Racing Schools?

[Lani]

Does anyone here have any suggestions (based on prior experience) for a good racing school?

I was thinking about returning to Skip Barber but have seen other programs that are cheaper and offer more seat time like Fast Lane Racing School out in Rosamond, California. www.raceschool.com

Any and all help would be appreciated.


(Please do not mention any "Car Control Clinic" type like driving schools that require the use of your daily driver. I love my car too much to beat on it. And I don't want to put anymore money into it for possible repairs due to hard driving. Plus, I've successfully completed those type of programs several times in the past).

 

[smithers_0990]

My dad and myself went to http://www.racingadventures.com/ when I turned 18. I thought it was very good because they teach you a bit in a class room and then you drive pretty much the entire day. My dad has been to the Skip Barber school, he says that it was more informational but less driving.

 

[dolphin]

You never said what your intent was in going to a "Racing School"? I went to Skip Barber in the early 70's. It was a great school that taught me a lot of the basics. Then I went to An SCCA regional driver's school. In the early 80's, I went to a German driving school.

Seat time is important but you must learn the basic techniques first. Otherwise you develop bad habits that are difficult to break. Just my opinion and worth what it cost you, nothing.

Michael

 

[mazda6gal]

I would say skip barber is a good bet...

 

[Lani]

You never said what your intent was in going to a "Racing School"?

I would like to persue my love of racing by taking my skills to the limit to see if this is something I can seriously persue with confidence.

My love of racing and cars comes from the appreciation of the vehicle as more than just a tool for travel. The sheer thrill of being able to go faster in a machine then what is thought naturally possible is what brings me back for more.

I would say skip barber is a good bet...

I attended the Skip Barber School a few years ago. Don't get me wrong I had a great time but I am just keeping my options open with other schools. Doesn't hurt to look or get feedback on other programs.

 

[dolphin]

RacerChick,
I guess that was my reason for listing the other schools. I had been autocrossing for a couple of years before I decided to think about road racing. Autocrossing taught me a lot. One reason I went to Skip Barber was they had a very good program to help develop young drivers. You could rent a school car for a SCCA regionals and they were starting what in think became the Barber Dodge series. Skip was also very helpful.

The other schools each taught me different things. I even tried a stage Rallying. Great fun all.

 

[kcbhiw]

Check out the Panoz Racing School . Further details on what they offer can be found HERE.

A friend of mine attended the sessions offered from Panoz. He's an exceptional driver and has taught me a lot from what he knows and has learned. He's trophied in the Panoz Racing Series, SCCA Pro IT, and placed in the top 5 of the Grand Am ST several times.

HTH!!

 

[Notorious_V.I.C]

RacerChick where in California you live? north or south

 

[Lani]

RacerChick where in California you live? north or south

I live in Connecticut. But I'm in the process of booking a trip out to California within the next month.

 

[Notorious_V.I.C]

I live in Connecticut. But I'm in the process of booking a trip out to California within the next month.

Coolness! I live on Nor Cal the bay area, so if your around those parts hopefully you can hit me up I can show you around. There are a few racing schools around here liek Skip Barber and stuff....expensive though. How long are yea going to be in Cali? Well have fun with the trip. Hope you find a racing school for your self that you like.

 

[D-rock240]

I don't remember the name of it, but I think there is a great emergency manuever and rally training school in the north east. They let you beat the crap out of their WRX's and at the end, you have to chase the instructor through a rally course. I recommend driving schools for everyone, Skip Barber was the best present I ever got!

 

[Lani]

Coolness! I live on Nor Cal the bay area, so if your around those parts hopefully you can hit me up I can show you around. There are a few racing schools around here liek Skip Barber and stuff....expensive though. How long are yea going to be in Cali? Well have fun with the trip. Hope you find a racing school for your self that you like.

Thanks!!
I'll be in Cali for 5 days/4 nights.

I don't remember the name of it, but I think there is a great emergency manuever and rally training school in the north east. I recommend driving schools for anyone, Skip Barber was the best present I ever got!

At what track did you attend Skip Barber? You seem close. We may have had the same instructors.

 

[D-rock240]

At what track did you attend Skip Barber? You seem close. We may have had the same instructors.

I flew out to CA with some friends when I was 18. It was held at Laguna Seca. The person that gave it to me said that it was a special class. I got to drive a Viper

 

[kcbhiw]

I don't remember the name of it, but I think there is a great emergency manuever and rally training school in the north east. They let you beat the crap out of their WRX's and at the end, you have to chase the instructor through a rally course.

Whoa. That sounds like too much fun!

 

[D-rock240]

Whoa. That sounds like too much fun!

I'll see if I can find any info. I think I read about it in a Road and Track magazine a year or two ago.

 

[D-rock240]

http://www.goss.com/rrdrsch.htm

This is it, plus they have a security guard all-terrain pursuit driving class:

Team O'Neil Rally School
P. O. Box 329, Franconia, NH 03580
(603) 823-8827, fax: (603) 823-8792
<!--Email contact: teamoneil@landmarknet.net-->Email contact: info@team-oneil.com
A driving school with specific programs for Pro Rally drivers. The school is run by Tim O'Neil, former national Pro Rally champion and Mt. Washington Hillclimb record-holder.

And here's a Skip Barber in CT:
Skip Barber Racing School LLC
P. O. Box 1629, 29 Brook Street, Lakeville, CT 06039
(800) 221-1131, (860)435-6350
Email contact: speed@skipbarber.com

 

[registering]

I love my car too much to beat on it. And I don't want to put anymore money into it for possible repairs due to hard driving. Plus, I've successfully completed those type of programs several times in the past).

If you can drive your daily driver consistently faster than your instructors, it's time to start getting into faster cars, otherwise your daily driver is the best vehicle to use until you can consistently outrace your instructors. Racing your car should not damage it and if it does, it just means you have more to learn (which we all do, myself very much included!). Don't concentrate on the car: a fast driver in a slow car will outrace a slow driver in a fast car -- I see it every time I'm on the track! I have been to many schools and raced on many tracks, and I don't know anybody (myself included) that's "completed" a program, as every turn teaches you something new as long as you take the time to learn. While they're mostly east coast for now, I'd recommend www.chinmotorsports.com as a great place to learn how to drive fast. Whatever you do, have fun and be safe!

 

[Lani]

Racing your car should not damage it and if it does, it just means you have more to learn (which we all do, myself very much included!).

Racing involves pushing not only yourself but the capabilites of your vehicle to the absolute limit. I've been around racing long enough to understand that no matter how skilled the driver things can happen to the car (engines blow; transmissions fail) it happens all the time. Just watch the next SPEED World Challenge race and you'll see. Also, keep in mind the high risk of a collision involved with racing on the track. I would actually like to drive my car home at the end of the day rather than seeing it towed on a flatbed to the nearest junk yard.

Don't concentrate on the car: a fast driver in a slow car will outrace a slow driver in a fast car -- I see it every time I'm on the track!

I have more experience as a racer than you think I do. I was the recipient several years ago of the Skip Barber "Most Improved Driver" award. I've raced everything from the Protege to the Celica GT-S to the Dodge Viper GT-S. I've been told by Professional Racing Instructors that I need to take things up a notch...this was their suggestion. I've gotten nothing but positive feedback from them and fellow racers alike. I'm just curious to break my "comfort zone" and push myself a bit father. I've been racing for 8 years now, it's time.

 

[Clark18]

If you are looking to race SCCA in the future, I would rent you my MP3 racecar to use at a SCCA driver school. That is really the first step to door-to-door sportscar racing, unless you plan to spend A TON of $ racing rented cars in Skip Barber or something like that.