Just returned from the Spring Mountain Advanced Driving School in Parhump, NV. I'll start by saying this, If you are on the fence about it, Do it! If you are thinking about it, stop thinking and Do it. I thought I was petty good driver when I arrived but I was quickly humbled, not that I was bad, I just had bad habits that were taught early on like most of us probably were. Well after a short time in the classroom, the bad habits pointed out and an open mind it was down to business. This is where you find out what you think you know dosen't neccessarily workbut when you apply your newly learned skills, look out!
Here's the breakdown, Day 1, You meet the instuctors and farmiliarize yourself with the car. after a little class time (20min) they will have you do some exercises that will not only enlighten you, they will prove to you a few of your bad habits and misconceptions. Then its out to the track for the rest of the day shadow lapping with the your instructor on the upper road course. (about 1.2 mi/ 1/2 of the track) After each session its back to the classroom for a break, feedback and to let the cars cool down. In between the afternoon sessions you get to play in the skid car and learn a few more skills. Day 2, The first 45 min or so is learning about the entire course, lines, apexes ect. then its out to the track and today they make you really start to pick up the pace!.
Day 3, this is the day you are suppossed to be turned loose on the track with no instructors only other students. Well this is where my bad news begins, on my way to the school from Las Vegas, it begins to rain, and I don't mean showers because they like a little wetness on the track it makes you smoother, I mean torrential downpours all morning! So bad that parts of the track are underwater! Yeah thats right this is supposed to be the desert, WTF!!!
I was really looking foward to day three however the weather forced the cancellation, (talk about being disappointed). Heres the good news, I get to go back in Dec. to make up the day I missed and do the level II advanced 2 day course at a reduced rate!
I know I promised pics but my photographer Mrs. Bad Machine came with me on the last day and there was not much to photograph.
I highly recommend this course, (its a top notch operation with excellent instructors, equipment and facilities. The Z I used was an 03 w just over 6K mi. it was the oldest in the fleet.) Or any high performance driving course, you owe it to yourself and your car, some simple things can keep you from wrecking the Z or worse. You will also realize just how awesome this car really is, most of us will never push it to its limit. My new motto is mod the driver first, then the car!
P.S. Don't forget to vote! our lives and the lives of our troops may depend on it!!!
Sounds like you had a short but fun time. 
You probably will be counting the days until you get back there, but good things come to those who wait.
He dosen't! But its just my way of telling myself not to S/C my car! 
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