Seriously thinking about doing the 2 Day porsche driving school in Birmingham next year.

Can't say my motivation is related to any desire to start tracking or do club events. But I've always thought it would be interesting and fun to learn the basics of performance driving.

Anyone done the Porsche school? Any recommendations or experiences with it?

Thx

 

I did the PPDS in Alabama and it was incredible. It is very similar to a local PCA DE event except you are paying to drive PCNA cars and not your one and only for the day. You get a nice lunch and video of your day along with great instruction and classroom sessions to compliment the track time. They will put you up in a posh golf resort in an exclusive (for Alabama) and secluded neighborhood, so if you golf this may be worthwhile but it wasn't for me. The bus ride between Barber Motorsports Parkway and the resort is about 35 minutes each way. If you are into motorcycles, the largest collection on earth is housed in the newly-expanded Barber museum at the parkway. There are automobiles and race cars on display as well. The museum, racetrack and ground are top-notch world class venues, and make for a worthy, memorable visit.

FWIW you are money way ahead and also better connected to your local community by joining your local PCA chapter and doing the DE events. I would say PPDS is great but if you have a Porsche you owe it to yourself to sign up for a DE event.

 

I heard this......somewhere

Just Do it !

 

I did the 1 day school about 5 years ago. It was a lot of fun. You get to drive all the different Porsche models and see how they are under various conditions. I sort of felt that this school would be better for someone that didn't own and drive a Porsche to get the feel of one and see how they drive, handle, etc. It was cool to see how they handle on the track. which was my first experience on the track.

Would I do it again, probably not. It's pretty pricey to drive the car I already own. Looking to do something where I can experience other sports cars under track conditions like Ferarri, Lambo, etc.

 

I did the advanced school and enjoyed it. Per the other post you can stay in the "resort"; I stayed in the hotel at the track. It's literally across the street. I'm there to drive; I don't play golf and don't care about a "resort" unless my wife is with me.

I enjoyed the course and would do it again (move up to the GT3 course). It is expensive but you get to flog their cars which has value to me. You should get to drive most models and you can really feel the difference between a C2S, a Turbo, a Cayman, a Panamera, etc. I really enjoyed it.

Good luck.

 

When I did it (many years ago) it used to be called the Porsche Driving Experience. I did it at the Barber track in Alabama. The instructors teach you how to track these cars (how and where to brake, the apex of a curve, how to approach and exit curves, etc.). You come out of the session with a greater appreciation about what these vehicles can do. I got to drive 911, Boxster, and Cayenne vehicles.

When I did my class, they had a Carrera GT that you could ride on the last day. Perhaps, this time they have a 918 (I am speculating here).
I learned a lot about the limits of the car which gave me more confidence even in normal street driving.

Recommended.

 

I highly recommend it.
My wife gave me the 2 day course when I turned 40 a few years ago as a birthday gift. It was the Barber course in AL.
It was a nice mix of didactics in the classroom and then taking it onto the track in their cars so you can really thrash it.
Probably learned how to properly heel and toe there as well.
Bonus is if you are a golfer, the Robert Trent Jones trail begins there and there are a couple nice courses nearby.
I may take the next level course at some point.
The prior comment about doing a DE event with your local PCA chapter is spot on as well.

 

I did an HPDE with my 911, must do!

 

Porsche Sport Driving School (PSDS) is really fun, the first two levels are enough to understand the basic of performance driving and ability to understand porsche cars lineup up close.

 

Thanks all, good comments... sounds very worthwhile..

I'm not really all that interested in doing PCA events, I know they are probably really great but that kind of thing is just not really my thing.. The other aspect is that I'd much rather be thrashing their cars than mine..

I think I'm going to do the 2 day, in AL.. will make a nice long weekend getaway..

 

plus they have you go on an off road track to try out the Cayenne/Macan and a boxster on a wet flat surface to do drifting (at least when I took the course several years ago).

 

Welcome to Porsche Driving School, a driving school based in Melbourne, Australia dedicated to helping you achieve your goals as a licensed driver career booster reviews Our friendly, professional instructors will help you become a safe and confident driver. Whether you are interested in passing your test the first time or simply want to improve your skills, getting your driving license through our intensive driving lessons is within reach!

 

Just curious, why are you not interested in PCA events? Seems like there is something for everyone or at least most.

 

Absolutely no regrets! Face it tough, taking these courses does not make you a race car driver, but it does give you a chance to see what these cars are capable of and so much more with a competent driver behind the wheel as on the last day when the instructor who happens to race took us out for a lap in the Porsche supplied Turbo. I was in heaven!

Twice so far and will be attending a third time this summer. In 2021, I took the two courses back to back; the one-day Precision Course (mandatory prior to taking the Performance Course) and the two-day Performance Course. In 2022, I took the Performance Course and although no slouch, got more comfortable. This year, another Performance Course before I go for the Master Course in 2024. Gotta do what I always wanted to do since I was in my mid-teens but never had the chance before they put me in a box six-feet under. Poeple should rent the Bucket List DVD.

You have no worries on the track; it is safe, no law enforcement to put up with and with plenty of run-off areas, not that you need them. You'll hate street driving after you have been on the track.

 

Sorry for the slight tangent, has anyone here done the Porsche Experience in Europe (or any other performance driving school in Europe)? I was thinking it's probably cheaper over there compared to the US and I plan to visit Europe for fun soon.