Awesome.

Physically brutal.

I'm legal since I can now get my SCCA license.

Random thoughts:

1) Turn 2, pucker factor high. Really high. 100+mph and brake slam then trail brake into corner.

2) Running out of fuel at mid-apex on turn 4 means...??? At least I didn't need to be towed after the spinout. Not that time anyway.

3) Foam pads are highly recommended for the back.

4) There is nothing wrong with the shifter so just stop whining. Heel-toe and no double clutch necessary.

5) Ever thought about being clausterphobic? You will when strapped in and being cooked in the heat.

6) Another pucker, gas pedal sticking on turn 9 heading toward apex (hi-speed sweeper). Targeted kicking stuff underneath seemed to work. Pitted and had the mechanics fix it while in the car and then blasted off again. Good for an Indy/CART moment of delusion.

7) Puckered again is spinning out on Turn 11 nicely situated to be t-boned by the next car. Fortunately, wasn't. Amazing how time can slow down so these moments can be fully appreciated. That's just swell.

8) End of first day makes you wonder what's wrong with you.

9) End of third day makes you wonder about can you swing the cost for a racing season.

10) Now I can mod my car however much I want and no more "driver training the best mod you can get". Been there and done it.

11) Speed perception when close to a full recline and head is just a few feet off the ground is very puckering, very cool.

12) Race shoes are mandatory. You will not be able to shift without them. Buy them before you go to the school or buy them there first day.

13) Gloves are highly recommended. Golf gloves work really well.

Totally, totally, worth every penny. Good bunch of instructors with plenty of racing experience. This is the real deal, if you think this is a DE only, then you will be in for a surprise. Hopefully a good one.

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formerly jlambeth

ok sounds good

I did this at LimeRock last year and in general I agree with your positive review (different pucker factor scenarios applied for me obviously). I would however suggest that even 3 intense days doesn't mean I have by any means mastered driving and that additional driver training no longer is needed. Having a first-hand appreciation for the theory is good, but even 3 full days on the track isn't enough. You can always use more seat-time and should try it in your own car

Take a school that uses data acquisition in their cars it will show how your lap times compare to the instructors and much more. Data is downloaded to a PC, allowing for a more technical evaluation of a driver’s performance. I have found the schools that offer data acquisition to be the best learning experience, they show unequivocally how fast you really are and where improvements can be made.

Since you're new to this, I'm glad to feel your excitement, but also know there's something new to learn every time you drive - the best drivers know this and they are constantly learning, it's kind of an "ongoing mod." I've been to four racing schools, and still learn something every time I'm on the track...

brad

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21-year PCA Member
PCA DE Instructor

i took the Skip Barber school in the early 90's and have raced for years in their formula race series . it is still the most fun i believe you can legally have . i have referred countless friends to take any of the courses the Skip Barber organization put on . they are truly a first class outfit .i'm glad you enjoyed it .

Yeah, seat time is the biggest thing now. Only on the third day in the afternoon was I able to drive without tunnel vision and relax. I have already signed up for the advanced class to get the discount within the next 18 months.

I need to get my car up there now to Laguna Seca. Probably will drive a bit more conservative...

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formerly jlambeth

There were a couple of things I would have liked to have seen. Data acquisition is one but also follow the leader as well.

For me, since I am a novice, data is not that relevant for me since I am already aware of doing a million things wrong. It would be mandatory though for an experienced "trackster".

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formerly jlambeth

I might do their formula race series next year if I can understand all of the cost angles to it.

Worth doing from your experience?

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formerly jlambeth

Absolutely ! you wont regret it.

I went down the same route as you, I took the 3 day SB course last year at Watkins Glen, then took advantage of the discount for the 2 day advanced racing course which I took this year at Mont Tremblant.

First, the 3 day course is a basic, very basic course getting you into the car and teaching you some of the fundamentals. I to was excited about the SCCA lic and applied for it and got it. Just be aware you have to do a minimum of 2 SCCA races in one year to maintain your lic. I did one but couldn't get the 2nd one in. Lic is now expired even with the SB 2 day advanced racing course.

I know exactly what you mean about claustrophobic. Sitting in the car, all strapped down, can't breath and the heat is burning you up in the race suit and you can't move. I had to learn to relax and control my breathing before I panicked.

When you step up to the 2 day course, no more heel/toe, sequential shifter Yesss. just blip the throttle and up or down shift. At this level you do some lead/follow with instructors but you are also encouraged to do some passing. This is where you find out who the fast students are. We had one student, an older man, at least older than me, keep blowing by me and I'm thinking, where in the heck is he getting all that extra power from? Later I noticed a SCCA National Champion patch on his racing suit, he was just taking a refresher course cause he hadn't driven in a couple of years..

The next level up for SB is computer lapping and racing. So if you want to do laps and get computerized info on your laps you have to go for the Skip Barber "lapping days"

One last thing to remember about the Skip Barber school is that once you reach the 2 day advanced racing course and above, you are responsible for damage done to the car up to a certain amount. Those spin outs can get costly. I spun going into turn 1 at Mont Tremblant coming off the front straight but didn't hit anything, thank God. Just dirt and grass flying everywhere.

All in all thought I feel I learned a lot after this last 2 day course that is very valuable, looking ahead, smoothness on brakes and throttle, but most importantly, thinking about braking and throttle while I'm doing it, whats the car doing when I do it and learning. I feel I was considerably faster by the end of the second and now more in tune with my CS when tracking.