A significant percentage of the population fantasizes about being a race car driver at some point while growing up. If you are reading this, chances are you were one of these people yourself. The dream of strapping into a powerful, sleek metal thoroughbred and turning laps at some of the world’s hottest race courses still has a powerful hold on many drivers, especially when they are stuck in bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic.
Luckily, these days all it takes to get behind the wheels of a race car is a free weekend and a strong check book. The Skip Barber Racing School has been providing driving instruction and competitive weekend racing for over 30 years.
Offering classes at 20 race tracks across the United States, the school has several different programs and series to accommodate drivers of every experience level.
The best part is, they even provide the race cars – so you don’t have to worry about cracking up your pride and joy. The driving school covers a broad range of racing. Most of the racing programs are taught in a 2 liter, 4 cylinder open wheel vehicle making 130 horsepower.
Offering packages of 1 to 3 days, drivers start off learning the basics of slaloming, braking and downshifting. More advanced theory is taught as students spend the next day doing high speed laps, some while following an instructor’s car to learn the best line, and some on their own.
On the third and final day students are introduced to actual race situations such as drafting, passing, different types of race re-starts and even racing in wet conditions.
For speed demons who are interested in trying a little bit of everything, combo packages are available which mix together track time in sports sedans and Mazda Miata roadsters, the basic open wheel vehicle, and a more powerful Formula 2000 open wheel car.
One of the advantages of the Skip Barber School is that for the street car lessons, an instructor actually rides along with your in the passenger seat, providing real-time analysis and advice – something that can definitely shave seconds off of your lap times.
The Skip Barber Racing School offers sessions at major tracks all over the country. If you have ever wanted to drive such historic tracks as Lime Rock, Sebring, Road America or even the banks of the Daytona Speedway, the Skip Barber School is your chance to realize your dreams and become a better driver along the way.
