FWIW - most car clubs offer "precision driving" or "autocross" events where you can explore the limits of your car. You may want to look into it. It's actually a ton of fun.

I've done that, and you're right, it's loads of fun. A few hours of instruction, however, will not make you competent at handling a car at its limits. One thing I did learn from those classes is how poor a driver I (and nearly everyone else) am.