Driving Academy Question
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Driving Academy Question
I have started to get into track racing and have some experience on the track. I took the 4 day race course earlier this year at Bondurant. I have 3 HPDE track days this year in my Miata. Do you think I would be bored in the Performance class? Should I skip it any use the credit to move up to the Pro class? Thanks!
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'25 S63 AMG E Performance, '26 CLE 53 AMG
I have started to get into track racing and have some experience on the track. I took the 4 day race course earlier this year at Bondurant. I have 3 HPDE track days this year in my Miata. Do you think I would be bored in the Performance class? Should I skip it any use the credit to move up to the Pro class? Thanks!
By the way, I used my credit for purchasing a ‘19 S63 towards the Advanced class and am very happy I did that instead of jumping to the Pro first. But I am sure you would be good jumping to the Pro class if they allow you to do that.
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Range Rover 400e, Ferrari GTC Lusso, G63
I just completed the performance day with no prior track experience and they do really hold you back. Still a great day out, when its free and you get to try a bunch of cars out but would not do it again.
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From: Twin Cities, MN
'23 SL63 AMG, '24 Range Rover SE P400, ‘26 Corvette Z06, ‘25 Audi RS7 Performance
The problem I see with the 2 day advanced or whatever they call it is it seems sold out and not many dates available. I went to register last week for Laguna Seca and it had one date in November which was sold out and I’m wait listed. That’s it. Plenty of options and open dates for the one day course but no the two day one. There’s one in December I think in Road America but I don’t know if it’ll be ok with my work schedule. So I’m a bit depressed now!
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Q7
The problem I see with the 2 day advanced or whatever they call it is it seems sold out and not many dates available. I went to register last week for Laguna Seca and it had one date in November which was sold out and I’m wait listed. That’s it. Plenty of options and open dates for the one day course but no the two day one. There’s one in December I think in Road America but I don’t know if it’ll be ok with my work schedule. So I’m a bit depressed now!
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2018 E63S Wagon
Just finished the 2 day Pro at Road Atlanta. If you have track experience or have done a program with another manufacturer you can go to advanced or pro, which I would recommend. Basic/performance is very basic. You drive out to a corner or segment of track and review things like trail braking, using one corner to setup another, ABS and collision avoidance modules. Advanced builds on the concepts for some lead/follow. Pro ditches everything but skid pad, autocross and includes a lot more open lapping in GT-Ss and GT-Rs. If you can it’s worth it to skip straight to Pro. Waaaay cheaper than buying a car, a set of tires, track insurance, track rental, personal driving instructor, etc. A couple of carefree track days for a reasonable price.
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Q7
Just finished the 2 day Pro at Road Atlanta. If you have track experience or have done a program with another manufacturer you can go to advanced or pro, which I would recommend. Basic/performance is very basic. You drive out to a corner or segment of track and review things like trail braking, using one corner to setup another, ABS and collision avoidance modules. Advanced builds on the concepts for some lead/follow. Pro ditches everything but skid pad, autocross and includes a lot more open lapping in GT-Ss and GT-Rs. If you can it’s worth it to skip straight to Pro. Waaaay cheaper than buying a car, a set of tires, track insurance, track rental, personal driving instructor, etc. A couple of carefree track days for a reasonable price.
You make a good point regarding the additional cost. I have been slowly talking myself into the fact that I have to take my car out to the track at least once to see what this beast can really do. But the cost of insurance and tires makes me cringe just for one day. Hopefully a few hours of open lapping in the pro class with satisfy the urge. Probably about a wash cost wise.
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I have started to get into track racing and have some experience on the track. I took the 4 day race course earlier this year at Bondurant. I have 3 HPDE track days this year in my Miata. Do you think I would be bored in the Performance class? Should I skip it any use the credit to move up to the Pro class? Thanks!
I did the Performance School last weekend and while it was enjoyable, it was also disappointing relative to my expectations. At the BMW M school you get a lot of seat time because it is one guest per car. At the AMG Performance Academy, you double up with another student in each car, so you get half the seat time you get at the one-day M school. Not sure if they do this with the other programs, but in the performance program, the limited drivers seat time really diminishes the program. Plus the instructors are pretty conservative so you don't get to go that fast. I barely broke 100mph in a GTR at Road Atlanta.
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Joined: May 2018
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From: Twin Cities, MN
'23 SL63 AMG, '24 Range Rover SE P400, ‘26 Corvette Z06, ‘25 Audi RS7 Performance
Just finished the 2 day Pro at Road Atlanta. If you have track experience or have done a program with another manufacturer you can go to advanced or pro, which I would recommend. Basic/performance is very basic. You drive out to a corner or segment of track and review things like trail braking, using one corner to setup another, ABS and collision avoidance modules. Advanced builds on the concepts for some lead/follow. Pro ditches everything but skid pad, autocross and includes a lot more open lapping in GT-Ss and GT-Rs. If you can it’s worth it to skip straight to Pro. Waaaay cheaper than buying a car, a set of tires, track insurance, track rental, personal driving instructor, etc. A couple of carefree track days for a reasonable price.
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2018 E63S Wagon
I would try and upgrade to a different class. Given your experience, maybe do the AMG Drift class.
I did the Performance School last weekend and while it was enjoyable, it was also disappointing relative to my expectations. At the BMW M school you get a lot of seat time because it is one guest per car. At the AMG Performance Academy, you double up with another student in each car, so you get half the seat time you get at the one-day M school. Not sure if they do this with the other programs, but in the performance program, the limited drivers seat time really diminishes the program. Plus the instructors are pretty conservative so you don't get to go that fast. I barely broke 100mph in a GTR at Road Atlanta.
I did the Performance School last weekend and while it was enjoyable, it was also disappointing relative to my expectations. At the BMW M school you get a lot of seat time because it is one guest per car. At the AMG Performance Academy, you double up with another student in each car, so you get half the seat time you get at the one-day M school. Not sure if they do this with the other programs, but in the performance program, the limited drivers seat time really diminishes the program. Plus the instructors are pretty conservative so you don't get to go that fast. I barely broke 100mph in a GTR at Road Atlanta.
