Driving school Experience

[Dennis Kelley]

Hey Guys,

I think I am finally going to bite the bullitt and go to a driving school. Can anyone give me their pro and cons? I looked at the Bondurant 4 day seems very complete.

later Dennis

[Ron61]

Dennis,

Bondurant is one of the best. After that if you can find one or if he will let you, go to one where you can drive your own car. His cars are all set up for maximum handling and every cr is going to be different. Once you drive one like his, then you can drive yours and you will notice some differences. But ANY certified high performance driving school is not only a good idea, but is sooner or later going to be required to insure these cars as they just don't drive like your BMW. Alsogo as often as you can, as you will always learn something more.

Ron

[LURK]

I will be doing Bondurant later this Spring, but can also highly recommend Racing Adventures. They run at tracks all over the country and in Canada. I did the 2 day program in their FFR Spec Racer Cobras- they also offer Corvettes this year or you can bring your own car. I may even go back and pick up a day or 2 with them in my own car now that it's done.

Have fun!

-John

[RACER X #99]

One of the most important things you can learn at driving schools is how to drive on a ractrack with other high speed drivers.
Your not going to learn to be a race driver in a three or four day course. You will or you should learn how you can go out on any race track with other drivers and be able to negotiate the course without getting in each others way. Once you learn track etiquette (some fast drivers haven't learned that yet) you will be able to increase you track speed and run with the fast guys.

I like Driving Adventures because they use Cobras and isn't that what we all want to drive on the track anyway?

Important to pay particular attention in the classroom sessions as you can learn a lot from those instructors.

[mr bruce]

Cobras on the track, HA!, All I see any more are MUSTANGS.

[marcocsx3121]

The Panoz GT School has dates at Road Atlanta, Sebring, and Texas Int'l. Speedway, and uses the Panoz GTR-A, a purpose built race car that approximates many replica Cobras in handling, braking, and power. Instruction is first rate, an excellent balance between theory and practice.

My daughter and I both took the course at Road Atlanta. The only bad news: she was three seconds a lap faster. Her car must have been a ringer.

[TIGER 6]

Dennis,
I strongly recommend that you check out the Bertil Roos Driving schools.They have a web site,www.racenow.com,which is quite detailed concerning their programs.their phone number is 1-800-722-3669.Ask to speak to Dennis Machio,who runs as well as instructs at the school.The schools are held at Pocono Raceway in Pa. and Virginia International Raceway close to Danville,Va.They utilize Scandia Formula 2000 cars for the schools,which are open cockpit,open wheel models.
I have attended 2 of their 5 Day Race Schools and have found that the instruction is superb.I raced in their Race Series last year and will do so again this year.The value for money is excellent,and you will learn to accomplish exactly what Racer X #99 has stated above.And you will have more fun than you have had in a long time!I do not feel that it is necessary to drive one's own car at one of these schools as the principles of high performance on-track driving are applicable to any car.It's all about how and when to apply these principles which makes the learning experience fun.
If I can help in any other way,just send me an e-mail.Good luck!

[Dennis Kelley]

thanks for all the responses guys. I'm wanting to improve my driving skills and do a little racing.

Thanks again

Dennis

[casaleenie]

What kind of money is involved in these schools? What is the liability for using their cars?
I'm sure it's money well spent but just curious and also too lazy to do a search on the forum...
I am a complete and total rookie in regards to competitive driving.What experience, if any, should I have going into these schools?
My goal would be just to develope a comfort level with pushing these cars a little further than I have in the past.

[Fox]

Casaleenie,

Maybe I will join you for a one day at Road Atlanta.

Panoz GT Racing School

You will notice Liability is extra...for a rookie like me, that may be money well spent.

-John

[Excaliber]

...by the way.

Was Shelby the first person to open a high performance driving school in the USA? In the world?

[marcocsx3121]

While it represents a fair chunk of money, I strongly recommend the Panoz three day school. The progression from performance driving theory through braking, skid/spin recovery, autocrossing and finally to the full track maximizes the learning curve. I can't imagine that the single day school can give you much more than a general overview of the subject.

[RACER X #99]

When you rent the school cars you are responsible for any damage you may cause.

Best students are the ones with no prior experience.

Best advise I can give is don't try to impress the Instructor, because you can't and don't try to scare him because he is already is.

[John McMahon]

typical two day event (school) with your own car...

registration: $300 - 450 (depending on the greed of the outfit and the track rental costs)

fuel: race fuel: $100 to 150 per event

lodging $75/night (typical near track accomodations...i.e motel)

food and likker $50 - 75 per day


additional consideration:

if you rent a race car......figure $500 to $1200 (est.)

plus tow fuel and tolls.

Schools like Berytl Roos or Bondurant are quite expensive, if I am not mistaken, typically around $2500 to $3500 for 2-3 days where you use thier cars.

[RACER X #99]

Better figure about 6-10 track days, depending on how good you are at paying attention, before you can go it alone without an instructor riding with you. I know plenty of guys who think they don't need an instructor for more than one or two days. Those guys are still getting pulled out of the sand traps or they are in everybodys way. Anybody can drive 100-140 mph on a highway but it takes a little more experience to turn the corners at high speed.
Best investment you can make in your Cobra is some driving school instruction.

Lots of guys here have done it and they are the better drivers.

[Excaliber]

About $1500 and three days here, for a little more you can also get your SCCA competition license.

Your car or theres, you pay for damages on the car.

[casaleenie]

Originally posted by RACER X #99


Anybody can drive 100-140 mph on a highway but it takes a little more experience to turn the corners at high speed.
Best investment you can make in your Cobra is some driving school instruction.

Lots of guys here have done it and they are the better drivers. [/b]

ANYBODY?

[rbray]

Hi Guys,
I had the opportunity to attend the three day Bertil Roos F2000 racing school last year and I just made arrangements to take the second half of the school this spring so I can get my SCCA license.
The school is absolutely first rate in every respect.
Here are some of the highlights:

All the instruction is on the race track, no parking lot drills.
No speed limits rev limiters or follow the leader drills.

Passing is allowed from day one.

Side by side instruction is done in turbo Saabs.

Four sessions in the F2000 race cars per day. This may not
Sound like much, but these cars pull enough G's to
Wear a person out in a hurry. At the end of the day I was so
tired I could barely driver back to the hotel.

Zero liability for the first three day class.
$2500 limit on the two day school.

Compare the prices of the Bertil Roos with the other big name schools and you will be in for a pleasant surprise.

If you are considering attending a race school this year check these guys out. They offer group rates... maybe we can get enough Club Cobra Guys together for a class.


http://www.racenow.com/a01_about.htm


See you all at the track

Roger


__________________

[DanElam]

All of the professional schools like Skip Barber, Bertil Roos, Bondurant, Daly, and Panoz have good instructors. I can't imagine a new driver going to one of these and not thinking that they are absolutely wonderful.

SCCA also has their licensing schools. You will get hit in these, but it's a fast way to get your license. The popular "Double School" is coming up at Roebling Road (near Savannah, GA). I think it's Valentine's Day weekend and as long as you don't kill anyone, you'll probably come away with your license. What you won't come away with is a comprehensive understanding of car control or the finer aspects of racing. In that regard, it's similar to the commercial schools because it is so compressed that you can't possible retain it all.

Racing Adventures is lot of fun but I would suggest that is a little more geared towards corporate 'fun' events than real racing. But they are modified FFR spec racers and you are sure to have a smile on your race.

Two other options are the NASA HPDEs and the new program from Marcus Motorsports. The NASA HPDEs count towards your eventual race license, but it takes a while. The good news is that you can drive street cars up until it is time to get your comp license. It's about $300/weekend and the process does a great job of teaching car control.

Marcus Motorsports is a new arrive and drive program that rents FFR Spec Racers. You can either rent them for school or for race. The cars are meticulously prepared and they have driver coaches and a very professional crew (as in, the crew has won the 24 Hours of Daytona). At the FFR Nationals they proved that the cars are fast as they came across the line first and second. The Marcus cars aren't cheap, but if you want to arrive and be assured of everything being taken care of, then it's awfully hard to beat. The schedule primarily includes Virginia, Ohio, West Virginia, and North Carolina, but I know they are doing some stuff out west too.

[RACER X #99]

They're seems to be some confusion here as to just what is a high performance driving school and what is a race school.
Since it is like pulling teeth here to get anybody to take thier Cobra to the track anyway I suggest the following.

If your desire is to take your Cobra to the track and have some fun without injuring yourself or damaging your car then one of the many local High performance driving schools mentioned here would be all you need.
If however your desire is to get involved in competitive racing than one of the professional schools would probably be more to your liking.

I know lots of guys who have attended the high price REAL schools but all they do are Open Track events and they are not any better a driver at these events than the local school attendees.

I don't see any need to pay for something you are not going to use. Sort of like buying a 30k 600 hp engine and all you do to are car shows.

Pro Schools:
Bondurant, Bertil Roos, Etc.

Local schools:
NASA HPDE
Apex Performance driving
Track Time
Phoenix CMR (East coast school)
PDA