The Art and Science of Driving Manual
at Race Lab

You've found the right place to learn manual.

It’s all about control and a deep feeling of engagement with the car.

Manual is what makes driving an artform.

See programs
Learn manual  to rent a cheaper car while traveling
Learn manual to become an engaged and liberated driver
Learn manual to become a drifter or racer

Race Lab's Expert Approach

We teach manual through a motorsport-based curriculum, giving you an immersive and hands-on experience. We’ve designed a fun and highly effective way to learn stick so you can quickly become a confident and skilled driver.

Private
coaching
Flexible
schedule
Convenient locations
Your car
or our car
Motorsport curriculum

All Race Lab manual programs are taught one-on-one. Your experienced instructor will tailor the training to your skill level and individual needs.
This personalized experience will guarantee you driving standard in no time!

PROGRAMS

Basic Manual

2 hours
Your car or our car on a parking lot, public roads (trainee is required to have a valid driver’s license).
The Basics
Smooth Shifting
Smooth Downshits
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from $319
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Being a smooth driver improves fuel economy, and is simply more comfortable for everyone in your vehicle

Advanced Manual

2 hours
Your car or our car on a parking lot, public roads (trainee is required to have a valid driver’s license).
Hill Starts
Heel-toe downshifting
Shifting before/in corners
Specialized techniques
Tips on car mods
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from $379
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If you have to start moving on a steep hill and your car has a non-electronic e-brake, the most efficient way is to help yourself with the e-brake, even if you’re a great driver

Motorsport Manual

2 hours
  1. Your car in a location that is suitable for your car and your goals (public roads, race track or skidpad, dirt track or dirt skidpad).
  2. Our car on one of Race Lab‘s venues with a dirt track and/or dirt skidpad.
Motorsport manual shifting
Heel-toe downshifting + e-brake
Left foot braking
Shifting w/o using the clutch
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from $379
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“Power shifting” is a bad technique and should pretty much never be used, even in racing and rallying when you’re fighting for fractions of a second

Motorsport Pro Manual

2 hours
  1. Your car in a location that is suitable for your car and your goals (race track or skidpad, dirt track or dirt skidpad).
  2. Our car on one of Race Lab‘s venues with a dirt track and/or dirt skidpad.
Dog box transmission training
Racing with sequential transmissions
Risks of over revving
Pneumatic gear shifting
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from $459
Book
The dog-leg gearbox pattern was often used in race cars and supercars because drivers rarely used first gear beyond the start. Having second and third gears opposed allowed for quicker shifts

START THEM YOUNG!

We offer manual transmission training from any age, as long as your young one can reach the pedals (often have to use pillows to help with that). The younger you start something like this, the easier it is to learn - just like with learning foreign languages, playing musical instruments or sports.

Individual approach, no age limit, no license needed, as this is done on private property. Contact us for “Kidz” and “Young Drivers” packages.

No
limits

Why learn manual?

  1. Feel the Connection: Manual transmission cars offer a deeper connection between you and the vehicle. You become one with the machine, with every shift of the gear lever and press of the clutch.
  2. Enhanced Control: Compared to most automatic transmissions, a manual transmission provides you with greater control over your vehicle, especially in challenging driving conditions. It's a skill that can make you a more versatile and confident driver. A person can drive proactively, but a car can only drive reactively.
  3. Resilience and Adaptability: Learning to drive a manual car equips you with valuable skills that are particularly useful in emergency situations and when you need to drive different vehicles (these skills will also help you with other types of vehicles, such as some ATVs and motorcycles).

FAQ

On average, someone who is brand new to driving manual needs two Basic sessions (2 separate 2-hour sessions one-on-one with an instructor). After that, if interested, you could progress to the Advanced Manual Course.

Absolutely, we have vehicles you can rent for any of the four levels of training. You can also use your vehicle for any of the levels.

If you have the choice - use your own car. This way you’ll get a chance to adapt to it under the instructor’s supervision and you will save on the rental cost. Also, the instructor will be able to point out potential problems with your car, for example clutch or gearbox issues.

For Basic and Advanced levels you can rent our dedicated 1999 Honda Civic. It’s a light car that will make learning easy and fun for the drivers who are new to manual transmission.

For Motorsport and Motorsport Pro we have the following cars available:
  • Naturally aspirated 2007 Subaru Impreza
  • Turbo charged 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX
  • Turbo charged 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STi
  • Naturally aspirated 2000 Ford Focus Open Class Front Wheel Drive rally car with an H-pattern manual. This car won 2023 Rally of the Tall Pines, nickname “Bubble”
  • Turbo charged 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Open Class All Wheel Drive rally car with 6 speed sequential. This car won 2017 and 2019 National championships (P4WD), nickname “Disaster”

Footwear is very important when driving a manual transmission car, because it’s crucial to have a good feel of the pedals. Please try to wear shoes with thin soles that are not too wide.

Because Basic and Advanced levels are taught on public parking lots and roads, you do need to have a valid driver’s license. Exceptions are made for “Kidz” and “Young Drivers” packages, contact us for details.

Motorsport and Motorsport Pro training is conducted on private property, so no valid driver’s license is needed. However, advanced driving experience is required.

Just come with a mindset that you’re going to have fun! You’re at the start of a cool journey that will be a blast! We promise.