Four of us (S2000 drivers) just got back from a Track Time school at Watkins Glen and it was well worth the money. It cost $550 for a two day school with three 30 minute on track sessions per day and about 6 hours of classroom. The class A and B drivers were able to drive solo with open passing rules. The class C and D drivers are required to ride along with in-car instructors until signed-off for solo, usually during the second day.

Many of the instructors are professional race car drivers with many years of track experience. You can learn a lot in short period of time just by sharing with others at the track, but seat time is what really counts.

The S2000 is approved "as is" for all Track Time tracks but you must run top up unless you are using arm restraints. IMHO, you are much better off running with the top up.

I highly recommend Track Time but if I were to do again, I would try to attend a few auto-x events prior to driving on a high speed track. Minimally, it would have been beneficial to have driven my car on a skidpad. It took me almost two full precious track sessions to get a sense of what the car will do when pushed near the limit.

Go for it!

 

Jeffskio,

What a fantastic area of interest.

My father and I have attended the Bob Bondurant school in Phoenix and he attended the Skip Barber school in Michigan a few months later.

Both were great experiences, but the two differed significantly.

We found Bondurant (the four day Grand Prix class) to be better for beginners (as we were) than the Skip Barber (preparation for the Dodge Neon Celebrity Challenge) class. The Skip Barber class (maybe they have an intro class as well) focused more on hardcore race track performance, Bondurant eased you into the speed you ultimately attained.

I know this isn't a full apples to apples comparison, so don't think one is good and the other bad, just know what type of experience you want and then find a school that can provide it.

 

you are some rich ****ers