Another option to consider is online coaching from an outfit like racers360.com. The ACNA invited Dion von Moltke to last January's event at Thunderhill. A couple of friends took advantage of the video coaching offer and found it to be a good value. To be honest, with more advanced drivers, this sort of coaching is the future. One, it eliminates risk for the coach, and two, data and video provide all the tools the coach needs to offer recommendations.
ACNA runs a great event at VIR for advanced solo drivers. Randy Pobst, Mike Skeen, Peter Krause. Mike and Randy will run in the car. Peter Krause will only use video and data for coaching and he has been successful with that. Heck, I don’t blame him. I’m a nervous right seat passenger until I know how you drive. Not sure that I will make it to the instructor group for that reason alone. Plus I have a lot more learning to do, regarding the finer details of driving. Then there is the skill of conveying that knowledge in a helpful/constructive way and most of all safe way to a student. I really like ACNA events. There is a greater variety of cars. Folks are friendly and helpful.
Doing a track walk around VIR with Peter Krause is really informative. He knows his stuff. Given the opportunity, I would walk any track, especially one that I would be driving the first time. He covers risk/reward/exit strategy for each corner.
I have watched many of the Racer360 videos and for VIR they are spot on. I would agree that video/data coaching is good for advanced drivers. I would still like the professional coach to drive my car and show me around the track. More so to test car capability. Get some setup advice. Dion provides so really good tips/advice for VIR. One of the take aways for me was that I need to roll more corner speed and not accelerate before corner apex. It makes sense and I understand why. Just need to put on my big boy pants and not over-slow at turn-in. I’m looking for increased front grip from additional camber and better tire control from the Ohlins. Will try this technique for Turns 1 & 3 in November.
Laguna Seca is on my track list. Heck, I just checked. That’s a 40hr road trip. I want to experience the elevation change of running the “corkscrew”. It looks like a fun track to run.