How many people here have actually gone to racing school

+1

 

I have to agree with that too. I wonder why that is. Maybe because there is nothing you can do with a new car except shine it and clean it or they don't want to scratch it. Regards, Vern

 

Depends also on how you define "knowledgeable and experienced". Not to sidetrack this thread, but there is a lot of stuff/emotions/issues you don't even think about before you own the car. I wasn't referring to technical or historic knowledge about the cars/marque etc.

I knew a lot about Ferrari before I got my car, but was still very surprised how my perspective on things changed once I became an owner. It is that change/gain of perspective that I think makes the question of this thread quite relevant.

 

Yes but doing a school shows you very little about what racing is really about.

You are not wheel to wheel, in the heat of the moment, etc.

You are just doing a few fast-ish laps. I used to hate telling anyone that I raced cars, because 99% of guys would answer 'yeah I like driving fast too' ... and it is nothing like that!

Pete

 

Depends on the school.

 

I went to racing school in Canada - The Spenard David school and then a few years later at the Bridgestone Racing School (same place, same cars, improved curriculum).

I didn't set foot in a racecar for seven years after racing school but then when time and finances allowed, I bought a Formula Junior car and raced that for three years. I then took a crazy leap and bought a 1973 Brabham F1 car and raced that for two years. I lived the dream! Marriage, Fatherhood and new financial priorities made it wise to sell the car. I am now restoring a vintage FF and so I'll do FJ and/or FF when time and budget allows.

Even though I had good race school training, it took me one year of watching my mirrors in FJ to get quick, one year to work on racecraft to actually "race" and another year to race respectably. Then in Historic F1, it took me one year to learn how to get the car near its limits and another year to realize I had no business driving that fast.

Good racing schools have real value; they light the flame or extinguish it for those of us who want to try if for ourselves, give us a foundation to build upon and an appreciation for those who do it at the highest levels of the sport. That being said, graduating from racing school is just the beginning. Just when you think you are getting good, you'll find yourself on track with extraordinary drivers who have honed their skills through years of seat time and it is incredibly humbling.

Work hard, go racing, live the dream!

 

It's called SEAT TIME, You can do all the drivers schools, & I encourage it, no one knows it all... At the end of the day you have to invest in track time, no matter what series you're in, no matter what car you drive. The TOP F1 instructors will tell you that to hone your driving skills, you can do it in ANY car. You're either a driver or a passenger, it's up to you... The question is, do you want it??
LL

 

Best post yet!

 

Rob:

I never forget about that cement wall.

 

I took the Jim Russell classes at Infineon, the TRC then the ARC last year. I did a race weekend with Jim Russell (intense!) Then I had one race weekend with NASA at Infineon in my F355 Challenge. Unfortunately the engine was down on power and eventually went into limp mode with multiple sensor failure. Major Service this winter, and I plan on racing with NASA and some local clubs this year.

 

I got started doing an Autox or two, but quickly got into time trials with POC (Socal) in a vintage 69 911S. Then I really got the bug and did the TRC and ARC (plus the other classes) at Russell Racing School (Sears Point) when Jacque Couture was still there (97-98). I even left a corporate career to pursue racing for a year; I enrolled in Russell's Mechanics Training Program to get "free" access to the classes, to race the Formula Russell cars (Modified Formula Mazda cars), and to network in the professional motorsports world. My past Autox and DE's experiences, in my opinion, did not come close to subsequent racing school and wheel-to-wheel racing (especially in a wings and slicks car). However, after all the driving, I realized that I could do alright against a bunch of race amateurs, but the world of professional and talented drivers was another level. Nonetheless, Russell improved my racing and opened a career in motorsports as a race engineer and then as a business person/entrepreneur.

When the kart track opened at Sears Point (Infineon) a few years ago, I attended their shifter kart school. I would also recommend it; the track has a great layout. In fact, I may go again this summer and take my teenage daughter on her first "real" driving school.

Due to other priorities, I have not been able to have any seat time in a proper race car, but I'm looking forward to getting back into it at some point i.e. a vintage race car. It would also be nice to just do an arrive/drive where I don't have to do the car prep and setup, as long as I can trust the crew to do a reasonable car prep/setup.

Back to racing schools, I'm glad to see in this thread that there are numerous folks with racing school experience. While it doesn't necessarily make a competent racer, it adds credibility to our car/driving passion and respect for the Sennas and Schumachers of the world.

 

You're such an amateur Rob. You just showed you have no clue what a real F1 driver thinks and feels in that same situation:

"There are only 2 points difference to the winner, that's not really worth risking my position, my engine and the podium finish. Should I just wait for the next pit stop and pass the car then or sit back here and drive it home at 90%? Hmm, doesn't really matter. I have to sit through that press conference anyway, so I won't catch an earlier flight home. Let's just wait it out. I got my $ 20 millions in the bank anyway."
That's racing!

 

The strategy would be to brake a tiny bit early, sit back a few more feet, then upon entering turn 10, punch the throttle early and get a run at him into turn 11, occupy the inside line that he otherwise would want and drag race him to the checkered flag. Been there, done that, very exciting! That's racing!

Two SCCA drivers schools for me in 1966, raced until retiring in 1999. Did SCCA regionals and nationals, Trans Am, some IMSA, won the Pacific Coast Runoffs twice at Sears Point, went to the National Runoffs at Atlanta once, competed at Lime Rock, Summit Point, Mid-Ohio, Pocono, Virginia, Road Atlanta, Marlboro, Seattle, Westwood, Portland, Olympia, Sears Point, but sadly never at Laguna Seca. My wife was very supportive until we just had had enough and decided to hang it up.
Ed

 

I just completed 4 days at Bondurant in phoenix az. Corvettes
and formula fords. Great experience. Great instructors.

 

Amen .

And Tifosi12, your post is too close to the cr@ppy F1 truth
Pete

 

Spent my youth and every penny I could beg borrow or steal after high school to go through the Skip Barber program and race in the Barber formula series. Then did some SCCA sedan racing. ...then got smart and went to college.

Part of my job now is to drive vehicles as a development engineer.

So I wouldnt trade having done it for anything.

PS..you will never understand tires or why they are so important if you dont learn how to use them at their limits...this cannot be learned on the street.

 

Russel 3- day intro back when they were at Laguna Seca - er Mazda Raceway and then the 3-day advanced at Sears Point - er Infineon. Several other schools like the old Track Time school and countless DEs.

Seat time is absolutely key. The MotorSport ranch and the opportunity it presents to drive and drive and drive were the main ways I improved.

I still learn something every time I race, and being a fast driver does not mean you are a great racer - there is so much more to it.

 

You forgot about "...and why did they give me the ugly grid girl?"

 

learning as i go. 8 track days last yr. did my first 2007 event yesterday - lime rock. use my stg2 amg c32. dot r comps (yoke a048) , ate blue and porterfield r4 pads. i was faster than a 997 911 tt and a new viper but they were on street tires.

someone crunched their stradele yesterday tho......pity. such a beautiful car. a 997 911 gt3 rs also sustained damage in a separate spinout.

by end of yr i will have 15 events and hope to go small bore racing next yr. ita or itb.

will prob exercise the f355 in june at lime rock..or may run fca at lime rock concurrent with vintage days.

 

Did Skippy, 3 day school, 2 day advanced last year and did my first race weekend last summer at Lime Rock. Just an allround fantastic experience. With 4 toddlers at home now my amateur racing days are on hold.... but I will be back again to Skippy or similar set up in the future, all going well.