High speed driving training

Andy's school (Fast Track) is a good experience if you are looking for a circle track school. I haven't worked with those guys in years but a good friend of mine still does and tells me what they're doing and how good their program is. The Petty Experience is also available in the Charlotte area but honestly, it is more of an entertainment experience than a school. There's also the BMW Performance Center, which has great schools in new BMWs on their own private track and also at places like VIR and the Michelin proving grounds. I have worked with those guys for years and they put on a great road course driving event.

If you want to drive your own car, there are a plethora of HPDEs available at tracks within a 5-hours drive of Charlotte (Lowes, CMP, VIR, Road Atlanta, Roebling, etc.) These are usually 2-day events and cost much less, as you are driving your own car, yet offer perhaps more in-depth instruction in some areas but no racecraft if that's what you're looking for. Check www.trackschedule.com and/or www.motorsportreg.com for more info.

If racecraft is what you're looking for, you may also look at NASA's comp schools (you bring your car or rent one - they can point you to several places from which to rent a track car) for good instruction at a relatively low price point. There's also the Skip Barber school which comes to VIR, Road Atlanta and CMP from time to time (there was one going on today here at VIR), which is a great school that focuses on road course driving in formula cars. It can also be a bit more expensive than the other driving schools but has a reputation for being worth it.

Having worked for most, if not all of these, I don't want to say that any are better than others - it depends on your goals.

I also run driver advancement clinics (rEvolution Performance Driving) in the area in which you bring your car. Most of my clinics are geared toward seasoned/advanced drivers and racers. The next clinic I'll be doing is at the new Bluegrass Motorsports Park in KY and it will focus on driving instructors (not an instruction clinic, a driving clinic for instructors), if you are among that group. You can find more info on that at www.asphaltventures.com - my partner in crime for such events. PM me for more info if you like, as I feel like I'm plugging my own deal - which is not my intent (and why I mentioned it last.)

You have many options in this area.

Cheers & C U @ d'Track!!
C

Chuck Hawks,
Pro-Driver, Coach, Instructor & Facilitator
DreamsFulfilled, LLC & rEvolution Performance Driving System ©

 

Ah, Chuck's beat me to it! Can't type very quick on the phone while driving home from VIR <grin> but I think Andy (Fast Track) runs a great program. He bought NCMS (Rockingham) a few years ago and does some program there, too. Watch out exiting Turn 2, it's tighter than it looks. Turns 3 and 4 at Lowes is awesome!

If you want road course training and are early in the curve, Skip Barber and Bertil Roos are terrific.

Have fun!

 

Considering your situation, I'd say that the Fast Track 3-day is your best bet. Just be prepared to go elsewhere later because this stuff is like crack/heroin... it only takes once and you're addicted!

Al the best and keep us posted about your experience!!

Should you go to Fast Track, look/ask for Norbert Watts - he's a good friend, driver and instructor.

Cheers & C U @ d'Track!!
C

Chuck Hawks,
Pro-Driver, Coach, Instructor & Facilitator
DreamsFulfilled, LLC & rEvolution Performance Driving System ©

 

Ditto what those guys said.

I was in your position a few months ago. Went and did the 3 day course at Road Atlanta with Skip Barber. It was an absolutely fantastic experience. As Chuck pointed out, it is like crack. I have now bought a dedicated track car, and will try to get out at every opportunity from now on....

Go do it!

 

If you wanna do roundy round NASCAR driving, the Buck Baker school is much better then Petty Experience.

Here is their schedule:

http://www.buckbaker.com/schedules.html

Fun bunch of people. Buddy Baker is a riot.

 

http://www.gwcpages.com/dev/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=172%3Ashop-tools-welding-equipmentsupplies&Itemid=16

This great site (www.greenwhitecheckeredpages.com) also includes schools for road racing and drag racing.