How many here race with Skip Barber??

Matt,

That's really cool--congrats! Where did you school? You're going to have a blast--it's hard to regret going racing provided the budget is there. If you want to race more, my suggestion to you would be to cruise the paddock at some SCCA events talk to drivers in different classes. You'll start to get a good idea of who's getting the biggest bang for their buck. I'd look into a lease program with a private group after you get your license. It will most likely be cheaper than running a season of Skippy. But in the meantime, have fun

Jack

 

Matt,

I raced in the Eastern Regional Series back in 2000 and finished 5th place overall. Great place to race for a year or two. When I raced with them the grid was made up of about 50% older people such as myself (early 30's to 40's). We were mostly weekend racers who had day jobs and just wanted to learn and have fun. Another 45% were young US kids who wanted to get into competitive racing. Lots came from other disciplines, such as BMX, Motorcross and karts. These kids had decent talent and a checkbook but usually never got anywhere beyond the lower formula. Then there was the last 5% usually one or two foreigners who were simply on another planet and had huge financial backing and their own press core along. I raced with ( or should say shared track space with) a guy names Ernesto Visio who then went on to win in Brit F3, Euro 3000/F2 and then on to testing with Spyker and Force India in F1.

My only complaint was that I don't think the cars were always equal. There were times were the front runners (like Ernesto) would complain that something wasn't right and the Skippy staff would wheel the car into the shop (Lime Rock) and suddenly the entire crew was working on the car. Sometimes he would get a new car. The rest of us were stuck with the same car and likely one mechanic would look at it and if he couldn't find anything you went out in the car. That cost me at least one race when an axle broke during a race after I had complained about a vibration problem all weekend.

Beyond that it was a great place to learn but I realized that I was never going to beat those kids from South America and I was too fast for the other old farts so I switched to SRF in SCCA.

Hope this helps.

 

I raced in the western series in 1997 & 1998. Tracks I raced on were Laguna Seca, PIR, Willow Springs and Las Vegas.

Im sure things have changed since then but overall it was a good experience. As the Jon K said the cars arent all the same as much as they might like you think. I had my favorites and so did others.

It is a cheap way to go and I met alot of guys who now race in the big leagues. Alex Gurney, Townsend Bell to name a few.

I also went to Lime Rock and Road America to race as well.

Overall if the bug bites you like it did me, you will learn alot but also grow a little tired of school cars. I bought Formula Mazda after the skippy school and raced in SCCA regional and nationals and Star Mazda Pro....of course then came the Ferrari Challenge. But back to your question the skippy school is a good way to go.

 

Good plan! Ernesto Viso is the business!

 

Hey Guys,

I've raced in lots of different Skippy series:
- 2001 Skip Barber Western Championship
- 2001 Skip Barber National Championship
- 2002 Skip Barber Western Champion & Most Improved Driver
- 2002 Skip Barber National Championship (8th)
- 2003 Barber Dodge Pro Series (Barber-Champ Car Scholarship Driver)

Now I'm a driver coach for Skip Barber, mainly at Laguna Seca, for the past 5 years...

A season of regional racing will probably run you roughly 30k, which for an arrive-and-drive open-wheel series is a steal!

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions on the race series or schools... If you're near Laguna Seca, our Western Series race weekend is next Fri/Sat/Sun. You're more than welcome to come check it out and watch the races! I'll be there all weekend...

Robbie Montinola
www.montinola.com