Feedback on the Porsche Driving Experience

Hi Folks, First off I wish you all a FANTASTIC 2005!!!... Secondly as I go over my list of things to do this year, I find at the top attending the Porsche Driving Experience. I've done searches on the forums but I still need your feedback. Here's my questions: 1) Of those who have attended, what's your honest impression? 2) Is the $$$ worth for what you learn and what you can apply in regular canyon carving and track events? (I'm sure it is just want your feedback) 3) What about insurance? The porschedriving.com site mentions they have optional automobile damage liability insurance available for purchase. Did any of you purchased this (how much extra $$$?) or did you use another kind of insurance coverage? 4) Any other comments are most welcome. Thank you.

Attended PDE back in May 01 at RA and it was a great time, lots of seat time, instruction, drills, and a great staff.

I went in July of 2004. Had an absolutely wonderful time. Doc Bundy is a participant among many other well known drivers to instruct. Fabulous, beautiful course in Alabama [Barber Motorsports Park]. I highly recommend spending the extra money for the two day, as one day would have been too short to really learn anything. Heel/toe downshifting, skidpad exercises, AutoX in Boxster and Boxster S, and ample Track time doing follow the leader. They split you into groups so that you are not bogged down by slower drivers and there are usually 2 groups on the track at a time. At the end of the 2 days, you get flying laps with instructors as well as in a Cayenne [amazing what that thing can do on a track with 5 people loaded in it!!] The most impressive thing is to get to see what your car can do out of the box [although I'm sure they have 997s now, but hey how many people get to drive the dog out of a 997 all over a track?]. I am planning on going back to do the masters' experience this Summer [more track time, open use of track without follow the leader--open to people who already did the two day course]. It's expensive, but man, one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. Granted, I didn't have a lot of experience with Racing, so if you race a lot, it may not be worth it to you, but if you are a reasonably skilled driver who would like to explore the limits of a Porsche road car, this is a spectacular deal IMO. As far as the insurance, it's only $100 per day, so just pay for it and forget it. There is almost no chance of you flying off the course anyhow, but I paid it regardless. Let us know what you decide to do!

Did both the "regular" and the masters. Absolutely worth it.

Attended in May 2004. The best two days I have ever experienced in any form of driving experience or driving school. Professional in every aspect. Lots of seat time, in fact I put over 150 miles on my assigned 911. 1 hour a day in the classroom, the restof the time on or at the race track. Skid pad, braking, heel toe, autocross team competition and hot laps on the race track! A more beautiful track I have never seen anywhere in the US! More like a golf course than a race track. Highly technical 2.5 mile layout. The bonus is the Barber motorcycle museum adjacent to the track, simply unbelievable. Over 800 of the finest motorcycles in the world with a few cars sprinkled in. In the basement of the museum, where you cannot get, are several very rare cars, one of which is an original 550 Spyder. Not inexpensive but more value for dollar spent than I have experienced elsewhere. GO FOR IT ! Book early as they sell out every class.

I idi it in April '04,well worth it. I had little track experience in my 911, after that I was hooked! The instructors are excellent, the groups are small, 20 max. I would do the insurance for sure, 100/d. They told a story of a guy who crashed a car a few weeks before, expensive. Do the two day deal, 1 day is NOT enough. I am planning to do the masters at some point inthe future. Well worth it, first class. Funny thing, after they are finished with the cars, they sell them with full warranties, but if you track your car, forget it! They are switching to 997 cars Jan/Feb, I was told plain 997, non S.

You might consider Bondurant as an alternative. I did the advanced course there 5 years ago, and had a great time. One of the instructors now drives a Daytona Prototype for Brumos. And Tony Stewart attended the class when he got hired as a NASCAR driver, so he could race at the Glen. I went thru 3 sets of tires and two cars in 3 days. You drive hard as you can from the first moment you get in the car - no slow groups or orientation sessions. I think the Bondurant school is targeted to a different kind of customer than PDE, which I understand improves your level of skill for driving a 911 fast, but is not race oriented. Steve 99 996 76 930 62 356 (race) 64 356C 00 M5 87 E30 (race)

Fast 40th, Money well spent to learn how to drive in a new and different way, while learning lessons you can apply to your street driving. The facilities,instructors and cars are all first rate with a fun factor of Priceless thrown in. I did the two-day in May of 04, and am registered for the Masters in April of 05. I will admit that I did feel somewhat intimidated the first day but I went back to the Wynfrey and did what the Doc told me and "visualized the track" all night. The next day I could'nt wait to get back on the track!!! I simply relaxed and went out and tore the track up and became as fast as anyone. I use the some of the skills I learned everyday I drive. Look out way ahead, vehicle dynamics, heel and toe, etc. PDE is a proven program. Don't hesitate. Do It!!! Barron

Thank you all for your replies.... I can't wait to do it! I'll be signing-up for a May or June '05 2-day session... Hope to see some fellow Rennlisters there. All the best!

where can I get more info on DE's? I use to do track days on the big bikes and race the lil ones but I consider myself to be a scared driver.. I dont push it enough with the p-car (maybe for fear of totally the car) Anyone in the DC planning on doing the DE and if so when and where? thanks

Re: PDE All of the above is true and then some. You will have a BLAST! If ypu can swing it and go by March you'll save $150 since the rate is going up The damage limitation waiver is $200 for both days. I will be taking my new 997S, that will arrive in early Feb, on its maiden breakin roadtrip from Los Angeles to Birmingham to attend the March Masters class, that will make my 7th PDE.

Best place to start would be your local area PCA (Porsche Club of America). If your not a member, join, it's cheap

I attended the basic course in March of '04 and the Master's course last month. Each time I drove up from Florida in my Silver Bullet. The instructors are top Porsche race drivers. I had Doc Bundy and Herley Haywood to name a couple. All of the instructors are top notch. You will learn a lot about controling 911s. You will learn how to heel/toe shift. You'll learn about the interface between pedels and steering wheel. You'll learn the wonders of PSM. And you'll learn the line at Barber Motorsports Park, the Augusta National of race tracks. Two fun bits apart from the track time are the skid pad and the autocross. There's nothing quite so educational as spinning out a few times on the skid pad. And for learning precision braking and turning the autocross is key. One nice thing about the courses is that you will be treated like a king. The food is AMAZING! The track is paradise. And the motorsports museum is probably one of the best in the world. I'm hoping to do the Master's course again in September. Having two young children I have no time for track events in my schedule. But once a year I plan on blowing off some steam at the PDE. And the best thing about it is that I can abuse their cars and save my baby.