I want to get signed up for a fun driving school...
Any sugestions??

 

Hey buddy,
I was going to do it but had to bail out and sold my spot to my cousin. He said he had a great time and learned alot. Remember the one at Downsview is only the 1st stage, the more advanced 2nd and 3rd stages are held in Montreal on the F1 track there. I think in this stage, you only get to drive 330s (I think - 2nd and 3rd stages upgrade you to M3s and M5s) and also, if you're thinking about it, get a buddy, since you have to share a car wtih someone - they ride shotgun while you drive and vice versa. I've heard only good things about it. Nissan had a program too I think - they ran it way back when you bought a 300ZX. I don't know if its still running.
If you're willing to travel, you should look into the Bragg-Smith racing school in Vegas and there are a couple really cool schools out in California too. Depends on what you want to learn on (drive in).
I hear Ferrari is coming to Canada with a driving school as well:
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpo...1-e6251d126e61
Good luck with that!
Al

 

They wouldn't be held on the Montreal F1 track since it's a temporary "street" circuit.

 

Ian, did you forget this thread?

https://g35driver.com/forums/canada/80415-2006-driving-events.html

 

haha... I maybe an O.F. Shane but I did remember that thread.

I was just wondering if anyone has done the Downsview training...
for some feedback b4 I registered.

Thought it'd be a good starting point b4 getting into club events.

 

My dad and I did it together a couple of years ago.

It was informative as they taught you about oversteer, understeer, and other basic vehicle dynamics. I have nothing to compare it to (it's the only class I've taken), but I came away with it have learned quite a bit about how the car reacts to things.

They had a slalom, and a skidpad set up, as well as an accident avoidance slalom. They had two groups going, with one group using manual cars, and the other using automatics (you got to choose your preference). For my class, they were all estoril blue 330ci's. The instructors drove M3's.

My take is that if you've had other courses before, or have a really good handle on vehicle dynamics, it may be a little basic for you, but at the time it was a great primer, and I got to see how DSC can really save your *** when they demonstrated it on the skidpad.

Oh, I should mention that you share a car with another individual, and swap back and forth at each 'event'.

If you have any specific questions, let me know.

 

Thanks bro.. apreciate it the feedback

 

I've done the first and the second and I must say its a great time. The M3 screams in the autocross and you learn some valuable moves and controls. Need to save up and go to the 3rd at mt tremblent

 

I did it last August and the format was what Esoteric mentioned. The only thing was this was the same day we had that huge rain storm last summer, and it started raining in the afternoon so the last part the timed slalom challenge excercise was cancelled as the grounds at that point was basically a pond.

 

I was planning to go this summer for the 1st and 2nd course with my wife, but we have some other things to handle so we might try it next year. Most of the feedback was positive and at the end of the course, all the ones attended learned a lot!!!!

 

I fully agree with Esoteric, I too took the course a couple years ago and had a blast. We were driving 330i sedans with the SMG transmission. Must have been 2004 model cars as I think that's when that option came out. It's a little pricey at $500 for the day but you must do it to go for the next level courses.

 

But...

The site linked from that thread doesn't mention the Downsview event.

and...

I thought (thought I read) it was only recommended.

 

That's right. I don't feel that the downsview event is as valuable.

 

what's the cost of the bmw driving school? me and a buddy have been talking about going to the jim russell racing school in quebec this fall. but it's pretty expensive at over $4k for 3 days. u still gotta get down there and get a hotel as well.

 

The BMW page for the Perfection (Second level) course says "Driver's must have successfully completed Advanced II"

See linky http://www.bmw.ca/com/en/index_highend.html

ps. that's the look I had on my face for the entire week when I told people about the day.