Best Racing School, Best value in race driving training? Options

[z28barnett]

I am interested in taking a 2-5 day race driving school. Road racing holds the most interest for me.

I have done a little checking, Bob B. looks interesting, Skip Barber, and so on.

I live in Missouri, so central part of the country is easier for me to get to.

Anyone have sugggestions or horror stories about the schools?

The insurance on the schools cars is also a factor, some will cover you and others just limit the out of pocket to 4-6K kinda expensive. It is like HMO's are running driving schools.

I put the Koni DA's on, so now I would like to be able to use them. :drive:

Thanks

Z28

[CMC #37]

I have heard a lot of good things about Skip Barber from drivers I know have really great skills. I plan on attending one of their schools at Laguna Seca someday. Pricey, however, you get what you pay for.

[Doug Phillips]

The Bridgestone Racing Academy is considered one of the best in North America and you get the US$ bang for the buck also. Just outside of Toronto Ontario.

[94bird]

Doug, have you been to that school or do you know anyone who has? The schedules sound very interesting and Toronto isn't very far from Detroit.

[tonycook]

I took the Panoz 3 day Racing School at Road Atlanta and would recommend it.

[Nick]

I live in Missouri, so central part of the country is easier for me to get to.

These guys are near Tulsa, at Hallett.

http://www.stephensbrothersracing.com/home.asp

[Doug Phillips]

Doug, have you been to that school or do you know anyone who has? The schedules sound very interesting and Toronto isn't very far from Detroit.

I attended a Driver Search program a few years ago before they moved from Shannonville. Fastest single lap out of three 20 minute sessions won the full 12 race package. There were only six of us.

As it was a competion, we were given no instruction and ran the course backwards to remove any track experience. The first dayy we had about five 20 minute sessions in the Camaro. The second day we switched to the F2000 and ran three sessions in the morning befoe the test.

Absolutely fantatic. They give you a car all your gear and a couple of mechanics to take care of you. Very professional and I would highly recommend it. I know a few people that have done the courses and you can read the pros that have been there also.

They are now at Mosport, about 1 hour north west of Toronto, but do not use the big track. They have a development course for the training and run the races there also (much safer for learning). The track is rented out for Solo 1 and club lapping. I have lapped at this course many times and there is lots of run off but still hase some elevation changes that make it interesting.

By the way the guy that won was a full second faster than the rest of us. He was on the four day course and traded in the last day for the test. Not really fair considering he had a lot more seat time in the car. It was a blast nevertheless!

[steve-d]

I am interested in taking a 2-5 day race driving school. Road racing holds the most interest for me.

....
Anyone have sugggestions or horror stories about the schools?


Thanks

Z28

Since you didn't mention whether you already have a car prepped for the track I'll give my $.02.

Best school value is the SCCA driver school. Tons of track time. To give an insight, you're so busy you NEED to have a crew guy keep the car prepped. No other way.

On top of that the w'end costs about $350. Two schools and you've obtained your provisional/Novice license.

Keep your money in your pocket and spend it on something needed. Motor work or tires.

Regards
Steve

[bsim]

I look at it the opposite of Steve. I would (and did) go to a school before I put more $$ in a car. Who cares if you have 800 hp, but don't know how to drive it.

As an example, this year at Willow Springs, the Vette/Vipers ran with us. I was REALLY cool being able to hang with this bad-a$$ Corvette in the big sweepers. Was he faster than me? By far, but only because he spent the money on HP. Those 12" wide hoosiers do you no good, if a lowly CMC driver gets 100% out of his car, and you get 50.

Anyway, I went to Proformance at Seattle International - the guys there are great. They limit the class to 8 drivers for 2 days, you get a TON of attention. If possible, I'd also recommend the advanced coaching class with Ross Bentley as well.

Big bang for the $$..

[Crazy Canuck]

The Bridgestone Racing Academy is considered one of the best in North America and you get the US$ bang for the buck also. Just outside of Toronto Ontario.

are those the ones @ TMP ?
how would you compare them to TRAC that were in town w/ you and Elie ?

[z28barnett]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Canada this time of year might be a little cold and slippery in a small race car, but I might take another look come spring.

I have a 95 Z28 with C5 brakes all 1LE parts and Koni DA, it is better than stock for the track, but the brake pads would not last under track use. So I sorta have a track car, but I would expect to use the schools car.

Thanks for the ideas and impressions.

Z28

[Doug Phillips]

The Bridgestone Racing Academy is considered one of the best in North America and you get the US$ bang for the buck also. Just outside of Toronto Ontario.

are those the ones @ TMP ?
how would you compare them to TRAC that were in town w/ you and Elie ?

As it says above they are now at Mosport.

I did not attend the TRAC event. Do they run a racing school for a licence or just lapping?

[Crazy Canuck]

The Bridgestone Racing Academy is considered one of the best in North America and you get the US$ bang for the buck also. Just outside of Toronto Ontario.

are those the ones @ TMP ?
how would you compare them to TRAC that were in town w/ you and Elie ?

As it says above they are now at Mosport.

I did not attend the TRAC event. Do they run a racing school for a licence or just lapping?

they give license for lapping, if you pass the school with them... so they do both.
I know they give license in QC (acredited by the FAQ "Federation Automobile Quebec").. but don't know the legislation in ON... but figure it should not be an issue.
Best way is to check their website or I can ask them... 1 phone call away.
http://www.tracracing.com/

[garfin]

The Bridgestone Racing Academy is considered one of the best in North America and you get the US$ bang for the buck also. Just outside of Toronto Ontario.

are those the ones @ TMP ?
how would you compare them to TRAC that were in town w/ you and Elie ?

As it says above they are now at Mosport.

I did not attend the TRAC event. Do they run a racing school for a licence or just lapping?

they give license for lapping, if you pass the school with them... so they do both.
I know they give license in QC (acredited by the FAQ "Federation Automobile Quebec").. but don't know the legislation in ON... but figure it should not be an issue.
Best way is to check their website or I can ask them... 1 phone call away.
http://www.tracracing.com/

The TLC (TRAC) event that I attended in October on mosport's Grand Prix track was a lapping day rather than a school. However, TLC does operate schools throughout the year at Ste. Eustache, near Montreal. From the looks of things, they have an impressive list of instructors on board (read down on the thread)
http://racing.kos.net/soloforums/showthrea...p?threadid=4445
It looks like completion of this course will qualify you for a licence of some sort, but this is in the process of being confirmed, as the Ontario governing body is different than the Quebec governing body.
Their first school for the '05 season is already coming together...
http://racing.kos.net/soloforums/showthrea...=&threadid=4444
My impression of this group after spending the day with them on the track at Mosport is that overall they definitely know what they're doing and have a relatively high level of skill. I wouldn't hesitate to take one of their schools, from what I've seen.

Best regardSS,

Elie
98 Camaro SS # C079
... a few mods
TLC/SSOA/OMSC/TFbM

[Crazy Canuck]

Welcome aboard Elie...
congrats on the magazine exposure.
Hope to see you @ the track next spring.

[Bald54]

I went through Skip Barbers 3 day school at Road America and Bondurants school when they were still at Sears Point. I liked the Bondurant school better probably because of our instructor, Brian Forster. It turns out he played the drummer on the Partridge Family sitcom when he was a kid and his grand father played Alfred on the Batman sitcom in the 60's. When we were in the skid car with him we all started singing "I Think I Love You". He didn't know we knew who he was and almost lost control of the car. I still hear from him from time to time when he needs tires.

[Doug Phillips]

Just keep in mind that learning how to do some lapping in your car and learning how to race and obtain a licence are two competely different things.

If you intend to go door to door racing do not go cheap on a course just to be licenced. You would not be doing yourself or the people around you any favours.

[George]

Just keep in mind that learning how to do some lapping in your car and learning how to race and obtain a licence are two competely different things.

Exactly.

Lapping and Solo1 are analogous to qualifying which to any race driver is just something you go out and do when it's your turn.

It may not be a practical alternative at this time but karting is a great place to learn race craft. After 2 or 3 competative seasons in 100cc two stroke or shifter karts you'd have a lot of races under your belt and handling yourself in a scrap would be second nature. You can also be really aggressive w/out having to worry about writing off an expensive car. I've found that the stuff I learned in karting translates to everything else that I do.

[Doug Phillips]

Just keep in mind that learning how to do some lapping in your car and learning how to race and obtain a licence are two competely different things.

Exactly.

Lapping and Solo1 are analogous to qualifying which to any race driver is just something you go out and do when it's your turn.

It may not be a practical alternative at this time but karting is a great place to learn race craft. After 2 or 3 competative seasons in 100cc two stroke or shifter karts you'd have a lot of races under your belt and handling yourself in a scrap would be second nature. You can also be really aggressive w/out having to worry about writing off an expensive car. I've found that the stuff I learned in karting translates to everything else that I do.

Hey George, funny we meet here!

My old body can't take the abuse anymore.

[George]

Doug - how's it going. Too bad you didn't get to that lap day on the GP track back in October. I think OMSC might be running an S1 event there next year if I'm not mistaken. Yeah, my karting days are long gone as well - can't take the abuse anymore - can't make the weight limit anymore either..lol - so now I'm driving the thirdgen land barge.