This series of lessons uses the free FPV Freerider simulator to teach a complete beginner how to fly an FPV multirotor in acro (no autoleveling) mode. You can learn to fly a quadcopter at home in front of your computer for almost no money. You can learn to fly without any fear of crashing and breaking an expensive toy. And yes, the things you learn here WILL translate over to real life.
The secret to fast racing is to find smooth lines through the course. The more corrections you have to make, the slower you will be. There is also a place for sharp turns, when appropriate, but many beginning drone racers fly too fast at first, and try to rely on the throttle to make up for mistakes. This lesson will teach you to find smooth lines that allow you to build speed with confidence.