Anyone done the Skip Barber 3-day racing school? Is it good? Worth $3500? What other schools (preferably in CA) have you guys done that are very good?

-Steve

 

I've done it at Sebring. FL. I've never gone to any of the other schools so I can't compare it to them. However, I thought the instruction was top notch. All of the instructors had alot of experience. One of them was Carl Lopez (author of Going Faster! Mastering the Art of Race Driving). Great guy, BTW. It was great to be able to talk to him about the book (I highly recommend reading the book before taking the school). You get alot of attention and feedback from the instructors. I did it before ever taking my car to a HPDE event but once I did felt very well prepared.

Every now and then Skippy has a 20% off deal on their website. They also mail them out if you're on their mailing list. I'm waiting for a deal to take the 2-day Advanced.

 

Skippy schools are notoriously one of the very best options out there. Every single person that I know who went to a Skip Barber School has had nothing but good things to say.

Other options in CA, can't help ya there.

Is it worth $3.5k, well only you can answer that question, I guess is boils down to can you afford to just drop that much money for a fun 3-day weekend.

 

I used to have a boss that also worked as a manager of corner workers for the SB Racing Series. Working (volunteering) as a corner worker gets you SB Points that you can use toward the school. If I remember correctly, 1 weekend (fri-sun) plus one more day was enough to get 1 day free at the race school. No clue if they still do that, but Ken was always telling me they needed people.

This was 10 years ago, back when I wasn't into HPDE's... Now I cringe thinking about all those races he wanted me to work and all those school days I could have had.

 

A lot of guys here did Derek Daly, but I'm leaning toward Skip Barber when I hit the lotto.

 

Derek Daly was fabulous; I'm sure SB is equally good.

 

I did the 3day at Laguna Seca with a discount, then put a deposit immediately for the 2d advanced at VIR with a discount. Without a doubt the best $900/d ever spent.

I believe the usual promotion time is may/june for a "graduation" special. There may be a fathers day special as well. But in all honesty I would have paid full price! I'm just bummed that I didn't have my book for Carl to sign when I met him at VIR.

Try to do the 2d advanced with friends, there's more passing allowed, and tons of fun chasing/being chased by the very skilled instructors.

 

do any of these schools help you to get licensed for wheel to wheel events?

 

Yes, nearly all 2- or 3-day school programs will offer an SCCA license.

 

Do they require you to start with the regular introductory class or can you skip right to an advanced curriculum? I'm not Schuey or anything, but I don't have any interest in spending the first day or two learning how to heel toe or what trail braking is.