I was wondering if anyone actually did the Porsche Driving School: http://www.porschedriving.com/home.htm? It looks very interesting and fun but--like all things Porsche--very expensive (around $1700 for one day and aroudn $2900 for two days. Of course, you do burn up their tires and brakes....

Anyone actually done it? (I'm considering it). And, if so, did you do the one or two day event?

Thanks.

Barry

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Barry

Barry,


I did the 2 day school at Road Atllanta a few years back before the move to Barbar Motorsports Park (a spectacular location by all reports). Although quite a pile of sheckels was involved, I didn't consider the experience to be 'expensive' as the quality of the event was quite high and once it was over, I considered it to be fair value for money.


Joe

Barry - I did both the two-day school at Sebring about five years ago, and the two-day masters course at Barber in Alabama about 3 years ago, and both were well worth the money, imo. While they don't call it a racing school, that what it pretty much is. The experience of driving a Porsche at speed on Sebring was amazing, and the Barber track is a tough, technical track, with lots of elevation changes. The surface is amazingly smooth, and the grip is phenomenal. All the instructors are also very good - at the masters class some of the instructors were Hurley Haywood - you had to prove to Hurley you could heel and toe properly before going out on the track - an intimidating proposition since he's sitting on the passenger seat, David Murray, and Doc Bundy.



brad

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21-year PCA Member
PCA DE Instructor

Barry: I went in 2004 to the Barbersports track in Alabama. It is expensive, but, as pointed out above, you are using their cars and wearing out their tires. Despite the expense, it is well worth the money. Addicting though, I am starting to think about taking my Cayman S out on the track more after a positive experience at Road America in August (just fast parade laps really - - not racing). The instructors at PDE are also top notch and easy to get along with even though you are just there to have fun. Do it!

I did the 2-day course at Sebring in 2001, and then the 2-day Masters course 18 months later at Road Atlanta. Both are worth every penny you will pay. You will NOT get better instruction in driving a Porsche FAST anywhere else.


However, Skip Barber Racing school now uses Porsches as well for some of its courses. I have been a regular Skip Barber 'student' for many years. )

Edited by - Thundertub on 09/26/2006 6:36:39 PM

Barry ~



FWIW I did both PDE schools, the base 'Performance' version and the follow up 2 day 'Masters' program at Barber back to back in July. IMO, a lot of what you are going to think about the experience is going to depend a lot on (a) what prior schools &/or track experience you've had; and (b) how much of a Porsche brand fanatic you are. Only you can answer those questions. If you've never done a school, or had much track experience, you will be blown away by even the basic 'Performance' course. If you've done a lot of events, you might find yourself chaffing at the rather tight level of control the program imposes on the track, especially in the base 2-day Performance School. As I recall, you will get no completely free 'unsupervised' track laps in the 2-day Performace program. Now that is NOT to say you won't be honking around the track at a high rate of speed, you just won't be allow to be making completely independant decisions about things. Most of the track lap time, at least when I attended, was in the form of lead/follow sessions with drivers in your 'pod' swapping positions behind the instructor every lap or so. Your experience in this regard can be greatly affected by who, and what sort of experience your fellow students have.



In my experience, PDE was pretty reluctant to allow anyone who has not gone through their innitial 2 day Performance program to 'skip' directly into the 2 day Master program. The two programs do, again at least in my experience, integrate or flow rather well from one to the other. Things also open up more in the Master program ~ the second day, most of the lead follow (& again I presume this would also depend on how the instructors feel about & evaluate how everyone is doing in his/her respective 'pod' of cars, ends and last half of the second day is more or less open lapping sessions running @ 20 minutes per sessions with the instructors taking up stationary positions at varrious corners and providing commentary and feed back on lines etc.



All the above said, I do not think you will find, as a collective group, a more competent, experienced and professional group of instructors anywhere. If you've got any particular questions about my experiece, or I can answer any other questions you might have, feel free to send me a PM or give me a call.



Cheers

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'o6 Cayman SArtic Silver/Black leather

Barry, I am glad you asked the question as I have also been thinking about this. Well, based on these answers and lots of other thinking I've made the plunge. I've signed up for May 1 - 2 next year. I waited that long to make sure that I had the best shot at good weather -- I know, still no guarantee, but at least it should be a little warmer by then.

Now I just need to keep my head in check til then.......

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Mike E
VA, USA

Total rip off IMHO.


You can drive a Benetton F1 car for $3000 one day course at Magny Cours! I know which one I would prefer to experience...

Thanks to all! Very helpful comments.


Barry

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Barry

Barry --

As we discussed at the Arroyo DE, in May '98 I did the Bob Bondurant 3 day High Performance Driving School, which ran about $800/day. When we did it, we drove the Rausch Racing modified Mustang Cobras, but now they use Corvettes. On the third day, most of which was on the track without direct supervision, we did could take our cars our if they passed inspection. When we returned to Bondurant, they had changed to GM cars and we did take our Porsches on the track. The principles and techniques are the same, as you could see in the DE -- I've not been to Bondurant in years, and that was only my 3rd track event, but I have no problem running with "the big boys"

I agree with mlpor about volume of info may be overwhelming without experience. Read the Ross Bentley Speed Secrets vol 1 & 2, then do the cheaper Bondurant course BEFORE the PDE, so you'll already have mastered the basics, then you'll likely get more out of the PDE.

Let me know when you're planning to go, and if I can swing it, I may go with you!

Greg

I went in July to Barber Motor Sports and it was terrific! The instructors were excellent and the track was superb! I had so much fun I felt like a kid and didn't want to get out of the car or leave the track.I spent two daysgrinning from ear toear. Although it was a lot of money, for me it wasworth it fora once in a life time typeexperience.


Although I don't havemuch opportunity in day-to-day. stop-and-go traffic to drive at the levels I experienced on the track, I now know what the car can do and that is worth a lot.