Re: Road Racing Schools

the jim russel school is highly rated... pez Larry Hawes <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> Has anyone been to one the racing schools? I live in San Diego and can > get to Phoenix for the Bondurant School or perhaps Sears point for the > Russell school. Any experience or recommendations out there? > > Thanks > > Larry

Has anyone been to one the racing schools? I live in San Diego and can get to Phoenix for the Bondurant School or perhaps Sears point for the Russell school. Any experience or recommendations out there? Thanks Larry

Pez, Have you been to the school? Any others? Alexpez wrote:

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> > the jim russel school is highly rated... > > pez > Larry Hawes <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > Has anyone been to one the racing schools? I live in San Diego and can > > get to Phoenix for the Bondurant School or perhaps Sears point for the > > Russell school. Any experience or recommendations out there? > > > > Thanks > > > > Larry

Obviously the answer depends upon what your goals are. If your goal is be a professional open wheel racer, then you should start with open wheel cars. If you goals are more modest, I recommend the school run by Danny McKeever at Willow Springs (north of Los Angeles in the desert near Lancaster), http://www.raceschool.com/. They use the Toyota Celicas that they run at the Long Beach Grand Prix. I sent my wife there for a one day course, just to get a feel for what it's like, and she really loved it. The instructors are quite good, and don't have any "attitude" that sometimes you get at the more competitive schools. Bob On Tue, 07 Nov 2000 19:20:45 GMT, Larry Hawes <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>Has anyone been to one the racing schools? I live in San Diego and can >get to Phoenix for the Bondurant School or perhaps Sears point for the >Russell school. Any experience or recommendations out there? > >Thanks > >Larry

do you have any tips that might help a complete (almost) rookie around Croft? pez Maxx <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> > Larry, > > I went through the Jim Russell School in the UK back in 1990 and > worked for them as an instructor for many years. At that time they > provided a full 7-day course which culminated with your first full > race. It as very comprehensive, and covered the physical and > psychological aspects of racing, as well as the technique stuff. > > I have an instructor contact at JR Sears Point who I'm sure > would answer any questions you might have. > > Maxx > > On Tue, 7 Nov 2000 21:53:52 -0000, "Alexpez" <[email hidden]> > wrote: > > >the jim russel school is highly rated... > > > >pez > >Larry Hawes <[email hidden]> wrote in message > >news:[email hidden]... > >> Has anyone been to one the racing schools? I live in San Diego and can > >> get to Phoenix for the Bondurant School or perhaps Sears point for the > >> Russell school. Any experience or recommendations out there? > >> > >> Thanks > >> > >> Larry > > >

Thanks Bob, I had never heard of them before and it looks very interesting. My goals are indeed on the modest side, just really want to feel what it is like to drive at the limit. Thanks again. Larry Bob Norton wrote:

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> > Obviously the answer depends upon what your goals are. If your goal > is be a professional open wheel racer, then you should start with open > wheel cars. If you goals are more modest, I recommend the school run > by Danny McKeever at Willow Springs (north of Los Angeles in the > desert near Lancaster), http://www.raceschool.com/. They use the > Toyota Celicas that they run at the Long Beach Grand Prix. > > I sent my wife there for a one day course, just to get a feel for what > it's like, and she really loved it. > > The instructors are quite good, and don't have any "attitude" that > sometimes you get at the more competitive schools. > > Bob > > On Tue, 07 Nov 2000 19:20:45 GMT, Larry Hawes <[email hidden]> wrote: > > >Has anyone been to one the racing schools? I live in San Diego and can > >get to Phoenix for the Bondurant School or perhaps Sears point for the > >Russell school. Any experience or recommendations out there? > > > >Thanks > > > >Larry

On Wed, 08 Nov 2000 00:12:57 GMT, Larry Hawes <[email hidden]> wrote: >I had never heard of them before and it looks very interesting. My goals >are indeed on the modest side, just really want to feel what it is like >to drive at the limit. Thanks again. >If that's all you're looking for, consider taking one of the 1/2 day intro. classes. I did that at Jim Russell when it was Laguna Seca and had a great time. But beware - it can just feed the addiction. I ended up buying a race car and going racing within a couple of years. Another option to consider is to take your street car to one of the high performance driving clinics that SCCA San Diego Region offers. I think there's one coming up in December at Holtville, which is a couple of hours East of San Diego, near El Centro. Check the website for more info.: http://www.sdr-scca.org/ (Yeah, I'm a member.)

I've taken the Skip Barber 3 Day Racing School at Road America. Thought it was alot of fun and well worth the price. The instructors were good, but it helps to know what you're doing before hand. Obviously driving GPL teaches you the basics of open wheel cars, and is a great introductory class. Spent the majority of the time actually in a car and on the track. So much so that at the end of a couple of days I didn't want to get back in the car. Skip Barber now has an advanced 1 day lapping session where you get to drive the new Formula Dodge's with wings, sequential transmissions and larger engines. There is one major benefit to driving an open wheel car... The sensation of speed is much greater. Another could be cost. Since I'm from Atlanta, I checked into the Panoz racing school. Looks to be a great course, but you are responsible for any damage you do to the cars! I didn't feel comfortable with that liability, especially at Road Atlanta. There's not much liability at Skip Barber. -Andrew "Larry Hawes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> Has anyone been to one the racing schools? I live in San Diego and can > get to Phoenix for the Bondurant School or perhaps Sears point for the > Russell school. Any experience or recommendations out there? > > Thanks > > Larry

Larry, I went through the Jim Russell School in the UK back in 1990 and worked for them as an instructor for many years. At that time they provided a full 7-day course which culminated with your first full race. It as very comprehensive, and covered the physical and psychological aspects of racing, as well as the technique stuff. I have an instructor contact at JR Sears Point who I'm sure would answer any questions you might have. Maxx On Tue, 7 Nov 2000 21:53:52 -0000, "Alexpez" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>the jim russel school is highly rated... > >pez >Larry Hawes <[email hidden]> wrote in message >news:[email hidden]... >> Has anyone been to one the racing schools? I live in San Diego and can >> get to Phoenix for the Bondurant School or perhaps Sears point for the >> Russell school. Any experience or recommendations out there? >> >> Thanks >> >> Larry >

Thanks for the heads up Andrew, A little farther than I had planned to travel but if I am ever in Atlanta.... Am a little torn between spending the time and money and going all the way into the Russell school or another open wheel course or just diddling around with a simpler format. I am not sure if the bug will leave me or if the red fog will descend and I will be a goner into racing oblivion. Thanks again for the note, Larry AndrewS wrote:

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> > I've taken the Skip Barber 3 Day Racing School at Road America. Thought it > was alot of fun and well worth the price. The instructors were good, but it > helps to know what you're doing before hand. Obviously driving GPL teaches > you the basics of open wheel cars, and is a great introductory class. Spent > the majority of the time actually in a car and on the track. So much so > that at the end of a couple of days I didn't want to get back in the car. > Skip Barber now has an advanced 1 day lapping session where you get to drive > the new Formula Dodge's with wings, sequential transmissions and larger > engines. > > There is one major benefit to driving an open wheel car... The sensation of > speed is much greater. Another could be cost. Since I'm from Atlanta, I > checked into the Panoz racing school. Looks to be a great course, but you > are responsible for any damage you do to the cars! I didn't feel > comfortable with that liability, especially at Road Atlanta. There's not > much liability at Skip Barber. > > -Andrew > > "Larry Hawes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > Has anyone been to one the racing schools? I live in San Diego and can > > get to Phoenix for the Bondurant School or perhaps Sears point for the > > Russell school. Any experience or recommendations out there? > > > > Thanks > > > > Larry

Thanks Maxx, I believe JR is mostly or totally open wheeled, is that accurate? Is there an advantage or disadvantage to learning open or closed wheeled cars and their different driving techniques? JR or Bondurant are probably the most realistic track options given my location. Have you had any other experience with other schools? The Bondurant school? Have also been given a heads up on a couple of local options that I might pursue. Thanks very much for the input, Larry Maxx wrote:

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> > Larry, > > I went through the Jim Russell School in the UK back in 1990 and > worked for them as an instructor for many years. At that time they > provided a full 7-day course which culminated with your first full > race. It as very comprehensive, and covered the physical and > psychological aspects of racing, as well as the technique stuff. > > I have an instructor contact at JR Sears Point who I'm sure > would answer any questions you might have. > > Maxx > > On Tue, 7 Nov 2000 21:53:52 -0000, "Alexpez" <[email hidden]> > wrote: > > >the jim russel school is highly rated... > > > >pez > >Larry Hawes <[email hidden]> wrote in message > >news:[email hidden]... > >> Has anyone been to one the racing schools? I live in San Diego and can > >> get to Phoenix for the Bondurant School or perhaps Sears point for the > >> Russell school. Any experience or recommendations out there? > >> > >> Thanks > >> > >> Larry > >

I get the itch every day to climb into a car, and when one is not around it's an awful feeling. Skip Barber has schools all over the county including Californi. Check them out at http://www.skipbarber.com If you want my opinion, I'd do the open wheel at the Russel school. It's fun, safe and well worth the money. My opinion about money is.... you only live once and you need to spend it while you have the chance. "Larry Hawes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> Thanks for the heads up Andrew, > > A little farther than I had planned to travel but if I am ever in > Atlanta.... Am a little torn between spending the time and money and > going all the way into the Russell school or another open wheel course > or just diddling around with a simpler format. I am not sure if the bug > will leave me or if the red fog will descend and I will be a goner into > racing oblivion. > > Thanks again for the note, > > Larry > > AndrewS wrote: > > > > I've taken the Skip Barber 3 Day Racing School at Road America. Thought

it > > was alot of fun and well worth the price. The instructors were good,but it > > helps to know what you're doing before hand. Obviously driving GPLteaches > > you the basics of open wheel cars, and is a great introductory class.Spent > > the majority of the time actually in a car and on the track. So much so > > that at the end of a couple of days I didn't want to get back in thecar. > > Skip Barber now has an advanced 1 day lapping session where you get todrive > > the new Formula Dodge's with wings, sequential transmissions and larger > > engines. > > > > There is one major benefit to driving an open wheel car... The sensationof > > speed is much greater. Another could be cost. Since I'm from Atlanta,I > > checked into the Panoz racing school. Looks to be a great course, butyou > > are responsible for any damage you do to the cars! I didn't feel > > comfortable with that liability, especially at Road Atlanta. There'snot

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> > much liability at Skip Barber. > > > > -Andrew > > > > "Larry Hawes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > news:[email hidden]... > > > Has anyone been to one the racing schools? I live in San Diego and can > > > get to Phoenix for the Bondurant School or perhaps Sears point for the > > > Russell school. Any experience or recommendations out there? > > > > > > Thanks > > > > > > Larry

On Wed, 08 Nov 2000 21:59:44 GMT, Larry Hawes <[email hidden]> wrote: Larry, I did the Saloon course in the UK but have instructed the open-wheel courses. We used the Saloons for the open wheel guys also, so we could sit next to them and ensure they had the basics. The basic techniques are the same, apart from the differences between a FWD and RWD car, and these are only really just the use of the throttle at various stages in the corner. We had guys on the Saloon course, who then raced open- wheelers adn were just as competitive as the guys that had done the open wheel course (given 2-3 aclimatisation lapping sessions). I can't recal anyone doing it the opposite way around, but I'm sure the same would apply. I've heard of the Bondurant School, and they are a long established and very reputable concern. I know of other UK schools and most are very good, but none offer the level of package that JR do, but there is a market for the less expensive courses. I think there is a distinction between the "experience" schools and the "teaching" schools. Some are aimed at just giving you the experience of driving a race car on a race circuit and you are taught enough to make you safe, the teaching schools aim is to make you fast as well as safe and give you a good grounding in the basics so you can build on that. Most of the guys that continued racing after the school were very succesful right out of the blocks, often beating guys who'd been racing many years, a couple of guys I remember well from my instructor days were Jan Magnusson (who I beleive is quite big in US Sports Car Racing) and James Thompson (who is doing pretty well in UK Touring Cars). Even had I never raced after the course (many didn't) it was still well worth the money, not only the driving but also there was a great spirit of camaradery with the other guys, many of whom I kept in touch with. I'd say if you have the cash, go for it, you won't regret it Maxx

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>Thanks Maxx, > >I believe JR is mostly or totally open wheeled, is that accurate? Is >there an advantage or disadvantage to learning open or closed wheeled >cars and their different driving techniques? JR or Bondurant are >probably the most realistic track options given my location. Have you >had any other experience with other schools? The Bondurant school? Have >also been given a heads up on a couple of local options that I might >pursue. > >Thanks very much for the input, > >Larry

Thank you Maxx, I appreciate the effort you have expended in your response and that is exactly the input I was looking for. I will measure my level of racing passion over the next month or so and if I can't shake the bug I will make a decision then. Thanks Larry Maxx wrote:

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> > On Wed, 08 Nov 2000 21:59:44 GMT, Larry Hawes <[email hidden]> wrote: > > Larry, > > I did the Saloon course in the UK but have instructed the open-wheel > courses. We used the Saloons for the open wheel guys also, so we > could sit next to them and ensure they had the basics. > > The basic techniques are the same, apart from the differences between > a FWD and RWD car, and these are only really just the use of the > throttle at various stages in the corner. > > We had guys on the Saloon course, who then raced open- > wheelers adn were just as competitive as the guys that had > done the open wheel course (given 2-3 aclimatisation lapping > sessions). > > I can't recal anyone doing it the opposite way around, but I'm sure > the same would apply. > > I've heard of the Bondurant School, and they are a long established > and very reputable concern. I know of other UK schools and most > are very good, but none offer the level of package that JR do, but > there is a market for the less expensive courses. > > I think there is a distinction between the "experience" schools > and the "teaching" schools. Some are aimed at just giving you > the experience of driving a race car on a race circuit and you > are taught enough to make you safe, the teaching schools aim > is to make you fast as well as safe and give you a good grounding > in the basics so you can build on that. > > Most of the guys that continued racing after the school were > very succesful right out of the blocks, often beating guys who'd > been racing many years, a couple of guys I remember well from > my instructor days were Jan Magnusson (who I beleive is quite > big in US Sports Car Racing) and James Thompson (who is doing > pretty well in UK Touring Cars). > > Even had I never raced after the course (many didn't) it was > still well worth the money, not only the driving but also there > was a great spirit of camaradery with the other guys, many of > whom I kept in touch with. > > I'd say if you have the cash, go for it, you won't regret it > > Maxx > > >Thanks Maxx, > > > >I believe JR is mostly or totally open wheeled, is that accurate? Is > >there an advantage or disadvantage to learning open or closed wheeled > >cars and their different driving techniques? JR or Bondurant are > >probably the most realistic track options given my location. Have you > >had any other experience with other schools? The Bondurant school? Have > >also been given a heads up on a couple of local options that I might > >pursue. > > > >Thanks very much for the input, > > > >Larry