Where can I learn performance driving?

[PJR202]

What's a good place to learn/be taught how to drive my car? Things like cornering, proper acceleration/deceleration, shifting, pushing the car closer to its limitations, road course driving, etc..

I think we have an autocross club reasonably close to me, but I don't know much about it or what kind of skill I need to do it, etc. I'm not necessarily interested in racing every month so much as I'd like to know what my car can do and how to do it when I'm out on the road, for fun and for defensive driving purposes.

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[Brent Dalton]

Where are you in Kentucky? I can give specifics with your location.

 

[kz]

What's a good place to learn/be taught how to drive my car? Things like cornering, proper acceleration/deceleration, shifting, pushing the car closer to its limitations, road course driving, etc..

I think we have an autocross club reasonably close to me, but I don't know much about it or what kind of skill I need to do it, etc. I'm not necessarily interested in racing every month so much as I'd like to know what my car can do and how to do it when I'm out on the road, for fun and for defensive driving purposes.

Autocross is the least expensive and the safest. If you are in Northern KY, you can come over to one of Cincinnati SCCA events in either Wilmington or Turfway Park - there's a Starting Line school next weekend in Wilmington which is excellent way to start.

If you want to do track, look for track days in Bowling Green.... There's upcoming Track Night in America there if I am not mistaken...

 

[Evil Minion]

To really get the most seat time in an autox session, go to one of the Test n' Tune days. It's not a timed competition or anything, they just set up a course, and you line up and run it all day long as many times as you want. It's perfect to find the true limit of the car, and even beyond. If you spin out, so what? Nothing there to hit but a tiny cone.

You can get in 30-40 runs if you want, as opposed to the 6-8 in an autox day.

If you're not too far, there's one this weekend in Peru Indiana, with the Indy SCCA. There's also 1 or 2 more later this summer here.

 

[PJR202]

Where are you in Kentucky? I can give specifics with your location.

carter county, near the WV border

The closest autocross club I know of is in WV. One of the guys in my office apparently does it, but I don't think there's actual test and tune type days. I think they just try to run an event in a giant parking lot every couple months. Last I heard they were looking for a new lot because someone slid into a building a little bit at the old place. I wouldn't feel like me rolling up and going for it as a very safe idea for anyone standing around the course.

 

[dontlifttoshift]

- there's a Starting Line school next weekend in Wilmington which is excellent way to start....

This. Times eleventy.

AutoX is about the most fun you can have in your car with your clothes on. Trackdays will be easier and the instruction will make more sense with an AutoX background.

see also: evo school

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