Respect vs Fear

[eschaider]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Interesting! I did Bondurant three times. The first was the four day class (with the 4th day in the Formula Mazdas, which are the funnest car you'll ever drive). The second and third times were the advanced class in which you get instruction but basically 8 hours of open track with breaks whenever you want/need (note, very easy to get dehydrated).

You're right about the TCS. My experience with TCS was the opposite. They made us leave it on the first two days (in the 4 day class), and then told us we should turn it off on the third. Their words were something like "if you feel TCS kick in and save your butt, remember what you were doing and don't do that again". Very good advice.

Advanced was your choice. My expereince was that the TCS was correcting things that didn't need to be corrected, especially when you figure out the "happy tire is a squealing tire" on turns. If you know the limits of the car in a controlled environment then TCS is a distraction.

Note: Bondurant closed. I think the workers bought it out but I've not heard anything about whether they really are still in business.

I think different instructors and different students might produce a slight shuffle in how and when the instructors try to make their driving skills points, Tony. If you are a trained, skilled driver that can put to use, in the cockpit, what you learned in school you should be able to outperform all but the best traction control algorithms. Your point is spot on.

Many of the replica owners / drivers have not, although it is a benefit, taken that type of driving school training. More significantly they are driving what is easily one of the squirreliest (is that a word?) vehicles that you could possibly choose to drive. The greater the underhood power the more you will appreciate the TCS that is built into modern day EFI systems like the MS3Pro.

More than anything else, even for disciplined drivers, the TCS provides that one more layer of protection for that moment we forgot or didn't see coming.

In the FWIW bucket you are right about the bankruptcy but the Bondurant school might be open again. Their website is alive although their home page says it is temporarily closed due to the covid-19 virus. Hope that is correct, it would be a shame to have lost the school again.


Ed