Planet 9

Hi,

A few friends and I are considering enrolling in the "Porsche Sport Driving School" at the Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. Has anyone gone through this program? It appeals to me as I can drive several different Porsche models (including the Cayman S)... and my "learning" occurs on someone elses iron

Any thoughts/feedback?

Excellent program, went through it a few years ago when it was at Road Atlanta and from all accounts Barber Motorsports Park is a superior facility. The museum there is also a bonus.

Excellent program, just a shame that Porsche won't let you drive the Cayman on the track, autox only. The reason, according to at least one instructor at the school, is that the Cayman S turns faster lap times than the 997 and very very close to 997C2S lap times. Can't have the Cayman showing up its big brother, just wouldn't be right.

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K-Man S

I can't comment on the Barber courses, but I have done 2 courses at the Porsche driving school at Leipzig both were excellent and as I understand it from Porsche the only place to learn.

FWIW, I've been to three, one "basic" and two of the master programs within the last 18 months. PDE (US) is very reluctant about letting anyone who has not done a basic school go directly to a master program. When I first looked into doing one of the Porsche US DE programs, I asked about getting a by on the basic program based on other experience, and was innitially told "... it couldn't be done." I've since discovered that may be a bit more of a function of who you know.

As for the school itself, the facility is spectacular, and the line up of coaches/driving instructors is the best I've personally seen/experienced, i.e. Hurley Haywood, David Donohue, Doc Bundy, Cass Whitehead, John "Good o'l Boy How the hell'd I ever end up in a Porch'e" Lewis, Andrew Davis, Rich Hull, etc., etc. etc.

Course schedule, hummmm ~ well if you have a lot of prior track &/or school experience and you have to go through the basic school first, you will feel a little bit like being forced to re-learning how to crawl before you're allowed to walk. You will spend almost ALL of your time at the basic school in a lead/follow, situation. The school can only progress at the rate of the slowest, least experienced person(s) in your group. If you can arrange to do it with friends and buddies, you stand an excellent chance of having a much better time at the school rather than relying on the "luck of the draw." Experience levels range all over the place in both the Basic, as well as the Master programs.

The school is second to none in terms of the equipment ~ everything is in top notch condition, but then it should be at these prices. IMO these are relatively expensive schools, but then again if you're a Porsche person, I don't know of anything else out there that comes close in term of putting you in with Porsche kind of peolpe, running Porsche equipment. I suppose some of the exotic Ferrari &/or Lamborghini, Bentley or Mercedez offerings would be comperable, btut then I think you have to go to Europe for most of their stuff.

In my (so far) limited experience, the European stuff, while using the same "Porsche Driving Experience" name, is run very differently. The PDE- Barber programs are great, but somewhat pricey relative to the amount and quality of seat time etc. OTOH, the equipment and facilities (i.e. wet skid pad and auto-x part of the school program) go a long way to justifying that price premium.

HTH, Mike

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'o6 Cayman SArtic Silver/Black leather

Autocross only for the cayman?? That is BS. I was seriously thinking about doing it. That just convinced me to wait.I almost tried to work a deal when I bought the car. Hearing this- I am glad that I didn't. Don't get me wrong. I have loved the 911 since day one. But why would I want to spend 3500.00 to run a cayman flat out in a parking lot that I can do around here for free?I have no doubt that the CS would run down and pass a standard 997 based on my 997 test drive and possibly scare the pants off a 997S particulary in some of the twisty sections of Barber. I got an invitation to a track day at VIR but my CS was still in the break in period so I passed. Made me sick.

Hey thanks for all the feedback. What a great community!

I think I'm going to get a few friends together and go in the spring. I have all my vacations already planned for the rest of the year. Should be a fun time with good friends!

I went to the 2 day High Performance program(i.e. 2 day Basic program) in mid-April and had a great time. Unless something has changed since then, the Cayman S was available "only" for Trail braking, Heel-Toe Downshift and "other" exercises. The Autocross was run "only" with a Boxster Tip. Track sessions were pretty much as mlpor indicated - lead and follow in groups of 3 or 4 students with an instructor. For those (like me at the time) who had limited seat time in a Porsche or on track, it really was a good learning experience (heel-toe was weird at first). One group of guys from the New York area with a fair amount of track experience came together and were in one group. I think they probably were a little more advanced than the average "mixed" group. The instructors were great and all were eager to answer questions and help. I have a pic (I should upload it) of John Lewis on his knees next to me (sitting in a Cayman) trying to help me with the heel-toe footwork. Everything was first class and my wife and I were trated very well. I highly recommend it. BTW - I can verify that some instructors confirm no Cayman on track to show up base 911.

I would advise going in late March through early May - better temps and nicer weather. The Fall is supposed to be nice as well (Octoberish). If you decide to go I'm sure you and your friends will have a great time.

Anyone been to the Porsche school and the Skip Barber High Performance driving school that can give impressions of both. Experiences with the Skip Barber school alone would be appreciated also.

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Brian