Florida Skip Barber

Definatly Sebring as the learning curve at that track is not as steep, fast track with lots of run off .

Armando

 

Sebring has some fun turns and the back straightaway lets you get up to speed. Also, there is the history factor. There is something about racing past the grandstands at Sebring. The adjacent hotel (Chateau something?) is mediochre but it is right there at the track and there are few options. They do have a spa and you can schedule a massage after your class or just hit the lobby bar. Barber gives a great course, by the way. Don't be fooled by the ford neon pace car. The drivers are very familiar with the course and run those cars to the red line so keeping up with the pace car will surprise you.

 

Sebring is a great track with nice facilities (and the adjacent hotel), but Moroso is only about a half-hour from PBI airport, if that matters. I took the Barber 3-day course at Moroso back in 2/79 (when it was pretentiously known as Palm Beach International Raceway), so my experience with Skippy is pretty dated.

 

Damn, Ira I was playing Lego in 79

 

Why spend a fortune with Skip Barber?

Join any Porsche Club region, or Chin Motorsports, and bring your own car. You'll get instruction that is every bit as good for a fraction of the price.

Morrie

 

Not quite the same....besides Skip B will qualify you for a racing license with SCCA.

 

"Damn, Ira I was playing Lego in 79" Gee thanks, Martin- I turned 52 the other day, and really wasn't looking for a reminder of how ancient I've become!!

 

How much does it cost and how old do you have to be to do Skip Barber

 

James, Taking a class or several classes is a great idea at your age. Skip Barber has several programs of varying lengths and abilities. Start with the intro to racing, which is a one day course with open wheel race cars (if you are into racing). It is much more difficult than you think so start easy. Out of the 10 men in my class, only 2 of us did not spin out. A 3 day course can give you a license to race. There is also a course for new drivers, usually teens like yourself and is probably a better place to start. Look at their website to get all the details. Cost is not cheap but you may get a break on your car insurance and may be worth peace of mind to your parents. Sebring raceway is a great place to go for these programs. My son is turning 16 and I plan on getting him into those classes to learn to drive. He thinks that he can drive my exotics but doesn't realize all there is to know. I am still learning, myself, how to really drive these cars. There is a lot more to it than just punching the pedal down. It's not x-box.

 

What do you guys recommend?
Driving Experience:
1.I do not know how to drive a stick shift. (But I want to learn)
2.I want my race license.
3.I only have my permit but I will be getting my license right after Christmas.
4.I like going fast. (I have a need for speed)
5.I have never raced or driven on a race track (I got a ride on a race track thanks to Martin)
What should I do?
Which do you recommend?
Thanks in advance.
James Lightning
P.S. I don't know if this has something to do with anything but I was born near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Maybe I have octane running through my veins. It sounds funny but it makes sense to me.

 

James,

You need to get thoroughly familiar with a stick before even thinking about track. Spend sufficient time on the street to accomplish this. Then take the car to a parking lot or other large area and learn how to heel and toe. Then learn how to double clutch. Double clutching is no longer a good technique for slowing the car, but it is a way to match engine rpms in downshifts. If you don't understand these techniques there are several books that will explain them.

In my opinion, based on 20 years of instructing, you will be wasting your time and money with a track school unless you have first thoroughly mastered these techniques.

Sign up for driver education events and get as much seat time as you can. There is no substitute for it. Get familiar with the guys around you because you will depend on them for your safety, as they will upon you. I don't think a three-day school is enough to qualify anyone for a racing license. When I was PCA racing we required eight track days and an evaluation by a certified instructor, and even this is considered far too little experience by many of us, including me.

I don't want to discourage you unduly, but you need to know that good racers have been at it a long time and can humble most newcomers. Nothing is more humbling than to have a chief instructor get in your car and turn faster laps than you can. It happens all the time.

Making your bones takes a long time and a lot of hard work. The rewards are worth it and you will appreciate them more for having gone through it.

 

James it was a pleasure giving you your first ride on the track. Most of that sounds and looks easy and glorious. It is not quite so. Car Control is not easy and you quickly find that you may be driving a car that is a lot more advanced that you are. Heck, the 360Challenge has a lot more than I can get out of it. This leaves you exposed to error and overdriving and can cause harm to you, others and your car.
A proper driving school is essential. Getting driving instructions is a great way to start if you have never been on a track. The ride we took was a pleasure ride, nothing fancy and certainly not track instructions.

Your "need for speed" is the wrong way to start. You should look for the "need for control" Speed is a factor of just how much balls you have and how easy your wish to die is. Speed in coordination with car control is the key to driving and that is never a good thing to learn on the street but on the track.

To learn how to stick-shift you need to find a car and an empty parking lot. (some fancy shopping mall right before christmas...LOL) and 1 hour later you will have it. Then some more practice. If your parents are thinking of buying you a car ask them to look for a stick. They are usually cheaper as well.

Another way how to learn great car control is karting. We meet at Speed Indoor Karting ever other week Thursday at 7pm if you like to come. $30 buys a 20min session and you actually get a great feel for control, turn in points, APEXes and what you can and can not do with 4 wheels.

 

Thanks for the advice Martin. I know that speed is for the track and that is not the main thing in racing but how well you drive. I have always wanted to learn stick but I know someone that could teach me to drive stick. Unforunately in someways I already have my car and it is an automatic. I know that the ride you gave me on the track was not real true track time but just a ride but it was still absolutely amazing.....(thinking about that ride again)......ok back with a smile on my face, I still get a smile on my face thing about the ride though. I definitely need to take the Introduction to Racing course before anything.
Can you send me more info on the Karting though I really would like to go do that but I probably won't be able to till I get my license because my parents won't want to drive there then pick me up.
Thanks for the advice.
James Lightning

 

Spend time in Go Karts at Speed Indoor Racing and get into a Go Kart any way you can. If you have a taste for racing Karts, and more importantly the talent and money (READ: backing), then go for the Skip Barber School.

I would think Sebring would be a better venue than Moroso for this. And Barber runs a hugely popular program there.

BHW