Hey guys, im a 17 year old kid who would like to improve my driving abilities. Ive raced go karts lately, and I feel that Ive learned a lot driving them, but i want some experience in real world cars. Does anyone know of any good driving schools around the NC, SC, Va area?

 

You could start by visiting http://www.nasaracing.net/ and looking for information on their High Performance Driving schools.

Kirk

 

and www.Speedtrialusa.com, who will be holding an event at VIR next weekend (NASA had one this weekend). There is also Car Guys, but I unfortunately dont have a web page for them. One problem I could see though is that you are not 18, and correct me if I am wrong but I believe the minimum age to participate is 18. You can always start saving your $$ for future events though!

Brian

 

I think that ll the actual driving schools require a minimum age of 18 but you can do local autocrossing when you're 16 or older...

 

Actually NASA offers the ability for a minor to participate provided that all the necessary waivers are signed by one's parent or guardian. We also have a points system for officials that help with the running of the event. Those points can be used for free track time. If you have any questions email me.

Peace,
Chris cobetto
Director, NASA-VA

 

There ya go with a way to resolve the under 18 issue . I'm sure Jon Felton will see this later and let you know Speedtrials policy on this as well and I believe there is a similar "work for credit" deal to get free track time with Speedtrial. You can't go wrong either way!

Brian
-who wishes he could be a little more helpful

 

Speedtrialusa will gladly accept 16 and 17 year-old student drivers, assuming of course that the appropriate waivers have been signed by the parents.

We have a high performance driving school this coming weekend at VIR (outside Danville VA on the NC/VA border) that is unfortunately full with a waiting list for the beginner group specifically, but I still urge you to come out and see what these events are like. It won't cost you anything to get in, and I can arrange for you to go for a ride "at speed" with a racer or instructor or advanced student in anything from a Civic to a Porsche or a Viper if you wish, for totally free, just so you can see why we enjoy this stuff so much.

We also have a worker program. Some groups make you work several weekends before you can get any free track time, but we ask you to work in the morning so you can drive FOR FREE in the afternoon, and vice versa. If your car isn't ready yet, we also do a credit system where one day worked = one day free to drive. This can save you literally thousands of dollars a year.

Also, someone mentioned it earlier in this thread... Car Guys' website is http://www.carguysinc.com . They are definitely worth checking out. Another good place to start looking for track driving events and learning about them is http://www.trackschedule.com , and VIR's website, which I linked to earlier in this message.

Anyway- contact me anytime if you have any questions about Speedtrial events, or these track events in general. All the weekends are tons of fun, and all the people are wonderful. Welcome to the best hobby in the world.

Hope that helps,

Jon Felton
East Coast Director
SpeedTrialUSA Road Racing Events
804.938.TIRE cell anytime
jon@get-fast.net http://www.speedtrialusa.com

 

Join Tarheel Sports Car Club if you haven't already. http://www.thscc.com We (THSCC) mainly autocross, but we do some track stuff. We will have a school at VIR on the south course the 2nd weekend in April. I believe the cost is in the neighborhood of $250 for the weekend and there are plenty of spots open. A fine deal for time on the nation's finest road course (IMO of course )


[Modified by MaddMatt, 7:41 PM 2/17/2002]

 

All of the aforementioned events/clubs run high performance driving schools. These are great fun and you will learn a lot about driving and car control.

But don't overlook defensive driving style courses offered at othe locations. I know BSR (the company that operates Summit Point Raceway, WV) offers a full spectrum of driver ed courses (from defensive driving to high performance track days to police training).

And try to find a club that will let you use a wet skidpad. The experience of driving a heavy ar with bald tires on a wet/slick surface is very enlightening. Of the above clubs, only BSR offers regular skid pad instruction as part of a high performance school.

 

Fortunately, the east coast program has a director who has gone/is going great lengths to make the program here safer and better organised. I'm sure he'll comment later (when he gets back from VIR).

 

I just signed up for the March 22 FATT (Friday at the Track). I can't wait.

later,

aj

 

I dunno what goes on there on the west coast, as for the east coast, nothing could be further from the truth.

 

LOL, I've heard that one about a thousand times before. The west coast guys do things differently than we do out here on the Atlantic end. Out here, you won't see (m)any cars like that. But it's all part of what makes each region unique...

Jon

 

damn, i better return my commando wing and neon lights

Brian

 

Awesome AJ, you are going to have a blast, I guarantee it! Summit Point is a super fun track, and FATTs get some great instructors.

Jon