Would You Support An Official Chevrolet Corvette Driving School?

[Rob]

It's well known that the Corvette is one of the safest, best handling sports cars on the road today, but do you feel as though you're capable of utilizing the full performance potential of your Corvette?

BMW actually offers their very own official driving school at the BMW Performance Center in South Carolina. The Driving School offers course instruction for drivers to develop skills that add to the performance and safety of their vehicles, whether they are in a BMW or some other type of auto. The challenging array of asphalt and concrete areas helps teach every aspect of car control.

Their driving school offers the following programs:


Car Control Skills Clinic - Participants in this one-day program will practice accident avoidance on several areas of the Performance Center's driving course, including the water wall corridor, skid pad, slalom course, autocross circuit and lifestyle course. Participants are taught vehicle dynamics and the significance of weight distribution and seating positions and how they effect cornering under controlled and panic breaking situations.

Advanced Car Control Skills Clinic - This two-day session picks up where the Car Control Skills Clinic ends. Participants will spend more time on the skid pad and learn and gain an in-depth exposure to active safety technology to become safer, more responsible drivers.

M School - A one-day class utilizing the high-performance M3 and M roadsters. Participants will experience the dynamics of these high-performance vehicles and understand active safety features while maneuvering through the autocross circuit. Emphasis is placed on car control techniques.

M5 School - This one-day class is included in the purchase price of the 2000 M5. Participants will maximize their driving skills on the autocross circuit, water wall corridor and skid pad to experience the performance and handling of their new cars.

New Drivers Course - The one-day class, intended for inexperienced drivers between the ages of 16 and 19, goes well beyond drivers education available to most teens by offering young drivers hands-on experience for many types of driving situations. Classes cost $300 and are limited to 12 students with both classroom theory and hands-on experience using BMW 3 Series couples and sedans. Students must be at least 16 years old and they must have at least a learner's permit (or equivalent).

Women-Only Car Control Clinic - "Many women have told us they appreciate the camaraderie and fun of sharing a learning experience with a group of other women so we've added a course just for them. The curriculum is the same as our day-long Car Control Clinic, but the experience is definitely different," says Tom Troy, Manger of the BMW Performance Center, where the driving school is based. "The clinic is taught by women, all of whom are accomplished professional drivers."

Bragg-Smith Driving School out in Las Vegas, NV already offers a driving program utilizing Corvettes.

What if Chevrolet offered an official driving school for Corvette and Corvette owners that offered similar programs as the ones mentioned above?

If Chevrolet offered an official Corvette Driving School that taught students the performance limits of the Corvette, safe driving skills and how to properly use the various safety features built into Corvettes, would you consider utilizing such a program?

This Driving School package could even be tied in with the Museum Delivery Package (RPO R8C) and could be as easy as checking off a box on the dealer order form when you go into your local dealer to place an order for a new Corvette.

Combining the Museum Delivery Package with an official Corvette Performance Driving School package, not to mention a tour through the National Corvette Museum and Bowling Green Corvette Plant, would make the entire purchase and ownership experience a memorable one.

Or....say you just want to plan a trip to Bowling Green to visit the National Corvette Museum and take a tour of the plant. Why not enjoy yourself a litte more, and take advantage of an official Corvette Driving School program while you're there?

So.....what do others think? Is this something you would consider in addition to a trip to Bowling Green, or in ordering a new Corvette? Why or why not? Cast your vote above! :)

Disclaimer: Before rumors get started, etc., I just want to be clear on something....I'm not aware of Chevrolet even remotely considering such a plan. This is strictly my own idea that popped into my head today and I was curious what others thought. Who knows.....maybe someday they'll see this and think it's a cool idea. You never know. :)

[Tomrw]

I support the idea of an Official Chevrolet Corvette Driving School. We own the best sports car made, let's have a way to learn to drive at it's potential.

[FarOut]

I don't think I live that far from the BMW
track in S. Carolina. Maybe I need to go
down there and thrash a beemer around!

:D farout

[69Crazy]

I think that would be an excellent idea....far too many people buy high performance cars and think that they are Mario F'N Andretti. It should take more than a bankroll and a heavy foot.....

Just my most humble opinion....

I have taken a kart performance driving class and hope to take one of the nationally recognized performance driving schools in the next few years.

[twiget]

I think its a great idea. However I think, that if this ever happens with a GM company, it will be Caddilac. Now, before you guys start throwing rotten eggs at me, think about it. Caddie seems to be comming into it's own as far as performance coupes and sedans go. It's also seen as GM's luxury arm, where as Chevy (with the exception of the Corvette) is the more affordible choice.

Also, I've read a couple things about Caddie moving into position to challenge BMW and Mecedies. If this is successful, I would imagine a Caddie performance driving school before a Chevy one. And since flagship of the Caddie challenge is supposed to be this new car baised on the Corvette (dont remember the name), and being built at BG. So, if there is a performance driving school, it could still be held in BG, and the rest of Rob's theory would work out fine.

Jason

[Vettelt193]

I would definitely support one... the only problem with the current schools is the high cost. Maybe if own a Corvette you could get a discount? Or at least when you buy a new Corvette you get part of it paid for by GM... That would be a program I would go for.

[Clairvoyant1332]

Yeah, I'd do it! :upthumbs In fact, I'm thinking about doing the three day course at Bragg-Smith shortly after I get my '03 Z06.

[trumperZ06]

:) Justin Bell offers Driving schools featuring Corvettes (Z0-6 included) in Florida. I took his 3-day school and was pleased eith the results.

[thevettenet CA]

Originally posted by Clairvoyant1332
Yeah, I'd do it! :upthumbs In fact, I'm thinking about doing the three day course at Bragg-Smith shortly after I get my '03 Z06.

Bragg-Smith is great - you use their Corvettes, and the instruction is super! I think it's about as close to "official" as it gets, since GM does provide a lot of support to Rupert - or at least they did when I took the course.

[Mad-Mic]

i would suppport it....anything to help a new vette owner to "not" destroy his/hers 50k sports car on the first exit ramp they take in a rain storm! i've heard a few stories of people that bought a new vette and wrecked it in the first 2 hours to few day of ownership cause they didn't know the driving characteristics of such a sports car.

My 2 cents worth ;)

there is a road course in west virginia that offers driving courses for anyone interested here is the link. summitpoint-raceway (http://www.summitpoint-raceway.com) one of my friends in his Imp SS went there and said it was a blast for 150 bucks! they only offer these classes on fridays.

[ironcity]

A wise friend once told me before you put any money into the automobile put money into the driver. Plus it has to be a blast!

[danl72]

Where can I sign up? I think it would be fun.

[supernatural400]

No I don't think chevy should do it and here's my reasoning. there are enough idiots on the road now that thinking they can handle a car at a buck 30 , this would only make more people who are not qualified to drive faster than their ability. I have been to a couple Skip Barber classes, but that was strickly for track racing not performance driving on the street. Most people won't shell out the 3-5 grand that these courses require, but if it was offered as and RPO code it could be financed along with the car and as human nature most people will think that now they have taken this course, that they can handle driving at excessive speeds. There was a comment made about having the class "help a new vette owner to not destroy their 50 k sports car on the first exit ramp in a rain storm ", I'll save ya some money here..slow the hell down.. if you can't figure out that you need to drive slower in the rain and even slower in corners then all the driving classes won't help. I also see a big liability issue for GM the first time someone takes this course and crashes and kills someone, there going to go right after GM for promoting this type of driving. Driving a Corvette is just like driving any other car, if you pay attention to what your doing and what other people are doing you shouldn't have a problem

[supernatural400]

Let me clarify as I re-read Robs post, you mentioned a course to learn the full potential of the corvette and I'm taking that to mean a school like skip barber, if that's what your talking about then my previous answers stands, but if you talking about the BMW course for corvette, then yes I do agree as you seem to be talking about two different types of schools:confused

[Rob]

Hmmmmm.....I'm talking about a cross between BMW and Skip Barber. A school where any Corvette owner can go to learn more about high performance driving in a Corvette...and a school where new C5 owners can take delivery of their new C5s, take a tour of the plant, NCM, and then attend a high performance driving school to learn how to fully enjoy their new C5.

[Justin_cv87]

I would! i would love to go to such a school, it would be a great place to meet vette owners, and a great place to learn how to drive a vette with skill. but i think there should also be a mechanic school and it should be for all generations of the corvette, not just the C5

[Scott81]

I think GM should have done this long ago. I've been to a couple different driving courses, although they had a different purpose and were much more intensive than anything like GM would do I can tell you it was some of the best fun I've ever had. I learned more about driving at those schools than you could imagine. While I was in the Army I was sent off to be a Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor, man was that an eye opener, and I had been riding bike for a long time before that.

Now, if anyone is in Florida with a rental car look me up and I'll teach you all about reverse 180's, J-turns and how to ram through a road block, then we can do that with multiple cars, and when it really gets fun is when you do all that from the passenger seat :D

If you really want a rush check out the Heckler & Koch (http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/) class. Ya I know, who really needs it, but think of the possiblities :L

Tuition: $1,995.00
Duration: 5 days
Ammunition: 400 rounds (pistol), 500 rounds 9mm (submachine gun)
Special Requirements: Body armor, pistol, 3 magazines, concealable hip holster, jacket, wraparound eye and ear protection.

September 23-27 Lakeland, FL

Developed and taught in association with Skip Carroll & Associates, this course is designed for protective specialists who need to develop the firearms and driving skills necessary to respond effectively during crisis situations in vehicle operations. This five-day class combines defensive driving techniques with the proper use of firearms in operational scenarios. Class consists of both firing range and track time. Topics covered include:


• Safety & firearms handling
• Firing techniques, including firing from moving vehicles
• Methods of carry and deployment
• Deployment tactics
• Pistol and submachine gun live fire drills
• Braking and turning techniques
(including J-turns, bootlegs, 90° turns)
• Ramming
• Anti-ambush tactics
• Drills & scenarios
• Shooting through glass

[qwall]

i'd definetly take a corvette driving school course..........Scott, i wouldnt mind taking that class either :)

[Colorado]

If you go to http://www.chevrolet.com/corvette/ and then click on Corvette Enthusiast, there is a link to the Justin-Bell Driving School. Would this be an Official Corvette driving class, or is this just something that is a paid advertisement? What would be the difference between this offering and something else? Seems like I read where BMW or some other marque is offering driving classes at the factory. Is this what you mean? Just curious!

[Daryllawman]

Go for it, I think that is a good Idea.......:D :upthumbs

[Tuna]

I think it's a great idea. With so many people taking the Museum delivery option, a driving school in the Bowling Green area would be great. Alas, no race track except a drag strip, so the school would be parking lot (autocross) limited.

If GM does something like this, I'd try to support it.

[corvettecrazy]

personally(being 16) I think a class like this would not only be extremely awsome but also very helpful.

1) having a professional teach my how to properly shift and the differnt ways to do it and even in varying types of cars wold be nice.

2) being about to get that new drive need for speed out on a closed corse with someone to instruct how to not kill your self while doing it would also be nice

3) eduaction aoubt driving to the limit on varying surfaces(sandy road, grippy road, crappy eastern PA streets, to anything else) might be helpful to cause the roads change from town to town and state to state

4) autocross type driving instruction would be really good

5) general saftey such as: slides(power and loss of control), loss of power, no brakes, avoiding major hazzards, etc

6) for an exta sum (not anohter full course price) repair of your specified generation (c1-5) would be nice. especially since many of us do our own work when possible.

7) a corvette care section for 1/2 day might be interesting and helpful also.

8) defensive and agressive driving edu

9)stunts(reverse 180, etc(you know the rest))

10) burn out control circular, straight, and or not moving burn out


just some of my thoughts and ideas of what should be included in a driving school. I would definately support a corvette driving school and attend.

BTW the action character drving school would be really cool:r :r :_rock

[LMN8R]

Sign me up. Now. Dotted line? Where? Antarctica? Doesn't matter. Lets go.

[RedRagTop]

I think the concept is a good one, and should be promoted by GM. My first ride out in this particular vette I almost looped it when it shifted hard into second and the rear went way out, just because I didn't expect that kind of power from one of these year cars. Sorry Rob, but I think you'll find that the vette is actually one of the highest fatality cars in the world, and likely based on drivers who get surprised plus the high number of verts. I may be wrong though, I read that statistic in a car mag some years back...
Best thing about the course is to find your spin limits in a safe environment instead of in traffic and to demonstrate the fun of using the car on a closed course to play like the guys I know that rent a strip from the local airport to ralley on.

[Dreamin]

Yes. I have been looking for something locally (in Canada). It would be fun (and a great experience) to see exactly what the Vette is capable of - not to mention the one doing it!

In case you didn't get my answer, YES, YES, YES!!!!!

[MM-C5]

Or....say you just want to plan a trip to Bowling Green to visit the National Corvette Museum and take a tour of the plant. Why not enjoy yourself a litte more, and take advantage of an official Corvette Driving School program while you're there?

The first time I visited The Museum I thought, ‘These guys have really missed the boat! What Corvette owner WOULDN'T want to bring their car here to learn how to drive it?”

…and I didn’t even have a Vette at the time!

The first thought I had after 17 years of low performance driving and stepping into my C5 was, “Damn, I wish there was someplace I could take this to learn what this thing can do.”

My guess is that GM would be absolutely stunned by the reception, so much so that having a school only in BG would not be enough…although BG would – and should – be the first choice. After all, you can “Be Petty” at a ton of tracks, but if you want to do it right, Charlotte is where you go.

Rob, I believe you have a wonderful idea and can be the catalyst to make this happen! I gotta believe that all this positive feedback should somehow find a willing ear.

Maybe there’s a CAC member who has an inside track to the Marketing department.

This time Rob -- “Trust Your Cape!” :upthumbs :m

Tom

[Rob]

Originally posted by Tom Adams


This time Rob -- “Trust Your Cape!” :upthumbs :m

Tom ;)

[Rob]

I decided to move this thread I started a little over a year ago, into this forum for some different exposure.

If GM were to offer such a program as an option with the purchase of a C6, would it be something you would be interested in?

[MM-C5]

Sure, but a C-6 probably isn't in my equasion until the late C-7s :cry

So the real question or "project" is...how do we get GM's attention to develop a performance driving experience??


Go For It, Rob!:_rock

T

[StillDreaming]

Awesome idea!!!!!! I would love the entire idea, driving, part of purchase, tech class, everything. I need a Corvette first, but when that day finally comes and I hope that it does, I would do it all, and love every minute of it.

[vetteZ06dream]

Originally posted by FarOut
I don't think I live that far from the BMW
track in S. Carolina. Maybe I need to go
down there and thrash a beemer around!

:D farout

i say u go down there in ur vette and show those beemers what a real car is!!:bash :booty :grinshot :upthumbs

[corvettecrazy]

although I think a vette driving school is very fun a beemer one would be just as if not more important, this is because the beemers actions are going to much closer to what your car is going to do than to what a corvette would do. AND those little 325i's are a BLAST to drive (point made from someone who has driven about 3 cars (tahoe bonniville and 325i, i've moved outher cars but I dont think that counts as driving))

[vettepilot]

I would like to see GM sponser a driving school, as long as it consists of phases such as the following:

Phase 1: Defensive driving techniques, most drivers are not fully aware of what is going on around them, and fail to anticipate the consequences of not just their actions, but those of the drivers around them, thereby failing to avoid an accident.

Phase 2: Inclement weather driving, sound silly right? But many accidents happen because people just don't think about, or understand the vast differances in road adhesion when the road surface is wet, snow covered, iced over, or has loose gravel sand, or other foreign material that reduces traction during cornering, braking, and turning.

Phase 3: High speed maneuvering, covering the dynamics of vehicle motion , reaction, and corrections needed in high speed maneuvering vs low speed maneuvering.

Phase 4: Advanced maneuvers, this would cover 180s, forward, reverse, intentional spins, and other anti-terrorist maneuvers.

Phase 5: The high speed track, putting it all together for a fun/educational "final exam".

vettepilot

[LongTimer]

Originally posted by c5d
A driving course that weighs heavily on defensive driving tactics and touches on specific, high speed/preformance handling characteristics of Corvettes, is a plus not a minus.

Schools are all about understanding limitations (abilities), your's and the car's. Overstepping safety limits is contrary to the driving schools I've attended. In fact, any display of disregard for safety and you're promptly kicked out of class.

Given the choice, I'd certainly rather share the road with an educated "bad" driver, who at least has been through the basics and knows he has certain options besides a straight line skid into trouble, rather than a completely clueless "good" driver who can't park his car without hitting something.

Fact of life, Corvettes are above most people's driving ability. A GM sponsored school could be a huge benefit.

C'ya
D

YUP! :m

[97RedCorvette]

I’m not sure. If Chevrolet offered a high-performance driving school for Corvette owners, the first thing they would need to do is hire highly skilled people employed by the likes of Justin Bell or Skip Barber to run things. I’m not sure what the advantage would be since these road schools already exist, with some, like Justin Bell, putting people behind the wheel of a Z06. The Chevrolet school would have to be unique in some way – not just a duplicate of the other schools out there.

[jimxo]

I would go even if I dont have my C6 yet.

I did a Lexus driving school a few months back in ElkHart Lake, WI.-What a blast!


http://www.lexusdrivingschool.com

[ROCKETBLOCK]

Originally posted by supernatural400
No I don't think chevy should do it and here's my reasoning. there are enough idiots on the road now that thinking they can handle a car at a buck 30 , this would only make more people who are not qualified to drive faster than their ability. I have been to a couple Skip Barber classes, but that was strickly for track racing not performance driving on the street. Most people won't shell out the 3-5 grand that these courses require, but if it was offered as and RPO code it could be financed along with the car and as human nature most people will think that now they have taken this course, that they can handle driving at excessive speeds. There was a comment made about having the class "help a new vette owner to not destroy their 50 k sports car on the first exit ramp in a rain storm ", I'll save ya some money here..slow the hell down.. if you can't figure out that you need to drive slower in the rain and even slower in corners then all the driving classes won't help. I also see a big liability issue for GM the first time someone takes this course and crashes and kills someone, there going to go right after GM for promoting this type of driving. Driving a Corvette is just like driving any other car, if you pay attention to what your doing and what other people are doing you shouldn't have a problem
I have to agree with most of this, even though I have raced cars for over 30 years and have enjoyed it. The buck 30 has no place on 99% of public roads! I love Corvettes, I love speed and I love horsepower. Defensive driving, vehicle dynamics, limitations of your vehicle in different conditions and paying attention (no cell phone) are the most important issues IMO.:)

[justafamilyman]

Hi Rob,
First......of course!!!!!!!!!!! Take a week of vacation to learn how to open up the Vette. The info learned would also be valuable on the other cars.
Second.....why is this on the C6 site?
A collective Vette peace to all.
Blue Borg Brian 1 of 58

[cntrhub]

A driving school is fine for a weekend romp. You get to squirt the tires, tweak the chassis, and learn a few tricks along the way. Will this make you handle that Vette any better? I doubt it.
There is no way to learn what your limits are with a few hours of extreme time. And I don't think the schools (most of them) will let lose the rains, so you can drive over your head. The only way you will drive over your head and really learn car control, is to enter a closed course track and race with others. This is where you learn your driving skills the hard way. This is where you walk away and know you can handle most anything on the street.
It takes literally years to master car control and become a smooth driver.
Those driving classes are like being teased by a hooker. They press up against you, tell you how nice you look, maybe grab you once or twice, but you never seem to go upstairs and take a few laps.

And really, what would a 1 or 3 day driving student do with someone like me? One who slowly builds speed, and pulls you faster into a turn, so I can watch you in my rear view mirror back off, or spin out, because you thought you could follow me in that deep? Or how about me in back of you, pushing you faster to either get out of the way, or "let's see what you got?" I do this on the street many times. There's plenty of people like that on the road to play with. They learn real quick......less than 5 minutes!

If you really want to learn how to drive, go racing. I don't think Chevy wouldn't help you at all if they came up with a driving school. How will that class prepare you for an idiot like me in 1 day?

[SPANISHVETTS]

Rob, I think most of the members have seen my Rants about driving schools. GM should be obligated to offer this school. I continue my campaign for multi-level driving license and a Hi-Performance license required of anyone driving a vehicle with a power to weight ratio better than 1:10.

The improvement in my Wife’s driving after her week long Hi-Performance school last summer is a 1000%. This is the best money I have ever spent. No she does not drive more aggressively. She drives with more skill and confidence. If some Jackass bullies her on the road she does NOT react and take the bait. She allows the Fool to pass or do whatever it is that his Oversized ego demands.

If anybody wants the real thing, the team owner has decided to stretch one of the BAR (F-1) chassis and make a 2 place / dual control car. The official dialogue is ¨We will use the car to give a ¨Real Race Car¨ experience to people who would otherwise never have the opportunity¨. I call it, ¨Slide, Spin, Puke¨. The price per lap will be about $1000. This reminds me of the old days when we took VIPs and members of the Press for joyrides in the F-4s. You have to be in good shape to pull Gs and do unusual attitudes or:puke:puke:puke

[Zippy]

Yes, I'd definitely support the driving school! Excellent idea.

Btw, I'm pretty sure Justin Bell's driving school is closed. :(

[WhalePirot]

I believe in understanding your machine and its limits, plus your own enough to have sent my first son to http://www.drivingconcepts.com/overview.html in California, with his 540i. While he had fun, I believe he learned, as I did, that 'racing' has NO place on open, public roads. There are too many variables, like other dumb-as* drivers, sand, leaves, obstacles, etc. which do not exist on a controlled track environment. Similar to this and one other comment, my recent MSF course taught me more about defensive driving, so essential to riding a motorcycle, yet so applicable to drive a car. It also served to 'cooled my jets', while riding. One statement really stood out, "How much risk are you willing to take on?"

A properly oriented driving school whould be fun, but emphasize safe driving. I believe the above course does this. Steve spun his 'new' car and I conratualted him on learning its limits in a safe environment and hope he gains the defensive skills to never need them on the street. This course is a few hundre3d bucks and some people do it again and again, for fun. BTW, I get nothing for referring folks, who take their own cars.

I doubt GM would be interested in offering a school unless, 1) it greatly improved flagging sales, or 2) the lawyers signed off to reduce liability.

Vettes had a very high single car fatality rate, at one time. I am unfamiliar with more recent stats. Any fool who learns his Vette's capabilities on public streets, is just that, and damages ALL of us who drive our Vettes aggressively, yet responsibly. I enjoy my car's capabilities but go out of my way to favorable impress most of the drivers I encounter. Perhaps part of Spanish's wife's driving has to do with maturity. I don't feel I need to prove either my car's capabilities nor my driving powess to anyone. It's a higher road and one I have taken in any Vette I have owned, unless on a track (mostly, LOL).

Also: Many BMWs are quite like 5-seat Vettes. :) :w