Skip Barber Racing School: High Performance Driving School

[warhead111]

I’m attending the “High Performance Driving School” at Skip Barber and I’m wondering if any of you think it is well worth it? For your information, I drive a 06 Civic Si and the school only offers to teach with sport cars (RWD, AWD) hence, “High Performance Driving School”. Well, if ANY of you out there has ever attended Skip Barber, please share your experience with me! I would highly appreciate your expert advice on what to zone in on when I attend the course. I want to maximize my two day experience there and not return home kicking myself for not trying/learning something I should have. =) Thanks!!!

Website: http://skipbarber.com/driving_school...hp_school.aspx
Driving School Video: http://skipbarber.com/videoFiles/Driving_School.wmv
Racing School Video: http://skipbarber.com/videoFiles/3_D...ing_School.wmv

******VIDEOS*******

Video Skip Barber: Controlling oversteer...not easy as it looks. Make sure you watch the last attempt!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8qTGHzxtB8

Video Skip Barber: 120-130 mph straightaway in a Mazda RX-8, Porsche Boxster, Porsche 911, and BMW M3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBFnrFXgWMg

Video Skip Barber: Watch (hear) the pros drift in all corners without knocking down any cones in a Porsche 911 and BMW M3. The M3 had white smoking brake pads when it returned to the pit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA_si60-WGc

Video Skip Barber: Instructor giving us a "tour" using Mazda 3s with street tires.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J47Y3j7lrmQ

******PHOTOS*******

Click here if you're using 56k or want to see the rest of the pictures: http://s167.photobucket.com/albums/u150/photmatic/

































































































































































******First Day Review*******

Coming Soon

******Second Day Review*******

Coming Soon

******The best way to heal-toe downshift with the 2006-2007 Civic Si IMO*******

Link to another thread: I'll create another thread that will contain photos on how to downshift in the Civic Si! I can do it 99.99% of the time now with ease!

[Ep3racer954]

thats awesome, i wish i could go their but finances do not allow for that right now... i say go for it and do everything that you can poosibly do.

[Nomar06]

Originally Posted by warhead111

I’m attending the “High Performance Driving School” at Skip Barber and I’m wondering if any of you think it is well worth it? For your information, I drive a 06 Civic Si and the school only offers to teach with sport cars (RWD, AWD) hence, “High Performance Driving School”. Well, if ANY of you out there has ever attended Skip Barber, please share your experience with me! I would highly appreciate your expert advice on what to zone in on when I attend the course. I want to maximize my two day experience there and not return home kicking myself for not trying/learning something I should have. =) Thanks!!!

Website: http://skipbarber.com/driving_school...hp_school.aspx
Driving School Video: http://skipbarber.com/videoFiles/Driving_School.wmv
Racing School Video: http://skipbarber.com/videoFiles/3_D...ing_School.wmv

You should look into VIR Expo in June. There are going to be some instructors teaching how to drive your car out on the track. A few of us are attending this year.

[warhead111]

Originally Posted by Nomar06

You should look into VIR Expo in June. There are going to be some instructors teaching how to drive your car out on the track. A few of us are attending this year.

VIR Expo featuring the Si?!?! NICE...This is going to be a great opportunity to compare how a professional drives the Si verses a professional at Skip Barber using a BMW or Porsche. THANKS FOR THE VALUABLE INFO!

[warhead111]

Originally Posted by Ep3racer954

thats awesome, i wish i could go their but finances do not allow for that right now... i say go for it and do everything that you can poosibly do.

Thanks for the encouragement! Yeah it's expensive, BUT I believe that this is rare experience of a lifetime that shouldn't be passed up while I'm still young. I was able to convince my coworker to fork out 3k by giving him the same reason. haha

[Nomar06]

well the VIR is for integras but I think anyone can go as long as the $$$ is put down, lol


Check out the info in the race forums. Its a sticky thread.

[honda93]

Originally Posted by warhead111

I’m attending the “High Performance Driving School” at Skip Barber and I’m wondering if any of you think it is well worth it? For your information, I drive a 06 Civic Si and the school only offers to teach with sport cars (RWD, AWD) hence, “High Performance Driving School”. Well, if ANY of you out there has ever attended Skip Barber, please share your experience with me! I would highly appreciate your expert advice on what to zone in on when I attend the course. I want to maximize my two day experience there and not return home kicking myself for not trying/learning something I should have. =) Thanks!!!

First, ANY credible advanced driving course will make a difference in your everyday skills.

Second, big-time schools like Skip Barber, Bondurant, and The Mid-Ohio School offer courses for the everyday person, but they are accredited (accepted) by racing organizations like the SCCA and NASA as training/licensing schools and thus are your only true option if you want to start road racing as a serious hobby / profession.

Something like any ordinary track day or a specialty event like the ITR Expos have certified instructors there who can work with you and teach you much of the same thing at a much more reasonable cost.

I did the Advanced Honda High Performance class at Mid-Ohio back in 1997 and was hoping to pursue my national SCCA road racing license; then I got my teaching job, bought a house, got married, etc. So now I focus on national-level autocrossing instead... HOWEVER, I never regretted what I did and would love to go back someday and get the license anyway. Nothing says "I'm cooler than you" than whipping out a license certifing me as a race car driver!

Anthony "Mario" Crea
NNJR-SCCA

[warhead111]

Originally Posted by honda93

First, ANY credible advanced driving course will make a difference in your everyday skills.

Second, big-time schools like Skip Barber, Bondurant, and The Mid-Ohio School offer courses for the everyday person, but they are accredited (accepted) by racing organizations like the SCCA and NASA as training/licensing schools and thus are your only true option if you want to start road racing as a serious hobby / profession.

Something like any ordinary track day or a specialty event like the ITR Expos have certified instructors there who can work with you and teach you much of the same thing at a much more reasonable cost.

I did the Advanced Honda High Performance class at Mid-Ohio back in 1997 and was hoping to pursue my national SCCA road racing license; then I got my teaching job, bought a house, got married, etc. So now I focus on national-level autocrossing instead... HOWEVER, I never regretted what I did and would love to go back someday and get the license anyway. Nothing says "I'm cooler than you" than whipping out a license certifing me as a race car driver!

Anthony "Mario" Crea
NNJR-SCCA

I think I’m on the similar path too. (Marriage, House, Kids…etc) …What I’m really trying to extract out of this driving program are skills that cannot be safely developed on the streets. Once I learn the techniques to properly drive quickly, I plan to apply that to autocrossing. Since you’ve shed some light about Skip Barber, “…your only true option if you want to start road racing as a serious hobby / profession.”, I would like to consider road racing as my next serious hobby after a few years of autocrossing. Thanks Mario!

After doing some research about the ITR Expo event at the VIR track, I realize that the travel is too far for me in my Si. (I live in Cali) I thought about maybe flying out to Virginia to watch other people race, but I’d rather have seat time on the track. Again, thanks for the heads up!

[warhead111]

BTW, do any of you think that Skip Barber is a WASTE of money? This is just out of curiosity...

[Sion0x]

You'll love Skip Barber. I took their advanced driving course and 3 day racing course.

Freaking awesome.

You'll get to drive a Viper, and you'll be really pissed off at how slow your civic is after that haha.

But, you'll be able to powerslide. So no worries

[warhead111]

Originally Posted by Sion0x

You'll love Skip Barber. I took their advanced driving course and 3 day racing course.

Freaking awesome.

You'll get to drive a Viper, and you'll be really pissed off at how slow your civic is after that haha.

But, you'll be able to powerslide. So no worries

I wish I could drive the Viper, but I think Skip Barber is now teamed up with Mazda. They've updated their site to show Mazda vehicles such as RX-8, Miata, Mazda 6, etc. "...you'll be really pissed off at how slow your civic is after that haha." This is what I'm kinda reluctant to admit. Getting to drive Porsches and BMWs might influence me to switch over to these cars! haha jk...I enjoy driving my Si without having to worry about it breaking down on me...That’s why I chose the Si over the Evo…even though I browse everyday on evolutionm.net forums…

[honda93]

Originally Posted by warhead111

I think I’m on the similar path too. (Marriage, House, Kids…etc) …What I’m really trying to extract out of this driving program are skills that cannot be safely developed on the streets. Once I learn the techniques to properly drive quickly, I plan to apply that to autocrossing. Since you’ve shed some light about Skip Barber, “…your only true option if you want to start road racing as a serious hobby / profession.”, I would like to consider road racing as my next serious hobby after a few years of autocrossing. Thanks Mario!

I guess you didn't realize that autocrossing would teach you those skills all for $40 an event. I remember what Skip Barber and The Mid-Ohio School charged back in 1997. I shudder to think what they cost now!

That being said, the car control aspects one learns through autocrossing and road racing are damn near exactly the same, as physics is physics. Their approach is different and frankly, the pace at which an autocross occurs makes it more demanding in the end compared to driving on a road course. Not to burst your bubble, but much of the cost of those expensive schools goes to:

1. paying the instructors, mechanics, and staff
2. paying insurance premiums
3. meeting track rental fees and providing you with lunch
4. maintaining the cars.

In my SCCA region, I am the head autocross instructor and for your $40 entry fee, myself and other national-caliber instructors will work with you and teach you the same things. It's pretty much like this anywhere!

Originally Posted by warhead111

After doing some research about the ITR Expo event at the VIR track, I realize that the travel is too far for me in my Si. (I live in Cali) I thought about maybe flying out to Virginia to watch other people race, but I’d rather have seat time on the track. Again, thanks for the heads up!

Here's a map of regions on the SCCA homepage...

http://www.scca.com/Inside/Index.asp...gionalSites&~=

Use it to nail down a region, then look to see where and when autocrosses are taking place.

Other than the earthquakes, you are one lucky bastard for living in California as far as motorsports goes regarding both track events and autocrossing. Laguna Seca, Infineon, Thunderhill, Buttonwillow, California Speedway, Willow Springs... Mama mia! I'd have to start robbing banks to pay for all the track time I'd have out there!... If only it weren't for the earthquakes.

Anthony "Mario" Crea
NNJR-SCCA

[honda93]

Originally Posted by warhead111

BTW, do any of you think that Skip Barber is a WASTE of money? This is just out of curiosity...

No class or course designed to make you a safer driver in todays world should be considered a waste of money. Absolutely not.

[Nomar06]

Mario,

There are going to be a couple of autox event here in the Charlotte area soon. I was looking at their site and noticed that it is a SCCA-something event. I guess that this is for licensed SCCA people only and not for anyone to go in and take a turn on the course, right? I couldnt see anything on the site but I will try to find the site again. Just thought I would ask you in the meantime.

Thanks.

[Silver8th]

I've been to a racing school sponsored by Marlboro at Miami Homestead Speedway. I'm guessing its similar to the Skip Barber racing school. I learned a lot and was the most fun I've ever had in my life! I got to drive 3 diffrent types of racecars over 4 days at the track. I drove a formula 440 open wheel car on the road course, IROC on the oval and a mustang on an auto-cross course. It was definatly a once in a lifetime experience, and if you have the chance to go to a racing school, don't pass up the opportunity.

[warhead111]

Originally Posted by Silver8th

I've been to a racing school sponsored by Marlboro at Miami Homestead Speedway. I'm guessing its similar to the Skip Barber racing school. I learned a lot and was the most fun I've ever had in my life! I got to drive 3 diffrent types of racecars over 4 days at the track. I drove a formula 440 open wheel car on the road course, IROC on the oval and a mustang on an auto-cross course. It was definatly a once in a lifetime experience, and if you have the chance to go to a racing school, don't pass up the opportunity.

Sheesh, four full (8 hours) days on a big track with professional instruction? When did you take this and how much did you pay? What’s IROC? I assume it’s an acronym for a type of race car…

I think I'd be very exhausted after four days on the track! Lucky you!

Thanks for the advice! Since I already paid for the Skip Barber 2-day program (no refund), there’s no way I can pass up this opportunity now. haha

[warhead111]

Originally Posted by honda93

I guess you didn't realize that autocrossing would teach you those skills all for $40 an event. I remember what Skip Barber and The Mid-Ohio School charged back in 1997. I shudder to think what they cost now!

That being said, the car control aspects one learns through autocrossing and road racing are damn near exactly the same, as physics is physics. Their approach is different and frankly, the pace at which an autocross occurs makes it more demanding in the end compared to driving on a road course. Not to burst your bubble, but much of the cost of those expensive schools goes to:

1. paying the instructors, mechanics, and staff
2. paying insurance premiums
3. meeting track rental fees and providing you with lunch
4. maintaining the cars.

In my SCCA region, I am the head autocross instructor and for your $40 entry fee, myself and other national-caliber instructors will work with you and teach you the same things. It's pretty much like this anywhere!




Here's a map of regions on the SCCA homepage...

http://www.scca.com/Inside/Index.asp...gionalSites&~=

Use it to nail down a region, then look to see where and when autocrosses are taking place.

Other than the earthquakes, you are one lucky bastard for living in California as far as motorsports goes regarding both track events and autocrossing. Laguna Seca, Infineon, Thunderhill, Buttonwillow, California Speedway, Willow Springs... Mama mia! I'd have to start robbing banks to pay for all the track time I'd have out there!... If only it weren't for the earthquakes.

Anthony "Mario" Crea
NNJR-SCCA

Darn those earthquakes! I haven't felt a big earthquake for many years now...so don’t worry!

Anyways, It's kind of disheartening if you compare a $40 solo event verses a $3,000 driving program...I'm starting to feel the hole in my wallet now (sarcasm) thanks Mario. Just playin. Besides the expensive lunch I'll be paying for, maybe there's something that Skip Barber could possibility teach me that can't be easily acquired? Here's a quick reference of what they’ll teach me:

• understand vehicle dynamics & behavior
• experience slides & recoveries
• learn at the limit
• experience lane-toss exercises & accident avoidance
• compare handling characteristics of different premium sports cars (this is unique experience unless you’re rich and own all these expensive cars)
• experience driving a high-performance sports car on the race track in a lead-follow format (watch a pro drive from the rear)
• professional 1-on-1 driver training (personal trainer)
• race style heel-and-toe downshifting
• timed autocross sessions
• learn the proper race line
• competition braking & cornering techniques (test and apply these techniques to several difference performance cars)
• comparisons from behind the wheel, and at the car’s limit

Program Comparison Chart: http://skipbarber.com/pdf/skipbarber...ison_chart.pdf

I agree with you though, autocross seems more demanding and it’s probably a good way to refine/retain the skills I’ll learn from the program.
I’ll try to take pictures and maybe a video to post it up online for my fellow 8th Gen-Members!

[etf]

Originally Posted by honda93

I guess you didn't realize that autocrossing would teach you those skills all for $40 an event. I remember what Skip Barber and The Mid-Ohio School charged back in 1997. I shudder to think what they cost now!

That being said, the car control aspects one learns through autocrossing and road racing are damn near exactly the same, as physics is physics. Their approach is different and frankly, the pace at which an autocross occurs makes it more demanding in the end compared to driving on a road course. Not to burst your bubble, but much of the cost of those expensive schools goes to:

1. paying the instructors, mechanics, and staff
2. paying insurance premiums
3. meeting track rental fees and providing you with lunch
4. maintaining the cars.
Anthony "Mario" Crea
NNJR-SCCA

Sorry "Mario", I disagree with your lower opinion of road racing. I've done both auto-x and road racing. They are completley different. While auto-x requires the skill to drive with extreme discipline in order to be successful, it's simply not racing.

Wheel to wheel competition is a whole different world. The increased speed of road racing is certainly more challenging to me than going 40 mph in a parking lot. There seems to be a lot of auto-xers with "little man syndrome"! If you have never jockeyed for track position with another driver going into a corner @ 80mph+, well, you haven't experienced one of the many thrills of road racing that you just can't get in the parking lot with a bunch of coneheads. True, it's a lot more expensive to road race, but you get what you pay for. Just my $.02 worth.

[skiz]

Originally Posted by warhead111

What’s IROC? I assume it’s an acronym for a type of race car…

IROC = International Race of Champions.

the racers get picked to drive in the series and all the cars are tuned exactly the same except color... good fun!!!

Any type of performance driving school is worth it and usually a blast! I just met a instructor from BeaverRun and I am gogin to take my Si for a FlatOut day and he'll be in the car yelling at me for most of the day. Then he said he'll take me out in his Supercup Porsche(1 of 2) and scare the bejesus out of me... I am hoping to get to drive his RS America as well. I still doubt that but i have a much better chance to drive that since it is not his beater car.. LOL!!!

http://beaverun.com

[honda93]

Originally Posted by etf

Sorry "Mario", I disagree with your lower opinion of road racing. I've done both auto-x and road racing. They are completley different. While auto-x requires the skill to drive with extreme discipline in order to be successful, it's simply not racing.

Wheel to wheel competition is a whole different world. The increased speed of road racing is certainly more challenging to me than going 40 mph in a parking lot. There seems to be a lot of auto-xers with "little man syndrome"! If you have never jockeyed for track position with another driver going into a corner @ 80mph+, well, you haven't experienced one of the many thrills of road racing that you just can't get in the parking lot with a bunch of coneheads. True, it's a lot more expensive to road race, but you get what you pay for. Just my $.02 worth.

Oh, I agree wholeheartedly, I've done enough track events where I've begun to enter a turn next to a car to know that things get much more serious, especially as speeds increase. Granted, many of those times we're not supposed to go wheel to wheel at track days, but I knew the people I was doing so with... But as you said, it is the "extreme discipline" and surgical skill necessary to be competitive at autocrossing, especially at the national level that I personally relish.

Being that you are a former road racer I'll use this example...

As for the cost, well, let me put it this way; I am disappointed at how expensive even Spec Miata has become in the last two years. Despite the limitations, cars are still running almost $20,000 or more to prep to the absolute limit of the rules... And a little beyond I'm sure! That's kind of sad when you consider an early Miata can be had for $2000 now. SUre the racing is close, even at the back, but without big investments, you'll never see the podium and there's still the chance that your $8000 backmarker can get totalled in turn one of race one. Other than freak accidents, autocrossing enables you to come home in the same car you started the day with. That's another big plus for us poor working stiffs. :)

Anthony "Mario" Crea
NNJR-SCCA