Best way to really learn your car?!?

[artsrt10]

I've taken the Skip Barber 2 day course so now I know how rudimentary my driving knowledge really is. I now want to practice drifting, learn car control, shifting weight balance, etc. but I'm trying to do it as cost effectively as possible. Any thoughts on what I can do? Has anyone done autocrosses? Are they dangerous for the car? Great deal of wear & tear? If anyone has any suggestions, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Not to offend any AutoXers here but I'm bored with 'em. There are probably clubs and open track days near you that you can sign up for for around $200/day. Find the tracks in your area, www.chasinracin.com There's also ViperDays which is more fun because it's timed and it's primarily Vipers.

Practice, practice, practice.

 

[Got Venom]

The best way is to finally know your limits and then learn from them. I went to Thunderhill for an open day and thought I was tough stuff until I spun out and went off course and had to have my right door repainted and my right rear rim replaced. Then I went to Viper days and told the instructor that I wanted to go really slow at first. He was great with the two way head set we were wearing under our helmets, he talked me through every turn. I gained 13 seconds on my lap times at Thunderhill with him in the car. I think you gain more when you are in your own car with someone in it with you.

 

[NCVCA]

www.viperdays.com

call Courtney.

 

[lleone]

Nothing wrong with autocrosses except that your speeds will never be anyhere near that on a track.

 

[SoCal Rebell]

Not to offend any AutoXers here but I'm bored with 'em. There are probably clubs and open track days near you that you can sign up for for around $200/day. Find the tracks in your area, www.chasinracin.com There's also ViperDays which is more fun because it's timed and it's primarily Vipers.

Practice, practice, practice.

Chuck is easily bored, but in this case he is right. Do some road racing, we have track days here in Cali for as little as $125 per day for 2 1/2 hours of track time, the key is Seat time, Seat time, Seat time.

 

[Jim Hodel]

I don't know what tracks are close to where you live, but that's where I'd start. PIR (Portland) is 20 minutes from my house and I've been driving there since the early 80's in club track days. I've also made trips to SIR (Seattle) and Laguna Seca and Thuderhill in California.

Around here, it is the Porsche, BMW, and Alfa clubs that mostly run track days, although the Viper Club also has a couple every year. There are advanced drivers available who can provide 'instruction', but it is really track time that these events offer. I just did one this weekend with the Alfa Club and had over an hour of track time before I called it a day.

There are two more events at PIR this month alone. I have done most of my driving in cheaper cars (old Alfas and a Z28) rather then our Viper, but if you start slow and work your way up, the Viper should be fine.

Look up the tracks and clubs in your area and go out and get some seat time! I still can't believe how much fun it is.

Jim

 

[Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder]

I started where you did and followed that with four car control clinics, 3 day racing program, lapping days , and a couple NCA VCA programs-a lot of car control.

Autocrossing is a good way to apply the above to your car.

And then Viper Days awaits you for an open road experience.

 

[Achilles99]

I started where you did and followed that with four car control clinics, 3 day racing program, lapping days , and a couple NCA VCA programs-a lot of car control.

Autocrossing is a good way to apply the above to your car.

And then Viper Days awaits you for an open road experience.

I agree... why limit yourself to one or the other. I can participate in an auto-x at least once a month. Track exposure is going to be more limiting. You can auto-x for $25 as opposed to a track event for $200-$300. That's not taking in to consideration the added risk of track events, either.