Skip Barber Recommendation

Just came back from Road America. After completing the 3 day open wheel racing school. What a blast! Almost 8 hrs of continous driving each day. I highly recommend this course for anyone who has ever been interested in improving their driving skill level. Or just wanted to know what it felt like to drive a racecar. They provide helmets ,racing suits and of course the cars. Which are all single seat,winged 135 HP engined. Your butt is almost hitting the road and your four tires are sitting higher off the ground than you are. With the wind screaming and the engine howling in your ears as you crack off your upshifts and then your downshifts as you prepare to take a sharp corner after approaching it at almost 130 mph. I just can't think of any way you can have more fun with your clothes on.

 

There is something even better. Go back and take the 2 day advanced course with the sequential gearboxes and "wings"! That got me hooked.

 

How much is it ?

 

Log on to Skip Barber and get a list of rates for 09. The price can be different depending on the length and complexity of each course offered. Off season rates are cheaper and most courses offered right now are being discounted by 20% due to the current economy.

 

Skip, we were lucky enough to be the first group blessed at RA with having the five speed sequential in the latest winged car three day. Apparently the school has begun retiring the non sequential gearbox from their fleet of cars. The open lapping portion will especially get the blood boiling BIG time.

 

Congrats Pete!

When I took the 3 day class we were lucky enough to have rain on one day, which was a very different experience.

Lets talk about where to go from here. I can give you some pointers.
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I had that same opportunity--definitely an eye-opener! It's kind of unfortunate that traditional boxes are being phased out. It's the natural progression of things, but I always loved the element of heel-toe downshifting.

 

I had a Golf GTi at the time and changed the pedals so I could learn properly heel-toe downshifting. Those were the days.

 

take the 2 day course, it's a good time.

 

I did the two day adv. and Friday practice the week before. (Oh boy are those kids out of carts something)
It took some time to adjust to the sequential gearbox, twice I tried the trraditional motion for a third gear upshift which resulted in hitting neutral.
I doubt I will ever own a race car with such a gearbox so next time I'll opt for the traditional box in the "school" cars to sharpen my footwork.
I have high praise for the Skippy instructors.