Driving school

[Scout]

Anyone attended on of these many driving schools across the country whether it be rally or track racing? I’ve been researching the O’Neal rally school and of course skip barbers.

 

[OldShooter]

Anyone attended on of these many driving schools across the country whether it be rally or track racing? I’ve been researching the O’Neal rally school and of course skip barbers.

I raced SCCA for almost 15 years, was our region's chief instructor for a couple of years and wrote a fairly successful book. I had two stints at the Bertil Roos when Bertil was still running it. Basic and Advanced.

It was worth the money for me but what I learned is that most students at these schools are tourists who have no intention of ever actually racing. One of my funniest moments was when a tourist complained to me about passing him going into a corner that was supposedly "his." He would have been terrified in an actual race.

So I would quiz any school about the tourist issue. If you're a tourist (nothing wrong with that) go for a tourist school. If you're serious, look for a serious school. IMO the latter will be hard to find but I am not in touch with that market any more.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

Quite a few years ago I attended the two-day Bridgestone Winter Driving School at Steamboat Springs, Colo. It was basically a winter rally school, but I came away with useful knowledge I could apply to day-to-day winter driving. Also, the low traction on ice gave a feel of the physics of performance driving at much higher speeds.

The following winter I found a couple opportunities to drive in winter autocrosses on frozen lakes in my area. I became a regular participant for quite a few years.

 

[Bamaman]

In college, I watched my roommate go through SCCA licensures, and he eventually ended up with his National License. He started off in Formula Fords and ended up in a B Sports Racer which is a very fast class.

My roomie quit racing for many years, and later opened a Miata race car shop in Florida with dyno's and the whole works. He campaigned two very competitive Miatas for many years.

My Facebook is full of people I went to high school and college with. His Facebook has famous race car drivers, including many that race or have raced Indycar.

If you want to go to a racing school, go to one that issues credentials so you can race a specific class of car. In other words, don't go to the Richard Petty Driving Experience if you want to drive a rally car in Europe.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

Scout may be advanced past this point, but the sports car clubs in my area each schedule two or three driving schools a year for a fraction of the cost of a skip barber or other professional school. Even if you have track experience, a club school can help you get familiar with a track if you haven't done a lot of laps there.

 

[Scout]

Thanks everyone
You’ve given me some options I haven’t thought of previously. I would probably he considered the tourist as mentioned, but I have a lot more time on my hands now so I hope to find a somewhat immersive experience to go to the next level.
I appreciate it

 

[OldShooter]

Thanks everyone
You’ve given me some options I haven’t thought of previously. I would probably he considered the tourist as mentioned, but I have a lot more time on my hands now so I hope to find a somewhat immersive experience to go to the next level.
I appreciate it

Hey, nothing wrong with being a tourist. You'll have a blast. Actually, I have never driven what we used to call "big door cars." I have daydreamed about going to one of those NASCAR door car schools just to see what they are like. 100% tourist.

I think most of the commercial schools have sessions with a name like "skid car," "slide car," etc. That experience will apply directly to street card driving, particularly in ice, snow, and rain. Good schools will also emphasize your eyes/where to look. That, too, is directly applicable to street driving.

Re club schools, at our region's club schools entry fees are cheap but you have to come with a legal and safe car for the class you'll run plus all the driver safety equipment; suit, helmet, etc. With the commercial schools borrowing all of that is in the fee.

 

[steiny]

I have not done any car driving schools but have done multiple motorcycle rider schools and track days.


I tell people that I learned more in the first school than I did 10 years riding on the street.


GO FOR IT