Racing Schools In the Area!!??

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Feb 3, 2009 | 06:03 PM

TheGimp711

Thread Starter

Teching In

iTrader: (2)

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 25

Likes: 0

Racing Schools In the Area!!??

I would like to take a high performance driving course this summer and was curious if anyone on here had any experience with any in the area. I have tried searching but cant find too much other than the Skip Barber for an option. I would like to take a 1-2 course not driving my car in a racing type driving course. Anybody have any advice or suggestions? I live in Upstate NY but am willing to drive to places in NY/NJ/CT/MA/RI

I figured the next big mod for me is going to be "drivers" mod

Thanks,
Evan

Feb 3, 2009 | 06:14 PM

nhra_crazy

11 Second Club

iTrader: (86)

Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 616

Likes: 0

From: Oxford Pa

I95 Late at night!! Jk.. I wouldnt mind doing something like that also.. Would be fun

Feb 3, 2009 | 07:41 PM

subarubill96

TECH Enthusiast

iTrader: (9)

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 501

Likes: 0

From: hamden, ct

i did skip barber driving school when i was 18 at limerock park in CT. It was alot of fun and taught me a lot about car control, they have you push the limits so you can find were they are. i know its probably saved me from at least a few accidents so it was well worth it. is this the kind of class you were thinking about?

Feb 3, 2009 | 08:20 PM

C5_Pete

10 Second Club

iTrader: (8)

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 983

Likes: 361

From: Washington TWP, NJ

Rumor has it New Jersey Motorsports park will be starting a corvette sponsored driving school sometime this spring.

www.NJMP.com

Feb 3, 2009 | 08:51 PM

Demonicbird00

10 Second Club

iTrader: (17)

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 2,409

Likes: 0

From: Alloway,NJ

i highly recommend skip barber.....i did the 3 day race school/2 lapping days and the formula dodge series

they do driving/racing schools at lime rock,ct. njmp, summit point, wv.

all depends on where you wanna go, check out there site for more info, skipbarber.com

-brandon

Feb 3, 2009 | 09:44 PM

alwaysinboost

TECH Regular

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 408

Likes: 0

From: boostville

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGimp711

Thanks,
Evan

you should look into doing HPDE's (high performance driving experience) with a racing orginaziation in your area.

its like a driving school in that you get instruction and class time but you also get to drive your car, at your own pace, on the track to put what you learned in class into perspective. not to mention its lots of fun.

Feb 3, 2009 | 10:12 PM

Dimitri-

TECH Resident

iTrader: (10)

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 844

Likes: 0

From: NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonicbird00

This is definitely one of the things i look forward to putting under my belt soon, but god damn thats expensive :<

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Pouria Savadkouei

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Verdad Gallardo

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Verdad Gallardo

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Verdad Gallardo

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Pouria Savadkouei

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Verdad Gallardo

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Pouria Savadkouei

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Verdad Gallardo

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Verdad Gallardo

Feb 4, 2009 | 12:23 AM

NJSPDER

TECH Fanatic

iTrader: (2)

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 1,222

Likes: 0

From: Ewing, NJ

There are a ton of HPDE's put on by Porsche and Bimmer club as well as Skip Barber at NJMP.

Feb 4, 2009 | 06:56 AM

#10

TheGimp711

Thread Starter

Teching In

iTrader: (2)

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 25

Likes: 0

I do want to take that type of driving class. I am just unsure in which class I would actually want to take. There are 1 day and 2 day driving school class, intro to racing, advanced car control and a few miata cup racing class. The prices vary greatly from around $600 to over $3000.
I would like to take a course that teaches car control, maybe a slalom, and teaches pushing cars on the track...

Thanks for the help guys,
Evan

Feb 4, 2009 | 07:20 AM

#11

alwaysinboost

TECH Regular

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 408

Likes: 0

From: boostville

driving schools are great but usually its ALOT more money then doing an HPDE. You will learn a TON at either of them. I would recommend doing an HPDE or two to get the basics down, then attend a driving school to further cement what your HPDE instructors tought you.

check out this link for driving clubs in your area

http://www.autox4u.com/schedule.htm

Feb 4, 2009 | 10:17 AM

#12

z_speedfreak

TECH Addict

iTrader: (3)

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 2,123

Likes: 0

From: limbo

a few years ago BMW had a free driving course at the former wheymouth(sp?) naval air station. my uncle who lives in abbington called me up and so I drove up to go check it out with him. it was a blast, started off as the passenger with an instructor driving then you got to switch seats and you progressed from a basic 3series to a z3 and then an m3. I couldnt believe bmw let us beat on their cars like that for free. I would love to go to a driving school but whenever I get that kind of free cash it goes into my car

whats this HPDE you speak pf alwaysinboost?

Feb 4, 2009 | 01:07 PM

#13

alwaysinboost

TECH Regular

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 408

Likes: 0

From: boostville

HPDE's are orginazied 'racing schools' that allow you to drive your car, with instruction, on an open track. they group people by their skill level and experience. all beginners run with an instructor until they get the OK to go solo... thats when the real fun starts.

Thats it in a nutshell. Let me see if I can get a better description from one of the orginaziations I run with.

Feb 4, 2009 | 01:10 PM

#14

alwaysinboost

TECH Regular

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 408

Likes: 0

From: boostville

here is a better description:

http://www.nasaracing.net/hpde.htm

Feb 4, 2009 | 02:02 PM

#15

NJSPDER

TECH Fanatic

iTrader: (2)

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 1,222

Likes: 0

From: Ewing, NJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGimp711

Start simple with a track experience day and go from there. No need to spend the full $5k nut on a licensing class when you are unsure of the basics.

I would also suggest visiting your local SCCA region's auto crosses. Regular regional events will have experienced memebrs that can ride along with you and give tips and that you can get rides with to pick up a few pointers. It is the cheapest and most frequent form of training I have ever found.

Once you get into it a little and have some of the basics of sight line, steering, and brake/throttle control, then worry about looking into more advanced training if you are still interested.

It is like anything else, build a solid foundation of fundamentals and the possibilities expand from there.

Feb 4, 2009 | 05:32 PM

#16

ws6gsx

Teching In

iTrader: (1)

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 24

Likes: 0

From: CT

Skip Barbers program is very good, I worked there from 95-00. I got to do a few of the programs for free. But it is damn expensive, like $3500 + for the 3 day program.