Re: QCUSA: It is useful?

[Frank Martin <fmartin@mr.oa.ithaca.edu>]

My $.02:  I joined QCUSA last summer - I must admit that 99% of the reason was 
simply to be able to take part in their driving school at Watkins Glen, so in 
a way one could just tack this cost on to the registration fee for that. Even 
so, that made the cost for the event under $300 if you registered early, as I 
recall. I've since been receiving the membership magazine, and in and of 
itself isn't worth the membership fee. (Interesting to read, but one can go 
through it in it's entirety in <30 minutes - however, I don't fault them on 
this since I'm not doing anything myself to make it better; nor is QCUSA the 
size of the Porsche Club, with its Panorama magazine.)

As for the event itself, I found it to be a *very good* relative value. I say 
relative because it's not a professional driving/racing school, with all 
equipment supplied. I've attended both Skip Barber and Bertil Roos Schools and 
found them both great, though at a *much* higher cost. The QCUSA Glen event 
wasn't better or worse, just another way to spend a lot of safe time on a 
world-class track, in the company of a lot of great cars and Audi enthusiasts. 

When/if someone else offers a driving school in my region (cost factor) at a 
similar price, I'll give it a try. In the meantime I hope to do the Glen again 
(and poss. Lime Rock) in '97.

Frank M. 
'89 100Q
'88 Mazda 323 GTX