Places to let it out?
#1
Pro
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 538
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Hello
Does anyone know of a place/places to legally drive your car at speed?
A track or course somewhere with an entry fee maybe. Not just in a straight line but really put it through its paces.
Any places in Phoenix, So Cal, Utah, etc?
Also is the PDE worth the $2000+ dollars?
Are there other driving schools that are worth checking out?...maybe ones where I can drive my own car?
I just want to let this thing do what it was ment to do!
Thanks!
Does anyone know of a place/places to legally drive your car at speed?
A track or course somewhere with an entry fee maybe. Not just in a straight line but really put it through its paces.
Any places in Phoenix, So Cal, Utah, etc?
Also is the PDE worth the $2000+ dollars?
Are there other driving schools that are worth checking out?...maybe ones where I can drive my own car?
I just want to let this thing do what it was ment to do!
Thanks!
#2
Nordschleife Master
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Join your regional PCA chapter. Lots of great tracks around Arizona. Phoenix International Raceway is one of them. Just check out the PCA website, go to your region (region 8), then check out the activities of the chapters. Usually under Schedule of Activities/DE you will find........DE's in tracks! If you get addicted (that's almost a sure thing), you can also check our the Audi, BMW, Covette clubs in your area as they will also hold DE's where Porsche's are welcome. These events are controlled and regulated, you will get an instructor who most likely has driven if not owns a car simillar to yours. First time out you will be placed in the novice group, and you will move up as your skills improve.
I will get flamed for this, but to me PDE ain't worth it. You usually have to fly out, get a whole bunch of information thrown at you, and only have two days to apply whatever information you have been able to assimilate. True, you have real expert pro drivers as instructors, but their expertise only serves to awe the student. Unless you already have a significant amount of time on the track, the average PDE student won't be able to appreciate or take advantage of their expertise. It is like a gourmet cook trying to teach exotic cooking to a weekend barbecue grill expert. I am sure you can get their autographs, though. Better to get a good book on performance driving, read it through and assimilate as much as you can, then go to a DE and see if you can apply what you know under the guidance of an excellent (but not a star like Heywood) instructor for 1/10 of the cost.
I will get flamed for this, but to me PDE ain't worth it. You usually have to fly out, get a whole bunch of information thrown at you, and only have two days to apply whatever information you have been able to assimilate. True, you have real expert pro drivers as instructors, but their expertise only serves to awe the student. Unless you already have a significant amount of time on the track, the average PDE student won't be able to appreciate or take advantage of their expertise. It is like a gourmet cook trying to teach exotic cooking to a weekend barbecue grill expert. I am sure you can get their autographs, though. Better to get a good book on performance driving, read it through and assimilate as much as you can, then go to a DE and see if you can apply what you know under the guidance of an excellent (but not a star like Heywood) instructor for 1/10 of the cost.
Last edited by Palting; 07-15-2003 at 04:35 PM.
#5
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: bay area
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
You should also think about the ORR events in Nevada, either the original Silver State Classic (www.silverstateclassic.com) run from Ely or the MKM events from Elko and Wendover. There is an active Porsche team which is the 3-peat champ at the SilverState events, and I know they would like more Porsche entrants at the MKM events. You can legally drive as fast as you want on a public highway! Send me (or Ruf Racer) a PM if you want more details.
#6
Rennlist Member
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
PDE is absolutely worth it, especially for a novice/first timer. This is an opportunity to drive SEPs (Somebody Else's Porsches) on a first class race track, under first class conditions, with first class, hands-on instruction from some of the top sports car drivers in the world, who are incidentally pretty nice guys, and fun to hang out with. There is a some classroom time, some skidpad, autocross, and slalom excercises which build on your knowledge and demonstrate to you, in a progressive manner, the car's capabilities. Don't knock it if you haven't tried it, and BTW, Palting, you ought to see/hear the pros' reaction to the "buy-a-book-and-try-it" school of thought.
#7
Nordschleife Master
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Justy to clarify my opinion, I didn't mean read a book and go for it. Read a book, then go to a DE with an instructor. This way, you already know the principles if not the terms such as turn-in, early or late apex, weight transfer, threshold braking, etc, etc, etc. It is now just a matter of applying it under the guidance of the instructor, using and getting to know your own car. I think you will come out of the experience with quite a bit more than just going to class then driving cold. I suppose you could do the same thing with PDE and come out with more as well. It's just that I have now been to 11 DE's, total of 25 days, at about the same price as a 2 day PDE.
Trending Topics
#8
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Spain
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally posted by Palting
. It's just that I have now been to 11 DE's, total of 25 days, at about the same price as a 2 day PDE.
. It's just that I have now been to 11 DE's, total of 25 days, at about the same price as a 2 day PDE.
![Big Grin](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#9
Drifting
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 3,199
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
True, a 2 day (Sat-Sun) DE in our Lone Star Region is $225, so you could do about 10 weekends for the cost of PDE. Good instruction in a safe environment, and a great track (TWS) IMO.
But PDE sounds like a hell of a lot of fun, I am going to have try it one of these days.
But PDE sounds like a hell of a lot of fun, I am going to have try it one of these days.
#10
Advanced
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
jbdmd:
A group of us just rented Buttonwillow raceway for the day and did a track day by ourselfs a couple of days ago. It was a blast with very few cars on the track to worry about. The word is we all want to do it again in about a month or two. Keep an eye out on this board for notice.
Also, There is a school next week at Buttonwillow for only 175.
here is the link.
http://www.buttonwillowraceway.com/clinic.htm
If you go, look for me in the Black C4Cab.
Peter
A group of us just rented Buttonwillow raceway for the day and did a track day by ourselfs a couple of days ago. It was a blast with very few cars on the track to worry about. The word is we all want to do it again in about a month or two. Keep an eye out on this board for notice.
Also, There is a school next week at Buttonwillow for only 175.
here is the link.
http://www.buttonwillowraceway.com/clinic.htm
If you go, look for me in the Black C4Cab.
Peter
#11
Addict
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Great instruction is invaluable and you do get that at PDE, I don't care if you've done no DE's or or a 100, you will come away with more knowledge and skill than you came with after attending PDE. If you believe that you have the skillsets theres always the PDE Masters program.
#12
Addict
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
It's just that I have now been to 11 DE's, total of 25 days, at about the same price as a 2 day PDE.
#14
Nordschleife Master
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally posted by MJones
I am currious how much "Seat Time" do you get with 11 days of DE's
I am currious how much "Seat Time" do you get with 11 days of DE's
![Big Grin](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Last edited by Palting; 07-16-2003 at 08:01 PM.
#15
![Default](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Having done PDE I'm a big fan. It was worth the money to me to learn for two days in someone else's car. The truth is, it's only through practice that you really get good. PDE without following up with many DE's is probably worthless. I noticed my skills getting much better between the first and second day. I had the fortune, and I mean it, to drive the first day in the rain during my PDE. Believe me when I say AWD is not necessary in most instances. I didn't miss it even when we apexed through standing water.