Skip Barber Driving School

Read the FAQ and still not sure about something? Want to shift faster? Post here.
Post Reply
User avatar
Etanimulc
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 106
Joined: Fri Dec 16, 2005 4:56 pm
Location: Maryland

Skip Barber Driving School

Post by Etanimulc »

Have any of you ever been to the Skip Barber Driving School http://www.skipbarber.com/ or a similiar school? What are the pros and cons of these places?
2000 Dodge Neon (Automatic)
2004 Toyota Camry (Manual Trans.)
Gish
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 581
Joined: Sat Dec 09, 2006 11:50 am

Post by Gish »

Pros: you are a better driver.

Cons: Price.
NonChalant
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 1139
Joined: Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:58 am
Location: New York City

Post by NonChalant »

I could seriously see myself dropping $10k on performance driving and race school when I'm settled down and have the extra cash...

i could also see myself spending a lot of money on a track car and recreational racing for a very long time :P


Anyone know the odds of being scouted and actually becoming pro by going to a track a couple times a month?
User avatar
eaglecatcher
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 9441
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:04 am
Cars: '90 300ZXTT 5MT
Location: Ithaca, NY

Post by eaglecatcher »

about the odds of being scouted to become a pro bowler at the local bowling alley.

You'd have to be a real badass on the track to get noticed by those guys.

Either way, I'd still love to go to some driving school, hence the sig that's been around for a while.

but then again, i'd rather take that money, and buy a Z...
Z1 Intake
Z1 2.5" Test pipes
HKS 65mm Hi-Power Exhaust
AMS Short Shifter
SZ Subframe Spacers
HKS Vein Pressure Converter
DDM Tuning 6000k HIDs
Leedeth
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 7469
Joined: Sun Feb 04, 2007 9:33 am
Location: Suburbia

Post by Leedeth »

Jesus...$1000 for just a half day? I could buy a truck in decent condition for that money.
User avatar
comingbackdown
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 7399
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:17 am
Cars: 99 Ram 2500, 86 Ford LTD
Location: Ohio
Contact:

Post by comingbackdown »

Leedeth wrote:Jesus...$1000 for just a half day? I could buy a truck in decent condition for that money.
*COUGH* Bridgestone! *COUGH* *COUGH* Bondurant! *COUGH*

Go look at some of the courses that Bridgestone has on their website.

This would be a good question to ask Gary. I'm trying so hard to narrow it down to which school I want to go to. Bridgestone is great. Bondurant is also great. I don't know which one to choose. Probably Bridgestone, since it's closer.
Image
1999 Ram 2500 4x4 360, 1986 Ford LTD 3.8L, 1983 Yamaha Venture Royale 1200
NjSi
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 794
Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:43 pm
Cars: 2007 Civic Si (FG2)
Location: New Jersey

Post by NjSi »

My dad went to Skip Barber in Connecticut. He enjoyed it, it was a chance to drive F-1 cars.

Cons: My dad is a big guy, (6'3 250) and they had to take the shell of the car off and let him sit down, then put it back on. And obviously the price.
Image
GarySheehan
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 1101
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2004 3:00 pm
Location: SF Bay Area
Contact:

Post by GarySheehan »

NjSi wrote:My dad went to Skip Barber in Connecticut. He enjoyed it, it was a chance to drive F-1 cars.
I'm pretty sure he didn't drive F1 cars at Skip Barber...
NjSi
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 794
Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:43 pm
Cars: 2007 Civic Si (FG2)
Location: New Jersey

Post by NjSi »

GarySheehan wrote:
NjSi wrote:My dad went to Skip Barber in Connecticut. He enjoyed it, it was a chance to drive F-1 cars.
I'm pretty sure he didn't drive F1 cars at Skip Barber...
I didn't mean F-1, the cars had the body style of an F-1 car.
Image
Paolo300zx
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 3184
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:03 am
Location: Vancouver, B.C.
Contact:

Post by Paolo300zx »

NjSi wrote:
GarySheehan wrote:
NjSi wrote:My dad went to Skip Barber in Connecticut. He enjoyed it, it was a chance to drive F-1 cars.
I'm pretty sure he didn't drive F1 cars at Skip Barber...
I didn't mean F-1, the cars had the body style of an F-1 car.

just say "Formula cars" :)
User avatar
eaglecatcher
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 9441
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:04 am
Cars: '90 300ZXTT 5MT
Location: Ithaca, NY

Post by eaglecatcher »

Image

apparently they're just called Skip Barber Formula Race Cars
Z1 Intake
Z1 2.5" Test pipes
HKS 65mm Hi-Power Exhaust
AMS Short Shifter
SZ Subframe Spacers
HKS Vein Pressure Converter
DDM Tuning 6000k HIDs
GarySheehan
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 1101
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2004 3:00 pm
Location: SF Bay Area
Contact:

Post by GarySheehan »

Formula cars typically refers to open-wheel asphalt racing cars (i.e.-Formula Ford, Formula 2000, Formula 3, GP2, A1GP, Formula Renault, Formula BMW, Formula Vauxhaul, IRL, Champcar, Mazda Atlantic, Formula 1, blah, blah, blah).

F1 refers to, well, Formula 1. Saying Skip Barber was a "chance to drive F1 cars" is a bit misleading :)
User avatar
Etanimulc
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 106
Joined: Fri Dec 16, 2005 4:56 pm
Location: Maryland

Post by Etanimulc »

I just noticed this, but 100th post, Ahuuuuuuuuuuuuul, ahu, ahu, ahu, ahu! (Spartans)
2000 Dodge Neon (Automatic)
2004 Toyota Camry (Manual Trans.)
the dumblonde
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 823
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:02 am
Cars: Ouback 2.5 XT Limited
Location: bouncing between la and orange counties
Contact:

Post by the dumblonde »

So Gary, when are you going to weigh in on this one? I mean other than setting us right on formula cars. Considering you are probably the one here with an actually informed perspective on the subject. :D
Image
GarySheehan
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 1101
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2004 3:00 pm
Location: SF Bay Area
Contact:

Post by GarySheehan »

the dumblonde wrote:So Gary, when are you going to weigh in on this one? I mean other than setting us right on formula cars. Considering you are probably the one here with an actually informed perspective on the subject. :D
Sorry. I was busy chestpounding :)

Pros:
-Excellent coaching quality you won't find outside of a pro school. Steepest learning curve.
-Car is prepared for you. You focus on learning, not maintaining your car.
-Equally prepared cars. You can see how you stack up against others.
-Drive purpose built formula racecars. No compromises, so no bad handling characteristics to drive around.
-Racing schools typically have racing championships. Racing in a school championship will be cheaper and easier than owning your own car and racing against folks that spend more money on their car.

Cons:
-Cost. Fairly expensive.
-Typically need to travel further to a pro school than to a local track event.

If you are interested in getting involved in racing, spending time at a pro racing school is the steroid of motorsports. It will give you an edge over your competitors that learned on their own.

Image
Post Reply