out a gas truck so we didn't have to leave the track. They have 3 tracks they can run on. If you don't want to spend that kind of money then PCA, POC or NASA (National Autosport Association) is worth trying for their DE. Try a school or one of them for sure. Driving your car, at speed, on a track is one of the most fun things you can do with your clothes on.

I've been to the Bondurant school's 4-day GP course a long time ago (1973) when it was at the late-lamented Riverside track, and both the PDE Advanced and Masters schools and would heartily recommend them. But I also agree with soome of the others: learn the basics of car control, dynamics and weight transfer at a less expensive (both from a monetary and sheetmetal POV) venue first. I would highly recommend autocrossing first... it's low pressure, you can't possibly hurt the car, and the things you learn there will easily transfer to track driving. And you'll meet some nice people and have a lot of fun. Many of the PCA regions have very active AX series, and in N. Calif. PCA zone 7 (where I am an AX instructor) has a two-day AX school, uaually in June, and the local region, Golden Gate has a 1-day beginner's school scheduled in early February 2006. Then, go do a track day DE after that. I'm doing a DE tomorrow with my 2002 turbo on Laguna Seca... kind of a farewell to the turbo since I'll be getting my Cayman in late February. Brad

Wow...I will definitely be busy over the next few months. Son is saying that Fast Lane/Bondurant would be the way to go first. since Fast Lane is close and not too expensive to begin with would make a good choice for the basics. Glad to hear many enthusiatic replices and glad to hear that any or all will be of great benefit.

Ooops, did anyone opt to use own vehicle during these classes??? They show quite a discount if you use your own car, however not sure I would be willing to do that while beginning the learning process.

Really up to you, I've always used my own car when I can as it made consistency easier and I got to know the nuances of the machine. Nothing wrong with running someone else's car ragged though! /fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/thumbs_up.gif