Wow. http://www.skippyforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9413 I haven't done a race weekend with them in a few years - to me, the old formula cars are hopelessly out of date. Anyone on the conference call?
This is a shame. Would be interested in the outcome of the conference call today. -Peter (working, thank goodness)
IIRC, Skip sold most or all of the company to a PE group years ago. I imagine they've done the classic PE "raise prices and cut costs as much as possible" killing of the golden goose?
Since 2001, it's been through several rounds of "efficiency improvements." Even more important than the methodology to the SBRS experience are the people, the human capital. That's been the big loss in this latest round...
I agree, the quality of instructors/instruction is what made Skippy, not the cars. when "efficiency improvements" are lowering production cost or reducing packaging, it's one thing. when it's dicking over your employees it's another.
The cars are important. The last time I raced in Skippy, and it's been a few years, I thought the open wheel cars were horrible, not close to comparable to a formula ford. I raced with them before and after the silly wings were added; it was clear to all, I think, that the wings were decoration, for marketing, not to make the cars a more sophisticated training tool. Heck, I remember when Todd himself was a prospect. Sure, some of the instructors were great, Bruce MacInnes stands out in my memory. Lots of great people, Randy Buck - lost in the recent changes - among them. Some of them were just failed young racers with a bit of attitude. The series could be a bit cliquish IMO. I did it for a few years, learned a lot, then moved on. I can't for the life of me imagine why the father of a young karter would put his kid into Skippy, too many other better choices, especially if you have funding. Panoz is gone. Russell is one track. Bertil Roos hangs in there with its fans. Maybe the era of the school as rung on the mythical "ladder" is over. Is anyone still selling "the ladder?" There's karting, then there's just money.
Word on the street is that SB is on last legs... Was moving HQ from Lakeville to Road Atlanta.. The staff that was going south got walking papers....When packing up for the move purged a lot of history...
yep, almsot anyone can race F1 today if they just have the money. ANYONE can race Le Mans and pro Sports Car series with money. I don't know how many times I have been in a SCCA regional race paddock and there is a 23 year old just started racing with his dad funding an "expensive" $30k touring car talking about that is their step to the pros next year and eventually F1 or Le Mans. I was always too speechless to even say "good luck".
The first time I attended Skip my instructor was Terry Earwood and then I had Dorsey Sdchrader. Much better talent than in later years. Have not done Skip in a very long time
Are we not at the point yet where a dad can recognise the progression of Button and Hamilton, and say if you want to be with McLaren, and you haven't won something with TV coverage by 13, maybe 23 is not the best age to start. Not car racing, but in a similar way - get a lot of parents with their kids want to talk to me about moving into computer games. Usually it is a variation of son finished High-School, didn't do so well, but loves playing games - so he's enrolled in a six-month course, should be professional next year and have a released console title the year after. I guess you are genuine in wishing them luck, but it's a forced smile knowing the path they are taking.
Is this where the dad is attempting to relive his dreams through his son and is living in disillusionment himself? Or like I say about my old professional MX racing days, "The older I get, the better I was".
Not to be a vulture or anything, but are they going to be selling off their MX-5 cars? Dale PS I hate to see Randy Buck go. He is one of the really good guys.
Over the past (nearly) two decades, I've watched SB make lots of changes. Some good some bad, but losing the intellectual/human capital will entirely "gut" the entity of the value it provides. It's not easy being an ex-instructor looking for a gig as a driving coach. When I hired a coach to work with me a bit, he was always on the road, chasing opportunities. His wife and two kids were at home in CT, and he almost never got there to see them. Moreover, his income for coaching was sporadic and not extravagant by any stretch. Frankly, the life reminded me of Perry McCarthy's Flat Out and Flat Broke or Tommy Byrne's Crashed and Byrned. It's HARD to make a living in racing. So, cheers to those who can! CW
Just got an e-mail from Jen Murphy, the instructor schedule coordinator for SBRS. She's been let go. Very bad news...
BTW, one thing that might be really telling is I doubt SBR could get much for the formula cars, other than scrap value. Dale
Well, sure. The FF is a race car, the SBR2000 (?) is a school car. As a school car it has to be durable and have slow responsiveness for folks who haven't had prior experience. It's hard to race for less than skippy prices, and the champ gets a cool million in Star Mazda (and onwards to Atlantic, and then to CCWS). Sure the ladder fell apart over the years but they always had the Star Mazda deal. Sorry, there is no better value out there. If you have funding you wouldn't bother, of course.
I know someone that bought the $200k (or whatever ridiculous amount) "lifetime" racing deal from Skippy. First thing I thought ... interested in a bridge?
that's not true at all, first of all Skippy may be a good deal for all those guys that think the only way to race is to arrive, be pampered, get fed lunch, jump in the car to go racing, and then get out afterwards heading straight to the bar or hotel. the majority of amateur racers buy their own "tired" used car, work on it themselves, haul it themselves, and do all support by themselves. even if you want a little more support there are better deals with small arrive and drive teams in your regional SCCA and NASA racing than there is with Skippy. I thought Skippy was the best at what they did, it excelled at racing the best tracks and having some of the best instructors. Just don't call it the best value to race.
Are you sure? Soup to nuts, a weekend of Skippy MX-5 racing runs less than $4,000 (or, it used to). This includes air fare and hotel. If you figure in the full costs of DYI, I'm not sure you're saving all that much money. Plus, at Skippy, you get spec racing at some of the top tracks in the country such as LS, VIR and RA. As much as I like TWS, the consequences of doing some tractor work can be pretty expensive. Dale
I have shown the numbers before, running SRX7, SM, or even my RX8 was around $1,000-$1,500 a weekend at most. The RX8 worked out to break even most weekends at SCCA Nationals because I was getting a new set of Hoosiers free and $1,200 checks from Mazda. Have to win those races though. Even those not winning would be in the $1,000-1,500 range. I listed the cool tracks as highlight of Skippy. If you banged up MX-5 at Skippy they didn't charge you extra?
