Mike,
John is 100% correct about these cars and you seem to be pretty well versed about them. I have driven them since the 60s and the first one I ever drove wasa 1964 289. I have gone to numerous high performance driving schools over my MANY years and am still learning every time I take the car out for a hard run. I did manage to retire a couple of driving instructors with nerve problems though.
I think that of you are where you can get to a high performance driving school that will let you use your car, you should go every chance you get. Going to any driving school is good, but if you can drive your own car with a qualified instructor, you will speed up the learning curve as you will be finding out any pecularities your car has, and they all have their own personal quirks. I have never taken anyone for a ride in any of my cars until I have had them for at least a month and had a chance to find out as much as I can about how they handle. I have a great test area over toward Shasta Dam and I use it a lot. Every type curve and off camber road that you can imagine. I even took the Sergant of our police force for a ride over there once and he threatened to walk the 7 miles back unless I let him drive. Coward!!
Ron