S2KI Racing School
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Former Moderator
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,826
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From: Denver CO
There have been a number of inquiries about the school. Guess I'll make a few comments. These will undoubtedly be expanded upon and corrected by the other attendees.
1) Day one - spent a couple of hours in the classroom. Went over basics like driving the line. Covered trail braking, heel-toe downshifting also. Also talked about the cars we'd be spending most of our time in - how to get in and out of them for starters. Those things are a tight fit!
2) Ah, the cars. Formula 1 open wheel style cars. Shortest shifter I've ever used. Much shorter throw than the S. We were told not to use the clutch on upshifts - Just slight lift on the throttle, throw it into the next gear, and go. Sweet
.
3) Spent much of day one on the technique oval, an oval track set up with cones on the skidpad of one of the tracks. We practiced trail braking and heel-toe downshifts. The technique oval gave us time to work on these techniques in a controlled environment, and in small groups. There were never more than 6 of us on the oval at a time. Also, it gave us a chance to get used to the cars before going full speed on a racetrack.
4) Day 2 was spent mostly on the track. We did a lead follow session where we had an instructor, followed by three students, practicing the line on the track. Later, we did sessions on our own. After each session the instructors would download data from the cars, and individually we would evaluate our driving with an instructor. My instructor then would give us each 3-4 things to work on in the next session - for me it was usually my trail braking, faster blips on my heel-toe downshifts, and quicker upshifts.
5) Day 3 - Spent an hour in the classroom, discussing passing etiquette and race starts. Then out to the track. In the morning we practiced passing with our instructors, and then later in the morning the whole group gridded up and practiced race starts. It was fun and a requirement to get the SCCA regional license that we are all qualified for now. Later in the morning we took the SCCA written test.
6) The afternoon of day 3 was spent with more open sessions, data downloads, and discussions with the instructors about our data. We all loved the data download sessions. They were extremely beneficial for every one of us to help us understand what parts of our driving technique needs the most improvement.
In order to avoid getting heckled by my fellow students, I have to admit that I was involved in an accident on the track. Ludedude and I both went off in the same area of the track and I bumped him lightly. Unfortunately, it was enough to damage the front wing on my car and I'm now the proud owner of a front wing from a F1 style racecar. I'll be hanging it prominently in my garage.
Wonderful school. I highly recommend it.
Aaron
1) Day one - spent a couple of hours in the classroom. Went over basics like driving the line. Covered trail braking, heel-toe downshifting also. Also talked about the cars we'd be spending most of our time in - how to get in and out of them for starters. Those things are a tight fit!
2) Ah, the cars. Formula 1 open wheel style cars. Shortest shifter I've ever used. Much shorter throw than the S. We were told not to use the clutch on upshifts - Just slight lift on the throttle, throw it into the next gear, and go. Sweet
.3) Spent much of day one on the technique oval, an oval track set up with cones on the skidpad of one of the tracks. We practiced trail braking and heel-toe downshifts. The technique oval gave us time to work on these techniques in a controlled environment, and in small groups. There were never more than 6 of us on the oval at a time. Also, it gave us a chance to get used to the cars before going full speed on a racetrack.
4) Day 2 was spent mostly on the track. We did a lead follow session where we had an instructor, followed by three students, practicing the line on the track. Later, we did sessions on our own. After each session the instructors would download data from the cars, and individually we would evaluate our driving with an instructor. My instructor then would give us each 3-4 things to work on in the next session - for me it was usually my trail braking, faster blips on my heel-toe downshifts, and quicker upshifts.
5) Day 3 - Spent an hour in the classroom, discussing passing etiquette and race starts. Then out to the track. In the morning we practiced passing with our instructors, and then later in the morning the whole group gridded up and practiced race starts. It was fun and a requirement to get the SCCA regional license that we are all qualified for now. Later in the morning we took the SCCA written test.
6) The afternoon of day 3 was spent with more open sessions, data downloads, and discussions with the instructors about our data. We all loved the data download sessions. They were extremely beneficial for every one of us to help us understand what parts of our driving technique needs the most improvement.
In order to avoid getting heckled by my fellow students, I have to admit that I was involved in an accident on the track. Ludedude and I both went off in the same area of the track and I bumped him lightly. Unfortunately, it was enough to damage the front wing on my car and I'm now the proud owner of a front wing from a F1 style racecar. I'll be hanging it prominently in my garage
.Wonderful school. I highly recommend it.
Aaron
Administrator
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 17,004
Likes: 7
From: Santa Cruz, CA, US
I was laughing the thought of me sitting in the grass staring at aaron's number/side of his car still in shock that 1 they hit each other, and 2, I had just driven myself into the grass paying more attention to them instead of the road.
They teach you a lot of things there. One of them was Object fixation. Nothing like learning it in real life.
They teach you a lot of things there. One of them was Object fixation. Nothing like learning it in real life.
Thread Starter
Former Moderator
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,826
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From: Denver CO
Oh yeah, one more point. I was so focused on the school I forgot to mention the fun we had as a group. I knew several of the other attendees from the S2K community in California so I knew it would be fun, but also it was great to meet Ludedude and Jschmidt from that other coast 
. I love it when my hobbies transcend just the hobby, and I get to meet great people that also enjoy the same endeavors. The S2000 has given me that in abundance, and it's another aspect of this car that can't be quantified in a magazine.
. I love it when my hobbies transcend just the hobby, and I get to meet great people that also enjoy the same endeavors. The S2000 has given me that in abundance, and it's another aspect of this car that can't be quantified in a magazine.
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Administrator
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 17,004
Likes: 7
From: Santa Cruz, CA, US
Not only did they keep the lap times, but full data too. I plan to scan one of my print outs to show.
Speed, RPM, Gee's, etc.
I wasn't as fast as the instuctor. Hey, it was my first time in the car.
Speed, RPM, Gee's, etc.
I wasn't as fast as the instuctor. Hey, it was my first time in the car.